Andalusia / Andalucía

The rock of Gibraltar has a very long history, bit I will cut it very short now Anglo-Dutch forces captured Gibraltar from Spain in 1704 during the War of the Spanish Succession on behalf of the Habsburg claim to the Spanish throne. The territory was ceded to Great Britain in perpetuity under the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. The rock controls the entrance and exit to the Mediterranean Sea, as the Strait of Gibraltar is only 13 km. In a referendum held in 2002, Gibraltarians rejected by a majority (99%) a proposal of shared sovereignty on which Spain and Britain were said to have reached "broad agreement". So this is still British.

At 36 degrees latitude Tarifa is the southernmost point of Continental Europe, facing Morocco on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar, that is only about 14km wide here. Tarifa got its present name after the attack of Tarif ibn Malik in 710, a Berber military commander. The town got fortified starting from the 10th century on but was conquered by the troops of Sancho IV of Castile during the Reconquista in 1292. During the Napoleonic Peninsular War Tarifa was besieged by French troops in 1810 and again in 1811. In both cases the town was defended by British troops from Gibraltar as the Spanish and British were allies against the French. As the region of Tarifa has strong winds throughout the year, the town is known as a very popular destination for wind- and kite surfers.

At 36 degrees latitude Tarifa is the southernmost point of Continental Europe, facing Morocco on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar, that is only about 14km wide here. Tarifa got its present name after the attack of Tarif ibn Malik in 710, a Berber military commander. The town got fortified starting from the 10th century on but was conquered by the troops of Sancho IV of Castile during the Reconquista in 1292. During the Napoleonic Peninsular War Tarifa was besieged by French troops in 1810 and again in 1811. In both cases the town was defended by British troops from Gibraltar as the Spanish and British were allies against the French. As the region of Tarifa has strong winds throughout the year, the town is known as a very popular destination for wind- and kite surfers.

At 36 degrees latitude Tarifa is the southernmost point of Continental Europe, facing Morocco on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar, that is only about 14km wide here. Tarifa got its present name after the attack of Tarif ibn Malik in 710, a Berber military commander. The town got fortified starting from the 10th century on but was conquered by the troops of Sancho IV of Castile during the Reconquista in 1292. During the Napoleonic Peninsular War Tarifa was besieged by French troops in 1810 and again in 1811. In both cases the town was defended by British troops from Gibraltar as the Spanish and British were allies against the French. As the region of Tarifa has strong winds throughout the year, the town is known as a very popular destination for wind- and kite surfers.

At 36 degrees latitude Tarifa is the southernmost point of Continental Europe, facing Morocco on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar, that is only about 14km wide here. Tarifa got its present name after the attack of Tarif ibn Malik in 710, a Berber military commander. The town got fortified starting from the 10th century on but was conquered by the troops of Sancho IV of Castile during the Reconquista in 1292. During the Napoleonic Peninsular War Tarifa was besieged by French troops in 1810 and again in 1811. In both cases the town was defended by British troops from Gibraltar as the Spanish and British were allies against the French. As the region of Tarifa has strong winds throughout the year, the town is known as a very popular destination for wind- and kite surfers. The church dedicated to San Francisco ("Francis of Assisi") was built in 1797 and has a Baroque facade.

At 36 degrees latitude Tarifa is the southernmost point of Continental Europe, facing Morocco on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar, that is only about 14km wide here. Tarifa got its present name after the attack of Tarif ibn Malik in 710, a Berber military commander. The town got fortified starting from the 10th century on but was conquered by the troops of Sancho IV of Castile during the Reconquista in 1292. During the Napoleonic Peninsular War Tarifa was besieged by French troops in 1810 and again in 1811. In both cases the town was defended by British troops from Gibraltar as the Spanish and British were allies against the French. As the region of Tarifa has strong winds throughout the year, the town is known as a very popular destination for wind- and kite surfers. The place in front of the toiwn hall is named "Plaza de Santa Maria" officially, but most call it "Plaza de la Ranita", what means "Little Frog Square".

