History

The Port of Huelva is situated in the very heart of the so called Columbus route, surrounded by those places that, at the end of the fifteeth century, played an important part in the adventure of the Discovery of America and that today preserve the most important historical relics of the time when Christopher Columbus and the sailors from the coast of Huelva led the events that changed the course history; the encounter with the American Civilisations.

In front of the exterior port of Huelva stands the Monastery of "Santa María de la Rábida", where Columbus arrived in 1485; it is still essentially as the Admiral came to know it: the church, in gothic-mudejar style, the cloister, built following the models of Guadalupe and San Isidoro, and of course the Vázquez Díaz hall, that holds the famous painter's fresco's of the Columbus Adventure. At the foot of the Monastery lies the Quay of the Caravels, where exact copies of the ships that took part in the discovery, fully equipped and moored at a quay with all kind of elements related with navigation and in a setting from the fifteenth century.




Culture/Art

Museums and Monuments
Huelva has an Archaeological and Fine Arts Museum, where paintings by Vázquez Díaz, Labrador or José Caballero can be admired, as well as important archaeological remains, dug up in “La Joya”, one of the town’s hillocks and luxurious Greek pottery. The Open Air Sculpture Museum offers more than 60 works by well known Spanish artists. (Berrocal, Noja, García Muela).

Communications

Distances (motorway km)

· Madrid 636
· Seville 94
· Cadiz 243
· Cordoba 234
· Granada 338
· Jaen 344
· Faro 100
  (Capital of Portuguese Algarve)
· Doñana 45


Beaches

Situated on the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula’s Atlantic coast, at a distance of 45 minutes from Seville and the beautiful Portuguese region of Algarve, Huelva has an excelent climate which enable people to enjoy the one hundred kilometres of white sandy beaches.

Leisure/Sports

· Sailing  (5 Yachting Harbours)
· Golf  (5 Courses)
· Horse riding
· Water sports


Hotel

Number of Hotels:
*****    1
****    11
***      15


Shopping

Commercial opening hours:
   10:00 a.m. – 14:00 p.m.
   17:00 p.m. – 20:30 p.m.
   (Closed on Sundays) 		  Gastronomy and Wines

Of the rich regional gastronomy, Huelva’s delicious seafood, the famous Iberian pig products and the wines of the region called El Condado (Vinos del Condado), deserve special mention.

Other Tourist Destinations

Parque Nacional de Doñana
At a distance of thirty minutes only, we find the National Park of Doñana, the most import one in Europe, declared Reserve of Biosphere and Heritage of Humankind by UNESCO. Doñana is the most important overwintering, resting and brooding area for many speceies of bird. During different seasons, in Doñana more than 300 bird species can be watched and the privileged area is also one of the last redoubt of important endangered animals, such as the Iberian Lynx and the Imperial Eagle, natural treasures that enjoy a save haven in Doñana.

Festivals

· Rocío Pilgrimage (May)
· The Columbus Celebration, wich commemorate the Discovery of America (August)
· The Latin-American Film Festival ( The first week of December)
· Theatre and Dance Festival of Niebla (Jun , July , August )
· The Medieval Festival of Cortegana ( August )


Climate

Huelva enjoys a privileged climate (more than 3000 hours of sunlight and a medium yearly temperature of 20º).

Tour Operators in Huelva

Huelva Tourist and Promotions Board
Tel: 34 – 959 257 467
E-mail: turismo_hcb@diphuelva.es


Tourist Information Office
Tel: 34 – 959 257 403