Huelva (province)

Huelva is a province in the south west of Andalusia. The capital is the city of Huelva. The charm of Huelva is mainly found on its beaches and its mountains. Huelva's coastline stands out for its rugged beaches, endowed with natural landscapes of great intensity and surprising diversity. Among pine forests, marshes, lagoons and dunes, lovers of the sea and water sports will be able to choose between the beaches of Ayamonte, Almonte, Cartaya, Isla Cristina, Lepe, Moguer and Punta Umbría.

Cities

 * — capital city of the province, with historical sites connected to Christopher Columbus, and a historic pier
 * — known for its 10th-century mosque
 * — an important pilgrimage site is found here, roughly in-between Huelva and Sevilla
 * — a village whose streets are covered with sand every night
 * — a small Andalusian town, with cobbled streets, old buildings, and a beautiful church
 * — a popular summer holiday resort, with kilometres of 'Blue Flag' standard beaches
 * — known for its clean waters and peaceful atmosphere, and more relaxing than tourist centres like Marbella
 * — where Christopher Columbus started
 * — known for it's campero style of leather work

Other destinations

 * — rocket launch site
 * — seaside town near the flamingo-filled salt flats
 * The Parque Nacional de Doñana is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is Spain's most important wetland area and one of the most important bird reserves on the continent. The dunes and marismas stretch along the Atlantic from Matalascañas to the mouth of the Guadalquivir.
 * The Paraje Natural Marismas del Odiel is opposite the provincial capital Huelva on the other side of the Río Odiel.
 * The Paraje Natural Marismas del Odiel is opposite the provincial capital Huelva on the other side of the Río Odiel.
 * The Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche Natural Park is in the western part of the Sierra Morena, in the north of the province. Chestnut groves as well as cork and holm oak forests determine the landscape. Half-wild black pigs live there and are fattened with acorns. The hams and sausages from these animals are the main products of this region - the hams from Jabugo are considered to be the best in Spain.
 * The Río Tinto (coloured river) rises in the north of the province and flows after about 100 km near the provincial capital Huelva together with the Río Odiel into the Atlantic Ocean. The colour of the water has its origin in the deposits of iron and copper in the upper reaches, at Minas de Riotinto these have been mined for 3000 years. It is this river and its mines that lends its name to Australian mining giant Rio Tinto.
 * The Ruta Colombina follows in the footsteps of Christopher Columbus through the province: in the monastery of Monasterio de la Rábida he found a like-minded person in the confessor of Queen Isabella. At the Muelle de las Carabellas, replicas of the ships Pinta, Niña and Santa Maria are on display. Columbus started his first voyage in Palos de la Frontera, and this is where the captain of the Pinta came from.

Talk
Huelva is characterized by the Andalusian dialect. The use of a lisp pronouncement (pronounce the Z or the C in the case of S. Examples: "Zermon", "¡que paza!", "excuse me" ... etc.) is usual in some towns.

Climate
In Huelva there is a moderately warm Mediterranean climate; in the north of the province it is more continental. With 3,000 hours of sunshine per year, Huelva, along with Almería, is the province with the highest solar radiation.

The annual average temperature is 18.1 °C. The warmest month is August (25.5 °C), the coldest month is January (11.4 °C). In the Sierra Morena, these temperatures are somewhat more extreme, higher in summer and colder in winter, as the balancing influence of the Atlantic has no effect there.

The annual mean values ​​for rainfall are between 500 and 700 mm on the coast and 800 and 1200 mm in the Sierra Morena. The rainiest months are December and January, the least precipitation are July and August.

By plane
The nearest airports are the Aeropuerto de Sevilla, Aeropuerto de Jerez , and the Portuguese Aeroporto Internacional de Faro. Seville and Faro airports are around 100 km away. It is 150 km from Jerez. Faro in particular is served by many international airports, sometimes several times a day.

By train
Trains from Seville stop at Huelva station 3 times a day. From there you have a connection with the fast AVE to many destinations in Spain. There is also a connection with the Talgo to Madrid. The city of Huelva can be reached by bus from Seville every hour. There is also a bus service from Faro to Huelva.

By car
The well-developed A-49 motorway ( Autovía del Quinto Centenariovon ) from Seville to the Portuguese border runs through the province.

Get around
DAMAS operates a very dense bus network to the holiday resorts.

With a rental car or your own car you are of course much more flexible. The road network is mostly well developed and in good condition.

Do
Nature Reserves: To combine with the beach days, nothing better than going into the protected natural areas of the province. Hiking: On foot is the best way to discover the beauty of the Sierra Morena and unforgettable places such as the Gruta de las Maravillas de Aracena.

The Landscapes of cultural interest in Huelva route could be an excellent way to delve into the landscapes and ethnography of the province.

Eat
The most famous product of the province's gastronomy is the Huelva ham, which has its own DO (Denomination of Origin). Sausages of excellent quality also come from the interior.

On the coastal strip, fish and seafood are the basis for the preparation of dishes such as Atún con Tomate (tuna with tomato sauce), Atún encebollado (tuna with onions), Almejas con Arroz (clams with rice) or Chocos con Arroz y Habas (small squids with rice and beans).

Typical baked goods are Coca de Isla Cristina (cake made from egg, almonds and pumpkin confectionery) or hornazos, yeast pastries and pastelillos de Moguer.

The Condado de Huelva region gives its name to the wine and the vinegar made from it in this province, which now have their own DO (Designation of Origin). Fresas (strawberries) and citrus fruits are also grown, the region around Lepe is the largest strawberry producer in Europe with a share of around 80% of the European market.

Go next

 * Alentejo — sparsely populated region in Portugal's southern plains.
 * Algarve — popular beach and resort region in southern Portugal.
 * Sierra de Aracena Natural Park — in the province of Huelva.
 * Palos de la Frontera — town of Huelva with important Columbian Places. See also Voyages of Columbus.