Danger, not beaches, drew 19th century tourists to southern Spain. Andalucia was one of the notorious bandit areas of Europe, where encounters with latter-day Robin Hoods added drama to the romantic landscape. The remote mountainsides around La Alpujarra, Serrania de Ronda and Sierra Morena provided shelter for these desperados.
Wine has been produced in Malaga province since Phoenician times, and the tradition was famously continued by the Romans, and subsequently the Moors for medicinal purposes. After the reconquest of Malaga in 1487 the Catholic Monarchs realised that wine was useful in keeping the city's residents happy, and they helped establish the Hermandad Sacramental de Viñeros.
If your idea of a holiday is sitting on the beach all day, think again. In Search of Andalucia will inspire you to explore further and appreciate the history behind Spain's most popular holiday destination.
Jaen is also known – by historians – as the “Holy Kingdom”. This is because more or less the very same area we know today as Jaen Province, was long ago a kingdom, ruled first by Moors and then by Christians.
Huelva's attraction for successive generations of settlers lies in its geographical position on a large river estuary, on the Atlantic coast, and its proximity to rich mineral deposits. Its origins can be traced back to prehistoric times, when the first settlers in the Bronze Age were drawn to the area by the minerals in the area that is now the site of the Río Tinto mines.
Granada's history is one of internal crises because of the existence of a powerful landowning nobility successive wars with Castile. Successive kings of Granada sought political support and military aid from Morocco. Moroccan recruits caused the kingdom to undergo an intense process of "arabisation", to cut itself off from all Castilian influences, and to develop an absolute form of government based on military support.
Cadiz is believed to be the oldest city still standing in Europe. Its history is marked by its strategic military and commercial location on the Atlantic Ocean and at the entrance to a large sheltered bay. The settlement was founded by Phoenicians from Tyre (modern day Lebanon) following the Trojan War in about 1.104 BC.
Previously named Castilleja (from Castilla - Castle) up until the end of the 18th century, it later became known as Castillejar de los Rios and is now simply known as Castillejar.
Since ancient times, Castillejar, with its land base in the Guadalquivir valley has been a strategic point on the important trading route linking the Almeria and Murcia coastlines. Its natural position between the Barbatas and Guardal rivers has played a great part in its own historic and cultural evolution, making it a natural stronghold along this important commercial gateway.
