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Almería is both a historical
and modern city. Located on the coast,
it has some spectacular historical, medieval
buildings alongside some very modern ones.
Its Al-Andalus legacy can be seen everywhere,
including in the surrounding villages
and in its gastronomy. Surrounded by mountinous
territory it was used to film Spaghetti
Westerns in the seventies.
Almeria has been inhabited since
the bronze age, some ancient caves with
painting on the walls still exist. The
Phoenicians, the Romans, the Iberians,
the Cartaginenses and the Moors all once
occupied Almeria until it finally fell
to the Spanish 'Reyes Católicos'
in 1489. A visit to the city offers you
the chance to visit remains from all these
periods.
Almería is the lightest province
in Spain with 3,127 hours of daylight
a year. Its warm temperatures have contributed
to its economy in 2 significant ways -
agriculture and tourism.
What to see in Almería
Walks: The prettiest streets to
stroll along are 'Las Ramblas', the 'Paseo
de Almería'. A walk around the
San Nicolás Salmerón park
is also very pleasant. Las Ramblas go
all the way to the port and the Almadrabillas
beach.
Palaces and Castles: La Alcazaba
(Arabic fortress) - located in the historical
quarter, consists of three areas:
- The Muslim Medina: Built
at the foot of the la Alcazaba in 955.
- Houses, baths, hermitages dating
back to the Reyes Católicos and
remains of the Al-Mutasin palace.
- The Christian Area established
by the Reyes Católicos.
La Alcazaba: This fortress was
built on top of a hill to get a good view
of the horizon so that the city could
be well defended against invaders.
Remains from the Moor occupation of
the city: These can be found in the
historical quarter starting in 'la plaza
Vieja' (the old square) where you can
find the townhall, el Barrio de la Chanca
(the Chanca neighbourhood), the San Nicolás
Salmerón Park (the Alcazaba gardens),
San Juan church (includes the remains
of a 15th century mosque wall and a 12th
century tomb) and the arabic baths.
Cathedrals and churches in Almería:
- Nuestra Señora de la
Encarnación Cathedral:
15th century - its tower 'el Sol de
Portocarrero' is the symbol of the city.
- Santo Domingo Convent:
16th century
- Las Puras Convent:
16th century
- San Juan Parish Church:
16th century - located in the 'Plaza
de las Chafarinas' (las Chafarinas square)
one of the best historical sites in
the city, it was built on the remains
of a 10th century mosque.
- Las Claras Convent (also known
as Convent of la Encarnación):
18th century - it has been recognised
as an artistic historical monument.
- Santo Domingo Convent:
16th century.
- Santiago Parish Church:
16th century
- San Pedro el Viejo Parish Church:
(now known as the church 'del Sagrado
Corazón')
Museums : The archeological museum;
the Capitular (Chapter House) Museum;
the Religious Sculptures Museum; the Morera
Art Museum.
- The Villaespesa Public Library:
It holds part of the Almeria Museum's
archeological archives on prehistory.
- The Provincial History Archive
Collection : It
holds information on the province's
ancient history.
- The Olive Oil Museum:
Located in the historical quarter in
a 19th century stately home. At the
end of a visit you get the opportunity
to taste a variety of different types
of olive oil.
There are a number of stately homes
from the Christian period which are worth
visiting. They are all located in the
Barrio de la Musalla (the Musalla neighbourhood):
- Casa de las Mariposas
(the Butterfly House): Located in the
'Puerta de Purchena'
- The Casino Cultural
- The Cervantes theatre
- Casa de la Música
(the Music House): nowadays the tourism
office.
- Vizaconde de Almansa Palace
- Casa de los Puche: 17th
and 18th century, located in la plaza
de Bendicho (Bendicho square).
- Don Francisco Jover y Tovar:
The historical archive centre for the
province.
Palacio Arzobispal (the Archbishop's
palace): Opposite the cathedral, a
very austere building with fortified towers.
It has an interesting main door.
.jpg) What
to buy in Almeria: Mainly pottery
and wickerwork (pottery in Níjar
and Albox and marble in Mácael
and Albanchez). Also good for fresh local
fruit and vegetables.
Restaurants in Almería: Walking
through the historical quarter you'll
find bars and wine cellars where you can
get good wine and tapas. In bars you get
excellent free tapas with your glass of
wine. In the beach area there are also
a number of bars offering good tapas.
Lastly in the area around Las Ramblas,
in the more modern part of Almería,
you can find a lot of bars, restaurants
and pubs also offering great tapas.
The best restaurants in Almería:
Bodega Bellavista (tel: 950 297 156) traditional
regional cuisine; La Gruta (Tel: 950 239
335) good for its grilled meat and tradtional
cuisine; Club de Mar (Tel: 950 235 048)
excellent fish and seafood; Bello Rincón
(Tel.: 950 238 427) fantastic sea views
good for fish and regional cuisine; Casa
Sevilla (Tel.: 950 272 912) traditonal
cuisine alongside more innovative dishes.
Restaurants in the province: La
Cumbrera in Aguamarga-Los Ventolillos
(Tel.: 950 168 321); Bistro La Plaza (950
380 422) pizzas and pasta; Carmona Vera
Restaurant (Tel. 950 390 760); Las Negras-Cabo
de Gata: "El Manteca", Tel 950388077;
El trotamundo in Rodalquilar-Cabo de Gata,
in la Plaza del Tenis. (Tel 950389813)
internacional cuisine; Club Náutico
in El Ejido-Urb.Almerimar (Tel.: 950 497
162) excellent fish and seafood, located
in the marina; El Segoviano in El Ejido-Urb.Almerimar
(Tel.: 950 497 544) fish, seafood, roast
meat located in the marina; El Almejero
in Garrucha-Mojacar (950 460 405) fish
and seafood ; Al-Baida in Roquetas de
Mar (Tel.: 950 333 810) fish and seafood.
