Ayamonte (; pt, Aiamonte) is a town and
municipality of
Spain belonging to the
province of Huelva,
Andalusia. It is located near the
border with Portugal on the mouth of the
Guadiana River. According to the 2015
census, the city had a population of 20,357 inhabitants.
History
In the municipality are located parts of the
megalithic
A megalith is a large stone that has been used to construct a prehistoric structure or monument, either alone or together with other stones. There are over 35,000 in Europe alone, located widely from Sweden to the Mediterranean sea.
The ...
site
La Torre-La Janera which is assumed to date back to the 5th millennium
BC. The town was seized away from Muslim control in 1240 during the reign of
Sancho II of Portugal, and it was donated afterwards to the
Order of Santiago. Ayamonte became part of the
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval polity in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and, some decades later, the parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accessi ...
in 1263.
Fishing and
salting of
tuna and
sardine was already practised in Ayamonte since the Middle Ages. The town suffered due to the
War with Portugal and the plague pandemics in the 17th century.
In the following century, Catalans and other eastern merchants installed in the town and gave impetus to the local canning and salt industry.
Location
The township of Ayamonte preserves its old medieval quarter in the central district of the town, with many very narrow streets and historical buildings; this central area is a designated
car-free zone.
The beach area of Ayamonte is
Isla Canela and is reached by a causeway across the Marismas del Guadiana; the marismas (salt marshes) are a wildlife reserve, providing a home to many waterfowl, including herons and flamingos. Isla Canela is built along several kilometers of sandy beaches, and provides an area for windsurfing, kitesurfing and sailing. There are a number of golf courses in and around the area, including one built into the Marismas itself.
Transport
The ferry link between Ayamonte and
Vila Real de Santo António was the traditional crossing point between Spain and Portugal. A
modern bridge over the
Guadiana River has now been built to the north of the town, linking the motorway systems of both countries, but the ferry still runs and provides an inexpensive mode of transport between the two countries.
Culture
The city, is also famous for his local festivities, the "Fiestas de las Angustias" in honor of their patron "Nuestra Señora de las Angustias". The festivities in the beginning of September are a moment of celebration not only from the Ayamontin population, but also for many Andalucians, and Portuguese. The festivities are graced by the local band, "Banda Ciudad de Ayamonte" and the Portuguese "Banda da Sociedade Filarmónica Progresso e Labor Samouquense" from the Portuguese village of
Samouco.
Climate
Ayamonte has a
Hot-summer Mediterranean climate (
Köppen: Csa) with mild, somewhat humid winters and dry, warm to hot summers. Autumn is the wettest season.
Demographics
People
*
Antonio León Ortega
Antonio León Ortega (December 7, 1907 – January 9, 1991) was a Spanish sculpture, sculptor known for his Andalusian imagery.
Biography
Antonio León Ortega was born in Ayamonte, in the county of Huelva, on December 7, 1907.
When he was a t ...
(1907–1991),
Sculptor. He had his professional education in Madrid and he created a personal style in the Andalusian imagery of the 20th century.
*
María Isabel, singer.
References
External links
Ayuntamiento de Ayamonte** changed to www.ayamonte.es **
- Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía
{{authority control
Municipalities in the Province of Huelva
Portugal–Spain border crossings