At 36 degrees latitude Tarifa is the southernmost point of Continental Europe, facing Morocco on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar, that is only about 14km wide here. Tarifa got its present name after the attack of Tarif ibn Malik in 710, a Berber military commander. The town got fortified starting from the 10th century on but was conquered by the troops of Sancho IV of Castile during the Reconquista in 1292. During the Napoleonic Peninsular War Tarifa was besieged by French troops in 1810 and again in 1811. In both cases the town was defended by British troops from Gibraltar as the Spanish and British were allies against the French. As the region of Tarifa has strong winds throughout the year, the town is known as a very popular destination for wind- and kite surfers. The "Puerta de Jerez", built in the 13th century, is the only of once three gates, that survived the times.

At 36 degrees latitude Tarifa is the southernmost point of Continental Europe, facing Morocco on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar, that is only about 14km wide here. Tarifa got its present name after the attack of Tarif ibn Malik in 710, a Berber military commander. The town got fortified starting from the 10th century on but was conquered by the troops of Sancho IV of Castile during the Reconquista in 1292. During the Napoleonic Peninsular War Tarifa was besieged by French troops in 1810 and again in 1811. In both cases the town was defended by British troops from Gibraltar as the Spanish and British were allies against the French. As the region of Tarifa has strong winds throughout the year, the town is known as a very popular destination for wind- and kite surfers. Africa, as seen from Tarifa.

At 36 degrees latitude Tarifa is the southernmost point of Continental Europe, facing Morocco on the other side of the Strait of Gibraltar, that is only about 14km wide here. Tarifa got its present name after the attack of Tarif ibn Malik in 710, a Berber military commander. The town got fortified starting from the 10th century on but was conquered by the troops of Sancho IV of Castile during the Reconquista in 1292. During the Napoleonic Peninsular War Tarifa was besieged by French troops in 1810 and again in 1811. In both cases the town was defended by British troops from Gibraltar as the Spanish and British were allies against the French. As the region of Tarifa has strong winds throughout the year, the town is known as a very popular destination for wind- and kite surfers. This is - the southernmost supermarket car park of Continental Europe. - On a sunday!

Surfers meet near "Cabo Trafalgar", near the place, where in 1805 during the Napoleonic Wars the the British Royal Navy commanded by Horatio Nelson defeated the combined fleets of the French and Spanish Navies. This battle ended Napoleon´s plan to invade Britain and laid the foundation to the British Empire.

Cádiz, located on a narrow slice of land surrounded by the sea‚ is regarded by some scholars as the oldest continuously inhabited city in Western Europe. Founded by he Phoenicians around 1100 BC. Since 530 BCE it was held by Carthaginians, Hannibal visited a temple here, before he set off to cross the Alps and invade Italy. Later the city fell to Romans and flourished as a port. The Visigoths destroyed the Roman city in 410, Arab troops conquered the city in 711 and called it Qādis. The Normans devasted the city in 844, but the Moors rebuilt it. Alphonso X of Castile took Cádiz from the Moors in 1262 during the Reconquista. The city got very wealthy by the trade with America and in the 16th century got raided and looted by pirates from Northern Africa and British fleets under Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh. Cádiz recovered and within the 18th century could afford to erect a (new) cathedral between 1722 and 1838, seen on the left. The cathedral is known as "The Cathedral of The Americas" because it was built with money from the trade between Spain and America.

Cádiz, located on a narrow slice of land surrounded by the sea‚ is regarded by some scholars as the oldest continuously inhabited city in Western Europe, founded by he Phoenicians around 1100 BC. Since 530 BCE it was held by Carthaginians, Hannibal visited a temple here, before he set off to cross the Alps and invade Italy. Later the city fell to the Romans. The Visigoths destroyed the Roman city in 410, Arab troops conquered the city in 711 and called it Qādis. The Normans devasted the city in 844, but the Moors rebuilt it. Alphonso X of Castile took Cádiz from the Moors in 1262 during the Reconquista. The city got very wealthy by the trade with America and in the 16th century got raided and looted by pirates from Northern Africa and British fleets under Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh. Cádiz recovered and within the 18th century could afford to erect a (new) cathedral between 1722 and 1838. The cathedral is known as "The Cathedral of The Americas" because it was built with money from the trade between Spain and America.

