Andalusia and its historic impact on the world

A sense of regional pride and legacy reflected in names and traditions

When Christopher Columbus departed in 1492 on his journey of discovery to what he thought was a route to the Indies but turned out to be the Americas, he did so from a small place called Palos de la Frontera. Today, the town is still there and is one of many reminders of how the southern Spanish region of Andalusia has helped in the shaping of the world during the past 5 centuries.

Whether you think of it as a legacy of cultural exchange or colonialism, the historical footprint of the region is undisputed and has shaped many cultural traditions, especially in Latin America.

This goes beyond the transplantation of Andalusian names

City names, such as Cordoba, Seville and Granada can be found in many Latin American countries and even in the United States, however, the regional influence goes further and deeper than that.

For example, Córdoba is also the name of the Nicaraguan currency, named in that way in memory of the conquistador Francisco Hernández de Córdoba, who was actually from a town called Cabra and is today remembered as the founder of the Central American country. He was also behind the setting up of the colonial city ​​called Granada – also known as La Gran Sultana, reflecting its Moorish and Andalusian architecture to this day.

The traditions of the South also knew how to make their way into the New World with as much or even more skill than the first explorers. This is the case of Holy Week, which can be found in Latin America and especially in present-day Colombia in the likeness that it takes place in Seville. 

For example, there is an Easter procession with a Cristo del Cachorro, a crucifixion replica of the original one found in the Triana district of the Andalusian capital. It takes place in Popayán and was declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity ten years ago by UNESCO, making the city known as the ‘Seville of South America’.

Next time you happen to visit those places you’ll be more aware not only of their Spanish connection but more specifically of their Andalusian connection.