Flamenco´s Routes of www.spainsouthwest.com






There is a reason why thoughts of flamenco inevitably evoke images of Spain's most romantic city. 

Ranging from impromptu guitar jams in hidden bars to huge choreographed theater shows, Sevilla is the place to go to see the Andalucían passion come to life through song, dance, and guitar and Spain Southwest Solicitors (touristic services and legal assistance) can help you to enjoy this amazing show. 

After suffering a decline in both popularity and practice, flamenco music and dance have come back with a fitting passion to the Spanish cultural forefront. Drawing musical elements from various eastern world cultures and fusing them later on with the Jewish and Arab cultures eventually yielded the musical artform and source of national - and in particular Andalucían - pride known as flamenco. Still existing in its purest forms in the towns and city quarters of gypsy and refugee (from when the Catholic kings banned Jewish and Muslim religions) origin, particularly those along the Guadalquivir River, the essence of flamenco music continues to lie in the live performance. For this very reason, the art took shape, surfaced, and flourished in bars, parties, and tablaos. 

The typical flamenco performance is comprised of several crucial figures who push each other as they strive to evoke a response in the audience. The ability to do this, to achieve this intense emotional connection, is know as the duende (spirit). 

If you find yourself inadvertently on the edge of your seat with goosebumps down your arms and your mouth open wide in awe, you could say that the performers in front of you have succeeded. The singer, or cantaor, fiercely belts out an intensely passionate song of lament known as a cante jondo (deep song). The guitarist, or tocaor, improvises as he complements the strong voice of the cantaor and together they aim to achieve the highest possible level of intensity. Accompanying them and setting the atmosphere for the dancers and singers are people who clap their hands, shout to the other performers, snap their fingers, and stomp their feet, all of which is known as jaleo. 


Flamenco dancers, typically young women wearing brilliant dresses, perform with a feisty passion, spinning and drilling their heels into the floorboards with mind-blowing force. Flamenco music also takes shape other forms, like sevillanas and saetas. 

Naturally, Sevilla remains the place to see flamenco and its variants, and you can do so in one of its numerous flamenco venues. Plus, be here in September for the month-long Bienal de Flamenco; it’s the most important flamenco festival in Spain and takes place every other year. 

SOTO´S DOLMEN Trigueros, Huelva. 





It was discovered by Don Armando de Soto in 1922 and the excavations began that same year. Years later, on 3 June 1931, the dolmen was declared a National Monument.



The dolmen belongs to the "corredor largo" dolmen family and is the largest of those discovered in the province, and one of the largest in the Peninsula. It has a chamber and a "V" passage that gets wider towards the inside. It is almost 21 m long. It is oriented from east to west, so that the first rays of sun in the equinox move along the passage and shine on the chamber for a few minutes, as part of a ritual in which maybe the dead came to life again thanks to the sunlight.





Despite being so large, only eight bodies were buried in seven different places. They all appear crouched down near the wall, each of them with an orthostat on which there are a few engravings that represent the image of the deceased, his protecting totemic sign or some of his weapons. Grave goods were found next to the bodies, with stone utensils such as axes, knives, etc.; pottery such as cups, bowls, plates, etc.; a conical bone bracelet; sea fossils, etc.




Video inside of Soto´s Dolmen. Watch it now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3czrgRYl50


Discover it with the help of www.spainsouthwest.com (touristic services and legal assistance)

THE ROUTE OF THE CASTLES IN HUELVA. 

Visit it with the help of  WWW.SPAINSOUTHWEST.COM (TOURISTIC SERVICES AND LEGAL ASSISTANCE).

1.- Almonaster la Real´s Castle and Mosque  (Huelva).




2.- Aracena´s Castle




3.- Aroche´s Castle



4.- Cortegana´s Castle



5.- Cumbres Mayore´s Castle




6.- Cartaya´s Castle



7.- Moguer´s Castle



8.- Niebla´s Castle





9.- San Pedro´s Castle


10.- Sanlucar de Guadiana´s Castle




11.- Santa Olalla de Cala´s Castle



12.- San Bartolomé´s Castle

JABUGO (located in the province of Huelva) 

Jabugo is one of the least picturesque villages in the Sierra, with abattoirs and factories littering its outskirts. But it is the best place to buy its famous cured ham and other pork products which are produced here.

