The Provinces of Spain
ALAVA is an eminently industrial Province, its chief activities being the manufacture of iron, steel, agricultural machinery, cars, playing cards, furniture, glass-ware and handicraft ceramics. It is also one of three Basque provinces consisting of a plain surrounded by mountains and watered by the Zadorra, a tributary of the Ebro, and extends over 3,007 sq. km. An agreeable climate is marked by cool temperatures in summer.
The North specialises in ciders, the south, known as Alava Rioja is famous for wine. Lakes Zadorra and Ullivarri are surrounded by green mountains and offer facilities for all kinds of water sport. Also fishing can be found in the Rivers Bayes and Zadorra, including trout, cray and many other fish.
The provincial capital lies 115km. from San Sebastian and 113km. from Burgos. Festivities in honour of the Patroness take place during the first ten days of August and include folklore exhibitions and the traditional Torchlight procession. A good point to start excursions is from Vitoria which stands in the centre of the Alava plain and leads to Estibaliz Monastery and the caves of Gorbes. All the Basque regions are well known for their tasty cuisine and choice selection .
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ALBACETE with almost 15,000 sq. km. of plain and hardly any geographical features standing out except in the south eastern part of the province where you can see the foothills of Sierra de Segura with beautiful mountain landscapes. The source of the Mundo River in Riopar, a tributary of the Segura, is especially breathtaking. The natural phenomenon of the Lagoons of Ruidera, near Ossa de Montiel, are also interesting.
A visit should be made to La Roda, Chinchilla, Villarrobledo, Almansa, where you will see aristocratic mansions dating from medieval times. Alpera and Minateda cave paintings can also be found in natural shelters dating back to the neolithic age. The province is famed for hunting and fishing and during the partridge season people from both Spain and abroad gather here.
The Moors and Christians festival held in Caudete on 7th and 8th September have proved very interesting to the tourist, as has Tarazona de la Mancha. Albacete, capital of the province, has a very interesting Archaeological Museum with modern painting collections dedicated to Benjamin Palencia. It is also an ideal centre for daily outings to some of the other towns.
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ALICANTE is the southernmost of the three provinces which make up the Valencia region. Many tourist attractions can be found along the coastline, including sport of all kinds, mountains, castles, forests, etc. There are clearly defined areas in the province, such as, Upper Marina, with the towns of Jávea, Teulada, Benitachell and Calpe. Lower Marina, which is made up on the zone which centres around Benidorm, includes Altea and Villajoyosa and also the foothills of the Aitana Sierra (1,580m).
The central area of Alicante extends inland towards the industrial area with the towns of Elche, Aspe, Movelda and Elda. The southern area with the maritime towns of Guardamar, Torrevieja and Orihuela with extensive plains of market gardens which extend inland. The mountain area which includes the foothills of Aitana, Mariola and Carrasqueta Sierras. Especially important is the route of the castles, made up of the fortresses of Villena, Bañeres, Biar, Castalla, Sax and Benejama.
The city of Alicante offers the visitor numerous beaches including San Juan, and also tourists should visit Santa Barbara Castle, Monastery of Santa Faz, the Cathedral, the Archaeeological Museum, Church of Santa Maria and the Modern Art Museum. Access to the city is linked to the Mediterranean Highway which stretches to the French border and runs through the main Spanish coastal cities. Regular flights are available from El Altet airport to the world's main cities and the port offers regular runs to Barcelona, the Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, France and North Africa.
- Hotels Guide
- Valencia Fiesta - Moors & Christians
- Alicante - Important telephone numbers, consulates
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ALMERIA is situated in South East Spain and is covered by a surface area of 8,774 sq. km. crossed by high mountain ranges and separated from each other by narrow valleys. The coastline, which extends to 120km, is beautiful and presents the visitor with some marked contrasts. Cabo de Gata is the most rocky and elevated coastline with a mountainous formation made up of volcanic materials. Small beaches, and coves can also be seen with extensive sandy beaches. Average yearly temperature is 19.3 centigrade, with especially mild winters and very warm and dry summers. This is not a large province and only a few towns have over 10,000 inhabitants: Adra, Dallias, Berja, Albox, Huércal-Overa and Nijar.
