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Huelva Holidays
The city where discover the story of Christopher Colombus |
The city where discover the story of Christopher Colombus
Tourist information about Huelva in Spain. Travel to Huelva and let Spain-Holiday.com guide and accommodate you |
The actual city of Huelva dates back some 3000 years when it was named Onuba. Later, it prospered under the Cathaginians and Romans who used it as a base for mining. Three of the key sites of the Columbus story can also be found here - Lugares Colombinos.
Today it is large, sprawling and industrialised with a population of 141,000. Heavy industrial plants line much of its Odiel waterfront and stretch far to the south.
The city centre is pleasant and it is a convenient base for visiting the nearby Columbus sites or the Marismas del Odiel wetlands and the Coto Dónana national park.
Huelva claims to be a flamenco capital, however several of the citys splendid old buildings and monuments remain, including the 15th century Church of San Pedro, built on the site of a mosque; the Shrine of Nuestra Senora de la Cinta and, last but not least, the home of Christopher Columbus next to his commemorative monument.
Wander around the atmospheric barrio Reina Victoria Alonso or visit the Alonso Sanchez park which affords attractive views of the city. Other points of interest in the city include the Muelle del Tinto docks, built at the beginning of the century to load Huelvas mineral exports; the Conquero lookout and the provincial museum. The commemorative monument.
Christopher Columbus guards the Rio Tinto. The monument was crafted by the American sculptress, Gertrude Whitney.
Other places of interest in the city include the Muelle del Tinto docks, built at the beginning of the century to load Huelvas mineral exports; the Conquero lookout and the provincial museum.
Huelva is a mecca for those interested in Christopher Columbus, with a number of significant tourist attractions about the famous explorer.
Best of all is to discover the story of Christopher Colombus. This can be done at La Rabida Monestary, at the Muelle de las Carabelas, where a modern museum with an hourly audio visual presentation houses replicas of the Colombus ships. Explore them at your leisure. At the nearby village of Palos de la Frontera vist the actual embarcation point of the voyage and see the old well from where the fresh water was taken aboard.
Lugares Colombinos
La Rabida, Palos de la Frontera and Moguer are three of the key sites in the Columbus story, lie along the eastern bank of the Rio Tinto estuary and can be visited in a 40 km return trip from Huelva. At least 10 buses a day run from Huelva bus station to La Rabida and Palos de la Frontera, many of them continuing to Moguer. There are several accommodation options for staying here overnight.
Monasterio de La Rabida
A 14th century monastery which Columbus visited several times during his attempts to win royal patroage for his voyage to the Americas and which is located just 9 kms from the centre of Huelva.
There is a fascinating display of 1930 murals on the Columbus story by local artist, Daniel Vazquez Diaz. The room where Columbus and Padre Marchena discussed the projected voyage and the refectory where Columbus ate, are off the peaceful 15th century mudejar cloister. Other rooms hold art, models and documents on Franciscan and Columban themes. Finally you visit the Sala de Banderas with the flags of the Latin American nations and a box of earth from each.
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