Almeria (Spain) has experienced a lot of upheavals – the city was repeatedly captured, thoroughly destroyed, rebuilt again. The streets were shaking from earthquakes, as this area of Spain can not be called seismically calm. However, the shake-up has not stopped Almeria from becoming a popular tourist destination in the southern part of the country, washed by the Mediterranean Sea.
Information for tourists
Almeria combines history and modernity. Today it is a large seaside settlement, a seaport with a rich historical and architectural heritage, long comfortable beaches, and a picturesque landscape. The area of the city is 296 km2, the population is 195 thousand inhabitants.
Interesting fact! Since the city was founded and for a long time was in the power of the Arabs, even after returning to Spain, the name remained Arabic, meaning-mirror of the sea.
Modern Almeria
Today, guests of Almeria are greeted by an airport built near the edge of the sea. The planes make a circle over the sea and land on a strip that runs along the coast. The airport is small and accepts few flights.
Useful to know! Customs issues take only a quarter of an hour, since there are very few passengers at the airport.
The airport building has an information desk, where you can find detailed information about the city, cultural events, take a map of the coast. At the exit from the airport, buses are waiting for tourists to take them to their place of rest.
The first thing that catches your eye is the abundance of olive trees, which were brought to Spain by the Greeks more than 3 millennia ago. Since then, Spanish olive oil has been considered one of the best in the world. An unusual plant for Spain is araucaria, but a tree from Norfolk Island (near New Zealand) feels great in Almeria. Next to the olive and araucaria trees is the sacred Arabian palm tree in the Islamic world.
The city has preserved the exotic flavor of Mauritania, which is especially felt in the Arab quarter. On the mountain top stands a fortress built by the Arabs. The landmark in Almeria in Spain is quite well preserved – on its territory there are casemates, barracks, towers. By the way, from the tower you can see the whole city, watch the maneuvers of ships that regularly ply between the Spanish and Moroccan coasts.
Almeria is located in an arid area. Almost 330 days of the year are sunny. That is why poets call the city “Mistress of the Sun”. The sea temperature in Almeria is higher than in other Spanish resorts.
The architecture retains the presence of Arabic culture. The powerful Alcazaba fortress, the famous Andalusian pattern and green climbing plants create the feeling that you are in another country or even a continent. This is the beauty of Spanish Almeria, where the West and East are intertwined.
Useful to know! It was in Almeria that the filming of “Indiana Jones”, “Cleopatra”, “James Bond”, “Game of Thrones” took place — the directors liked the color and landscape of the city so much that it was chosen as the set of these famous films.
For a long time, Almeria maintained contact with the outside world exclusively by sea, it is not surprising that the main diet of local residents consisted of fish and seafood. Today, restaurants and cafes offer seafood prepared in various ways.
Almeria Attractions and Entertainment
Rest in Almeria is not limited only to beach relaxation, because many historical and architectural attractions, as well as natural parks, have been preserved here.
Alcazaba Fortress
Alcazaba is a powerful fortress built for one purpose – to protect the inhabitants from robbers from the sea. The structure still retains its majesty and power. Construction was carried out in the 10th century, already in the 11th century the fortress provided protection to the city authorities. For the rulers, a palace was built in the center of the fortress, and infrastructure developed around it. Representatives of the rich class bought housing outside the fortress walls in order to save their families in case of danger. The third level was designed to accommodate guns.
Today, the landmark of Almeria consists of two levels of fortifications built by Muslims, and a Catholic cathedral. In the 20th century, the fortress was restored, a complete reconstruction was carried out.
On the lower tier, the city’s infrastructure and a military camp are represented, and there were wells that provided the city with water. The most notable structures are the Justice Tower and the Mirror Tower. Two tiers – the lower and upper – are separated by a wall where the bell of St. Mary is installed. The middle circle was badly damaged by the earthquake. Only two buildings have been restored here, and now they house museums.
On the upper tier there are defensive structures, a Gothic tower.
Useful to know! If you visit the attraction in the spring, as a bonus, you can admire the beautiful gardens, flowery alleys and fountains.
