Chipiona

Chipiona is a town in southern Spain. It belongs to the province of Cádiz in the region of Andalusia, located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Guadalquivir. Here live 18,930 inhabitants ( 1 January 2013), in the summer " revive " in addition tens of thousands of almost exclusively Spanish tourists the town. It is especially known for its large sandy beaches and the lighthouse. As a seaside resort Chipiona serves many tourists as the starting point for trips to popular destinations such as Cadiz (City ) (30 minutes ), Jerez (30 minutes ), Seville (90 minutes ) and Huelva (City ) (about 90 minutes ). Chipiona is considered one of the cleanest beach resorts in Andalusia.

• 6.1 Carnival
• 6.2 Pilgrimage del Pinar

History

The name comes from an antique Chipiona, no longer extant lighthouse at the mouth of the Guadalquivir. It was built by Scipio Africanus after successful battles against the Carthaginians in 206 BC. This is considered as the time of birth Chipiona. Before, many ships on the reef of the Piedra de Salmedina, one of the coast exposed rock shatters. Roman remains at the city limits could be dated to the second century BC.

Later, the population had grown chipionerische was decimated by the attacks of the Visigoths. It took several centuries until they slowly recovered. Chipiona 711 was conquered for the first time of the Moors. In 1251 it was founded by King Ferdinand III. recaptured for the first time, before it then won his son Alfonso X final for the Spanish Kingdom.

1295 gave King Sancho IV " El Bravo " ( The brave ) Chipiona Alonso Perez de Guzman " El Bueno " ( The Good ), who built the small, preserved to this day " city - castle " and later at the Conquest of Juan Ponce de León had some. The further role Chipiona, in the story is modest. During the Spanish Civil War, it was the middle of the contested south until today can be seen tensions between Communist- Aligned and " Nationalists ".

Attractions

The " Humilladero " which Heilge María Vírgen of Regla

" Maria Virgen de Regla " ( " Virgin María de Regla " ) is still the patron saint of the city. When the Arabs conquered in the 8th century Chipiona, hidden hermit the holy image in a water tank, about 30 meters from the Citadel, the present monastery. The statue was rediscovered by a Marian apparition in the 14th century. About the former water tank a so-called " Humilladero " was built, a place of worship, with the image of Mary and other religious symbols. It still stands today next to the sandstone church " Vírgen de Regla ".

Cruz del Mar

1755 Chipiona has been hit hard by the consequences of the earthquake of Lisbon. In the moment in which the tidal wave Chipiona should meet, the saga appeared after the Holy Christ of Mercy and sent the shaft back into the sea. At this place a large iron cross was erected, the " Cruz del Mar". Even though we now know that the phenomenon has actually taken place and you can prove it scientifically, is carried out by the city church to this day, on every first of November of the year, a procession to the popular Ausblicksort.

The lighthouse " Faro de Chipiona "

The lighthouse was built in 1867 and Chipiona is 69 meters, the highest in Spain and one of the highest in the world. He is equally as "the " symbol of the city. It lies at the tip of a small headland called " Punta del Perro ", the point of the dog. As the ancient Lighthouse ( history Chipiona ) he still serves as a visual landmark for cargo ships entering in large quantities in the river Guadalquivir.

Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Regla de Chipiona

The origin of the sanctuary is located in a fortress of the Ponce de León. In 1399 it was left to the Augustinian hermits, who remained there until 1835. The square tower battlements of the present monastery is a reminder of the original fort. In 1882 it was occupied by the Franciscans and converted into a school for missionaries to Morocco and the " Holy Land ". The sanctuary also includes the Humilladero (see above), the 62 cm high black Madonna Virgen de Regla, the city's patron Chipiona includes, ( see history).

Economy

The economy Chipiona is mainly divided into four sectors:

• Tourism: Chipiona is a very popular holiday destination due to its big, bright, high-iodine sandy beaches among locals. Therefore (June, July, August) the town grows in the three summer months on a small city with about 120,000 inhabitants. The tourists are coming to 90 percent of Spaniards and mostly from the surrounding provinces like Seville or Huelva. Since the high government investment in the nearby holiday complex " La Ballena " to Chipiona slowly opening up to the international tourism.
• Flowers: Chipiona is the main supplier for Spanish cut flowers, an important national and international exporter of flowers. However, southern Spain, and the alignment with the climate of the nearby North African coast is the noticeably worsening desertification threatens the existence of more and more florists in the summer of 2003 a water barrier was imposed in parts of Andalusia, many smaller merchants had to retire due to extreme drought already.
• Fish trade: this is with the agriculture of the oldest industry throughout the region, originally lived a large part of the population from fish sales. The fish from Chipiona and his " neighbor " Sanlúcar de Barrameda is known for its high quality.
• Wine: Moscatel, Oloroso and Fino Vino are (both sherry species) and wine vinegar produced in Chipiona and environment.

Demographics

Beaches

Chipiona has a large number of beaches, many of them have been awarded the Blue Flag for clean beaches in Europe:

• Playa de Regla
• Playa del Camarón
• Playa de las Tres Piedras
• Playa de la Ballena
• Playa Cruz del Mar
• Playa de las Canteras
• Playa de Montijo
• Playa de la Laguna

Festivals and traditions

Carnival

Carnival is the largest and Chipiona tradition plays a major role in all of Andalusia. Known is the Carnival of the nearby city of Cádiz. The first chipionerische Carnival dates back to the 1930s until today various removals ( Cabalgatas ) and festive events are held in the period between January and February. The festivities culminate in a national, huge festival on the last weekend of February. Especially on Friday of this weekend there are about 150,000 people on the streets disguised Chipiona. It take people of all ages participate. In addition to traditional speech, the " Pregón ", participate the equally venerable comedy male choirs, the " Chirigotas " and " comparsas ". Furthermore, eight " damas " ( carnival "Ladies " / princesses ) is selected, one of which is to " Perla de Carnavales " ( carnival "pearl" / Queen ) is chosen. The damas with perla at the top then do as impressive carnival parade on Shrove Sunday. There among the various participating groups developed a dynamic competition, because even here prices for the best ideas and implementation are given.

Pilgrimage del Pinar

This is a kind of pilgrimage of the town church to the forest chapel in the nearby pine forest ( Pinar ). A mile long train of different decorated floats runs through the whole city, at the head of a statue of Mary is carried. Also spruced Spanish horses play a special role. Originally strictly religious, the path has been transformed into the forest to a huge party where especially the youth to take the opportunity to omitted to drink, to celebrate and dance.

Well-known personalities from Chipiona

• Federico Crespo Oliver, writer
• Rocío Jurado, internationally successful singer
• José Antonio Castro Cebrián, writer

Famous people who have worked in Chipiona

• Padre Lerchundi, priests and Arabist
• Peter Behnstedt, Arabist

Trivia

The novel " The Changing Winds" by Almudena Grandes plays a significant portion in Chipiona; although the place is not mentioned by name, but can be inferred from the different name and distance information.