EL ROCIO
Only a few days left until one of the most emblematic and crowded pilgrimages in Andalucía takes place in Huelva - El Rocio.
The brotherhoods start to arrive in Almonte on the 30th - the village then becomes the place where more than a million and a half people take part in the largest show of devotion shown to the virgen Mary seen in Spain.
A mix of party and religion, 97 brotherhoods from across the country take part and even from further afield - last year a brotherhood was founded in Brussels - the first one outside Spain which will pilgrim to El Rocio.
Once in Almonte, on Saturday June 3, all the brotherhoods file past with the sinless before the Santuario de la Virgen hermitage in front of the virgin known as La Blanca Paloma - the white dove.
Everything is then ready to celebrate the Rosario de la Aurora at midnight.
After that, in the early hours of the 4th, Pentecost Sunday, it’s the culminating moment. The fervour of the thousands of devoted locals overflows as they climb over the railing in order to carry the virgin in procession for more than 14 hours.
Among the safety measures put in place to deal with the avalanche of vehicles which arrive in the area at this time is the closing to traffic of the village from 11pm pm on Thursday may 31.
To get to El Rocio you have to follow the Sevilla Huelva motorway and take the exit to Bollullos Par del Condado towards Almonte. El Rocio is between there and Matalascañas.

EXPOLIVA IN JAEN
More than 200 companies from 24 countries across the world are meeting about now in Jaen in what is already the most important international fair in the Olive Oil sector - Expoliva 2001.
On this occasion countries from the Persian Golf, New Zealand and Australia are invited for the first time, with the idea of opening new markets in areas where olive oil is still relatively unknown.
Other countries, such as the United States, are exhibiting this year for the first time.
Although the Spanish businesses and organisations are from across the country, the majority are from Andalucía and Jaén, host to Expoliva, is the province where most olive oil is produced in the world.
In total nearly 14,000 square metres of exhibition over three pavilions which intends to become the most important point of commercial contacts between Spain and the rest of the world for Olive oil.

MANZANILLA FAIR
The town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, in Cádiz province, is currently the place where thousands of people are enjoying the Manzanilla fair.
Until Sunday May 27, 200 tents are set up next to the mouth of the Guadalquivir river in one of the most welcoming fairs of the area, and where the centre of attraction is the local wine - Manzanilla.
We can’t go to Sanlúcar de Barrameda without trying this typical wine, which is nearly always present in Andalucian parties. With a great party atmosphere, flamenco dancing and the great cuisine of the area - it’s a perfect combination for fun in the Cádiz province town.

MÁLAGA SPANISH FILM FESTIVAL
The 4th Málaga film festival gets underway on June 1 with 16 feature films from directors such as Bigas Luna, whose film ‘Son de Mar’ will open the proccedings, Vicente Molina or Alfonso Ungría.
In the short film section there are 20 entrants to the competition.
This year for the first time a Spanish and Latin documentary category has been created and the first congress of Spanish and Latin documentary producers will be held.
Another innovation this year is the prizes - For the first time the winners will be given a typical Málaga Biznaga - a type of wooly headed cactus - One in Gold and several in Silver.
What’s more a sales office designed to promote the shorts and documentaries shown as part of the festival will be created for the first time in honour of the veteran actor José Luis López Vázquez.

NERJA CAVES FESTIVAL
The tenor José Carreras, Soloists from the French ballet and the City of Málaga orchestra are some of the shows offered at this year’s Nerja Caves festival from June 24.
The festival, now in its 42nd year, is one of the most important cultural events in the province of Málaga, and is held in the unique setting of the Nerja caves.
This year the star attraction is José Carreras. On the 25th the Málaga city orchestra will play the Concierto de Aranjuez from Joaquín Rodrigo in this centenary year of his birth.
Dancer and choreographer Blanca del Rey will close the festival on June 28 with a programme full of flamenco references.

UBEDA MUSIC AND DANCE FESTIVAL
The town of Úbeda, in Jaén, is now holding its International Festival of Music and Dance. With the incomparable backdrop of this historic town, we have the opportunity to enjoy the best symphony orchestras, flamenco shows and classical ballets in the world - until June 17.
The Covent Garden Opera from London, the City of Málaga Orchestra, the Sara Baras Flamenco Ballet are some of the artists taking part from this week in the Santiago Hospital Hall in Ubeda, together with local singing star Joaquín Sabina.
Great performances which we can enjoy when we visit one of the most beautiful villages of the Spanish renaissance.

ALMERIA MASTER TAPA MAKERS
These are the dishes typically from Almeria - Migas, Gurullos or Ajoblanco. And the same dishes have represented Almeria, together with the best local wines, in the first Andalucian Euroferia which has just been held in the Belgium town of Brussels. The so called master tapa makers from Almeria, an expert group of cooks who specialise in these typical dishes, attended the fair with the objective of promoting the cuisine and products of the province.
It’s a recipe of creating a new window to attract the attention of both the Spanish and foreign tourist. Good food, together with folklore and the monuments of Andalucía are, without doubt, an irresistible offer for a tourist destination.

THE SACROMONTE MUSEUM
The Sacromonte is one of the most popular and typical districts of Granada. If we go there we will have the opportunity to find out more about its culture and traditions in the Ethnographic Interpretation Centre which shows us caves which reproduce the homes of the inhabitants of Sacromonte, wicker working, flamenco and other exhibition areas.
The idea came from a group of youngsters some years ago, and since then they have restored the old caves in the district and create an complex to reproduce the traditional lifestyle in this popular area of Granada.
In this way the traditional culture is safeguarded with the Ethnographic museum and the restoration of the orchards typical of Sacromonte - - a district to inspire as well as promoting the work of musicians, painters and sculptors.

TURISMAR 2001
Hundreds of companies linked to the tourism sector are meeting this weekend in the Huelva town of Ayamonte to show their wares in the 5th Turismar tourist fair 2001.
This fair intends to promote the strengths of the Andalucian region in general and the province of Huelva in particular as well as the neighbouring Portuguese Algarve.
A window for the local companies and those newly created to make business contacts and expand their markets.
More than 7,000 square metres of stand which offer tourism, not just of the beach, but also rural, sports, cultural or gastronomical - with nautical displays and tastings of typical local dishes.

VENUS OF ANTEQUERA
The Venus bust found in the Roman town of Antequera last April is now on show in the Municipal museum of this Málaga town. It’s a bust made in marble from the second century AD and is considered the most important find since the El Efebo bronze more than 50 years ago. The head of this Venus, which corresponds to the classic Greek model, appeared 3 years after the first finds at the site of a Roman villa when work was underway on the Antequera bypass.
The estimated area of the site could be 17,000 square metres, triple the area uncovered upto now. That is deduced from the remains of walls uncovered in the 40's, and the differences in land levels and vegetation in the area.