While the existence of an earlier pre-Phoenician settlement within the current urban limits sincec. 1250 BC has been tentatively defended by scholars,Phoenicians established a stable colony roughly by the 9th century BC.[5] Modern economic activity conformed to copper and pyrite extraction upstream funded by British capital and to the role ofits port, as well as with the later development of a petrochemical industry.
At least up to the 1980s and 1990s, the mainstream historians' view was that Huelva began as anautochthonousTartessian settlement (possibly the very same Tartessos mentioned in Greek sources); later opinions have held that it was a multi-ethnic enclave, mixing natives with peoples with a mainly Phoenician, and later Greek, extraction.[6] However, following the finding of Phoenician archaeological materials in the Méndez Núñez-Las Monjas site, the chronology as to the Phoenician presence was reassessed. The evidence favours solely viewing Huelva-Onoba as a very early Phoenician colony, a development which was parallel to a certain "dismantling" of the idea of Tartessos as a mainly autochthonous archaeological culture, even though the tentative identification of Huelva with Tartessos was not discarded, but rather kept.[7] Tartessos has also been identified with the biblicalTarshish.[8]
First contacts with the localPhoenician presence have been hypothesised to have taken place as early as 1015 to 975 BCE.[9] However, remains such as those found in the Méndez Núñez-Las Monjas go so far as to show a likely Phoenician settlement of the9th century BCE, especially to resemble a founding date of aTyrian settlement from the reign ofIthobaal I between 875 and 850,[further explanation needed][9] although the Méndez Núñez-Las Monjas' archaeological finds have been brought forward as evidence of a 10th-century BCE founding chronology in the era ofHiram I (c. 975–950).[9][10] The outpost was presumably populated mainly by continental Phoenicians, with some possible addition of the likes ofEteocypriots, Cypriot Phoenicians and Sardinian Phoenicians.[11]
As a Phoenician outpost, it facilitated local exports such assilver,copper,purple dye andsalted fish, while it also served as node in the trade routes connecting the Northern Atlantic, the Southern Atlantic and the Mediterranean.[12] Population notably increased from the mid-8th century BCE onward, possibly connected to the arrival of refugees fleeing fromTiglath-Pileser III and, overall, from the economic crisis and social unrest induced by theAssyrian subjugation of the Levant.[13]
It was calledʿunʿu baʿl ("Baal's fort") by the Phoenicians, which in mostGreek texts corrupted toὌνοβα (Onoba).[citation needed] The Tartessian world entered a crisis in the 6th century BCE.[14] The transition from the Tartessian period to the ensuingTurdetani period was presumably slow and not traumatic, degenerating from an economy based on mining to a new one focused on the trade of agricultural and fishing products.[15] It was in the hands of theTurdetani at the time of conquest byRome, and before the conquest, it issued silver coins withIberian lettering.
The place was called bothOnoba Æstuaria[16] orOnuba (used on coinage) during Roman times, or, simply,Onoba.[17] It was put in the Roman province ofHispania Bætica. According to theAntonine Itinerary: it was a maritime town between the Anas, (modernGuadiana) and Bætis (modernGuadalquivir); it was on the estuary of the Luxia (modernOdiel), and on the road from the mouth of the Anas to Augusta Emerita (modernMérida).[18] There are still some Roman remains. Huelva hosted a mint; and many coins have been found there bearing the name of the town as Onuba.[19]
Soon after the beginning of theUmayyad invasion of the Iberian Peninsula in 711,Onuba was seized by the troops ofMusa ibn Nusayr by April 712.[20] Within a few decades, to both the broader Islamic world and the conquered locals, the town's name had corrupted to ولبة (Walba).
