La Rabida at Sunset © Michelle Chaplow |
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La Rabida
Seven kilometres south of Huelva city where the Tinto and Odiel rivers meet is an area known as La Rabida in which is located the 15th-century Franciscan Monasterio de Santa María de la Rábida. If you're interested in Christopher Columbus, this is one of three places to visit around Huelva. The other two are the nearby town of Palos de la Frontera, where Columbus found his crew, and the Convento de Santa Clara in Moguer, which Columbus frequently visited.
Although a very small community with a population of of about about 80 inhabitants it is a particular iinteresting place for the tourist to visit, not just for the Columbus connection but also for a number of other monuments.
HISTORY
The initial origin of La Rábida is slightly hard to trace, however the word 'rábida' is the Arabic word for fortress. It is suggested that this was a location designed as a defence line from those coming into the Rio Tinto or even the Rio Odiel from the coast.
Muelle de las Carabelas (Warf of the Caravels) is a waterfront exhibition with life-size replicas of Columbus's three ships: the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa María, built for the 500th… More →
The Grupo de Universidades Iberoamericanas La Rábida (Group of Latin American Universities La Rabida) originates from an agreement signed in 1995 by several universities in the Latin American… More →
Built by José Álvarez Checa Curbelo and Tomás Curbelo between 1999-1991 for the celebration of the fifth centenary of the Discovery of America. Its construction would bridge the gap between the… More →
The monument was initiated in 1891 by Manuel Echegoyán and finished a year later, coinciding with the celebration of the fourth centenary of the discovery of America. The initiative for building… More →
Plus Ultra was a Spanish Aeronautics Military seaplane that conducted its first flight between Spain and America, taking off on 22 January 1926 in front of La Rabida and arriving to Buenos Aires… More →
A botanical garden with a growing collection of flora collected from five continents. It was opened in 1993 and the expedition was to result in an important herbarium of more than 20,000 species… More →
THINGS TO SEE
Nearby, on the Río Tinto estuary, the Muelle de las Carabelas More > (Harbour of the Caravels) is a waterfront exhibition with life-size replicas of Columbus's three ships: the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa María, built for the 500th anniversary celebrations in 1992. The museum next to the boats has details of Columbus's life, regular video screenings and a café.
Close to the Muelle is the Monument Plus Ultra More >, which commemorates the first transatlantic flight between Spain and America. Opposite the habour is the Foro Iberamericano, a modern outdoor venue for summer plays and concerts.
In the park near the monastery is the Monumento a los Descubridores More > (Monument for the Discoverers), which was built in 1892 to commemorate the fourth centenary of the discovery of America. Also near the monastery is the Iberamericano University More >.
Between Monasterio de La Rábida and Muelle de las Carabelas is the Foro Iberoamericano More >, it has a capacity of 4000, accommodating large concerts and performances in the Auditorium outdoors and is designed for holding conventions, congresses and public events in the indoor facilities.
The Parque Botánico José Celestino Mutis More > is the most visited attractions in the province of Huelva. A botanical garden with a growing collection of flora collected from five continents. It was opened in 1993 and the expedition was to result in an important herbarium of more than 20,000 species.
