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Popular Things To Do | Miscellaneous Things To Do Tips | All Tips (20)  | |  |  | El Rocio, "The Dew" ...a pilgrims' town | Tip Rating:    |  |  | |  |
A legend says that during the second half of the 13th century, somewhere in the middle of nowhere a statue of El Rocio's Virgen was found in the salt marshes. Commanded by madness, the construction of a small chapel in those the salt marshes, began in honor of this vision. It was a far and difficult place to errect a chapel, but the Almontenos knew it well for they had hunted red deer and fished eel. From the end of the 13th century, they had a new reason to be devoted: a vision of the Virgen and a small hermitage. The Virgen was nammed Santa Maria of the Rocinas; shortly after they would change the name of the forest of the Rocinas to El Rocio, "The Dew". During long periods of time, the hermitage and the Virgen were left in solitude, for only hunters, shepherds and travellers sometimes dared to break the silence of the dunes and salt marshes to visit but when the region fell to the hands of the Medina Sidonia Dukes, The Rocio lost part of its isolation and it became a crossroad. Roads were built towards Moguer and shortly after cattle ranches and houses were set up to be the villages origin. Little by little the fame of the Virgen del Rocio grew amongst Almontenos as they made her patronne of Almonte June 29th, 1653. In August, 1813, when the French troops arrived to claim and force Spanish men to battle for them, discussion of refusal degenerated into a French high officer being murdered. French command swore vengence and threatened to burn the village overnight. The people of El Rocio prayed long and hard, all night to their patronne and promised to honor her on the same date every year, if she would spare their lives. Morning came and for some reason the French retired, leaving the site towards other towns to terrorise. The annual pilgrimage that ends in a huge romeria, brings over one million people to this little dirt road town; the silence of the salt marshes will never be again, as 80 brotherhoods and sororities are represented. For a few days around August 18th it becomes the heart of Andalucia. Leave a Comment Address: Around 10 km from Almonte, HuelvaDirections: Take the road towards Matalascanas, North of Donana's Natural Park, A 494, then left at A 483 at Matalascanas, El Rocio. Beware! All roads in El Rocio are sand, if you do not own a 4x4 or similar, better park on the edge of town.Website: http://www.elrocio.to/ Other Contact: http://www.spainview.com/andaluc
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| | | | Colombus' departure point in 1492, La Rabida | Tip Rating: | | | | |
La Rabida is an established Franciscain monastery right over the Odiel river, in an old Muslim industrial construction. Arabic, "Rabida" means "watchtower"; originaly, this place was a Muslim fortress, but in 1412, Pope Benoît XIII allowed the Franciscans to occupy the building thus, founding a monastery in its place. It is in this monastery that Colombus with the Franciscan brothers, Juan Perez and Antonio Marchena, prepared his voyage towards the discovery of America. Overall, this place underwent many sudden misadventures. In 1755, it was damaged by the November 1st seism which destroyed Lisbon. It was then plundered by the French troops during the 19th century war of Independence. In 1828, the American writer, Washington Irving, came to visit after the publication of the Navarette's work on Colombus. He loudly deplored its state of abandonment and dilapidation, so in 1834, the monastery was put on sale, but no bidder ever came forward, to a point where it was almost demolished. But the Dukes of Montpensier, informed of the situation and historical value of the building, took part in its restoration. They contributed to the Spanish classification of the site, in 1856, as a historic building. It is right to recognize that it is partly thanks to the action of Washington Irving and his notoriety that this place left its state of quasi ruin to a great 1892 commemoration restauration. Regrettably, even if only a few kilometers away from the National park of Donana classified as World Heritage by Unesco under the pretext that it is a natural reserve of more than 500 000 birds; the monastery of La Rabida is not the subject of any world classification, it is only classified as a National monument by the Spanish State. However, it is in La Rabida that Christopher Colombus developped the plan of his voyage which made it possible for the whole world to take note of the unknown continent now called America; Man is sometimes a funny bird! Leave a Comment Address: La Rabida, Palos de la FronteraPhone: 959 35 04 11Directions: El Rocío-Matalascanas-Mazagon-La Rabida road towards Palos de la Frontera, close to the National Park of Danana... then follow direction to La Rabida.Website: http://www.monasteriodelarabida.com/tarifas.html Other Contact: http://usuarios.lycos.es/Onuba/r
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| | | | Visinting small towns... Ayamonte | Tip Rating: | | | | |
This area has been populated since the Bronze Age. Of the Roman times, only the ruins of a forteress are left. During the 13th century, Sancho II of Portugal conquered it from the Arabs but ended up yielding it to the Order of Santiago. Later, through the treaty of Badajoz, when Alfonso XI accessed to the crown of Castilla, it was again given to the Niebla county. In 1664, Felipe IV was granted the title of the little city. Until 1992, the only way for people and vehicules between Spain and Portugal was the ferry. It was that year that the bridge united both nations as no longer was the ferry needed, nor was it mandatory to pass through Ayamonte's pier to acces Spain from Portugal although, the ferry continues to cross over hundreds of people and cars everyday. Ayamonte counts a little over 17 000 inhabitants and some of Huelva's best known beaches: Isla Christina and Isla Canela are the most famous for a day in the sun, while Punta del Moral is an interesting visit for its Roman Mausoleum. Being separated from Portugal only by the Guadiana river, Ayamonte is ideal for visiting with the Portuguese neighbours of Vilareal de Santo Antonio, shop the streets and markets, have great tapas and enjoy stricking views of the river, the bridge and the Altantic ocean. Ayamontinos' patronne is la Virgen de las Angustias, the Virgin of Angst whom they celebrate with great processions and fiestas around September 6th, 7th and 8th. Many of the town's churches are worth a visit such as Iglesia de Nostra Senora de las Angustias dating the 16th century, Iglesia de San Francisco also dating the 16th century and Iglesia del Convento de la Merced dating the 15th century. Leave a Comment Address: Last town before entering Portugal from the SouthDirections: From Sevilla or Huelva, A 49 towards Portugal, last exit before the bridge situated in the most South-Western part of Huelva.Website: http://www.ayamonte.to/ Other Contact: http://www.ayamonte.org/
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Birds are eating form your hand...
Really interesting. Leave a Comment Address: Near the main bus station
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Huelva's main claim to fame centres around Christopher Columbus who sailed from just outside Huleva on his voyage of dicovery. So it is not surprising to find a huge stone monument of Christopher Columbus (Monumento a Colón) situated at the Punta de Sebo, near to the confluence of the Odiel and Tinto rivers. The monument symbolically faces west towards America.
The monument was inaugurated in 1929 and was designed by the American Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and was constructed between 1928-1929. Address: Punta de Sebo, HuelvaWebsite: http://columbus.vanderkrogt.net/es/huelva.html
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