Guide to Almería

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.

Almería 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.

 

Stately homes from the Christian period

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.

What to buy in Almería

Mainly pottery and wickerwork (pottery in Níjar and Albox and marble in Mácael and Albanchez). Also good for fresh local fruit and vegetables.

 

Hotels and accommodation in Almería

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.
  • Adra
  • Berja
    
    
• 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.
    

 

Travelling to Almería? The following links may also be useful
Guides to nearby provinces and beautiful places in Spain near Almería
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