ALMUÑECAR BEACHES
Beaches in Granada province are to receive nearly 70 million pesetas over the next three years for the removal of physical barriers and thus improve access for the physically handicapped. Of this money 30% will go to the Costa Tropical. Along the Almuñecar coastline nearly 22 million pesetas will be spent on the access improvements. This plan from the Ministry of the Environment will see work on nine beaches in Almuñecar along 20 kilometres of coastline from Cantarriján to Cabria - Curumbico.

ALHAMBRA - GEOMETRIC FIGURES
The most emblematic monument in the city of Granada, the Alhambra, contains in its geometrical drawings the seventeen flat structures possible in nature, making it a monument that is unique in the world. After more than a year of complex study, the Granada University Professor, Rafael Pérez, has discovered that the Nazarene monument hides a complex mathematical problem in its geometric shapes and it is this which transmits the sensation of beauty and harmony. Perhaps this is part of the reason for the exceptional magic which has made it one of the most visited monuments in Europe.

SEVILLE - AUDIO GUIDE
Seville has become the first Spanish city to have its own audio guide. Thanks to the initiative, both tourists and locals can now visit the Andalucian city while listening to commentaries and anecdotes compiled by the historian José María de Mena. With a duration of four and a half hours, the Seville audio guide also includes a map of the city with two itineraries, 92 sites of interest described, 350 photographs and more than 200 anecdotes. Those interested in obtaining a copy can obtain one from hotels. The guide is translated into five languages and includes additional information which can be accessed by computer. It’s an original way to get to know the Andalucian capital.

ÚBEDA AND BAEZA - HERITAGE OF HUMANITY
The renaissance towns of Úbeda and Baeza in the province of Jaén have reached agreement on presenting a single candidature to UNESCO for the declaration to be heritage of humanity. Both towns have spent 12 years fighting for worldwide recognition. In the candidature they will put into effect their universal values, humanistic model, the influence they had in America and the fight for democratisation. To this end central government and the regional communities have agreed to base efforts only on these two towns at the next election expected in June 2003.

RECOMMENDATIONS - GRANADA TOURIST GUIDE
Lovers of trekking have an unbeatable setting in the province of Granada. Now the Granada editors ‘Proyecto Sur’ have just published a new tourist guide for them called ‘de la costa tropical a la montaña’ in which the expert orienteer, originally from Valencia, Enrique Garín, collects together 25 walking routes to discover the surroundings of the Granada province town of Almuñecar. This area of Andalucía has a subtropical environment which is unique in Europe. In just a few kilometres you can travel from the heat of the beaches to the cold of the high peaks of the Sierra Nevada. In fact the land covered by the 25 routes, which have in addition 60 possible alternatives, covers some 50 kilometres both along the coast and towards the sierra. They are limited by the three nature parks in the zone - Maro-Cerro Gordo; Almijara and Tejeda; and the Sierra Nevada nature park.

RECOMMENDATIONS - ARCHEOLOGICAL ROUTE OF THE WHITE VILLAGES - CÁDIZ
Remains of settlements, townships, villages, forts, towns, roads and paths hundreds of years old - and all much closer than you might imagine. In the Cádiz Sierra we can discover the immense and rich cultural heritage of the province along the archeological route of the white villages. This historic footprint links a good number of archeological sites spread out across the length of the district. It’s a pioneering project in Andalucía designed to popularise, recover and conserve the archaeological heritage with the creation and development of a tourist infrastructure. There are very few regions of Europe which have been subject to so many peoples, and so many cultures of such different lifestyles and ways of thinking as in the Cádiz sierra. A place of dreams where you can enjoy a journey into the past.

BLUES FESTIVAL IN ANTEQUERA
Every summer the town of Antequera hosts `The Antequera Cambaya Blues festival' - a main event of the town since 1988. The recent 11th edition saw the participation of top blues bands. The collegiate church of Santa Maria was the stage where the blues fans could enjoy the good music and show in the open air. Between performances those present could refresh themselves at one of the many bars placed round the square. The handicraft stalls also proved popular. Manolo Arcos and Little Boy Kike proved very popular, Malcon & Naco and Dan Electro and the silvertones had started the evening to grand applause. The festival has become one of the most important Blues events in Spain. The Antequera Blues festival attracts a lot of fans to the town who come for both the music and the charm of the place itself.

AGENDA

`Jorge Guilkn - My memories are my poems' is an exhibition on the nobel literature prize winner and can be visited in the Malaga provincial culture centre until September 14

The Cortegana castle Medieval days take place between Thursday 9 and Sunday 12 August in this Huelva locality where Arab, Jewish and Christian cultures are revived.

The 3rd edition of the Suel international short film festival is held between the 6th and 1 1th of this month in the Malaga town of Fuengirola.

The Niebla Castle festival of dance and theatre continues on Saturday 18 August with the performance by the Andaluz theatre centre of Othello by Shakespeare.

Chipiona in the province of Cádiz holds its Moscatel Fiestas until Tuesday 14 of this month.

Jimena de la Frontera in Cádiz holds its August fair until Sunday 12 of this month.

Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 of August sees the 9th edition of the Mundialito beach volley ball event in Puerto Real Cádiz.

The Cádiz town of Rota celebrates the popular `Feria de la Urta' - declared to be of national tourist interest in Andalucía between Thursday 9 and Sunday 12 of this month, in honour of the typical dish `la Urta a la rotefia' which is prepared as a competition and shared out among those present.

The Cádiz town of San Roque sees the release of the Aguardiente bull as part of its fair between Tuesday 7 and Monday 13.

The fiestas in honour of the patron saint of the Virgen of Charity are held in Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Cádiz, between Monday 13 and Wednesday 15 of August when the streets are decorated with carpets of colour.

Rock band Jarabe de Palo hold a free concert on the Victoria beach in Cádiz on Tuesday August 14

Benaocaz, in Cádiz, holds its feria and main fiestas from Saturday 11 to Wednesday 15 of this month, during which the Bull on the rope is released.

The C6rdoba town of La Rambla holds its fiestas in honour of San Lorenzo the martyr from Friday 10 to Sunday 12 August

The historic centre of Córdoba is the scene for the Music in the Jewish Quarter 2001 cycle all this month, when as well as concerts you can see theatre, magic and storytelling.

In Las Dehesas de Guadiz in Granada until Sunday 12 you can see the popular fiestas where the youngsters have to get a ham hung in the village square which is protected by loose young bulls. Also the towns of Almuñecar, Albuiluelas, Capileira, Dilar and Fonelas also celebrate their fiestas during next week.

The beach at Los Llanos de Carchuna in Motril, Granada province, sees the town of Motril fishing competition on Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 of this month.