Andalucia Information

Geography of Andalucia
History of Andalucia
Economy of Andalucia
Climate of Andalucia

Andalucía, with its 54,000 square miles of territory, has often been described as the bridging point between Africa and Europe, as well as the place where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic. Certainly, there can be few places in the world where, in just one region, you can encounter so much diversity. Here, you can find Spain’s highest mainland mountain, 500 miles of coastline, semi-deserts, fertile marshlands, huge forests and some of the most spectacular cities in the world.

Geography of Andalucia

Over half of the Andaluz landscape is mountainous – there are 46 peaks above 1,000m – basically running in two east-west chains. In the northern chain, the Sierra Morena, the land features gentle, rolling hills, mostly covered with forest or pastureland. Driving here will bring you close to some fine cork, chestnut, carob, oak and ash trees. The southern chain of mountains, the Cordillera Bética, extends all the way from the Sierra de Grazalema – with limestone cliffs, white villages, plentiful wildlife and Andalucía’s first National Park – through to the mighty Sierra Nevada – Spain’s most famous mountains; the highest of which is Mulhacén at 3481m.

In between the two mountain ranges is the huge fertile valley of the River Guadalquivir, rich in agriculture and reaching the sea near the sherry producing vineyards around Jerez de la Frontera and the marshlands of the Coto de Doñana in the westernmost part of the region. The easternmost province, Almería, has enormous expanses of semi-desert. So, in one autonomous community, you have Spain’s wettest area – Grazalema – and its driest – Almería.
The coastline can be regarded as equally varied. From the breezy, dune-flanked expanses of the beaches from Huelva to Tarifa, to the sandy but often crowded ones of the Costa del Sol and the more rugged volcanic coast of the area around Almería, the coastal medley is quite staggering.

History of Andalucia

Because of its geographical situation, Andalucía has always been an important part of Europe. The Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Romans – who called the area Baetica – shaped much of the historical background. It was during Roman rule that the area became Christian but, after this finished, the Vandals and Visigoths held control until, in 711, the Moors and Berbers invaded and made Andalucía their own. It was at this time that Granada and Córdoba became Spain’s most important cities.

The year 1492 was, in so many ways, pivotal to the history of not only Andalucía but also to the whole of Spain. It was in that year that the city of Granada finally became Christian again. But it was also the year in which Christopher Columbus, Cristóbal Colón, left Huelva on his journeys to the new world. Because of the successes he instigated, Seville became the dominant city – the Guadalquivir was easily navigable and the riches were taken straight there.

As the Spanish monopoly on the Americas began to decline, so did the fortunes of Seville and the rest of the region. The war of the Spanish Succession, the Napoleonic Invasion, the Armada and the Battle of Trafalgar all hit the area hard and by the end of the nineteenth century, the economic and social conditions were bleak, leading to the area being well-known for anarchist groups and revolts by the poor. The Spanish Civil War was perhaps at its most bitter in Andalucía, with the area being divided along class lines – some divisions which are still to be found in contemporary Andalucía – and after the war there was mass migration from the area, especially by the young. It was the drive towards tourism in the 1960s that began Andalucía’s economic recovery and in 1982 it became an autonomous community, with eight separate provinces – Huelva, Seville, Cádiz, Córdoba, Málaga, Jaén, Granada and Almería.

Economy of Andalucia

More than 50% of the working population is now employed in the service sector, reflecting just how important tourism is to the region’s economy. Additionally, the building industry has in recent years been thriving, which has helped slightly reduce Andalucía’s high unemployment rate. Agriculture, mainly grain, vegetables, olives, fruits, wine and cotton, is still important – especially in the fertile plains of the Guadalquivir valley. The large scale immigration of permanent residents from more northerly parts of Europe has had a mixed impact on the economy. Obviously it has brought in much needed revenue but it has also pushed house prices up for local people – in an area where the average income per person is well below the national average. Additionally, as many newcomers have not officially registered as permanent dwellers here – they have often had a negative impact on local services and amenities.

Climate of Andalucia

Although Andalucía can generally be said to have a typical Mediterranean coastal climate it is hardly surprising that, in a region of such geographical diversity, there are some significant differences in climate between various locations. Summers are invariably hot and dry, with temperatures often in the 30s or even higher inland. Winters are mild – temperatures will often be between 20 and 25 degrees – and most of the rain will fall in concentrated bursts.

However, bear in mind that around Grazalema the rainfall is significantly higher than elsewhere and that in Granada you can see snow on the mountains even in August. And you can ski in the Sierra Nevada during the winter! In fact, many people love the experience of skiing in the mountains during the morning and then driving down to the coast for an afternoon swim.

The famous Levante wind, especially during Spring and Autumn, brings delight to wind surfers in the Tarifa area but can be quite distracting for people wanting a quiet day on the beach.