Andalusia

Andalusia (Spanish: Andalucía) is one of the seventeen autonomous communities that constitute Spain. Its capital is Seville. Andalusia is bounded on the north by Extremadura and Castile-La Mancha, on the east by Murcia, on the south by the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and Gibraltar, and on the west by Portugal. Tartessos, the capital of a once great power, was located in Andalusia.

Related Topics:
Spanish - Autonomous communities - Spain - Seville - Extremadura - Castile-La Mancha - Murcia - Mediterranean Sea - Atlantic Ocean - Gibraltar - Portugal - Tartessos

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More can be found in the entry Hispania Baetica, the name of the Roman province that corresponds to the region. The Islamic history can be found in the entry al-Andalus; "Andalusia" derives from this name the Moors gave to this land.

Related Topics:
Hispania Baetica - Al-Andalus - Moors

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The Spanish spoken in the Americas is largely descended from the Andalusian dialect of Castilian Spanish due to the role played by Seville as the gateway to Spain's American territories in the 16th and 17th centuries.

Related Topics:
Americas - Andalusian dialect - Castilian Spanish - Seville

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A lot of Moorish architecture is found in Andalusia, because it was the last stronghold of the Moors before the reconquista by the Catholic Monarchs completed in 1492. The most famous are the Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita in Córdoba and the Torre del Oro and Giralda towers in Sevilla. Archaeological remains include Medina Azahara, near Córdoba.

Related Topics:
Moorish - Reconquista - Catholic Monarchs - 1492 - Alhambra - Granada - Mezquita - Córdoba - Torre del Oro - Giralda - Sevilla - Medina Azahara

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Andalusia is divided into 8 provinces:

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• Sevilla
• Granada
• Córdoba
• Cádiz
• Málaga
• Huelva
• Jaén
• Almería

Major cities in Andalusia are (from West to East):

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• Huelva
• Seville
• Cádiz
• Málaga
• Córdoba
• Jaén
• Granada
• Almería

Other Andalusian towns are:

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• Algeciras, Cádiz
• Jerez, Cádiz
• Marbella, Málaga
• Dos Hermanas, Sevilla
• Antequera, Málaga

Andalusia is the home of flamenco music. Andalusia has a national anthem written by Blas Infante:

Related Topics:
Flamenco - Anthem - Blas Infante

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: La bandera blanca y verde,

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: vuelve tras siglos de guerra.

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: A decir Paz y Esperanza,

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: bajo el sol de nuestra tierra.

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: ¡Andaluces, levantáos!

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: ¡Pedid tierra y libertad!

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: Sea por Andalucia libre,

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: España y la Humanidad.

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: Los andaluces queremos

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: volver a ser lo que fuimos.

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: Hombres de luz que a los hombres,

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: Alma de hombres les dimos.

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: ¡Andaluces, levantáos!

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: ¡Pedid tierra y libertad!

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: Sea por Andalucia libre,

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: España y la Humanidad.

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A translation follows:

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: The green and white flag

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: returns after centuries of war

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: to tell of peace and hope

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: under our land's sunshine.

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: Andalusians, stand up!

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: Claim for land and freedom

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: May it be for a free Andalusia,

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: Spain, and Mankind.

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: We, Andalusians, want

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: to be once again

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: People of light who to mankind

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: gave their human soul.

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: Andalusians, stand up!

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: Claim for land and freedom

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: May it be for a free Andalusia,

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: Spain, and Mankind.

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The Macarena is an aspect of the Virgin Mary recognized in Andalusia, Spain. It is the title given to Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza (Our Lady of Hope), in Seville. It is also the name of a neighbourhood in Seville and a common first name for Andalusian women.

Related Topics:
Virgin Mary - Andalusia - Spain - Seville

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Andalusia is also referenced in the Pixies song 'Debaser': "Don't know about you, but I am un chien Andalusia" - referring to the 1928 Salvador Dalí & Luis Bunuel film 'Un Chien Andalou'.

Related Topics:
Pixies - Debaser - Salvador Dalí - Luis Bunuel - Un Chien Andalou

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