ANDALUCIA TOURISM NEWS – SEPTEMBER 4 2002

ALFARALMERÍA 2002
Popular crafts are one of the attractions which characterise the province of Almería, with pottery particularly popular. We have been able to see a good display of this skill at the 11th Popular Spanish Pottery Fair 2002 which saw 37 Spanish and Portuguese potters setting up stalls on the Paseo of the city in one of the most important exhibitions of its type in Spain.
Plates, Vases , Jugs, Bowls and a multitude of utensils handmade and painted which make up a good display of the skills of not only the Almeria potters but also those from other provinces such as Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada and Jaén, and which show us the traditions of their villages. The Popular Spanish Pottery Fair is part of the handicraft activities included in a fair with national characteristics.

GROWTH OF TOURISM IN ANDALUCÍA
The months of June and July have brought good news to the tourist industry in Andalucía. As far as the number of visitors is concerned, Andalucía welcomed 2,300,000 visitors in July, an increase of 4.5% over last year. Income generated by the visitors reached more than 1,300 million €. Another of the indicators to show the growth in the sector is the number of occupants of tourist apartments in June at 540,000 overnight stays. Average occupation reached 60% and the average stay was some 7 days. Tourists generally came from Spain, Great Britain and Germany and had chosen our area because of the climate and the quality of the beaches. The visitors described Andalucia as a grade A destination.

JEREZ AUTUMN FIESTAS 2002
The Autumn fiestas in Jerez de la Frontera, in Cádiz province, will become a reference point for Culture and Games in September with the celebration of the World Equestrian Games between the 10th and 22nd. The fiestas, after the celebration of the traditional grape treading in one of the oldest squares in the city, continue with flamenco shows of all types – the new tendencies in Flamenco, Autumn Flamenco in the Peñas or clubs and the Fiesta de la Bulería which will be held in the 14th at 10pm. And of course the horses are here, the real stars of the fiestas in Jerez, with a Latin American display of equestrian equipment, and a cycle of conferences and exhibitions. A grand horse parade takes place on September 22 and ends in the Chapín stadium to form part of the closure of the Equestrian Games. Two days later on the 24th, the Autumn fiestas come to a close with a grand gala in the Royal School of Equestrian Art. A few days when Jerez will be the centre of attention for all horse lovers.

SINGULAR TREES OF ANDALUCÍA
Andalucía has beautiful forests and nature parks spread out across the eight provinces of the autonomous community. Here we can find species of tree as characteristic as the Pinsapo Spanish Fir in the sierras of Grazalema and Las Nieves, in the provinces of Cádiz and Málaga respectively. The Junta de Andalucía is carrying out a cataloguing campaign for trees which, because of their age or special interest, can be described as singular. The trees which will form part of this inventory will benefit with specific protection under forest law. As well as the initiative from the Junta and the local councils, the popular participation of the public is important to help identify those trees which could be in hidden or little known places. The campaign called 'Inventario de Arboles y Arboledas de Andalucía' – Find your roots' has already catalogued more than 300 examples in the province of Córodoba – of which more than 100 are Holm Oaks.

GRAPE HARVES FIESTAS 2002
The fiestas of the Vendimia or grape harvest are some of the most picturesque celebrations to be held in Andalucía during the month of September, coinciding with the collection of the grapes and the elaboration of the first grape juices. The best known fiestas are in Montilla, in Córdoba province and declare of Tourist Interest, in Jerez de la Frontera in Cádiz province, and in Manilva and Mollina in Málaga province which have just been held, or those in La Palma del Condado in Huelva. All of them are individual and deeply rooted, with praise for the grape and its treading making up their main characteristic. In Palma del Condado the Grape Harvest Fiestas are held between September 19 and 23, together with the fair which has its origin more than 600 years ago when King Henry III of Castille awarded the holding of a fair here during the first 15 days of September and making it one of the oldest in Andalucía. A few days to enjoy one of the most traditional fiestas of Andalucía and to taste some of the good grape juices and wines.

MOORISH MOON FESTIVAL 2002
The locality of Guaro, inland in the province of Málaga, transforms in the first half of September into a Moorish village with the celebration of the Moorish Moon Festival. An event which is well known to show the cultural and historical relationship which existed in medieval times between the three dominant religions – the Christian, the Muslim and the Sephardi. An event which, between the 6th and 8th and 13th and 14th of September brings together these three cultures using music, exhibitions, workshops and the installing of an authentic Zoco Arab market with artisans dressed in the old Moorish style. The Arab Andalucian and Sephardi music, flamenco, theatre, and Arab dancing are also protagonists of this Moorish Moon Festival in Guaro, which currently lights up the night time streets with the glow from more than 40,000 candles.

BAEZA FLAMENCO CONGRESS
More than 300 people from across Spain and other countries such as France are taking part in the 30th National Flamenco Art Congress which is being held until September 14 in the Jáen province town of Baeza. Among the outstanding activities of the congress are the performances of artists such as Carmen Linares and Gerardo Núñez who will later move on to the Bienal in Seville. The universal values of flamenco, the Flamenco peñas or clubs, the origin of the Cádiz cante por alegrías, or the latest tendencies in the art, are just some of the topics in the meeting, together with a festival of the Andalucian Confederation of Flamenco Peñas and the first international meeting of Flamenco Peñas. There are many parallel activities such as a course in Flamenco dance, painting and photography exhibitions with a flamenco theme, as well as visits and excursions to the numerous renaissance monuments in Úbeda and Baeza.

REDESIGN OF REY CHICO
The Rey Chico building, situated below the Alhambra in Granada, is to get an Arab garden to help the building blend better into the environment, according to an announcement from the Mayor of the city, José Moratalla, during a visit he made to the redesign works at the site. As well as the garden, which will include aromatic plants, the building will lose some height with the demolition of its turret. The redesign work will cost more than 500,000 € and the building will finally hold the regional government culture department's Training Centre for the Scenic Arts and a gallery which the city hall wants to put at the disposition of young artists. The Rey Chico was initially conceived as a restaurant and function room, although it has never been used as such. After its ownership being taken over by public administration, the decision was made to place several cultural installations in this setting – as beautiful as that of the Alhambra.