Almería cuisine: The cuisine
from this province has a clear arabic
influence. It is also noted for the excellent
local produce available. There
is a strong tendency towards fish and
seafood which comes from its own fishing
ports (Almería, Garrucha, Roquetas,
Aguadulce). Excellent olive oil, local
fruits (especially tomatoes), salads and
vegetables. Good rice dishes, using fresh
fish. Wines have improved over recent
years.
.jpg) Hotels
and accommodation in Almeria: Click
on any of the following links: Hotels
in Costa del Sol, Hotels
in Nerja, Parador
in Mojacar, Parador
Antequera, Parador
Nerja
Interesting places and villages in
the province:
- Los Velez:
- Velez Blanco: Caves
with ancient paintings (declared
a world heritage site).
- Chirivel: Castilian
village.
- El Villar: Roman remains,
the Via Augusta pases through the
village.
- Velez Rubio: Village
with Arabic origins.
- María
- Alto Almanzora: Las Estancias
and los Filabres mountain range.
- Bacares: Traditionally
a mining village, originally Phoenician.
The weapons for the Arabic armies
were made here. Berebere castle,
arabic style houses, Mudéjar
church 16th century, Cristo del
Bosque church: Festivities held
on 14th September. Rural tourism.
- Lúcar
- Purchena: Very interesting
for its remains, landscape and hsitory.
In Prehistory it was a walled city
with a cementary. The Arabs founded
the city in 900.
- Serón: Palaeolithic
and Neolithico remains, Morcinillos
caves
- Sierro
- Medio Almanzora: Interior,
mountinous
- Albanchez: Village
with Arabic origins, well known
for the quality of its fruit and
for its marble industry.
- Líjar: The
Moro cave: Caverns with stalactites
y stalagmites.
- Macael: Very important
for its marble. There is evidence
that the Romans, the Phoenicians
and the Arabs used these marble
quarries. The marble form here was
also used in the constrution of
some of the most important cathedrals
in Spain.
- Olula del Río:
Moorish remains.
 Bajo
Almanzora: Valleys and coast
- Antas: 'El Argar'
remains from the Bronze age.
- Almanzora Caves:
Zájara caves with wall paintings.
(declared a world heritage site).
- Huércal Overa
- Pulpí
- Río Nacimiento: Sierra
Nevada and Sierra de los Filabres, valleys
and river source.
- Fiñana:Diverse
Arabic remains.
- Gergal: Fortified
Arab town
- Abla: Village built
on the edge of a high mountain.
- Tres Villas
- Filambres: Filabres mountain
range. Villages with Arabic style houses
and Moorish remains.
- Tabernas: Desert area. Spaghetti
Westerns were filmed here.
- Lucaicena de las Torres:
Located in the Alhamilla
mountain range, originally Roman
and later Arabic, traditionally
a mining area. Vineyards and rural
tourism.
- Sorbas.
- Levante: Coast lots of tourist
resorts
- Carboneras: Pretty
beach, industrial city (textiles,
cement, agriculture, fishing, tourism...)
- Garrucha: Touristic,
it is the second most important
fishing port in Almeria - it also
has a marina.
- Mojácar:
Originally an Arabic village, it
has typical white houses, built
on a hill. Tourism has spoilt some
if its original charm.
- Vera: Nudist beaches.
- Río Grande: On the coast.
- Alto Andarax: Las Alpujarras
mountain range.
- Fondón:
- Laujar de Andarax:
The prettiest and most interesting
village historically. Located between
the Sierra Nevada and the Sierra
de Gádor it has some amazing
views. The capital of Las Alpujarras.
Vineyards, mountain springs - touristic.
- Paterna del Río:
Rich in mountain springs and the
highest point in the Las Alpujarras
mountain range at 2.609 metres.
- Alcolea-Darrical: In
the Sierra de Gádor, between
the Sierra Nevada and the sea.
- Medio Andarax: Fertile area
next to the Andarax river.
- Alhama de Almería:
In the Sierra de Gádor. Roman
and Arabic remains.
- Albolody: Prehistórics
remains. Beautiful Andaluz village
built on the edge of a high mountain,
very steep, narrow streets.
- Albahía,
- Alicún,
- Almórita,
- Huécita
- Bajo Andarax: Interior, valleys
and rivers.
- Gádor
- Benahadux: Iberian
remains.
- Huércal de Almería
- Pechina: Roman and
Arabic remains.
- Rioja
- Santa Fe de Mondujar:
Bronze age remains.
- Viator
- Campo de Dalías: Sierra
de Gádor and mediterranean coastal
area.
- Dalías: Arabic
baths.
- Enix:Village with
typical white houses. Very pretty
and good eating places.
- El Ejido: Roman
and Arabic remains. Known for its
vast greenhouses which form a sea
of plastic - also touristic.
- Roquetas de Mar: The third
largest in terms of population size
(40,000). A pretty, modern city
with an attractive marina, beaches,
hotels and other tourist facilities.
Also Punta Entinas-Sabinar natural
reserve: a natural area with salt
mines, small lakes, herons, flamingos...
- Vícar: Roman
and Arabic remains
- Níjar: Coastal area.
- Níjar: Marina,
beaches, good shops - touristic.
- Aguamarga: Pretty
fishing village popular with tourists
- good eating places.
- Parque Natural de Cabo de
Gata: The largest coastal
mountain range. It also makes up
the most important group of volcanic
mountains in Spain. It has 40 kms
of coast with over a thousand different
types of plants, also rich in wildlife.
- Torre Garcia
- San José:
One of the most important costal
villages, numerous hotels and restaurants.
Very touristic.
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