The Costa de la Luz is the stretch of the southern Atlantic coast of Spain between the mouth of the Río Guadiana on the Portuguese frontier and the promontory of Tarifa on the Straits of Gibraltar. Along this coastal region, almost perpetually bathed in the warm light of the sun, are a succession of spacious sandy beaches, well away from main roads and traffic routes. The coast of Huelva province in particular, with the extensive Playa de Castilla, is a bathers' paradise, bounded on the landward side by eucalyptus trees. Inland from the coast around Cádiz are olive-groves.
Almost all the villages along the coast live by fishing, though tourism is increasingly becoming an important source of revenue. To date there is only one resort at Matalascañas; further development has been prevented by protests from environmentalists who see the unique reserve of Coto de Doñana as being under threat.
The effects of the Lisbon earthquake of November 1, 1755 were felt as far away as Huelva, and much of the town was destroyed, leaving it with little in the way of historic buildings. Of the older buildings that survived the earthquake only a few churches are of any note.
14km/9mi southwest of Vejer de la Frontera is Cape Trafalgar, known to the Romans as Promontorium Junonis and to the Moors as Tarif al-Ghar (''Cape of the Caves''), off which Nelson won his famous victory over a French and Spanish fleet commanded by Admirals Villeneuve and Gravina on October 21, 1805. Although Nelson was killed in the battle, Villeneuve was also fatally wounded and Gravina was taken prisoner.
A short distance south of Sancti Petri is Conil de la Frontera, with a beautiful beach and a ruined Arab castle, the Torre de Guzmán, built on Roman foundations.
Address: Conil de la Frontera, Calle Carretera, 1, E-11140 Conil de la Frontera, Spain
The long straggling port town of San Fernando (alt. 20m/65ft), the chief place in the Isla de León, 18km/11mi south of Cádiz, was established in the 18th century on a kind of rocky island in the salt marshes from which salt was already being won in Roman times. During the Spanish war of liberation San Fernando was the last refuge of the Cortes. It now has a considerable shipbuilding industry. In the Panteón de los Marinos Ilustres are 52 monuments commemorating famous seamen.
Address: San Fernando Tourist Office, Calle Real 24, E-11100 San Fernando, Spain
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Cadiz
Rio Tinto Mining Area, Huelva
Cadiz
Rio Tinto Mining Area, Huelva
Cadiz
Cadiz
Rio Tinto Mining Area, Huelva
