Almería: Alcazaba, urban beach and city history

Culture and history

The Alcazaba of Almería was built in 955. Abd al-Rahman III ordered its construction. The complex is a palace of Arab origin. It consists of three areas. The remains of a castle are located in the third area. The Catholic Monarchs ordered its construction. This order was issued after the capture of the city in 1489.

Almería Cathedral was designed as a fortress. It was built to protect the population from pirate attacks. The cathedral includes a Renaissance cloister. This was formerly the fortress's arms yard. Its former use as an arms yard is therefore part of the fortress's history and does not describe a present-day function of the Renaissance cloister.

The Mercado Central is an example of iron architecture. It has remained largely unchanged to this day. An extensive restoration took place in 1982. The center presents the history of Almería. The presentation begins with its origins and extends to the present day. Models, interactive panels and audiovisual displays are used for this presentation. In this way, the market combines its preserved historic architecture with a presentation spanning the period from its origins to the present day.

Directly linked destinations include Cabo De Gata, El Alquián and Retamar.

Routes and pilgrimage route

El Cable Inglés was classified as an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1998. Historical values were decisive for this classification. Symbolic and aesthetic values also played a role. El Cable Inglés is accessible on foot. You can visit it and experience its architectural and historical value. The complex includes an access route. This access route connects the railway station with the ore loader. The 1998 classification thus places historical, symbolic and aesthetic values alongside the complex's continuing accessibility on foot described here.

Almería's underground shelter network dates from the Spanish Civil War. It extends over 4.5 kilometers. The Mozarabic Route connects Almería Cathedral with the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. Its length of 1,353 kilometers makes the scale of this connection immediately apparent. After its starting point, the Mozarabic Route runs through the valleys of the Andarax and Nacimiento rivers. It then continues towards Guadix and Granada. The stated distance refers to the connection between the two cathedrals, while the described initial route names the river valleys and the subsequent direction.

Coast and cityscape

Playa de San Miguel is located in the capital, Almería. It is one of two large urban beaches. The beach is 1,550 meters long. In the area of Parque Nicolás Salmerón, the Muelle de Levante offers an urban-maritime panorama. The combination of the beach location, urban area and the aforementioned viewpoint brings together the coast and the urban cityscape within Almería.

Cuisine

A tasting route runs through Almería. It offers the opportunity to sample fresh products. Local tapas are also among the tastings on offer. These include the exclusive Raf tomato. The Raf tomato is thus an explicitly named tasting, alongside fresh products and local tapas, as part of this tasting route.

To the overarching travel overview: Almeria.

More about the destination

Relevant information for planning your trip:

Province of Almería: Cabo de Gata, towns and travel tips, Adra: harbor, beaches and nature on the Costa de Almería.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Pulpí, Berja, El Parador De Las Hortichuelas.