Almería, with about 205,000 inhabitants, is the capital of Andalusia's easternmost province. Facing the Mediterranean, it has one of the driest, sunniest climates in Europe, with over 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. The province is known for its "sea of plastic", the greenhouses producing much of the vegetables eaten in Europe.
History
Founded in 955 by the Caliph of Córdoba Abd al-Rahman III as al-Mariyya, "the watchtower", it was one of al-Andalus's richest ports, famous for silk. Taken by the Catholic Monarchs in 1489, it suffered earthquakes and pirate raids, and prospered again in the 19th century with mining and table grapes.
What to see
- The Alcazaba, the great 10th-century Muslim fortress on the hill, with three enclosures, gardens and walls stretching to the Cerro de San Cristóbal.
- The cathedral, built in the 16th century like a fortress, with towers and battlements, as a defence against pirates.
- The Refugios de la Guerra Civil, over 4 km of underground tunnels where people sheltered from bombing.
- The old town, with the arcaded Plaza Vieja and the La Chanca district with its colourful houses.
- The Museo de Almería, with the prehistoric culture of Los Millares.
- The Cable Inglés, an old pier for loading iron ore.
Tapas
Almería is one of the Spanish cities where in many bars every drink comes with a free tapa, often of your choice.
Around Almería
- Cabo de Gata-Níjar natural park, Andalusia's first land-and-sea park: volcanic cliffs, wild coves such as Mónsul, Los Genoveses and Los Muertos, the white village of San José, salt pans with flamingos and the Cabo de Gata lighthouse.
- The Tabernas desert, Europe's only true desert, the set of dozens of western films in the 1960s and 70s, including Sergio Leone's; Wild West villages such as Fort Bravo and Oasys can still be visited.
- The villages of Níjar, famous for ceramics, and Mojácar.
Getting there
The airport is about 9 km from the centre. The city is linked by train and bus with Granada, Seville and Madrid, and by ferry with Morocco and Melilla.