Andalucia - an area covering much of the south coast of Spain. It is visited for the beaches especially near Malaga or historic cities further inland such as Granada, Cordoba and Sevilla. There are also areas such as Ronda and the white towns which are well worth exploring and offer a good chance to see wildlife as well as culture. Go in the spring for the plants and Easter festivals, summer can be very hot (45°C inland), autumn and winter temperatures are pleasant.
- Granada A Moorish city nestling below the Sierra Nevada mountains [3482m]. Terracotta roof tiles everywhere. Fantastic gardens full of fountains fed from the snowy mountains (although they are now getting very worried about the prolonged drought which has lasted several years). The city and the main attractions such as La Alhambra can get very crowded so expect long queues. The Sierra Nevada hosts skiing and many interesting plants and animals.
- Los Pueblos Blancos (White villages) An area just inland from the south coast near Cadiz and Malaga. There are many pretty white painted small towns scattered among limestone hills [village of Competa shown right]. Agriculture on the steep slopes is difficult and wildlife takes over on roadsides and abandoned plots. White iris (Iris albicans) is common along with French lavender (Lavandula stoechas), Aristolochia baetica and orchids such as sawfly orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera), pink butterfly orchid (Orchis papilionacea) and Ophrys lutea indeed there are over 30 species of orchid in this area.
- Ronda Further inland than the white villages. It is in a spectacular setting straddling the Tajo gorge with the Puente Nuevo bridge linking two halves of the town. It also has a bullring. Even though it is rather a long way from the main tourist areas it can still get crowded, however to escape the people try a walk down the gorge. There is an overgrown track leading down from the town which passes many interesting and local plant species on the rocks before leading out across the plain.
The area has been inhabited since the dawn of recorded history as shown by the cave paintings at La Pileta. Man has heavily over exploited the landscape first by cutting down the forest then by excessive stocking rates and burning the pastures, however in recent times the number of goats and sheep has declined and some of the forests are regenerating.
The limestone mountain scenery is alive with yellow legumes in the spring.
Animal species of the region (some restricted to the Sierra Nevada) include red deer, roe deer and Spanish ibex, Iberian hog, beech martin, genet, Spanish lynx and wild cat. Birds of prey include golden eagle, eagle owl, bonelli's eagle, goshawk, Egyptian vulture and griffon vulture.
- The coast There are many native plant species growing along the coast even close to the main tourist centres. For example there is a cliff walkway behind the beach at Nerja [right] which contains several interesting species and there were others on the sides of the main coast road which runs very close to the sea in places. On verges just inland from Malaga there were banks of Cistus including C. crispus, C. landifera, C. monspeliensis, C. salvifolius and Halmium atriplicifolium. Further east at Cabo de Gata there is an area of dunes, cliffs and salt pans now protected as a natural park. It is a favourite place for bird watchers and it contains large numbers of flamingos. Indeed Andalucia as a whole is particularly good for birds during the spring and autumn migration periods.
Images
Spanish iris (Iris xiphium)[left below], sawfly orchid (Ophrys tenthredinifera)[centre below], Ophrys lutea [right below]
Pink butterfly orchid (Orchis papilionacea)[left below, Centaurea sp. [right below]
French lavender (Lavandula stoechas)[left below], Cistus crispus [right below]
Generalife gardens [left below], Granada general view. [right below]
References
Mediterranean wildflowers (1993) Marjorie Blamey and Christopher Grey-Wilson. Harper Collins. 560p. Over 2000 species illustrated, very good pictures and text although not a complete coverage of species - you will always find a few not in the book. Incomplete coverage was particularly noticed in Andalucia where some of the distinctive plants from the mountains a little way inland and some of the seaside (possibly alien or naturalised) species were missing.
Flowers of the Mediterranean (1965) Polunin, O. and Huxley. 662p. Oxford University press, London. 1900 of the commonest species described in detail, over 1000 plant photographs.
Flowers of South-West Europe (1973). Polunin, O. and Smythies, B. E. 480p. Oxford University press, London. Approximately 400 plant photographs. Useful sections on landform, climate and vegetation of the area, more detailed sections on the plant hunting regions, then the main flora. Mainly covers Spain, Portugal, Balearics and S.W. France.
Hamlyn guide to the birds of Britain and Europe (1970). Bruun, B. 319p. 516 bird species illustrated and distribution maps given, a pocket guide.
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