Every year on 28th February, the autonomous community of Andalucía celebrates one of its most significant holidays: Día de Andalucía.
This holiday commemorates a watershed moment in the region’s modern history: the referendum of 1980 that paved the way for Andalucía to become an autonomous community within Spain.
Article by Sophie Gatward-Wicks
The end of a 40-year long dictatorship
Following the end of Franco’s dictatorship in 1975, Spain underwent a remarkable transition to democracy. The Spanish Constitution of 1978 established a framework for regional autonomy, allowing historical nationalities to pursue self-governance within the Spanish state.
While regions like Catalonia and the Basque Country were granted an expedited path to autonomy due to their historical claims, Andalucía was initially relegated to a slower route despite its rich cultural heritage and distinct identity. This disparity sparked widespread discontent among Andalusians who felt their region deserved equal recognition.
The Referendum of 28th February, 1980
The pivotal moment came on 28th February 1980, when Andalusians were called to vote in a referendum for autonomy under Article 151 of the Spanish Constitution. This was the same fast-track process granted to the “historical nationalities.” The referendum posed a straightforward question: should Andalucía pursue the path to become an autonomous community with full powers?
Despite significant political obstacles and a campaign fraught with challenges, Andalusians turned out in impressive numbers. The referendum succeeded in seven of the eight Andalusian provinces, with only Almería falling short of the required threshold by a narrow margin. This technical shortfall was later addressed through political negotiations, enabling Andalucía to proceed toward autonomy.
An autonomous Andalucía
Following the referendum, the Statute of Autonomy of Andalucía was approved in 1981 and came into effect in 1982. This landmark document recognised Andalucía’s historical identity and established the framework for self-governance in matters including education, healthcare, environmental policy, and cultural affairs.
The green and white Andalusian flag began to fly officially alongside the Spanish flag on public buildings throughout the region, and the anthem “La Bandera Blanca y Verde” became an emotional symbol of Andalusian pride and identity.
Celebrating Día de Andalucía
Día de Andalucía is celebrated throughout the Costa del Sol and across the entire region (Huelva, Cádiz, Sevilla, Málaga, Jaén, Cordoba, Granada and Almería). As it is a public holiday, banks, public buildings and some shops will close, and there will be various celebrations in villages, towns and cities.
To mark the occasion, on Friday 28th of February 2025, Málaga will be offering free admission to the following museums and galleries, where visitors can benefit from guided tours, activities and various exhibitions:
At 12:00 PM, the museum will conduct a guided tour exploring its permanent collection and the temporary exhibition “J. Fín (1916-1969). Towards Poetic Liberation,” which is the first comprehensive exhibition in Andalusia dedicated to José Vilató Ruiz, Picasso’s nephew. The tour will highlight Picasso’s early influences in Málaga, focusing on themes like pigeons, the Mediterranean, and bullfighting. Additionally, there will be in-room guided explanations throughout the day.
Free entry from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (last admission at 5:30 PM). The museum’s permanent exhibition, “Pablo Picasso: Structures of Invention,” showcases 144 of Picasso’s works. Temporary exhibitions include “Picasso: The Royan Sketchbooks” and “More Sweetly Play the Dance” by South African artist William Kentridge, presented in collaboration with the Sorigué Foundation. The museum also features an area dedicated to Picasso’s engraving techniques, displaying the Crommelynck press, and offers the “Life Line” tour, which provides biographical and historical context to Picasso’s artworks.
Guided tours are scheduled at 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM, with additional in-room explanations available. The museum presents “Utopia and Avant-Garde. Russian Art in the Costakis Collection,” featuring 470 artworks and numerous original documents from Greek-Russian collector George Costakis. Other exhibitions include “Furtive Beauty,” a photographic series by Russian artist Alisa Sibirskaya inspired by the vanitas genre; a selection of Russian art from the José María Castañé collection; the installation “Thinking in a Loop” by Boris Groys; and a portion of “Hidden Jungle” by Chen Chumnu, an artist supported by the Casa Natal Picasso Foundation.
The Centre Pompidou Málaga will also participate in the celebrations, offering free admission and special activities. Visitors can explore the museum’s exhibitions and participate in guided tours and workshops throughout the day.
Today’s Andalucía
The achievement of autonomy represented more than administrative reorganisation. It was a recognition of Andalucía’s distinctive identity and a pivotal step toward addressing historical inequalities. The region, which had long been characterised by latifundismo (large landed estates) and economic underdevelopment, gained new tools for self-determination.
In the decades since, Andalucía has made remarkable progress in infrastructure development, educational access, and cultural promotion while preserving its unique traditions and way of life.
As we recognise the raising of the green and white flag each 28th February, we celebrate the ongoing project of building and preserving an Andalucía that honours its storied past while embracing a promising future.
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