Almería Almeria Spain, Andalucia. Descriptions and photographs. towns Almeria

Almería

The pleasant and mainly modern port-city of Almería faces the sea, spreading out beneath the steep grey hill, dominated by a magnificent Moorish fort, the Alcazaba. The town is divided into two parts by the Rambla de Belén, which runs down the Avenida de Federico García Lorca – the old town to the west, the new to the east. La Rambla itself is a long avenue with adjoining squares in which to enjoy the shops and cafes and, for children, the play areas. Puerta de Purchena to the north, a busy traffic junction, is the centre of the modern city. It also marks the spot where in 1490 the city’s last Moorish ruler surrendered to the Catholic monarchs.

The area covered by Almería has been inhabited since Pre-history and was occupied in turn by the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians and the Romans. The last occupation, that of the Moors, is most evident in the old town today, for example, in the great fortress and its harbour. Its first port, built by the Moors, exported silk, velvet, damask and brocade produced in the 10,000 mills of this prosperous Arab town.
After struggles between Christian Spain and the Moslems the town was conquered by the Catholic monarchs in 1489. In the following century a series of earthquakes seriously damaged the city and it was further devastated by attacks from Berber pirates, leading to a decline in its prosperity and importance.
Until 1833 Almería remained part of the Kingdom of Granada, when Spain was reorganised into provinces and it became capital of the province of the same name. At his time the Industrial Revolution was well underway in northern Europe and the resulting demand for minerals from Almería’s hinterland led to the development of its present port; breakwaters were constructed and the city was connected by road and rail to the rest of the country. The iron architecture of the market, the railway station and the English loading bay date from this time. The following century brought more disregard for the town’s historical legacy but the organisation of the Mediterranean Games in 2005 has given a boost to the interest in the conservation of its past.

Amongst the many ancient buildings in the town the Alcazaba de Almeria and is literally the most outstanding, overlooking the town and the sea (it is also visitor friendly and will provide the sightseer with an informative pamphlet). The fortress is divided into three compounds, the first and earliest, being the largest. Today it is laid out as a garden but it was designed as a military camp and place of safety. The Saliente Bastión at its eastern end provides a lookout point over the town below and the sea beyond. The later 18th century bell, Santa María la Mayor, was erected to warn of ships approaching the port or to summit soldiers to battle stations. The second compound accommodated the Moorish kings and was also the governor’s quarters. Its grand 11th century buildings remain only as ruins, except for the cisterns and an old mosque converted into a chapel by the Catholic monarchs. The third and highest compound was constructed by the Christian conquerors that rebuilt the fortress that had been damaged by the earthquake. It housed the Torre de Homenaje (Tower of Homage) and the Patio de Armas (Courtyard of Arms). From the Torre de Pólvora (Gunpowder Tower) there are fine views of the coast and of the gypsy cave quarter (Barrio La Charca).

The Cathedral of Almeria, in the heart of the old quarter, has a rather forbidding appearance, its only exterior decoration being a pagan-looking relief of a garlanded radiant sun on the east wall. Standing on the site of the great mosque, which was destroyed by the 1522 earthquake, it is the last gothic church to be built in Spain. Started in 1524 it was built to serve two purposes: religious and defensive. Its corner towers once housed canons to defend both the church and city against pirate attack. The main tower was finished in the following century but by the 18th century the parade ground was converted to cloisters. Work on the interior continued into the 18th century and thus the cathedral is a grand combination of renaissance, baroque and neo-classical styles.
The Diocesan Museum, next to the cloisters, has a remarkable collection of paintings by Murillo, Ribera and Alonso Cano.

The old town of Almeria is home to many other sites and buildings, the oldest perhaps being Los Aljibes, Arab wells under El Taranto cliff, which date from 1038. The are many churches whose time of construction stretches from the late 15th to the 18th century. In contrast the Railway Station, begun in 1895, is a splendid example of 19th century industrial architecture, while the huge Coach Station uses modern forms and materials.

This lively town Almeria offers plenty of varied accommodation; good value places to eat and drink; plenty of night life, including late night marquees on the beach; art galleries, museums and shops as well as historical buildings and monuments. It has its own beach and others nearby are easily accessible. The bus and train stations are close to the Avenida Federico García Lorca, while for the more adventurous there is a daily boat to Melilla on the Moroccan coast throughout the summer, and a restricted service operates out of season.

Places of Interest in Almeria:
The Hayrán Wall, near the Alcazaba
St Sebastian’s Church, 18th century
The Cervantes Theatre
The Alcazaba Castle
Arab wells, under the cliff El Taranto, 1038
Church of Santiago, 1553
Las Claras Church, 17th century
La Plaza Vieja, the Old Square
Temple of San Juan, built on ruins of a Moslem mosque
The Royal Hospital, 16th century
San Pedro Church, 1494
Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Mar
The Cathedral, begun construction in 1524 and continued through 17th and 18th centuries

Festivals
Winter Festivals, December and January
Procession of the Holy Virgin of the Sea, 10–15th January
San Juan, 24th June
San Antonio de Padua, 15th July
Festival of the Holy Virgin of the Sea, 22–31st August
San Esteban, 26th December

Gastronomy
Wheat Stew. Gurullos (Fired bread with garlic, spicy sausage, bacon). Cured Meats. Gachas (Flour, tomato, garlic, peppers, fish). Stew with black pudding. Partridge. Sopa de Almería (made from shellfish).

Town Hall
Tel 950 210 000
Email turismo@aytoalmeria.es

Local Inhabitants: Almerienses
Number of Inhabitants: 168,025
Postal Code: You will need the street name to know the postal code
Tourist Office: Tel 950 274 355
Email otalmeria@andalucia.org