Main sources of wealth are gold, silver and lead mining, also production of oranges and grapes. More recently, the region has become a major producer of a wide range of vegetables. There are various tourist routes in the province which link Almeria to the province of Granada and the route of the Alpujarras with its beautiful countryside and towns: Benhadux, Gádor, Aljama de Almeria, Canjáyar, Laujar, Alcolea, Berja, Arra, El Ejido, Dallias, Roquetas de Mar and Almeria. Along the coast is another route which links up with rocky cliffs, Cabo de Gata, Salinas, Rodalquillar and peaceful beaches such as Carboneras, Mojácar, Garrucha and Vera. Two towns are also on this route, Nïjar and Sorbas, and well known for their handicrafts. In the northern part of the province can be seen the so called Vélez route where you can visit Velez Rubio (an interesting castle) and Vélez Blanco with its famous Letreros cave containing prehistoric paintings.
Almeria has an important port which offers a regular ferry service to Melilla, a few hours away. Some very interesting monuments are also in the city, e.g. the Arab alcazaba, built by Abd al-Rahman lll, the Cathedral which originally served defensive purposes and the churches of Santiago el Viejo and San Pedro. As the local cuisine is fish, the most popular dishes are pickled sardines, shellfish with mayonnaise, prawns, lobsters, etc., but not forgetting there are different kinds of stew made with partridge on offer here.
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ASTURIAS lies in the north of Spain with its coasts bathed by the Cantabrian Sea. Even in the height of summer it always has green landscape and is very beautiful and varied because it includes the alpine heights of the Cantabrian Cordillera with the Pico de Europa and mythical Naranjo de Bulnes, down to the coast with more than one hundred beaches and some coastal villages such as Cudillero. In days gone by was the refuge of Viking navigators, Luarca, Tazones, Lastres, Villaviciosa, Ribadesella and Llanes. There are cities of industrial output such as Gijón capital of the Green Coast or Avilés centre of important factories, and at all times the green of the prairies brightening everything from the high summits to the sea limit. The inland valleys of the province are a genuine paradise for hunting, fishing (salmon and trout) and relaxation.
Oviedo being the capital is the seat of an ancient and very important University. It also has numerous monuments, abounding the Asturian Pre-Romanesque (Santullano, Cámara Santa, Santa Maria del Naranco and San Miguel de Lillol) with specimens of Gothic architecture such as the Cathedral. It is very accessible by railway, road and airport and the three main cities, Oviedo, Gijón, Aviles, are linked by a very modern motorway. The typical dish for this area is the fabada cooked with special white beans, black pudding, pork sausages, foreleg of pork and a good knowledge of cooking.
The most popular drink is cider extracted from the apple, and the cheese known as Cabrales and Gamonedo are especially popular because of their quality. Hake from Cudillero is the most popular, and sweets best known are marañuelas and the frixuelos. Popular sports are mountain climbing in the Picos de Europa area and skiing at the winter sport resort at Pajares. Fishermen from the whole of Europe and from America come every year to catch salmon in the Asturian rivers, such as, the Narcea, Sella, Canero and Deva-Cares. Hórreo is a popular architecture of this area, which is a kind of granary, and there are hundreds of specimens in the whole of Asturias.
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AVILA is the highest provincial capital in Spain located 1,127m. above sea level and is a very historical city. For example, Walls dating from the 11th century, Cathedral/Fortress 12th century, San Vicente, San Pedro, Royal Monastery of Santo Tomás, Romanesque Hermitages of San Segundo, San Nicolas and San José, the Nudéjar tower of San Martin, etc. Numerous other palaces, fortified mansions and convents are also to be found. The province is also popular for the variety of climates and landscapes which divide it into various regions - La Paramera and Sierra de Avila lie at the centre of the province, a granite plateau, which is interesting for its abundant pre-historic deposits and many iron-age sites such as those of Ulaca, Castillejos, Cardeñosa and Chamartin. La Moraña and Arévalo flat land producing grain, potatoes etc. and interesting population centres such as Arévalo and Madrigal de las Altas Torres.
Located to the south of the Gregos is the Tiétar Valley, a varied agricultural area offering interesting tourist attractions with centres in Arenas de San Pedro, Mombeltrán, Candeleda, Piedralaves, Pedro Bernardo, etc. Piedrahita and El Barco de Avila are regions for a summer vacation with excellent hunting and trout fishing, and perfect for excursions to the Gredos sierra, and Alberche region with Cebreros and El Tiemblo have magnificient countryside. Another summer vacation spot is Tierra de los Pinares, around Navas del Marqués. For the discriminating gourmet ther are a number of specialities in Avila, such as, green beans and apples of El Barco de Avila, the roast suckling pig of Arévalo, veal of Valle Amblés, Piedrahita and Barco, Moraña winter stew. lamb chops and charcoal grilled meats of the Tiétar Valley and El Alberche, wines of Cebreros and El Tiemblo, the Santa Teresa egg yolks of Avila, and the potato dish of Gredos.
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