Unlike other provincial capitals, Huelva in Spain is not so familiar to travel enthusiasts. When you get here for the first time, it seems that you ended up in Britain in the Victorian era. This is due to the fact that in the XIX century the British actively developed mining enterprises here and at the same time built up the territory with structures in the architectural style that was popular at that time in England.
Nevertheless, even after centuries, the city has not lost its charm - narrow streets, historical monuments, palm trees and a huge assortment of seafood offered in restaurants and bars. The city of Huelva in Spain is the smell of the sea wind and rosemary, it is a bright sun that falls every night into the ocean waters, it is an ancient city with a soul filled with Tarpean, Greek, Phoenician, Roman and other cultures.
Where is the city
The westernmost of the provinces of Andalusia is Huelva. Its coast - the “shore of the world" - starting from the mouth of the Guadiana River stretches east, to the province of Cadiz. In the very center of the province, where the Tinto and Odiel rivers merge, near the ocean, there is the eponymous capital - Huelva. This is a calm resort city, which is inhabited by about 150 thousand people.
A bit of history
The history of Huelva in Spain has its roots in the distant past. Researchers found that more than five thousand years ago, a settlement already existed on these lands. The surrounding lands are rich in various natural resources. At different times, they were inhabited by Greeks and Phoenicians, Muslims and ancient Romans. And today this territory keeps traces of these civilizations. For many centuries, Huelva has been one of the most important port cities in the Pyrenees.
The city gained special significance thanks to the journey of Christopher Columbus. The great navigator glorified this town and the whole of Spain, brought her numerous overseas colonies, promising untold wealth. The devastating earthquake (1755) that occurred in nearby Lisbon brought Huelva many troubles: countless testimonies of a great cultural past were irretrievably lost. Only a few architectural monuments survived this disaster.
From the 19th century, the era of active industrialization in the city began. Impressive foreign investment flowed into these regions, which attracted mineral deposits. At the end of the century, British tycoons made a great contribution to the development of the city. Huge funds were used to develop the mining industry. The flow of foreign capital was followed by the construction of many outstanding structures. In addition, in 1889 it was here that the oldest, one of the first football teams in the country, Recreativo de Huelva, was founded.
Huelva (Spain): a description of the city
This medium-sized (even by Spanish standards) city, which is located on an area of about 150 square meters. km, you will not be struck by the architectural chic inherent in Seville. You will not plunge into the vibrant life of nightly entertainment venues, as in Malaga. However, visit Huelva in Spain. Reviews of tourists indicate that on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean you will find stunning, charming landscapes at first sight.
In this calm town you will enjoy the atmosphere of complete peace. The city is located almost on the border with Spain, in the south of the country. It does not look much like the traditional Spanish cities in the region. Unlike many of them, where traces of Arab rule are visible in everything, English-style buildings predominate in Huelva. But this in no way affected the Spanish atmosphere prevailing in Huelva: hospitable, friendly and smiling residents, incredibly tasty jamon, an abundance of sun leave no doubt that you are in Spain.
The old part of the city is small squares (the mayor of Koto Mora, for example) and narrow streets. In Huelva there is a quarter named after Queen Victoria. It is made in a classic English style.
The port of Huelva, which has become the center of the fishing fleet, is in full swing. Next to it is Palm Boulevard, an oasis of silence adjacent to a noisy port. In the vicinity of the city are beautiful beaches with fine white sand, which tourists from Europe like to relax. They are offered fascinating boat trips, diving, various types of surfing and sailing regattas, paragliding. Well-developed land and water infrastructure is suitable for a comfortable and pleasant stay.
Huelva is a recognized culinary paradise, where gourmets are invited to taste delicious dishes of the freshest seafood. In this resort city, all vacationers will find entertainment to their taste: golf lovers, and lovers of historical and religious attractions, and fans of extreme pastime, climbing, for example.
Huelva Attractions: Cathedral
The main Roman Catholic temple of Huelva in Spain, built in the early 17th century in a colonial style. Once he was part of the monastery. In the XVII century, the church was destroyed during several earthquakes. During the reconstruction, in 1775, it had to be almost completely restored. The reconstruction, led by the famous architect Pedro de Silva, was delayed and until the 40s of the last century was not completed. Another earthquake (1969) again destroyed the temple, and it was closed for another reconstruction.
