Huelva, the great unknown.
🌿 TYPE OF TRIP
History and nature
🤔 BEST TIME TO TRAVEL TO HUELVA
MAY: The climate in Huelva is always sunny and mild, although the best time to visit is between May and October. While July and August are the hottest months, winter temperatures are quite mild, rarely dropping below 10°C. The heaviest rainfall usually occurs in October and November, although the average annual rainfall is only about 500 mm. We recommend visiting in May or September, avoiding the peak summer season.
✔ WHAT TO DO IN HUELVA
Huelva is a land of contrasts… You can find rugged landscapes sheltered by the Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche Natural Park, mining operations, holm oak pastures, vineyards, and, of course, miles of white and golden sand beaches meeting the Atlantic Ocean. This Andalusian province's offerings are further enhanced by an impressive historical heritage of ancient peoples and civilizations. Tartessians, Phoenicians, Romans, and Arabs all left their mark on these lands, which have gained international fame for hosting, at the port of Palos de la Frontera, the departure of Christopher Columbus's expedition to the New World in 1492.
🌮 YOU CAN'T LEAVE HUELVA WITHOUT TRYING IT
The gastronomy and typical food of Huelva are strongly influenced by well-known products such as Jabugo ham, white shrimp, and cured tuna (mojama). In addition to these famous delicacies, you can find a wide variety of high-quality fish and seafood caught off its coast, as well as meats and sausages from its Iberian pigs. We must also make special mention of its renowned production of exquisite fruits such as strawberries and raspberries.
👁🗨 CURIOSITIES OF HUELVA
The first European to smoke tobacco was the sailor Rodrigo de Xerez, a native of Ayamonte, whom Columbus ordered to investigate what the indigenous people of Cuba were smoking. The sailor brought the tobacco back to Spain, where it was met with great scandal because people believed it was "the work of the devil."
😎 MISS WOOD'S TIP
Don't miss a visit to Niebla. This town boasts the largest walled enclosure in Europe, declared a historical monument. In addition to its impressive walls, you can visit the Castle of the Guzmanes or the churches of San Martín and Santa María de la Granada.
5 MUST-SEE PLACES IN HUELVA
1. Cave of Wonders: This phreatic cave has been formed over hundreds of years by the erosive action of water on the limestone rocks of Aracena Castle Hill. It has an underground space of 2,130 meters, although only half is open to visitors. Its beauty and uniqueness lie especially in the karst formations and the lakes that have formed, some of them several meters deep.
2. RIO TINTO MINING PARK: Renowned for its famous mines, this area offers incredible natural landscapes in shades of ochre, red, and gold. Sites of past mining activity, such as the impressive elliptical structure of Corta Atalaya, or still in operation, like Cerro Colorado, are attractions you shouldn't miss.
3. Doñana National Park: This protected area was created in 1969 and has gradually expanded. In 1994, it was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is one of the seven natural wonders of Spain, so you can imagine how essential a visit is if you're traveling to Huelva.
4. EL ROCÍO: On the weekend of Whit Sunday, one of the largest religious gatherings in the country takes place. In the small village of El Rocío (Almonte), thousands of devotees of the Virgin of El Rocío congregate for a pilgrimage that leaves no one unmoved. This event is likely only suitable for those with the necessary fervor to coincide with this profound Catholic celebration. For everyone else, or those simply wishing to visit the beautiful mid-20th-century hermitage that houses the small statue of the venerated Virgin of El Rocío, it is best to visit at other times of the year.
5. AYAMONTE: Ayamonte is a town separated from Portugal by the waters of the Guadiana River. Its unique topography offers stunning views of Portugal and Isla Cristina from the Parador, as well as of the Guadiana River's mouth, which forms marshes or channels that crisscross the town like small canals.
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