Andalucia.com Newsletter Autumn 2024 |
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 From the Mirador del Carmen, Cielo Cafe upper terrace, take in spectacular views. |
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Autumn and Winter in Andalucia 2024
Autumn is a wonderful time to visit Andalucía. As the season changes, life here takes on a slower, more relaxed rhythm, allowing you to fully enjoy the region's charm and tranquil atmosphere. It’s a perfect time for exploration and authentic local experiences.
We have selected some of our favourite locations and events at this time of year for you to discover.
Find out more about the winter sports scene in the Sierra Nevada and read our five fascinating facts about Cordoba.
As the countryside reflects the changing season you will find locally harvested produce in the markets including the first pressed olive oil. Below we share an insight into Andalucia's extensive olive groves.
Browse our newsletter to explore Andalucia in the autumn and start planning your trip.
If you find this newsletter interesting, please share it with your friends and, of course, if you have suggestions about places or events which you think we should discover, we’d love to hear from you.
Discover Andalucia
 The Sierra Nevada, home to the only ski resort in Andalucia. |
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The Sierra Nevada and Granada
The Sierra Nevada, home to the only ski resort in Andalucia.
The Sierra Nevada National Park, to the south-east of Granada, is home to the only ski resort in Andalucia.
The Sierra Nevada resort is located at Pradollano at 2,100 m in Spain´s highest mountain range. Facilities include 9 ski areas and over 130 runs combined with a lively apres-ski nightlife!
Granada has a recognized World Heritage site including the Alhambra Palace, the Generalife summer palace and the Albaicín historic district with its narrow streets and hidden gardens and the city of Granada has plenty of cultural events to enjoy all year round.
It´s a fascinating destination, echoing the Andalusí heritage in its architecture and lifestyle. .
Festivals in Andalucia
Belén Viviente in Arcos de la Frontera
Belén Viviente
The Christmas story brought to life
During the festive season in Andalucia you´ll find one of the most delightful traditions: the Christmas story brought to life in a belén viviente, or live nativity scene. These typically take place in towns and villages.
This outdoor theatre performance takes place in various settings throughout the village with locals of all ages dressed up as characters acting out different scenes from the Christs' life. Belénes vivientes usually take place in the evening, from December until early January. Some villages have a one-day event while others run several performances.
This charming, highly atmospheric event is ideal for children and families as it usually features live animals such as sheep and donkeys as well as singing and market stalls with food and handicrafts. The bible stories need no translation as you move through the village watching the characters play out their parts.
Musicians and dancers, dressed up in ornate flower-bedecked hats with colourful ribbons, compete in 3 different categories, while onlookers sip the local sweet wines.
See our page with details about the best live nativity scenes around Andalucia, listed by province.
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Interview
 Collection of hand painted fans by Silvia Ramos |
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Silvia Ramos
We spoke to Silvia Ramos, a Cadiz-born artist, in her workshop in Sevilla.
Silvia paints designs inspired by nature and is an accomplished artisan making silk scarves and fans with her unique compositions. Discover how she prepares the fabric, the intricate construction process, and how to recognise a good quality fan.
Music in Andalucia
 Festival de Music Española de Cadiz 2024 |
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Festival de Music Española de Cádiz Manuel de Falla, 15-24 November
This traditional music festival takes place in Cadiz, the birthplace of one of Spain´s most universal composers, Manuel de Falla, coinciding with his birthday in November.
The Festival celebrates the creativity of Spanish and Andaluz composers and performers and each year features accomplished Spanish musicians and singers.
Founded in 2002, the annual programme includes concerts at different locations within the city, including the Gran Teatro Falla and in surrounding towns and venues. Organised over three weeks, this year it comprises family concerts, activities for children and exhibitions as well as professional workshops for Spanish musicians.
Gastronomy in Andalucia
 Olives hanging in abundance, ripe and ready for harvest, their deep purple hues glistening under the soft sunlight |
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The Olive Harvest
An essential part of the Andalucian character
Olives and olive oil are an essential part of the character of Andalucia´s landscape and gastronomy.
In Jaén, olive groves stretch as far as the eye can see - this province is home to almost 40% of all of the olive groves in Andalucia. Olives are harvested from November through to January and most of the olives grown in Andalucia are taken to an almazara (mill) to be made into olive oil. Some are used as table olives.
You can see traditional harvesting methods used in smaller family-owned olive groves. A large net is spread on the ground below the tree, which is beaten with sticks so that the olives fall to the ground, and are then picked up in the net.
In terms of table olives, different varieties are served whole or pitted and stuffed with fillings such as anchovies or red peppers. There are many ways to enjoy olives in salads and other dishes, and they are traditionally served as a tapa with a crisp glass of manzanilla sherry or a chilled beer..
#DidYouKnow
 The building's existing 865 columns (originally 1293, before the cathedral arrived) were recycled from various sources, including the Visigothic basilica over which the mosque was built |
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Córdoba
Discover more Fascinating Facts about Córdoba.
Cordoba is famously home to the Mezquita, one of the largest mosques in the world, dating from the city´s Al Andalus history when it was the capital and the most important city in Western Europe with 500,000 inhabitants.
However, there are many other cultures that form part of the cultural and religious legacy of the city. The synagogue in the Jewish quarter is one of the best preserved medieval examples in Spain. Throughout history the city was a centre of learning for scholars and philosophers. As the capital of the Roman province Baetica, Cordoba was the birthplace of two Roman poets, Lucan and Seneca.
#Rincon
Rincon de Andalucia.com
Discover more Fascinating Facts
Welcome to El Rincón de Andalucia.com! In this special new section of our newsletter, we're excited to share a behind-the-scenes look at how we bring you the most useful insights for travelling around and discovering Andalucía.
One of our most ambitious current undertakings is our Villages Project, a decade-long endeavour to provide a unique and comprehensive guide to the villages of Andalucía. We’re on a mission to create a dedicated page or section for each of the more than 800 villages in the region by April 2026, when we will celebrate an important landmark: our 30th anniversary!
In addition, we are committed to updating our pages as regularly as possible, allocating over half of our editorial resources to this essential task, to ensure that you can always find the latest, most reliable information on popular topics and places. See Latest pages.
Fun fact: Top 5 Most Searched Pueblos Blancos on andalucia.com in 2024: Mijas, Casares, Gaucín, Frigiliana, and Setenil de las Bodegas.
Until the next issue, sending you warm wishes and sunshine from the team at Andalucia.com! 🌞