Almería’s star architectural attraction is its imposing 10th-century Moorish fortress, or Alcazaba. Perched on top of a sun-scorched hill overlooking the port, this was once one of the largest fortresses in Islamic Spain, second only in size to Granada’s Alhambra.
Calle Almanzor, s/n, Almería, Spain +34 950 80 10 08
Almería is the warmest city in Europe, so you’ll need to regularly cool off if visiting in spring or summer. Fortunately, the city boasts a superb beach: aptly named the Playa de Almeria, it’s about a fifteen minute walk from the city centre, and boasts 1,500 metres of sand and sea.
Almería’s 16th century cathedral; Steve Slater/flickr
Almería’s status as the warmest city in Europe – its average annual temperature is 19 degrees celcius – is largely owed to its proximity to the Desierto de Tabernas. Located 30km (19 miles) to the north of the city, this rugged and beautiful land is Europe’s only desert.
Almería is famous throughout Spain for its beaches, the most stunning of which are located in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park, 37km (23 miles) east of the city. One of the most popular is the beautiful Playa el Playazo – a pristine stretch of sand on the park’s east coast.
Plaza el Playazo, Almería, Spain
A wild olive tree grows in Almería’s Tabernas desert; Colin C Wheeler/WikiCommons
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Almería’s Tabernas desert was the setting for some classic Hollywood films, chief amongst them the Siergo Leone westerns starring Clint Eastwood. Today, you can visit three of the Wild West sets built for these classics: Mini Hollywood, Fort Bravo and Western Leone.
Hemmed in by volcanic rock formations, cacti and sand dunes, the Playa de los Genoveses is one of Almería’s most spectacular and unspoilt beaches. It takes its name from the Genoese army that camped here in 1147, before going on to assist King Alfonso VII in his successful capture of Almería from the Moors.
Picnics are necessary at the the Cabo de Gata’s Playa de los Muertos (Beach of the Dead), a stunning stretch of sand that has been left as nature intended it – i.e. without facilities or chiringuitos. This is one of Almería’s – and probably Andalusia’s – most popular beaches. You’ll soon see why.
Playa de los Muertos, Almeria, Spain
Playa de los Genoveses, Almería; horrapics/flickr
Don’t leave Almería without visiting the old gypsy and flamenco neighbourhood of La Chanca. Exuding a scruffy charm, its cheerful, multi-coloured houses extend downhill in between the Alcazaba and the port. Other dwellings here take the form of caves carved into the hillside.
Even by the dizzying standards of the Cabo de Gata Natural Park, Playa de Monsul is something special – which is presumably why Steven Spielberg chose to film parts of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade here. Virginal sands, volcanic rock formations and clear blue water: what more could you want?
Playa de Monsul, Almería, Spain
Playa de Monsul, in Almería’s Cabo de Gata natural park; Discasto/WikiCommons
Take in Almería’s busy port by strolling along the Nicolás Salméron park, where you’ll end up if you walk down from the Alcazaba through La Chanca. From this leafy haven, you can watch the cruise ships as they depart for and arrive from Morocco and Algeria.
The oldest part of Almería can be found west of the elegant Paseo de Almeria and is known as the Almedina neighbourhood. It is well worth taking a couple of hours to get lost in its narrow cobbled streets, all of which eventually seem to end up in the palm-fringed Plaza de la Catedral.
Almería’s Plaza de Toros, or bullring, dates from the late 19th century and is well worth a visit if you’re in the northern part of the city. The Arabic arches of its upper level are a nod to the Moorish influence on this part of Spain, while a mix of styles characterises the rest of the building.
View of Almería’s port from the Alcazaba; Martin Stone/flickr