Huelva became a leading fishing town in Andalusia in the 16th century (thriving in thesardine andtuna markets).[27] The town became a provincial capital in 1833.[27]
Mines in the countryside still send copper andpyrite toHuelva's port for export. From about 1873, the major mining company has beenRio Tinto.[28]
New pier-jetty of the Minas de Riotinto railway station, about to be opened in 1876
Huelva acquired the status of city (ciudad) by means of a royal decree on 17 September 1876.[29]
The ore-smelting caused severesulfur dioxide pollution and was frequently met by the protests of local farmers, peasants and miners, allied under the anarchistSyndicalist leader Maximiliano Tornet. On 4 February 1888, the Pavi Regiment of the Spanish Army opened fire on demonstrators at the village plaza of Rio Tinto. Historians estimate the number of deaths at 100 to 200.[30] One hundred years later, environmentalists defending the nearby village ofNerva referred to 1888 as the "year of shots", in their protests against the provincial government's plans to site a large waste dump in a disused mine in the 1990s.[31]
The local football club,Recreativo de Huelva was founded in 1889 by workers ofRio Tinto Group. Nicknamed theDecano of Spanish football, it is the longest-playing football club in Spain.
The17–18 July 1936 military coup d'état that started theSpanish Civil War failed in the city and much of the province. However, on 27 July, 500guardias civiles rose in arms against the Republic in the city, with the authorities escaping and later being shot down.[32] Two days later, on 29 July, a rebel column from Seville on behalf ofGonzalo Queipo de Llano took control of the city.[32] For the rest of the conflict, it remained to the rear of the zone controlled by theRebel faction. The ensuingFrancoist repression took a heavy toll, with an estimated total of6,019 deaths all over the province for the rearguard and post-war repression.[33]
DuringWorld War II, the city was a hub of espionage activities led by members of the large British and Germanexpatriate communities. German activity centered on reporting British shipping moving in and out of the Atlantic. Most famously, the outskirts[of what?] was whereOperation Mincemeat allowed acadaver carrying forged identification to wash ashore.[28][34][n. 1]
Twenty-five years after the city was declared aPolo de Desarrollo Industrial ("Pole of Industrial Development") in 1964, the population had nearly doubled.[35]
Huelva is in the Southwest of theIberian Peninsula, in theGulf of Cádiz, facing theAtlantic Ocean. The coastline straddling along the Gulf of Cádiz is known asCosta de la Luz. The city lies next to the estuary formed by the confluence of theOdiel andTinto, sandwiched in between both rivers.
A rather wide estuary in ancient times, the estuary of Huelva progressively silted up to a large extent.[36]
Huelva is home to Grupo Damas, a major provincial bus company providing connections between Huelva and other cities in Spain.
The city has a modern train station, inaugurated in 2018, which connects Huelva to Seville via regular trains and to Madrid through daily high-speed AVE train services. Currently, there are no direct train services between Huelva and Portugal.
ThePort of Huelva offers passenger ferry services operated by Naviera Armas. The ferryVolcán del Teide provides weekly connections toArrecife (Lanzarote) andLas Palmas de Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands.
Huelva does not have its own airport yet. The nearest airports areFaro Airport (Portugal), approximately 93 km away, andSeville Airport, about 95 km away. Both airports offer a range of domestic and international flights.
Huelva had a population of 149,410 in 2010. The city experienced a population boom in the nineteenth century, due to the exploitation of mineral resources in the area, and another with the construction of thePolo de Desarrollo (industrial hub) in the 1960s. It had a population of 5,377 inhabitants in 1787, which had risen to only 8,519 by 1857. From 1887, the city experienced rapid growth, reaching 21,539 residents in 1900, 56,427 in 1940, and 96,689 in 1970. Rapid expansion occurred in the following decades, and the population reached 141,479 by 1991.
From 1997 to 2007, immigration both from abroad and from the surrounding area sustained population growth. In 2007, the city reached a population of 145,000, while the metropolitan area had nearly 232,000 inhabitants, encompassing the surrounding areas ofAljaraque,Moguer,San Juan del Puerto,Punta Umbría,Gibraleón, andPalos de la Frontera. The 2006 census recorded a foreign-born population of almost 5,000 people in the urban centre, the majority of whom were ofMoroccan origin.
