Huelva

Huelva - History:

The city of Huelva has a rich history dating back some 3,000 years. Originally named Onuba, it prospered under the Cathaginians and Romans who used it as a base for mining. Later it became linked to the story of Columbus and his Voyages of Discovery.

The mineral wealth of the area north of Huelva brought Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans who, along with the later arrivals of the Moors, left their archaelogical mark on the city. Due to its abundance of copper deposits, Huelva later enjoyed an industrial boom, with many grand buildings erected in the late 19th century and the early 20th century, like the Casa Colon, the imposing Gran Teatro and the Clinica Sanz de Frutos.

Huelva - Overview:

Today Huelva is a large city with a population of 141,000. The city centre is pleasant and it is a convenient base for both historical and natural sightseeing with many pretty plazas absorbing historical monuments and, as you'd expect from a city with a bustling port, a wealth of seafood bars and restaurants.

The nearby Columbus sites are an interesting trip for those in search of history, and nature lovers will enjoy the Marismas del Odiel wetlands and the Coto Donana national park.

The hub of the city centre today is the palm-lined square, the Plaza de las Monjas, close to the pedestrianised shopping district, along the streets of Concepcion to Berdigon. The centre is relatively compact which is ideal for sightseeing on foot, however you may want to venture a little further afield to visit Sanctuario de la Cinta, located 3km out of town.

Huelva - Culture and History:

Apart from claiming to be a 'flamenco capital', several of Huelva's 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.

Here you can wander around the atmospheric barrio Reina Victoria Alonso or visit the Alonso Sanchez park which has delightful 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 handle Huelva's thriving mineral exports industry; the Conquero lookout, the provincial museum and of course the commemorative monument to Christopher Columbus guarding the Rio Tinto.

Located on the mouth of the Odiel and Tinto estuary, Huelva has been an important port since the Phoenicians established it as a major trading post. It reached its pinnacle in the 15th century with the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus, who recruited local sailors for his voyage and, on his departure and return, prayed to the city's patron saint at the Sanctuario de Nuestra Senora la Virgen de la Cinta. Today he is commemorated in the Monumento a Colon.

Another pivotal point in the port's history was the industrial development in the city in the late 19th century due to mining activity to the north. Foreign mining companies built impressive ironwork loading quays that extended into the estuary that, although decaying, still exist today.

Badly damaged in the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, Huelva lacks the architectural splendour of Seville. However, it is home to several notable churches, like the oldest one in the city, the Iglesia de San Pedro, and the Catedral de la Merced, with a magnificent Baroque facade.

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