Úbeda and Baeza are two major cities in Jaén with a large  touristic, historical and monumental legacy which you should not lose to visit. In a land of olive trees and olive tradition you can find Renaissance palaces, churches and buildings which date from the 16th century...

It is very important to take care of our old buildings an recover them for our daily life.

Etiquetas: Andalusia, Jaén, Baeza, Úbeda, tourism, monuments, palace

This is the result of the changes that the international economic crisis is having in the behaviour of tourists. Therefore, Spain has lost its second position as a holiday destination, which has been taken by the USA, and France is still on top of preferences.

This is probably due to the change of habits in the USA, as people do not travel abroad as much as they did, and they have shorter holidays inside the USA, with shorter journeys and cheaper in cost. As a result,  the number of tourists has increased in the USA, as they travel inside their country, and it has decreased in Spain, which is not having as many tourists coming from the USA as before. Therefore,  their positions as international touristic preferences have changed as well.

Etiquetas: Spain, touristic, destination, holidays, travel

The products made were mainly used for the industry, but there were some kinds of jars, called "jarras castrileñas" which used to have from 2 to 6 handles. Nowadays, thanks to the José Saramago Foundation, the "Centro Andaluz del Vidrio" (The Andalusian Glass Centre) has been created in  Castril to try to recover this old tradition by creating the only artistic glass centre in all Andalusia. This centre has created a workshop with pupils which will learn the glass culture and the different techniques to make glass and glass artistic objects.

Moreover, people can visit the centre and see these techniques by arranging an appointment phoning this number: 637155484 or by mail ecoturismo@ayuntamientocastril.com.

Etiquetas: Castril, Andaluz, Saramago, vidriera, glass

Alquería de Morayma, in Cádiar, has joined the different lodgings which have accepted the European Document about Tourism which cares for the Environment, as taking care of the environment  is one of the main aspects in the existence of Alquería de Morayma, Rural Complex located in Cádiar, in La Alpujarra of Granada, inside the Natural Park of Sierra Nevada.

This document is an agreement of the lodgings which signed it of practising a strategy so that they can care for the environment in the local area where they are located, giving travellers and tourist who care for the environment the possibility of staying in a lodging which can reach their expectations.

First, it was the Natural Park of Sierra Nevada the one which achieved the European Certificate Europarc, later the owner of the lodging has to join the Europen Document about Tourism which cares for the Environment and the owner takes the responsibility of developing a specific touristic offer for protected spaces, as well as for the discovery and knowledge of the natural and cultural heritage and the comprehension of the importance of the environment and the protected spaces as a main aspect of our lives.

The European meeting about Protected Parks will take place in Sierra Nevada, in Capileira, Granada, Spain from the 2nd to the 5th of June.

Etiquetas: Cádiar, Granada, Capileira, Tourism, Parks, Environment

Cortijo Bacares, which is located in Freila, was given a special mention in the prizes "Andalusia, Quality Destination" awarded by the Andalusian Government. The task of dissemination and consolidation of the tradition carried out by Cortijo Bacares was especially highlited.

Cortijo Bacares has its rooms devoted to different traditional aspects of the region, thus they become  small museums which show the traditional elements present in rural life. Moreover, its owner, Isabel López, has a special care with the environment reducing  the human intervention in the natural space to the minimum and reclycling or reusing materials in order to be respectful with the natural surroundings.

Therefore, Cortijo Bacares becomes an excellent example of tourism, quality and respect for the environment in rural Granada, but it is not the only one.

Etiquetas: rural, tradition, Freila, Granada, cortijo, Andalusia

In Granada the ones which have been declared of Touristic Interest are the following:

The festivity of "Moros y Cristianos" (Moors vs Christians), which is celebrated in Benamaurel, in the High Plateau Region (Altiplano de Granada).

Pennings in Guadix and the Marquesado area.

Festivity of the Wine Fountain in Cádiar, a town in the Alpujarra. It is highly recommended the wine elaborated in Alqueria de Morayma, a touristic complex with ecological harvests and fields.

And finally:

Surrender Festivities in Santa Fe.

Etiquetas: Benamaurel, Guadix, Alpujarra, Cádiar, Morayma, festivities

The programme was about cave houses as a way of living which has been adopted for centuries by people in the High Plateau of Granada (Baza, Guadix, Huéscar, among the most important towns). That´s why I highly recommend you to watch this programme if you have the opportunity, even though you don´t understand Spanish, the images will be something quite new and surprising that you won´t be able to lose it.

You can see the programme in the following web: http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/la2/abecedario/E.html#431973

I hope you like it a lot.

Etiquetas: Baza, Huéscar, Guadix, Cave, Houses, TV

Easter is a special time in the High Plateau of Granada (Altiplano de Granada), as it is a time of processions. The celebrations at Easter are a way of showing traditional and religious feelings which  have been repeated for centuries generation after generation. As a result of this tradition there are two important Easter celebrations which are considered of National Touristic Interest: the processions in Huéscar and the living representation of Easter in Cuevas del Campo, where the inhabitants of the town represent the dramatic final scenes of Jesus life and death. Therefore, the inhabitants in Cuevas del Campo become actors for a while, the town itself is transformed, as people dress with the period custumes , and the whole town becomes a stage, while people watching the scenes  admire the dama of Jesus life fascinated.

Easter in Huéscar has been celebrated since the beginning of the 17th century. This tradition continues up to now and it is shown in a week full of processions, religious congregations, religious devotion and excitement as everybody can take part in it: children, young men and women and even old people... It is worth seeing it and enjoying the religious images and music.

Etiquetas: Easter, Huéscar, tradition, processions, music

The campsites on the coast of Ganada, Málaga and Almería offer a quality service that European tourists should know and enjoy, so it is very interesting the fact that with the help of this agreement, many more tourists will come to Granada, enjoy its beaches, and visit the city, which offers tourists a wide range of possibilites: cultural routes and visits to its main monuments, among them La Alhambra, adventure sports, hikking, theatres and cinemas, and the typical "tapas" which are always given when you ask for a drink.

Etiquetas: Granada, Almería, Málaga, Alhambra, coast, campsites

Huéscar is one of the biggest and most important towns in the High Plateau of Granada (Altiplano de Granada) together with Baza. It has many important places to see and visit, as for example its main church, La Colegiata de St. María, which is considered to be one of the seven wonders in the Province of Granada. But, there are more places to visit in Huéscar. One of its most visited places during the summer is Fuencaliente, which is a natural spring  pond surrounded by trees and fields, so it is a very good place to sunbathe and relax. It has also got fish in it, but you don´t have to worry because they don´t bite.

It is also important to have a walk in its main park, called Parque Rodríguez Penalva, because it is a very big park, full of trees that provide a good shadow on sunny days, fountains and paths to walk, rest and relax. Moreover, you can visit the centre of town, where you can walk along the narrow streets that lead you to one of the ancient walls that where one of the entrances to the town. You can also see there one of the monuments of the town which has just been restored: La Torre del Homenaje, which is one of the remains of the ancient walls of the city and it is next to the ancient entrance to the city too. This tower was made of big stones and it contains headstones from the Roman times.

 I highly recommend  you a visit to Huéscar. You won´t be disappointed.

Etiquetas: Huéscar, Fuencaliente, Granada, Colegiata, torre