Aracena

Aracena
Skyline of Aracena
Flag of Aracena Flag Official seal of Aracena Seal
Aracena Location in Andalusia
Aracena Location in Spain
Coordinates:
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Andalusia
Province	Huelva
Comarca	Sierra de Huelva
Government
• Mayor	Manuel Guerra González
Area
• Total	184 km2 (71 sq mi)
Population (2014)
• Total	7,859
• Density	43/km2 (110/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Website	Official website

Aracena (Spanish pronunciation: [aɾaˈθena]) is a town and municipality located in the province of Huelva, south-western Spain. As of 2012, the city has a population of 7,814 inhabitants. The town gives its name to the Sierra de Aracena, part of the Sierra Morena system.

Aracena is the largest town in the Parque Natural Sierra de Aracena y Picos de Aroche. In 2006, Aracena was named a Tourist Municipality of Andalucía and became the first town in the province of Huelva to achieve this status.

Main sights

The Gruta de las Maravillas is located in the town and is one of the most spectacular cave systems in Spain. The caves are located below the hill on which stands Aracena Castle. The caves are said to have been found by a boy looking for a lost pig. Several caverns and lakes are linked by narrow passages. Coloured lighting adds to the effects of the unusual formations of minerals. In the complex is a geological museum.

El Museo del Jamón de Aracena (Museum of Ham). 7 rooms which trace the history, cultures and traditions surrounding the famous Iberian pig.

Other sights in the town include the Priory Church, built over the ruins of a castle in the 12th-15th centuries. The oldest sections are in late Gothic-Mudéjar style. Also in the town is the church of Santa María de la Asunción, built in 1522

Gallery

• Castillo Aracena Iglesia.jpg

  Prioral Church of Aracena (frontal view)

• Aracena-P1040629.JPG

  Church of Santa María de la Asunción.

• Aracena casino.jpg

  Casino of Aracena.

• GrutaDeLasMaravillas-Aracena-P1040615.JPG

  Gruta De Las Maravillas cave.

External links

• Official Web of Aracena in Internet - The Official Web of Aracena in Internet
• Aracena - Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía
• (Spanish) [1] - Natural Park Sierra de Aracena and Picos de Aroche
• http://www.discoverhuelva.com/town/aracena-0