Cádiz, located on a narrow slice of land surrounded by the sea‚ is regarded by some scholars as the oldest continuously inhabited city in Western Europe, founded by he Phoenicians around 1100 BC. Since 530 BCE it was held by Carthaginians, Hannibal visited a temple here, before he set off to cross the Alps and invade Italy. Later the city fell to the Romans. The Visigoths destroyed the Roman city in 410, Arab troops conquered the city in 711 and called it Qādis. The Normans devasted the city in 844, but the Moors rebuilt it. Alphonso X of Castile took Cádiz from the Moors in 1262 during the Reconquista. The city got very wealthy by the trade with America and in the 16th century got raided and looted by pirates from Northern Africa and British fleets under Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh. Cádiz recovered and within the 18th century could afford to erect a (new) cathedral between 1722 and 1838. The cathedral is known as "The Cathedral of The Americas" because it was built with money from the trade between Spain and America. Today the huge cathedral is crumbling, so nets are located above the heads of the visitors.

Cádiz, located on a narrow slice of land surrounded by the sea‚ is regarded by some scholars as the oldest continuously inhabited city in Western Europe, founded by he Phoenicians around 1100 BC. Since 530 BCE it was held by Carthaginians, Hannibal visited a temple here, before he set off to cross the Alps and invade Italy. Later the city fell to the Romans. The Visigoths destroyed the Roman city in 410, Arab troops conquered the city in 711 and called it Qādis. The Normans devasted the city in 844, but the Moors rebuilt it. Alphonso X of Castile took Cádiz from the Moors in 1262 during the Reconquista. The city got very wealthy by the trade with America and in the 16th century got raided and looted by pirates from Northern Africa and British fleets under Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh. Cádiz recovered and within the 18th century could afford to erect a (new) cathedral between 1722 and 1838. The cathedral is known as "The Cathedral of The Americas" because it was built with money from the trade between Spain and America. Today the huge cathedral is crumbling, so nets are located above the heads of the visitors. The dome over the crossing.

Cádiz, located on a narrow slice of land surrounded by the sea‚ is regarded by some scholars as the oldest continuously inhabited city in Western Europe, founded by he Phoenicians around 1100 BC. Since 530 BCE it was held by Carthaginians, Hannibal visited a temple here, before he set off to cross the Alps and invade Italy. Later the city fell to the Romans. The Visigoths destroyed the Roman city in 410, Arab troops conquered the city in 711 and called it Qādis. The Normans devasted the city in 844, but the Moors rebuilt it. Alphonso X of Castile took Cádiz from the Moors in 1262 during the Reconquista. The city got very wealthy by the trade with America and in the 16th century got raided and looted by pirates from Northern Africa and British fleets under Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh. Cádiz recovered and within the 18th century could afford to erect a (new) cathedral between 1722 and 1838. The cathedral is known as "The Cathedral of The Americas" because it was built with money from the trade between Spain and America. Today the huge cathedral is crumbling, so nets are located above the heads of the visitors. This crucifix is pretty shocking!

Cádiz, located on a narrow slice of land surrounded by the sea‚ is regarded by some scholars as the oldest continuously inhabited city in Western Europe, founded by he Phoenicians around 1100 BC. Since 530 BCE it was held by Carthaginians, Hannibal visited a temple here, before he set off to cross the Alps and invade Italy. Later the city fell to the Romans. The Visigoths destroyed the Roman city in 410, Arab troops conquered the city in 711 and called it Qādis. The Normans devasted the city in 844, but the Moors rebuilt it. Alphonso X of Castile took Cádiz from the Moors in 1262 during the Reconquista. The city got very wealthy by the trade with America and in the 16th century got raided and looted by pirates from Northern Africa and British fleets under Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh. The city recovered and within the 18th century. The "Campo Del Sur" is part of the "Casco Antiguo" (= Old Town) of Cádiz.

Arcos de la Frontera is a one of the "Pueblos Blancos", the "White Towns of Andalusia". The old part of the town is located on a steep cliff above the river Guadalete. Arcos was an independent Moorish town for long. Though Alphonso X of Castile expelled the Moors. The area was a frontier between the Christian and the Moorish troops upto 1492, when Granada after a long siege ultimatively fell, what ended the Reconquista.

Arcos de la Frontera is a one of the "Pueblos Blancos", the "White Towns of Andalusia". The old part of the town is located on a steep cliff above the river Guadalete. Arcos was an independent Moorish town for long. Though Alphonso X of Castile expelled the Moors. The area was a frontier between the Christian and the Moorish troops upto 1492, when Granada after a long siege ultimatively fell, what ended the Reconquista. San Pedro is located on the cliff over the river. The church was erected from 1728 on.