You can’t miss the fortress because you can see it from any part of the city. You can take the L1 bus, which stops at the entrance to the attraction. And if you are walking through the historical part of Almeria, you can easily reach the fortress on foot.
Infrastructure inside the fortress:
- souvenir shops;
- library;
- the museum;
- free toilet;
- kiosks with water and ice cream.
During religious holidays, free guided tours are available, starting at 10: 00 and at noon.
The fortress has a floating operating schedule, so you should check it out in advance on the official website: www.museosdeandalucia.es
The cost of a visit is 1.5 euros. For tourists who have Spanish, American or EU citizenship, admission is free.
Almeria Cathedral
Previously, there was a mosque on the site of the cathedral, but it was completely destroyed in 1522, so it was decided to build a temple in its place. Today, the city diocese is located within the walls of the cathedral.
The late Gothic building was built in the middle of the 16th century. According to the idea of the Spanish architect Juan de Oreya, the facade of the cathedral is supplemented with Renaissance details. Visually, the cathedral is more like a fortress, this is true, because in the past the building was used to protect against enemy attacks.
Practical information:
- place of interest address: Plaza de la Catedral, Almedina, Catedral de la Encarnación, El Santo;
- opening hours: from January to March and from October to December-from 10-00 to 18-30, from April to June – from 10-00 to 19-00 and from July to September – from 10-00 to 19-30;
- ticket prices: adults – 5€, seniors-4.50€, children-3 €.
- audio guide price: 2 €;
- official website: www.catedralalmeria.com
Cabo de Gata Park
The nature park is located near the city and is the largest land-sea European ecological reserve. The territory of the park is huge – 460 km2, on this area are located:
- Carboneras town;
- Sierra de Cabo de Gata Mountains;
- 120 km2 of sea.
The nature park recorded the lowest level of humidity on the territory of the European continent.
Interesting fact! In 1997, the park was declared a world-class biological reserve by UNESCO.
The park has an amazing variety of flora and fauna, and there are also hotels, guest houses, hostels and beaches where you can spend a comfortable time.
The topography of the park is mainly represented by rock formations, there is also a swampy plain. Typical vegetation is small shrubs and dwarf trees. In total, there are more than a thousand plant species, some unique and found only here. The pride of the park is a strip of reefs with a length of 120 km and a depth of 60 m.
As for the park’s fauna, these are mainly birds, including pink flamingos, gray herons, cranes, ducks, storks, larks, gulls, puffins, eagles, falcons. There are also reptiles-snakes, lizards. The water is home to mollusks and arthropods, various types of fish.
The easiest way to visit the attraction is as part of an excursion group from Almeria.
Civil War Sanctuary Museum
The museum tells about the Spanish Civil War, how local residents and volunteers helped refugees, because the shelters were dug by ordinary people at a depth of 9 meters. The museum has an incredible feeling of contrast with the sunny city, children’s drawings are still preserved on the walls, you can visit the operating room and the medical office. The length of the route is about 1 km, during which time the guide tells about the civil war. It is noteworthy that up to 35 thousand people were hiding in shelters.
Useful to know! The only entrance to the museum is located in the city center, the rest were closed by kiosks after the end of hostilities.
Practical information:
- Place of interest address: Plaza Manuel Perez Garcia S / N;
- tickets are best booked in advance on the museum’s website;
- opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday-from 10-30 to 13-30, Friday and Saturday – from 17-00 to 20-00;
- ticket price: 2 euros.
Mini Hollywood Theme Park
You will be surprised when you learn that the Wild West of the 19th century was filmed not in Texas, Mexico or even in the USA, but in Spain, namely in the Tabernas desert, which is located 40 km from the city of Almeria. Initially, a small town was built here for the filming of the film “Death had a Price”, then three hundred more films were shot here.
Today, the attraction is an Oasis Park or Mini Hollywood. This is a park complex that consists of a Wild West village, a park and a water park with a Jacuzzi and a swimming pool.
The village has saloons, taverns, souvenir shops and banks. Everyone can ride a horse, visit a colorful show, stagecoach and cinema museums.
The wildlife park is home to 800 animals and about 4,000 plants.
Useful to know! The water park operates according to a specific schedule, which is related to the season and weather conditions.
