Huelva: nature in all its majesty
Passionate about nature? Then put Huelva at the top of your bucket list and prepare to discover a cornucopia of stunning natural treasures. Doñana National Park, the Sierra de Aracena and powdery beaches stretching out to the horizon are just some of the many treats in store. Don’t miss the village of El Rocío, ensconced amid the marshes.
Huelva really is a special place, a land steeped in history and strewn with natural riches. Like Doñana National Park: Europe’s largest wildlife reserves and a UNESCO world heritage site. This vast protected area is home to flamingos and other bird species, as well as mammals like wild boar, deer and the Iberian lynx. It’s also the setting for the Romería de El Rocío, which attracts hundreds of pilgrims every spring. Time your visit right and you’ll catch several days of carriages, colourful frilly dresses and pilgrims travelling on foot or horseback from Huelva to El Rocío itself.
For a history fix, head to the fifteenth-century Franciscan Monastery of La Rábida and the Palos de la Frontera area, where Christopher Columbus first set sail for the New World. Just a few kilometres away is Moguer, another must-see. This fascinating area holds many places of interest, particularly the birthplace of the poet Juan Ramón Jiménez, the Mudejar Santa Clara Monastery, the ruins of Castillo de Moguer and the Marismas del Odiel wetland reserve.
Mountains and Beaches
The Sierra de la Aracena, with its picturesque villages and breathtaking views, has a few other treasures to be explored. Castillo de Canena and Iglesia Prioral transport us back to the medieval period, and the Gruta de Maravillas is one of the area’s most celebrated natural wonders. The richness and variety of its chalk formations and its spectacular underground lakes make it one of the most visited accessible cave systems in Spain. Other villages not to be missed: Aroche, with its extraordinary walled fortress and castle dating back to the Almoravid period, Cortegana, with its equally fabulous fairytale castle, Almonaster la Real and Jabugo. Aroche boasts a charming historic centre, while Cortegana is famous the world over for its Pata Negra ham.
Huelva is also known for its magnificent fine sand beaches and breathtaking sunsets. El Portil, nestled against a natural sand dune reserve, Matalascañas, Islantilla, El Rompido, El Parador and Torre del loro are just the cream of the crop. More than 120 km of beaches right on the Costa de la Luz. Close to El Rompido lies the Flecha del Rompido, a spectacular sand bar accessible only by ferry. This fortuitous natural phenomenon runs for 13 kilometres between the towns of Lepe and Cartay.