Huelva and its metropolitan area experience aMediterranean climate (Köppen:Csa), characterized by mild, wet winters and long, hot, dry summers. The average annual temperature is approximately 18.1°C (64.6°F), with average highs reaching 25.5°C (77.9°F) in August and lows of 11.4°C (52.5°F) in January. Annual precipitation is around 525 mm (20.7 in) per year, typically spread across 53 rainy days, with December being the wettest month. Extreme temperatures have included a high of 43.9°C (111.0°F) recorded on 25 July 2022 and a low of -3.2°C (29°F) recorded in January. While Huelva experiences milder conditions near the coastline, its location near the river delta slightly amplifies summer warmth.
Snowfall is an extremely rare phenomenon in the city of Huelva. The most significant snowfalls recorded occurred in February 1954 and January 1991, with snow depths reaching up to 10 cm (4 in) and 15 cm (6 in), respectively, causing notable disruptions due to the region's lack of preparedness for such events. Huelva's climate is further influenced by being in the Atlantic Ocean, which moderates temperatures, particularly in coastal areas.
The Sierra de Huelva's unique microclimate also contributes to its occasional snowfalls yearly, making it a distinct feature compared to the otherwise temperate lowlands.
The most well-known artists in Huelva have been the poet and winner of the Nobel Prize in LiteratureJuan Ramón Jiménez, the sculptorAntonio León Ortega, the writerNicolas Tenorio Cerero and the painterDaniel Vázquez Díaz. Other outstanding artists from Huelva include the paintersJosé Caballero, Pedro Gómez y Gómez, Antonio Brunt, Mateo Orduña Castellano, Pablo Martínez Coto, Manuel Moreno Díaz, Juan Manuel Seisdedos Romero, Francisco Doménech, Esperanza Abot, José María Labrador, Sebastián García Vázquez, Pilar Barroso, Juan Carlos Castro Crespo, Lola Martín, Antonio Gómez Feu, Rafael Aguilera, and Florencio Aguilera Correa.Miguel Báez Espuny, calledel Litri, was a very famous bullfighter from Huelva; his son, named Miguel BáezSpínola, was also a very renowned bullfighter who retired in 1999.
Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos: Held on January 5th, this traditional parade features the Three Wise Men distributing sweets and gifts to children, marking the culmination of the Christmas season.
Carnaval: Celebrated in February, the carnival includes vibrant parades, music, and dance, with participants donning elaborate costumes, reflecting the city's festive spirit.
Semana Santa (Holy Week): During March or April, Huelva's streets come alive with solemn processions, religious imagery, and traditional music, commemorating the Passion of Christ.
Romería del Rocío: In late May or early June, pilgrims from Huelva join thousands from across Spain to journey to thevillage of El Rocío in one of the country's most significant religious pilgrimages.
Colombinas Festivities (Fiestas Colombinas): Held in late July and early August, these festivities honor Christopher Columbus's departure from Huelva's port the 3rd of August of 1492, featuring concerts, fairs, and cultural events.
Fiestas de la Cinta: Held between 3–8 September, commemorate Virgin Cinta with concerts and a festival.
Ibero-American Film FestivalFestival de Cine Iberoamericano de Huelva:In November, this festival showcases films from Latin American countries, Spain, and Portugal, promoting cultural exchange and cinematic excellence.
San Sebastián, festival 20 January
Fiesta de la Gamba, Jamón y del Vino (Prawn, Ham, and Wine Festival): A gastronomic highlight of the year, this festival in spring celebrates local delicacies, including fresh prawns, Iberian ham, and regional wines, drawing food lovers from across Andalusia.
Fiesta de la Tapa: Typically held during the year, this event offers visitors and locals the chance to sample a wide variety of tapas from local restaurants, showcasing the region's culinary diversity.
William Martin, born 29 March 1907, died 24 April 1943, beloved son of John Glyndwyr and the late Antonia Martin of Cardiff, Wales, DULCE ET DECORUM EST PRO PATRIA MORI, R.I.P.[28]
^Enrique Florez,Med. ii. pp. 510, 649; Théodore Edme Mionnet, i. p. 23, Suppl. p. 39; Sestini,Med. Isp. p. 75,ap.Friedrich August Ukert, vol. ii. pt. 1. p. 340.
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