The building with a magnificent pink facade and white marble interior is recognized as one of the brightest examples of Baroque architecture in the province of Huelva. It rises above the elegant and austere Plaza de la Merced. One of the main attractions of Huelva in Spain - La Merced Cathedral has baroque belfries that crown the bell tower. They were added to the temple only in 1915. The cathedral was built with three naves according to the plan of the basilica. Capitals of columns with decorative elements in the style of Spanish Baroque and Mudejar adorn the interior of the temple.
There is also a statue of the Virgin Mary, who is the patroness of the city. It was made by the sculptor Martinez Montanes at the beginning of the 17th century. Unique wood carvings and gilded jewelry are admirable. Other valuable works of art stored in the cathedral include the painting “San Lorenzo” by Francisco de Viejo (1617) and the wooden pulpit (XVII). Huelva Cathedral in 1970 was given the status of a national monument.
Church of St. Peter
The name of St. Peter in Huelva (Spain) was given to almost the whole area - St. Peter's street, square, mountain, where the temple was built, which became the first parish in the city. According to established tradition, it was built on the foundation of a mosque, previously destroyed. Today, St. Peter's Church is still the main city parish.
St. Peter's Castle
The building is located in the historic city center, on the hill of the same name. It got its name from the nearby St. Peter's Church. For a long time the castle was the architectural center of the city. But the Lisbon earthquake severely damaged him, and the castle became desolate. Although it is a historical monument, funds for its reconstruction have not yet been allocated.
Museum of Huelva
The exhibition occupies a magnificent modern building located on Avenida Sandheim Street in the south of Huelva. It contains an interesting collection of artifacts. Among them, you can see objects from the dolmen complexes of El Pozuelo and La Sarzita, as well as the necropolis of La Jolla and the city of Tartessa. The artifacts of the era of the ancient Greeks and Phoenicians, found on the territory of the city during archaeological excavations, and exhibits from the time of Muslim domination are also stored here. All of them occupy three floors and a basement.
The exhibition area is 3 thousand square meters. m, divided into two sections - fine arts and archaeological.
Columbus House
This is one of the most beautiful buildings of Huelva in Spain. You can see photos of the magnificent historical monument in this article. Now in the walls of the house of the legendary navigator, built in 1883, there is a hall for city events and press conferences, an exhibition hall. The residence of the Latin American Film Festival and the local archive are located in one wing of the building.
Roman aqueduct
Thanks to the military campaigns of Julius Caesar, the southern coast of present-day Spain has become a colony of the Roman Empire. The Romans, who had an active policy of settling and building cities, used the village as the basis for construction.
The Roman aqueduct was built through the city in the 1st century BC. This structure until the 17th century provided it with water. It survived the raids of the conquerors and the earthquake. Only the terrible Lisbon earthquake destroyed it in 1755. Thanks to the efforts and donations of citizens in 1772, the water artery was restored. Some segments of the aqueduct functioned until the 20th century. True, by this time the water from it was used for technical purposes.
City surroundings
Attractions of tourists deserve the surroundings of Huelva. They are definitely worth a visit. For example, the monastery of St. Clara, which is located 10 km from the city. It was founded in the 14th century. Surprisingly, his condition remained virtually unchanged.
Of no less interest to tourists is the Temple of Virgen de la Sinta, which is located a few kilometers from the city, on Mount Conquero. The temple is distinguished by the typical Mudejar style of Andalusia with baroque elements.
Among these attractions in the vicinity of Huelva, the Doñana National Park, which is under the protection of UNESCO, stands apart. He gained his fame thanks to the unique fauna and flora. The park can be visited only as part of excursion groups. Such excursions are most often organized from Huelva.
Palos de la Frontera - a port city from which Columbus set out on a journey in 1492 in search of the shores of America, is located a few kilometers from Huelva. The holiday, which is associated with this date, is one of the main in the city. Another attraction associated with this event is the active monastery of La Rabida (Huelva, Spain), where the sailor began to prepare for the trip, studied maps, carefully developed the route.
And in the east of the city is a monument in honor of Christopher Columbus, donated to Spain by the authorities of North America. It was erected in 1929. It symbolizes the role of the province and the city in the development of the New World.
Reviews on Huelva in Spain
Many travel lovers who often visited Spain admit that they discovered this town by chance and were fascinated by it at first sight. They were fascinated not only by the unusual architecture, numerous attractions, picturesque nature, but also by the hospitality and hospitality of the townspeople.