COSTA DE LA LUZ
The Costa de la
Luz is known as the " coast of light ". With 300 kilometres of coast it is
situated in the Andulucian south west corner of Spain facing the Atlantic Ocean
from the Straits of Gibraltar to Ayamonte on the Portugese border. With its sand
dunes, pine forests, fishing villages and fine golden sandy beaches with very
mild temperatures in the winter months. The Costa de la Luz area is not as
developed as the neighbouring Costa del Sol.
Specialities are king prawns washed down with chilled Manzanilla wine.
Attractions
The Costa de la Luz
comprises of 300km of coastline, the southernmost in mainland Spain on the
Atlantic side, stretching from Ayamonte, on the border with Portugal to Punta de
Tarifa in the Straits of Gibraltar. It incorporates two provinces of lower
Andalucia, Huelva and Cadiz and several nature reserves of national importance
such as the Doñana National Park. This wide expanse of unspoilt land makes it a
nature lovers paradise. Miles of sandy, unspoilt beaches and nature in its
purest form are the main attractions of this part of Spain.
It has yet to succumb to the mass tourism. Local government
are already putting into effect, plans to protect the area and to stop the
illegal building that has occured in other areas of Spain.
Birdlife along the coast is quite unique and Tarifa's long, sandy beach is host to many rare sea
birds. At La Janda, a wetland north-west of Tarifa is home to wintering cranes
in great numbers. The whole area is home to Griffin Vultures and Eagles who
glide on the warm thermals, looking for food. White storks and egrets are common
sights and during the summer, several species of rare butterflies are in
evidence. The plantlife of the is also of great importance with many flowers and
plants being found here that cannot be seen anywhere else in Spain. The Costa de
la Luz is also famous for its sunsets.
Ayamonte, next to the River Guadiana that divides Portugal and Spain marks the start of Huelva´s part of the
Costa de la Luz. Known as the ´gateway to Spain`. It is a lively trading centre
with an important port and a thriving canning and salting industry, It also
boasts a rich architectural heritage. The N431 highway runs along the coast from
Ayamonte to Huelva and along the way are several side roads that lead to the
important fishing ports including Isla Cristina with it´s 8km stretch of
beaches. Further along the coast lies Islantilla, a new tourist and sports
resort with magnificent hotels and a cliff-top golf course. La Antilla has a
wonderful beach. Lepe is a busy town that thrives on agriculture, fishing and
tourism. Within the town you will find a wealth of history and many of the areas
best churches.
Huelva has always had a fishing industry and this still remains
today, distributing fresh produce to the whole of Spain. In it´s past, Huelva
has also been the centre of mineral mining from the nearby river beds. On the
other side of the Rio Tinto stands Moguer, a beautiful town with many
interesting sights to see including the famous Convento de Santa Clara where
Christopher Columbus gave thanks after returning from his first voyage.
From here, head to the coast to find the beach of Mazagon, dotted with pine trees and
home to a fine marina and many splendid hotels. The beaches along here are
particularly good for wind surfing and other water sports. From this point you
are very close to the Doñana National Park.
Cadiz is to be found on the eastern side of the park and between here and Tarifa there are 150km of fine beaches.
Inland is the city of Jerez.
Cadiz
The oldest city in the western world and
according to Greek legend, the city was founded by Hercules. Located on the
southwestern coast of Spain, most southerly province of Andalucia and has a
coastline of 200km. This lovely old city was once Spain's prime entry port to
the newly discovered Americas.
Cadiz is well known for its irresistable sights, sheer elegance and atmosphere. Broad white dunes line the beaches of the Costa
de la Luz which stretches from Cadiz to Tarifa in the south. Much of this area
has escaped the developers to this day and retains its quiet charm. Cadiz has
always been an important port and remains so to this day. It is described as a
province of white villages and white beaches. It has a rational urban design
with straight, narrow streets. It has botanical gardens that surround the city,
almost making it an island. It has its own temple, recently restored.
The town is most famous for its wine (Manzanilla) and its prawns. It also has famous
summer horse racing on the beaches. It has one of the highest rainfall levels in
Spain which has resulted in several unique botanical species surviving here such
as the Spanish Fir.
Upon arrival in Cadiz, head for the tourist office, located in the Plaza de San Juan de Dios. Here they
have two beautiful books
that give you two guided tours of all the monuments. Your tour also starts here
with the Town Hall, one of the most important buildings in the city.
