A southern region
The most
populous region
Andalusia is the autonomous community of southern Spain and the most populous in the country, with more than 8.6 million inhabitants (INE, 1 January 2025). At 87,599 km², it is the second largest community in Spain, after Castile and León — not the largest.
Bordered by the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, it is one of the sunniest regions in Europe. Its name comes from al-Andalus, the legacy left by eight centuries of Andalusi presence, still alive in its architecture, its speech and its way of life.
The eight provinces
Eight provinces,
one land
Andalusia is divided into eight provinces, with its capital in Seville. Alhama de Almería lies in the province of Almería, at the eastern end of the community.
World Heritage
Seven treasures of humanity
Andalusia has seven properties inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list, with their official titles and years.
- Alhambra, Generalife and Albayzín, Granada 1984, ext. 1994
- Historic Centre of Córdoba 1984 (Mosque), ext. 1994
- Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville 1987
- Doñana National Park 1994
- Renaissance ensembles of Úbeda and Baeza 2003
- Antequera Dolmens Site 2016
- Flamenco (intangible cultural heritage) 2010
Intangible heritage
The cradle of flamenco
Flamenco was inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. Andalusia is its heartland: this is where the singing, playing and dance that shape this unique art form were born and remain alive, passed down from generation to generation.
Andalusian identity
The soul of al-Andalus
Legacy of al-Andalus
From the 8th to the 15th century, al-Andalus left a deep imprint: the very name of Andalusia comes from it, and with it an architecture, gardens and a legacy that endure.
Mediterranean sun
Andalusia is one of the sunniest regions in Europe, with a Mediterranean climate that has shaped its outdoor life, its cuisine and its character.
White villages
The white villages — whitewashed houses clinging to the hillsides — are one of the most recognisable images of the community.
Andalusian speech
Andalusian is a dialect or accent of Spanish, not a separate language: a warm, musical way of speaking that differs in every corner of the community.
From Alhama
Andalusia
begins here
Alhama de Almería is a fine starting point for discovering Andalusia: the thermal waters of the valley, the capital just a step away and a whole community to explore.