All about Andalusia

 They are Huelva, Seville, Cordoba, Jaen, Cadiz, Malaga, Granada, and Almeria. Andalusia is about the size of South Carolina in area, but its population of more than five million is much larger than South Carolina's.

The people of Andalusia are gay, and like to brag about their region. Like Texans, they think their part of their country is the richest, the most beautiful, and the best. In most respects they are right. Andalusia is beautiful, with its high mountains, its rivers, its fertile plains, and its lovely sea coast. It is rich in minerals—copper, iron, zinc, tin, lead and silver are mined in the Andalusian mountains. Like Texas, it is famous for its cattle and horses. The farmers of Andalusia grow wheat, olives, oranges, chestnuts, and grapes.

The grapes are used to make some of the best and most famous wines in the world. The name Andalusia comes from a Germanic people that lived there nearly fifteen hundred years ago. These people were the Vandals, and the region became known as the land of the Vandals, or Vandalusia. The V got lost somewhere, and Vandalusia became known as Andalusia. Even earlier than that, the Phoenicians, the Greeks, the Carthaginians and the Romans, all of them from countries on the Mediterranean Sea, had colonies in Andalusia.

The region first became really important about twelve hundred years ago, when it was conquered by the Moors. The Moors were Mohammedans who came from Africa. They were the most cultured and learned people of their time. The Moorish influence is still seen in the customs and language of the people who live in Andalusia. After the Moors, Andalusia was part of the Holy Roman Empire, and later of the kingdom of Spain. Andalusia has been called the garden, the granary, the wine cellar and the gold purse of Spain. The people of Andalusia are most attractive. The men are tall and handsome, and the women are among the most beautiful in Spain.