The guide book will tell you everything about the building and it is possible to
explore inside. From this point, follow the tour to see the Church of San Juan
and the Hospital building. Enter the hospital to admire the central
patio. An important archway is your next sight. The Arco de
los Blancos was once a gateway between the island of Cadiz and the mainland. As
you wander along the tour, admire the narrow passageways and decorated balconies
that Cadiz is famous for. The Admiral's House is next with its beautiful marble
columns. Head towards the old Cathedral whose dome is totally unique with its
unusual tiling. The Roman Theatre is along the Paseo Maritimo. The theatre is
once again open to the public after extensive work. Work continues and a new
visitor centre is being constructed. By far the most impressive building in
Cadiz has to be the Cathedral with its dome and huge towers. The workmanship all
around the Cathedral is amazing. These are just a few examples of the
architecture that Cadiz has to offer.
On top of this Cadiz has a vibrant
shopping area with traditional and modern shops, a thriving market and a modern
city. With a wonderful beach area thrown in for good measure, Cadiz has it all.
It has to be visited slowly to absorb everything and for this, there is no
shortage of quality accommodation.
There are a multitude of museums and other
attractions one of which is La Torre Tavira, the most fascinating watchtower in
Cadiz. It is the highest lookout point in the town and offers a unique
attraction, the Camera Obscura. It also houses exhibition halls which may be
visited on the way up or the way down. The camera can be seen on a guided tour
which runs every half hour and lasts 15 minutes. The tower is open to the
public.
Cadiz also has some of the most beautiful beaches in the area. Miles of
golden sand and all the facilities you would expect from modern beaches. Inland
of Cadiz offers a wide variety of landscapes and tiny, white-painted villages,
well worth a visit. The green oasis of Grazalema is surrounded by a natural
park, a paradise for walkers and naturists. To the south, rolling hills are
covered with walnut trees, pines and Spanish firs. Black bulls graze beneath
cork oaks. Not far away, vines take over, covering thousands of acres of white,
chalk soil, completing what is known as the 'Sherry Triangle', an imaginary
triangular boundary between Jerez, Santa Maria and Sanlucar de Barrameda.
Here you find the oldest vineyards in Europe. Cadiz has much to offer the visitor
including the vibrant fiestas where Flamenco shows are the norm. Cadiz is a city
that knows how to enjoy itself and is not affraid of showing it. Its annual
carnival in February is known to be the best and the wildest in Spain. Cadiz has
a very relaxed, secure feeling. It is almost impossible to get lost here, with
the presence of the sea.
Huelva
Huelva is a province within Andalucia. The
city of Huelva is a coastal city, along the Costa de la Luz, characterised by
the wide estuary that becomes the River Odiel. The city is full of Andalucian
architecture, including the Cathedral of La Merced (18th century). The heart of
the city is the shady Las Monjas Square.
Huelva has a close connection to the discovery of America, in so much as the Caravels set sail on the 3rd August 1492
from the docks that were once located here. The Casa Colon, House of Christopher
Columbus, is an impressive building that now houses a conference centre. Behind
the house is a courtyard with orange trees and a water feature. Opposite stands
a monument to the discovery of America.
Huelva also boasts the Monastery of Santa Clara, it's size and artistic value, one of the most outstanding monuments
of the province. The Convent of San Francisco stands nearby, also worth
inspection. The Corpus Christi Hospital is now converted into a theatre.
The city is proud of its open-air sculpture museum that exhibits the work of many of
Spains finest contemporary sculptors. The Provincial Museum, houses a fine
collection of artefacts. There is an interesting area within the city that is
currently in the process of being designated a monument of historic interest.
The Queen Victoria Workers' Quarter is a group of terraced houses built in
English style in 1917 to house the workers for the Rio Tinto Mining Company.
When it comes to fiestas and traditions, Huelva has much to offer. One of the
main events starts in July and runs into August. The Fiestas Colombinas marks
the citys' connections to America with festive activities and sporting and
cultural events. The city celebrates its annual fair, Fiestas de la Cinta
during the first week of September. This includes daily horseback displays and horse
races. These two major celebrations also combine with many others. One other
festival that is worthy of note is the Festival de Cine. The Ibero-American film
festival is a showcase for excellent movies that are rarely seen in commercial
cinemas.
The city has several major parks. The first, of huge proportions is the
Parque Moret which also houses the sports centre. There is another park in which
to rest, near the seafront, called the Jardin de Muelle. You will find the
tourist information centre close by, just off the Plaza 12 de Octubre.
The province of Huelva offers immense beaches, scattered with shells. There are ample
good quality hotels in the area and several major golf courses. The province is
also well known for the Doñana National Park, one of the most noteworthy places
in Europe. By the mouth of the Guadalquivir River, the area covers a huge
expanse of protected land.
Sotogrande
A luxury location on the Costa del
Sol, within Andalucia, very close to Gibraltar that is still growing and is fast
becoming the place to be. Sotogrande is a quiet area based around a wonderful
marina. Fine restaurants and bars line the water's edge. Good taste has been
retained here. It is an ideal
place to make base for golf holidays, being just minutes away from Valderrama
and other courses.
