The Jabugo’s 3 phases
Corteconcepción
From the westernmost foothills of Sierra Morena to the Atlantic coast, travellers exploring the province of Huelva will enjoy bountiful and delicate natural landscapes beneath bright blue skies.
The mountain climate is warm and mild, and tempers the high summer temperatures and the rigours of winter. The centre –warmer and drier– is cooled in the evening by sea breezes.
The temperate climate on the coast is perfect for enjoying the sun and the sea all year round, in a landscape dotted with inviting white villages, equipped with all modern amenities.
The history of this province, with its inescapable maritime tradition, goes back to the first millennium BC. Tartessians and Phoenicians exploited the inland mines, transformed the coastal towns into prosperous trading centres, and created a maritime trade route to transport the minerals from Tharsis and Riotinto to the cities of the eastern Mediterranean.
At the end of the Middle Ages, the Atlantic ports of Huelva experienced a period of great splendour. In 1492, Columbus' first expedition to the New World set sail from the quay at Palos de la Frontera. The Columbus expedition marked a before and after in the history of Huelva.
The province is rich in traditions, and its scenic and cultural heritage goes back to the times of the Tartessian civilisation, of which traces can be found around Andévalo and the mining region. The shady forests in the mountain areas, the holm oak pastures and the ancient mines offer a chance to enjoy large expanses of unspoilt scenery.
The fertile countryside of el Condado, with large agricultural towns and characteristic architecture, extends to the coast, with its mild climate and endless beaches against a backdrop of pines and junipers. The coast reaches the boundaries of the Doñana National Park, where the Guadalquivir river flows into the sea.
Bordering Portugal and bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, it is located in the west of Andalusia. It borders the province of Badajoz in the north and the provinces of Seville and Cadiz in the east, the Atlantic Ocean in the south and Portugal in the west.
Although it neighbours the province of Cadiz, it is the only Spanish province which is not directly connected with its neighbour, making it necessary to go through the province of Seville. The capital of the province of Huelva is the city of Huelva.
In the province of Huelva there are specific products in the mountains such as Huelva ham. And seafood such as white prawn. In spite of everything, it can be said that the cuisine of Huelva is seafood in the south, while in the mountains it is oriented to pork products and mushrooms, and in El Andévalo to game meats and lamb. In other words, it consists of a fusion of products from the mountains to the coast.
As the province of Huelva is in contact with the Atlantic and with the interior (border with Extremadura), the variety of ingredients in its cuisine is very varied.
Fish and seafood dishes are found in the areas near the coast, while meat and garden dishes are the protagonists in the interior, which has a certain influence with neighboring Extremadura cuisine. Fish are usually eaten fried, grilled, roasted or stewed. One of the most typical fish is sardines (especially from the Ayamonte and Isla Cristina area). Sardines in pepper, ray in paprika, snapper with onion, swordfish in yellow, tuna with tomato, cuttlefish with broad beans. Among the salted fish will be found the tuna mojama (typical of Isla Cristina). Among the tuna dishes there are also: tuna skin, shredded tuna, etc. The canning industry is important and for example there are municipalities with great prominence within the sector, an example is Ayamonte and Isla Cristina.
One of the most representative seafood in the Huelva cuisine is the white prawn, although crayfish and prawns are also abundant. Among the mollusks, of great fame, are the chirla and the coquina.The choco de Huelva is known in the province, its popularity has given rise to the name of the people of Huelva, popularly known as choqueros. Choco is the name by which a type of cuttlefish is known, and with it a wide variety of dishes are made, such as beans with cuttlefish, potatoes with cuttlefish, cuttlefish meatballs or simply fried cuttlefish. The white prawn from Huelva is a product of great consumption and appears frequently in restaurants throughout the province.
Huelva's pastry is of great tradition and simplicity, and its recipes have been passed down for generations. Some sweets are clearly of Arab heritage and are made entirely by hand. In most of the inland towns there are bakeries that continue to make some local traditional sweets, such as piñonates, pestiños, butter cakes, fried roses, donuts, polvorón cakes, cider cortadillos, ...
Huelva. At the mouth of the River Odiel stands Huelva, an Andalusian city with an ancient mining tradition and witness to historical events as important events as important as the discovery of America.
Palos de la Frontera. This town, of long seafaring tradition, was the cradle of the Discovery of America, since it was from its port that the three caravels set out in August, 1492, to arrive two months later at the remote and strange lands of the New World.
Almonaster La Real. An Arab castle, Mudejar and Gothic homes, and a mosque that is older than the one in Cordoba, are part of the historic quarter of Almonaster la Real, declared a Cultural Object.
Almonte. The most significant attractions here are: The Rocío pilgrimage, Doñana National Park and Matalascañas Beach.
Aracena. Architecturally, it is a typical Andalusian village, with whitewashed houses contrasting against the green landscape of the mountains. Its town centre, an official Property of Cultural Interest, and the Gruta de las Maravillas cave are its main tourist attractions.
Moguer. Moguer, a town in the region of La Tierra Llana, located on the banks of the Tinto river, is a place deeply involved in the Discovery of America, since it was in the convent of Santa Clara that Christopher Columbus pledged his oath of allegiance to the Catholic Monarchs.
Niebla. A millenary village, located at the top of a hill that overlooks the Tinto river. Its most impressive feature is its two-kilometre-long wall, which entirely covers the city's perimeter.