Huelva Province, Andalusia, Spain

Huelva is at the western edge of Andalusia, to the east of Seville. It’s just beneath Portugal, on the Costa de la Luz (Coast of Light).

Thankfully, the Province of Huelva has escaped the mass tourism and commercialism that exists on the Costa del Sol. In fact, it’s one of the least visited places in Andalusia. Admittedly, the capital itself, isn’t the most attractive but there are still many unique places to discover and explore. The Monastery of Santa Clara and the Convent of San Francisco are well worth a visit.

The surrounding landscapes and coastline are beautiful; a mixture of sand dunes, marshland, pine woods, freshwater lagoons and endless, windswept sandy beaches…

Huelva is home to the Parque Nacional de Doñana. This is one of Europe’s most important wetland areas. There is a fantastic variety of flora and fauna here. Nature lovers, trekkers and hikers come from all over the world to visit. Doñana Park is the last remaining habitat for a number of endangered species including the lynx and rare Spanish Imperial Eagle. The best time to visit is in winter and spring; the park comes alive with wildfowl, it’s a lot greener and the temperatures are more bearable than in the hot summer months.

Huelva has a close connection with Christopher Columbus and the discovery of the Americas. This is where Christopher Columbus found his crew and ships and set sail for the New World. One of Huelva’s main fiestas (the Fiestas Columbinas) starts in July and runs all the way through until August. It’s a celebration of the Columbus’s epic voyage and the connections between Huelva and America.