Almeria

Images of Almeria province are familiar to us all. Its desert landscapes with their hot, dry climate and intensely strong sunlight have proved the perfect setting for films such a! Lawrence of Arabia, Conan the Barbarian and a succession of spaghetti Westerns. Former Wild West film sets are open as tourist attractions.

Despite receving more sunshine than anywhere else in Spain an average of 320 days a year, which makes it worth visiting in winter the coast of Almeria has remained comparatively undeveloped (largely because of the lack of water). West of Almeria city, the view along the coast is generally one of marketgarden vegetables under plastic most of Spain's winter produce comes from here. There are tourist towns such as Aguadulce and Roquetas de Mar. East of Almeria, however, lie some lovely unspoiled spots, such as the area around Cabo de Gata.

The hot, dusty port of Almeria gets on to few tourists' itineraries. However, Almeria was once an independent kingdom and the most important Moorish capital in Spain.

The city "is like a bucket of whitewash thrown down at the foot of a bare greyish mountain" (Gerald Brenan) and is crowned by an impressive Moorish alcazaba. There are few other reminders of its past glory. But with its narrow streets and colourful cave dwellings the fisherfolk's Barrio de la Chanca the city still has a particular Arabic atmosphere. Its name comes from the Moorish A/ Mariya which means the mirror of the sea.

Almeria Attractions

Alcazaba

An old saying goes: "When Almeria was Almeria, Granada was but its cortijo [farm]." The strongest Moorish fortress in Spain, Almeria's 10th century alcazaba towers above the city. During its peak it contained beautiful gardens and palaces. Unfortunately much was destroyed in an earthquake in 1522. But views of the city are wonderful and the gardens over the ruined fortifications make a cool escape from the hot streets below.

Cathedral

With its four massive towers and fortresslike construction the cathedral looks as though it was built more for war than for prayer. In fact it fulfilled both military and religious functions, and its four towers did once hold cannons.

The cathedral was built in 1524 after the destruction of its predecessor a former mosque in the IS22 earthquake. Its fortified construction was made necessary by Barbary pirates who periodically attacked Almeria.

AlmeriaHotels

Nh Ciudad De Almeria Hotel - Jardín de Medina, s/n - Almeria 04006 - Spain Phone: 950182500 Fax: 950273010
Torrecardenas Hotel - Ctra. Huercal de Almería, 13 - Almeria 04009 - Spain Phone: 950142706
Gran Hotel - Avda. Reina Regente, 8 - Almeria 04001 - Spain Phone: 950238011 Fax: 950270691
Am Torreluz Hotel - Pza. Flores, 5 - Almeria 04001 - Spain Phone: 950234999 Fax: 95023
Indalico Hotel - Dolores R. Sopeña, 4 - Almeria 04004 - Spain Phone: 950231111 Fax: 950231028
Torreluz Iii Hotel - Pza. Flores, 3 - Almeria 04001 - Spain Phone: 950234399 Fax: 950281428
Costasol Hotel - P.º de Almería, 58 - Almeria 04001 - Spain Phone: 950234011 Fax: 950234011
Am Congress Hotel - Tenor Iribarne, 15 - Almeria 04001 - Spain Phone: 902234999 Fax: 950234709
Embajador Hotel - Calzada de Castro, 4 - Almeria 04006 - Spain Phone: 950255511 Fax: 950259364
La Perla Hotel - Pza. del Carmen, 7 - Almeria 04003 - Spain Phone: 950238877 Fax: 950275816
Nixar Hotel - Antonio Vico, 24 - Almeria 04003 - Spain Phone: 950237255 Fax: 950237255
Los Arcos Hotel - Ctra. Níjar, 157 (El Alquian) - Almeria 04130 - Spain Phone: 950297603 Fax: 950297603
Meso 21 Hotel - Ctra. Autovía Al-Murcia, salida 471 - Almeria 04100 - Spain Phone: 950208080 Fax: 950207420
Bristol Hotel - Pza. San Sebastián, 8 - Almeria 04003 - Spain Phone: 950231595
Sol Almeria Hotel - Ctra. Ronda, 193 - Almeria 04005 - Spain Phone: 950271811 Fax: 950273709