Andalusia Information
Andalusia, known to many as "the bridge between two continents", "the gateway to Europe", "a melting pot of cultures" or "a meeting point of two seas" fits perfectly within any of these definitions.
The place where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean, Andalusia has been fought over by numerous cultures since the earliest times of civilization, being one of the areas of settlement of our prehistoric ancestors.
Andalusia covers 17.3% of Spanish territory, 87,268 km² in total, making it the largest single region, with an area greater than countries such as Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Austria and Switzerland.
In Andalusia, contrasts are the norm. The diversity of the landscapes which make up the region provides an entire spectrum: from the warm Guadalquivir valley, to leafy low mountain areas, from volcanic landscapes such as the Tabernas Desert to the white peaks of Sierra Nevada.
Andalusia´s main river, the Guadalquivir, from the Arabic, meaning "Great River", together with its tributary, the Genil, forms a fertile valley which constitutes the fundamental geographical axis of Andalusia.
From its beginnings in eastern Andalusia, in the Sierra de Cazorla, to its outlet into the sea in the west, next to the marshes of Doñana National Park, the Guadalquivir is a source of life all along its journey across Andalusian territory.