Practical information:
- Place of interest address: Carretera Naciona 340, Km 464;
- opening hours: in summer-daily except Monday from 10-00 to 21-00, in winter-Saturday and Sunday from 10-00 to 19-00;
- ticket prices: adults – 22-90€, seniors-18.80 €, children-13.60 €;
- the schedule of show programs is available on the official website of the park: www.oasysparquetematico.com
Paseo de Almeria Boulevard
In addition to the promenade and the old part of the city, be sure to take a walk along the luxurious Paseo de Almeria Boulevard, a favorite place of local residents. The boulevard starts at the sea, crosses the city and goes beyond its city limits. Various art objects are located here, restaurants, bars, cafes, banking organizations, boutiques, and shops are open. And all surrounded by chestnut trees, fountains and flowers. And there is also a monument to John Lennon, the legendary musician in 1967 took part in the filming of the film “How I Won the War”.
Interesting fact! The attraction is built on the site where the fortress wall used to stand in the past.
Beaches
The length of the coastline is 30 km. The settlement is a port, tourists prefer to relax not on the city beach, but in the park of Cabo de Gata
Most of the coast is covered with dark sand, much less often there is a pebble beach, golden sand. Many beaches on the coast are awarded with the “Blue Flag” award.
Within the city limits, tourists relax on Playa de Almería (marked with the Blue Flag), located in the northern part of Almeria. This is a small beach with a length of no more than 20 m, perfectly equipped for traveling with small children – there are playgrounds on its territory.
Beaches in the Cabo de Gata Park
- Torregarsia-since it starts in Almeria, it is considered a city beach, well-equipped, close to shops, spas, you can visit a small chapel.
- Amoladeras-a picturesque sand dune leads directly to the fishing village of San Miguel, where you should definitely try fish and seafood dishes.
- Las Salinas is the longest beach in the park, it is 5 km long, and there is a church on the shore, where local newlyweds often get married.
- Monsul is a white sand beach, where one of the films about the adventures of Indiana Jones was shot.
- The Genoese beach is named after the battle with the Moors in the early 12th century. It is characterized by a gentle entrance to the water, there are almost never any winds and waves.
- The Beach of the Dead is the most beautiful and the most difficult to visit, as there is a steep descent to the shore.
A few tips:
- The best time for a beach holiday in Cabo de Gata is late spring-early summer and the first half of autumn;
- The Genoese beach is suitable for families with children, but sometimes nudists come here to relax;
- more civilized beaches-Las Salinas, San Miguel;
- take comfortable shoes and water with you;
- many beaches are accessible by bus, but you have to walk to the shore;
- there are no toilets or showers on the beach.
Places to stay in Almeria
The choice of a hotel or apartment in Almeria depends only on your individual preferences and the purpose of your trip. If you plan to actively visit the sights, choose hotels in the historical part of the city or surrounding areas. There are also many hotels closer to the sea, for those who prefer beach relaxation.
A double room in a 3-star hotel costs from 45 EUR. For a similar room in a 4-star hotel, you will have to pay from 63 EUR. Very popular are villas with sea views, you can rent houses for 6, 8 or 12 people. Price starts from 140 EUR.
How to get to Almeria
There is an airport near the city, but it only accepts domestic flights. Residents of Ukraine and Russia get to Almeria with a transfer. The easiest way is to fly to Madrid and get to your destination from there.
- By plane. The flight from Madrid to Almeria takes 60 minutes, the local airport is only 10 km from the city, and you can get there by bus.
- By train (Operated by Renfe Viajeros). The trip takes about 6 hours if the flight is direct. There are also connecting routes in Seville. The ticket costs from 35 EUR to 40 EUR. The exact timetable and ticket prices can be found on the railway’s website: www.raileurope-world.com
- By bus (BusbamSL Carrier). Flights depart from the bus station, the journey takes about 7 hours, tickets cost from 28 EUR to 60 EUR.
Almeria (Spain) – a city in the mirror of the sea, a lover of the Sun-this resort has earned many epithets due to its rich historical heritage, beautiful nature and coastline with a large number of beaches (comfortable, wild, tourist and secluded).
