Delete
Isla Cristina also borrows the Costa del Sol tradition of grilling fish over an open fire on an 'espeto' or cane.
Isla Cristina, a gourmet diner’s paradise

Isla Cristina, a gourmet diner’s paradise

This small town in Huelva province is worth visiting for its unique range of fish and seafood, among other attractions

Patrick Stamann

Wednesday, 19 July 2017, 18:00

Compartir

Isla Cristina is located west of Huelva on the Costa de la Luz. This privileged spot was only settled in the 18th century by Catalan fishermen who were attracted by the rich tuna and sardine deposits and the salt marshes.

Today, Isla Cristina is the most important fishing port in Andalucía and one of the most important in Spain, on the one hand because of its extensive fishing fleet, on the other hand because of its large catches of fish and seafood. The town, which has about 22,000 inhabitants, welcomes all visitors with great hospitality.

The importance of fishing for this municipality is also reflected in local gastronomy. It is characterised by its extraordinary variety of fish and seafood, which include white prawns, king prawns, giant prawns, sardines, mackerel, sole, tuna or anchovies. The latter are the most famous product of the region and are marketed primarily as canned products.

With this rich and high quality offer, it is not surprising that the gastronomy is a top tourist attraction for Isla Cristina. For generations recipes have constantly been refined, and the innovative, creative cuisine has not been neglected.

In addition, more and more people recognise the advantages of Isla Cristina as a residential, holiday or excursion destination. The natural surroundings, wide beaches, the mild climate, friendly inhabitants and rich gastronomy meet the needs of even the most demanding customers.

Gastronomical variety

You can satisfy your taste buds in more than 100 bars. Many of them offer dishes from traditional cuisine at affordable prices, but there are also expensive restaurants that pamper their guests with exceptional culinary and superior service. There are, for example, delicacies such as sea bass in orange sauce, red tuna with tomato sauce and vegetables, squid in champagne, salad with dried tuna and almonds, and tomato vinaigrette au gratin with almond aioli or pralinés of lobster eggs on the menu, as well as king herrings, sea spiders, dogfish and skate. Often fish are served as terrines with tomatoes, onions, peppers and potatoes. Also popular are tapas or stews of cooked or grilled shrimps, fried fish such as anchovies, squid or monkfish, as well as any kind of pickled fish. A speciality borrowed from the Costa de Sol, sardines and other smaller fish prepared over the wood fire on a cane skewer, is also very popular.

Anyone who has a sweet tooth will love mouthwatering desserts such as the Catalonian Coca, which here is however refined with candied pumpkin (Cabello de Ángel), or fig mash, to mention just the most unusual.

Attractions

Isla Cristina is, however, far more than just gastronomy. The flowery Paseo de las Flores or the emblematic Paseo de las Palmeras are always worth a walk, and there are several monuments to be seen, including two in honor of fishermen. In addition, the town has some interesting churches such as the Iglesia de la Virgen del Carmen, the patron saint of sailors.

The civil architecture also has some outstanding examples, such as the Casa Patio San Francisco with its typical 19th century patio in the historic centre, where today the carnival museum and tourist office are housed; the contemporary Casa de Diego Pérez Pascual, todays library, or the beautiful tiled Casa de Don Justo.

The area around the village consists of protected marshland, where about 140 species of migratory birds, including flamingos or terns, overwinter. On the ten or twelve-kilometre-long beaches with light, fine-grained sand, a variety of watersports can be practised so that the stay in Isla Cristina will never bore you.

Reporta un error en esta noticia

* Campos obligatorios