For many Spanish people, Jabugo is shorthand for jamón Ibérico or pata negra (so-called because of the Iberian pig's distinctive black trotters). The finest - and most expensive - grade of cured ham is called bellota, a reference to the major component of the pigs' diet of acorns. If you want to see at close quarters how the ham is made, you can visit the factory of the biggest and most established jamón producer, Sánchez Romero Carvajal. Here, you can marvel at the thousands of jamones hanging from the ceiling.

Along the main street, where the Sánchez Romero Carvajal factory is located, are lots of shops selling Iberian pork products and jamones. Sánchez Romero Carvajal even has its own bar-restaurant, but watch out for the prices.

The Calle Barco from the main shopping street leads to the 18th-century Iglesia de San Miguel and a pretty square.

There is an attractive walk of 3½km to Galaroza along the Ribera de Jabugo starting from the municipal swimming pool near the N435. Walk towards the N435 from the pool, passing underneath the N435 and turning immediately right down a dirt track. After 1km there is a turning left that runs along the Ribera de Jabugo, a leafy track that is good for hot days since it is mainly in the shade. Alternatively, rather than turn left after 1km, continue along the track 2km south to Castaño del Robledo.

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BEACHES IN HUELVA (visit it with the help of www.spainsouthwest.com)

Huelva is one of Spain's most unspoilt areas and boasts a number of wild, unspoilt beaches perfect for sun and beach-lovers eager to escape the crowds. Set just next to Spanish-Portuguese border, it offers easy access to southern Portugal which is another plus for visitors. For a description of the best beaches in Huelva see below.

Best beaches in Huelva, Spain:

In Huelva capital:

• Playa El Espigón: located in the Marismas de Odiel Natural Park this beach is 2.5 km long and 40m wide. Golden sand. No lifeguards available and recently we have had some complaints from visitors about pollution from the River Espigón. Car park available.

Beaches in Almonte, Huelva:

• Playa de Matalascañas: A town beach, 4000 mteres long, and a great favourite with families. Golden sand, facilities including toilets and showers, sunshades and sunbeds, watersports and nearby carpark. You can get to the Doñana sand dunes from here. This beach has been awarded the blue flag.

• Playa Castilla: 20.000 metres long, this enormous beach is surrounded by the Doñana National Park, this isolated and protected beach is one of Huelva’s jewels. No services available. Nudism is allowed. Only accessible on foot.

Beaches in Isla Cristina, a lovelypart of Huelva, surrounded by salt marshes. Used to be quite deserted but is getting more crowded by the year:

• Playa de Isla Canela: A town beach with golden sand, salt marshes, sand dunes.


• Playa de la Redondela: A small isolated beach with golden sand surrounded by eucalyptus trees.


• Playa de Punta Caimán: A small unspoilt sandy beach - no facilities and difficult to access.


• Playa del Moral: Unspoilt, sandy beach with calm sea. No facilities.

Beaches in Cartaya, Huelva:

• Playa del Portil: A town beach 4000 long, golden sand, facilities, near the Portil and Enebrales lagoons and the Odiel salt marshes (see National Parks).  This beach has been awarded the blue flag


• Playa del Rompido: 1000 metres long, near the town, golden sand, not many facilities, surrounded by countryside La Flecha de Cartaya.(see National Parks).

Beaches in Lepe, Huelva:

• Playa La Antilla: A town beach 4000 metres long, facilities, golden sand.


• Playa Nueva Umbría: Unspoilt, nudist, few services in a beautiful natural setting in Parajes Naturales de las Piedras and Flecha Nueva Umbría.


• Playa Islantilla: A holiday resort, good facilities, golden sand, good atmosphere.

Beaches in Moguer, Huelva:

• Playa del Parador: Unspoilt beach with a few facilities, including lifeguards and showers. Surrounded by cliffs and pine and eucalyptus trees. Just 500 m. Long.

Beaches in Palos de la Frontera, Huelva:

• Playa de Mazagón: An urban beach – 5.5 km long. Golden sand and calm waters aswell as good facilities (showers, sun umbrellas, sunbeds, marina, watersports....) make this a very popular beach with locals and tourists. Access on foot and by car.

Beaches in Punta Umbría, Huelva: Distinctive - all of them have been awarded blue flags.

• Playa Punta Umbría: A town beach, golden sand, facilities, good atmosphere, this is the most built-up beach in the area and is popular with families. 3.800m long


• Playa de la Bota: Golden sand, unspoilt, isolated within in an area of sand dunes and pine forests. Popular with bathers and fishers. Great for strolling along. Not many services although it does have some showers.


• Playa La Mata Negra / Los Enebrales: Unspoilt, golden sand, no facilities, isolated, this is one of Huelva’s wildest beaches.