With 300 days of sunshine a year, Sotogrande stays active all
year round. There is also a wonderful beach with all facilities. Polo is also
very popular in the local area. The marina
which was built in 1987 has all the facilities you would expect. All the berths
have the usual facilities such as electricity, telephone, fresh water and
television, which all make for pleasurable sailing in the area. To complete the
marina there are ample dry-dock facilities and provisions for activities such as
jet-skiing.
The Sotogrande area is undergoing a constant improvement and
expansion with new facilities, new properties and new golf courses springing up
all the time. Over the next few years it is believd that this area will become
one of the Costa del Sol's most important leisure areas. Within a thirty minute
drive of Sotogrande are the smaller, luxury ports of Puerto de la Duquesa and
Estepona.
During the winter months, Sotogrande continues to thrive with it's
many major regattas that attract vast crowds. There are several top class
sailing events that draw vessels from all over the coast. Ideally located with
first class facilities, Sotogrande is fast becoming a top attraction for winter
sailors. Within the port of Sotogrande there are several high-class bars,
restaurants and large hotels. There are several important boat dealers and a
handful of small shops.There is a market weekly featuring
antiques and crafts.
Part of Sotogrande is away from the port, along the main
N340 highway. Here you will also find a selection of shops and bars as well as
access to the main.
The beach is long and wide and consists of soft, clean
sand. There is a beach bar and the usual sunbeds and showers If you head along
the N340 highway towards Malaga, within a couple of minutes of Sotogrande you
will see on your right, a series of small coves with wonderful, secluded
beaches. Whilst they have very few facilities, you can be assured of peace and
quiet alongside calm, shallow waters.
Tarifa
Tarifa
was until the mid 1980's was a quiet village, known only as the southernmost
point on the European landmass. It forms part of the Costa de la Luz within the
region of Andalucia. Today it has become a popular resort, famous for it's
windsurfing. It now ranks with the top three surfing resorts of the world. Even
in the winter surfers can be found on it's shores and specialist equipment shops
line it's streets.
There is a great appeal in wandering the crumbling ramparts
of Tarifa's old walls or narrow streets that surround the 15th century church of
San Mateo. The newly restored Castillo de Guzman has wonderful views from it's
towers, both across the town and the sea. In the centre there are many places to
see including a nice, small museum.
The area around Tarifa makes for excellent horse-riding and horses can be hired locally.
Heading northwest of Tarifa lie some of the best beaches anywhere with wide stretches of yellow sand. A new
addition to the area are whale and dolphin spotting trips.
Though Tarifa offers very little in the form of entertainment ie discos and nightclubs, there are
ample places to eat and drink, as well as many places to stay. There is also a
first class windsurfing school here. The best beach in Tarifa appeared to be
Playa de los Lances although the strong winds would be a problem for bathers.
This is of course heaven for the wind surfers that come here every year. The
port was quaint and very functional but rather untidy.
Tarifa has a good selection of historical buildings. The 15th century church of San Mateo was a
magnificent structure, located in a network of tiny streets and alleys and the
remains of the Moorish walls were a sight to behold, allbeit they looked out of
place, surrounded by untidy, modern buildings. There are several nice squares in
which to eat. Most are lined with tall palms for shade.
Tarifa is obviously an
energetic 'doing' place with quite a youth feeling to it. On a small island, accessed
by a narrow causeway at the end of Punta Marroqui is a miltary base,
unaccessable to the public, but at the side of this is a tiny cove beach. The
walk along the causeway offers fine views of both sides of the bay and a
guaranteed breath of fresh air. There is also a recently restored castle of
Guzman the Good.
Major villages, towns and cities in Costa de la Luz
Alcala del los Gazules, Alcoutim, Algeciras, Aljaraque, Alosno, Antequera, Aracena, Arcos de la Frontera, Ardales, Aroche, Arriate, Barbate, Beas, Benacazon,
Bollullos par del Condado, Cadiz, Calanas, Campillos, Campofrio, Chiclana de la Frontera, Corte do Pinto, Cortegana, El Cerro de Andevalo, El Puerto de Santa Maria,
Estepona, Gibraltar, Grazalema, Huelva, Jimena de la Frontera, La Mina, Lebrija, Manilva, Manzanilla, Monte Gordo, Nerva, Olvera, Paterna del Campo, Prado del Rey,
Puerto Serrano, Ronda, San Bartolome de la Torre, San Roque, Sanlucar de Barrameda, Sotogrande, Tarifa, Teba, Ubrique, Valverde del Camino, Vejer de la Frontera
and Zalamea la Real.
