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Huelva, on the Atlantic Ocean, is on the border with Portugal, separated by the Guadiana river (which is now crossed by a bridge providing easy access by road). It covers nearly 10.000 square kilometres and is divided into four perfectly delimited regions: mountainous, mining, agricultural and coastal. The majority of Huelva's splendor is spread throughout the province: La Rábida was the point of departure for Columbus' voyage to discover America (visiting the interesting Columbian places is highly recommended). The Condado delights it's visitors with wines and beautiful towns. The mountian range of Aracena with the Gruta de las Maravillas (Caves of Wonder), Alájar and Jabugo, which has become world famous for its ham. The Cortegana range has a castle and small towns. It is the land of chestnut trees, hills, perennial vegetation, and mountain pastures. The mining region is home to the towns of Tharsis, Río Tinto and Nerva. The agricultural region includes the towns of Bullullos del Condado, La Palma del Condado, and Almonte the most universal town in the area owing a yearly pilgrimage to a small village called El Rocío. Towards the end of the Bronze Age, various peoples from the eastern Mediterranean settled here incluiding the Phoenicians and the Greeks, mixing with the indigenous population to give rise to the kingdom of Tartesuss. The origins of this legendary city remain confused: however, most historians site the city close to the Tinto and Odiel rivers, around the city of Huelva, which was then known as Onuba. The city was later occupied by the Romans and in the 8th century by the Muslims under the name of Guelbar. During this period Moorish settlers introduced a number of new agricultural techniques to the city, at the same time developing a range of artisanal activities, such as glazed pottery. After the reconquest led by Alfonso X the Wise in the 13th century, control of Huelva exchanged hands between nobles and affluent families, creating a complex situation which lasted until the 15th century, it then came under the control of the Dukes of Medina Sidonia, who initiated its final repopulation.
The modern history of the city is marked by the proximity to the National Park of Doñana, which has had a beneficial effect on local tourism.
The town also has an excellent choice of restaurants and shops in the pedestrianised streets around the Inglesia de la Conceptión, particularly in the Calle Pablo Rada, where locals can indulge in one of their favourite pastimes, namely enjoying the excellent local tapas. The Paraje Natural de las Marismas del Odiel, a marshland of outstanding beauty lies not far from the town. Situated at the mouth of the Tinto and Odiel rivers has been declared as a World Biosphere Reserve. It occupies a surface area of 7,150 hectares. In this remarkable area of tidal flats and sandy ecosystems, the water can rise and fall by as much as 3 metres, depending on the tide. The specific features of the area have resulted in a habitat that now provides a home for over 200 different species of birds, offering a spectacular sight, particularly in February and March. The area can be visited by canoe and small boat which slowly cross the reserves two main area: El Burro and the Isla de Enmedio. Here the land seems to shift slowly and the colonies of spoonbills and herons break the silence of this exceptional natural landscape with their strident calls and sudden flight.
The province is probably best known for its marshlands and national park, called Doñana where, amidst sand dunes, marshes, pinewoods and freshwater lagoons live flamingos, plus rare buzzards, lynx, mongoose and a startling variety of migratory birds. Coto Doñana Comprises delta waters which flood in winter and then drop in the spring leaving rich deposits of silt and raised sand banks and islands. These conditions are perfect in winter for geese and ducks but most exciting in spring when they draw hundreds of flocks of vultures. If you are lucky you may also catch a glimpse of a Spanish Imperial Eagle, now down to 14 breeding pairs. You can explore the park in a safari jeep and there are organised camping trips for children, as well as audio-visual shows and exhibits. More than 100,000 hectares in the area of the mouth of the Guadalquivir, denoted for its great ecological wealth, recognised internationally. Doñana has become a key centre in the world of conservationism. Its configuration is a result of its past as the estuary of the Guadalquivir river. It consists of beaches, costal mobile dunes, marshes, ponds, and jets. Vegetation is typical Mediterranean thicket of narrow leaved cistus heather, mastic tree, rosemary, cistus scrub, red lavender, etc. The marsh cork oaks are known as "las pajareras" for the enormous quantity of birds that nest in them and large expanses of stone pine. Fauna here has a rich variety, some in danger of extinction, such as the lynx, the Egypcian mongoose and the imperial eagle. Game is also plentiful - deer, fallow deer and boar. Doñana is well known for its variety of species of birds, either permanent residents, winter visitors from north and central Europe or summer visitors from Africa, such as numerous types of geese and colourful colonies of flamingo.
Running along the northern border of the province lies the beautiful and little-visited Sierra de Aracena, an extensive range of rolling wooded hills, pine-covered mountains and thinly populated valleys, where wild boar, eagles and deer still roam abundantly, completing the picture of this varied province that has so far escaped mass tourism. Fascinating in their own right, these green-sloped mountains conceal one of the marvels of Andalucía: Rio Tinto. Another of Huelva province's better known attractions are the Caves of Marvel in the small town of Aracena. The different parts of the cave have particularly evocative names referring to their shapes and include the Hall of the Organs, the Hall of the Jewels, God's Glassworks and the Great Lake of the Emeralds. The village of Jabugo is famous for its cured hams and other meat products.
Another Atlantic beach town to recommend is Matalascañas which has numerous hotels and restaurants. This is also an important centre for excursions, being less than 40 kilometres from Huelva City and 85 from Seville City.
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