Andalusia

Andalusia is an autonomous community in southern Spain. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. Andalusia is officially recognized as a "historical nationality" in its Statute of Autonomy.

Historically, Andalusia has been inhabited since at least the Bronze Age. It was incorporated into the Roman Republic and subsequently the Roman Empire, becoming the province of Hispania Baetica. Following the collapse of the Roman Empire, it was conquered by the Vandals (hence the name Vandalusia, later Andalusia), followed by the Visigoths. In the 8th century, it was conquered by the Umayyad Caliphate, becoming known as Al-Andalus. This period saw significant cultural and intellectual development in the region.

After the fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba, the region was divided into various independent kingdoms (taifas). These were gradually conquered by the Christian kingdoms to the north during the Reconquista. Granada, the last Muslim kingdom in Iberia, fell to the Catholic Monarchs in 1492.

Andalusia's economy is based primarily on agriculture, tourism, and services. Significant agricultural products include olives, olive oil, wine, and citrus fruits. The region is also a popular tourist destination, known for its historical cities (such as Seville, Granada, Córdoba, and Málaga), its beaches on the Costa del Sol, and its cultural heritage, including flamenco music and dance, bullfighting, and Moorish architecture.

Andalusia is divided into eight provinces: Almería, Cádiz, Córdoba, Granada, Huelva, Jaén, Málaga, and Seville. Its capital city is Seville. The official language is Spanish.