Andalucía or Andalusia, the southernmost of Spain’s autonomous regions, encompassing eight provinces and the do regions of jerez, málaga, montilla-moriles, sierras de málaga, and condado de huelva (see map under spain). Andalucía is the hottest part of Spain and has traditionally been associated with strong, alcoholic wines which have been exported from the Atlantic port of Cádiz since the phoenicians first established their trading links around 1100 bc (see spain, history). Wine continued to be produced during seven centuries of Moorish domination when Andalucía became one of the most prosperous parts of southern Europe. Since the 16th century, however, when cities such as Seville, Granada, and Córdoba were stepping-stones to the new colonies in south america, Andalucía has become one of the most impoverished regions of Spain.
