ANDALUCIA TOURISM NEWS JULY 3rd 2002

VIRGEN DEL CARMEN 2002
Andalucía lives one of its most popular and traditional fiestas in the month of July. La Virgen del Carmen, the protagonist of a maritime procession held every July 16th in many points of the region. A festival which mixes tradition with religious fervour until the Virgen is taken in procession onto a fishing boat and then out to sea, accompanied by other vessels. Numerous coastal villages such as Barbate or San Fernando in Cádiz province, Manilva, Fuengirola, or Marbella in Málaga province and Adra in Almeria celebrate this fiesta which shows us one of the most spectacular images of the traditions in Andalucía. In some places such as Nerja in Málaga province and Málaga itself, a beautiful night time fiesta is held on the beach on the 16th. A spectacular and colourful celebration all worth seeing if you have the opportunity.

VIRTUAL GUIDE TO MÁLAGA
'Guía fácil de Málaga, ayer y hoy' – Easy Guide to Málaga, Yesterday and Today - This is the name of the cultural and touristic book which shows the past and present of the province through 18 superimposed images which reconstruct the main monuments or historical sites in Málaga. The guide, edited by Ediciones Ilustres, which will initially have a print run of 15,000 copies in Spanish, English, French and German, has needed two years of work to collect all the information needed and thereby reconstruct monuments such as the Roman Theatre, the Alcazaba, the Muslim Walls, the Ronda Baths or the Menga Dolmen in their exact shape. This –Easy guide to Málaga, also indicates five routes round the city, the Western Costa del Sol, the Axarquía, Ronda and its mountain range and Antequera, where both the places of historical and monumental interest are highlighted together with interesting landscapes.

CLEAN ANDALUCIAN BEACHES
Andalucía starts the bathing season with all its beaches in excellent condition. The health department of the regional government has published the results of analysis carried out along the more than 580kms of coast which exist in the region. Although the summer season starts now, the Andalucian government has been analysing the quality of the water and the sand on 205 Andalucian beaches over the past few months. The technicians have carried out more than 15,000 microscopic inspections of the water and 11,000 of the sand. The result has been the start of the bathing season with no health risks. So there is no excuse not to enjoy the long kilometres of beaches of the Andalucian coastline. From the unspoilt beaches of Cabo de Gata in Almería to the those of Isla Cristina in Huelva, not forgetting the beauty of the Cádiz beaches. All of them a good example of the stunning Andalucian coast.

TIERRA ADENTRO 2002
Rural tourism is increasing to complement the ever popular beaches of Andalucía. The 'Tierra Adentro' fair is to be held in Jaén between October 24 and 27th. It's the second edition and this year will be a display of folklore, regional cuisine and the rural sports of inland Andalucía. The Junta de Andalucía signed more than 80 agreements with local councils in Almería province last year in order to beautify villages and supply them with services of interest to tourists. Inland tourists are very profitable, economically speaking, given that they spend 7,500 pesetas per person per day, compared with the 4,600 pesetas spent by tourists on the beach.

NIEBLA CASTLE FESTIVAL 2002
One of the most famous places in the locality of Niebla in Huelva province is its magnificent medieval castle. Each year at this time, this walled area – declared to be a site of Cultural interest, is the scene for the 'Niebla Castle Festival of Theatre and Dance'. The 18th edition of the event brings us, between July 6 and August 24, a total of 7 theatrical works, among which 'Las alegres comadres de Windsor' and 'Casandra', as well as an homage to the actor Adolfo Marsillach and a performance of the Bulgaria National Ballet. All this in the unbeatable setting of the castle and the Alcázar de los Guzmanes, a medieval construction situated in this town of Roman origin, with an important Arab and Medieval pre-dominium, which still has not lost its essence and which gives this event an even richer cultural heritage. This festival has become an obliged date for lovers of theatre and dance, who find here in Niebla the ideal place for this type of performance, as well as having the chance to admire one of the most beautiful medieval castles in Andalucía.

ETHNIC MUSIC FESTIVAL MÁLAGA
The beaches of El Peñón del Cuervo in Málaga will be the stage, for yet another year, of the 3rd Festival of Ethnic Music. The event takes place in the 12th and 13th of July, with performances of musicians and singers offering us a wide range of genres and styles, such as the world music of Cheb Mami, the Moroccan rhythms of El Houssaine Kili, the traditional Columbian music of Palo Q'Sea, or the world famous Rita Marley – a name which has become synonymous with reggae, rastafaris and Jamaica, and which continues the artistic and cultural value of this music left behind following the death of her husband Bob. The taste of Cuba will also be present in the Málaga Festival of Ethnic Music, with the group Ariel Cumbá, who bring together salsa, rap, pop and afro-cuban folklore. Two days to enjoy different rhythms which will make us dance into the early hours on the Málaga beaches of El Peñón del Cuervo.

CHIRIMOYAS FROM AN OFFICIAL AREA
The production of chirimoyas, or Custard Apples, in ten municipalities of the provinces of Granada and Málaga now have their definitive official area. Called the 'Chirimoya from the Tropical Coast of Granada-Málaga', it brings the number of official areas in Andalucía, used normally for wines, olive oils, raisins, hams, asparagus, citric fruits and organic products to 31. The Costa Tropical chirimoya is made up from the harvests from municipalities such as Motril, Salobreña or Almuñecar in Granada, and Nerja, Torrox or Vélez-Málaga in the province of Málaga. In total there are more than 2,500 hectares of land dedicated to the cultivation of the Custard Apple, producing some 28,000 tons. This fruit, together with the avocado, are the two most important sub tropical fruits in Andalucía, and have their main market in their home region, although some are exported to countries of the European Union.

THE FALLA UNIVERSE
To promote the figure of Manuel de Falla and conserve the patrimonial heritage of the composer, is the objective of the permanent exhibition 'Universo Falla' which has been opened in Granada. A space open to locals and tourists which will show the works and documents of the composer from Cádiz in the hall of the central library which carries his name. A space which, using original documents and even film and sound recordings from Falla himself, offers a wide vision of the personality of the composer. This permanent display has been funded from the Manuel de Falla Archive, although it has also come into being thanks to other funds and donations from individuals and institutions. The composer spent more than 20 years in Granada, which is why the city has a close relationship with his memory. It's the first time that the 140 documents which make up this display on Falla have been shown together. They show the different periods of the genius composer.