Almeria city offers great opportunities for those wanting to explore Andalucian coastline or venture into the Sierra Nevada national park mountain range just over an hours' drive away. Being a coastal city, ferries are available to take you across to African Algeria or Morocco where new cultures await your exploration.
Throughout seven days, Andalucia is surrounded by a spiritual halo. Semana Santa is a tradition which is repeated year after year; a time when the devout and curious jointogether to participare in the procession and converge on the streets and squares which take on the ambience and mystique of an open air temple.
According to legend, Sevilla was founded by Hercules and its origins are linked with the Tartessian civilisation. Called Hispalis under the Romans and Isbiliya by the Moors, the high point in its history was following the discovery of America in 1492, when wealth flooded in from the "New World". For all its important monuments and fascinating history, Sevilla is universally famous for being a joyous town.
To get an idea of the sights and sounds of Semana Santa in Seville, watch this video. Under the blue cloth, which acts as a skirt for the paso (float), are 36 men called costaleros, all bent double, with padding on their necks to carry the 2000-kg float with its statues of Jesus and supporting characters.
Semana Santa, like any other festival, has its own special flavours and this is especially during this week because traditionally Catholics are not supposed to eat meat. A great time for seafood.
Semana Santa in Andalucia is not only a religious event, it is also a tourist event. Thousands of visitors descend upon this region either to enjoy the Holy Week festivities in Andalucia or to take a much needed holiday from work. It is of utmost importance, therefore, that cities and towns have everything in order in time to greet them.
If you really want to understand Semana Santa in Andalucia, then you need to learn about the groups of people who are at the heart of it all - the cofrades or members of cofradías, the religious associations that care for the images of Christ and Mary that are used in the processions and that meet throughout the year for various activities and to plan the next Holy Week celebrations and events in their local area.
The sacred books of Tantrism were written between the 7th and 17th centuries AD and the word Tantra is from the Sanskrit, meaning to expand and liberate. Tantra is a spiritual practice; using yoga and meditation to open you to cosmic and physical love.
You can find specialist nail salons in Andalucia providing leading edge technology in the field of; Manicures, Pedicures and Nail Extensions for hand and foot beauty. New technologies include, false nails, nail repairs and the edition of sparkling nail jewellery. Hand painted flowers on nails and feet are great fun for the beach. Whatever the occasion an expert manicure always gives such a good impression.
This is a beautiful golf course located next to the sea, and within easy reach of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This situation provides spectacular views of sea and mountain.
The course is a flat links with large greens and two lakes to negotiate. Exotic plants line the fairways to give a tropical feel to the course; they include papaya, mango and palm trees as well as stands of sugar cane.
Practice facilities here are ideal, and include a driving range, putting green, pitching green and golf lessons.
This modern course (previously known as Sanlúcar de Barrameda golf course) is situated opposite the beautiful Doñana National park, where the Rio Guadalquivir enters the Atlantic. This allows for outstanding wide views over the whole area.
Andalucia is one of Europe’s foremost golfing destinations, with over 100 courses and the great weather guarantees endless hours of fun on the courses. There are a number of Golf Clubs in Sancti Petri itself, from Melia Sancti Petri Golf course to the 3 separate courses in Novo Sancti Petri in the countryside, by the sea and in the centre.
Every year the beaches of Sanlucar de Barrameda in the province of Cádiz come alive with the pounding of hooves as the famous horse races take over the coast. Traditionally, the races take place the second and fourth weeks of August from Friday to Sunday. The schedule also depends on the tide times so they might come foward a week.
Andalucia is an ideal year-round destination for your golfing holiday with its average eight hours of sunshine per day, and spectacular coastline filled with over 100 courses designed by world-famous names such as Trent Jones, Jack Nicklaus and Seve Ballesteros.
There is a modern bus station opposite the RENFE railway station. The bus station itself has become one of the emblematic buildings of Córdoba. The building wone the National Prize for Architecture in 1999 when it was built was built by César Portela. In the car park travellers can observe remains of a Mozarabic house, the junction of two aqueducts and a mosque with Roman ashlars.
In reality, Málaga airport is full of fascinating facts and you won’t regret reading up on the history of this interesting airport.
Algeciras bus stations is located next to the railway station. It is a modern uninteresting functional design. It has ticket office open all day. facilities include shops, toilets, 'consigna' with small cary on size lockers and a cafe. There is a taxi rank outside. The local bus L1 stops outside.
La Joya is an old mining settlement named after the Arroyo de la Joya, some 70km north of Huelva, close to the Atlantic and the Portuguese border in the Comarca (area) of El Andavalo, west of the Sierra de Aracena.
Novo Sancti Petri's is the newer seafront town located to the south of the old town, with a new seafront promenade behind the magnificent beach Playa de La Barrosa. This beach actually stretches for 8km, from Sancti Petri village to Torre del Puerco, a defensive coastal tower dating from the 19th century.
The coastal town of La Línea de la Concepción - more commonly known simply as 'La Línea' (meaning 'boundary line' in Spanish), is often referred to as 'The Gateway to Gibraltar' and as you approach it for the first time, you will soon know why. It forms the boundary between the famous and British territory of Gibraltar and Spain.
