48 hours in Almeria | Mirror of the Sea

“With its deserted beaches and coves, Almeria whose Arabic nametranslates as Mirror of the Sea, is definitely worth a visit.” ~ Ranjan Pal

Tucked away in a corner of Andalusia, the port city of Almeria is often overshadowed by its more famous rivals Cordoba, Granada and Sevilla which form the Golden Triangle, the classic tour of Moorish Spain. Nestled at the base of the spectacular Sierra Nevada range and giving access to the wild beauty of the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Nature Park with its deserted beaches and coves, Almeria whose Arabic name translates as Mirror of the Sea, is definitely worth a visit.

Day 1 : Morning

Start your tour of Almeria with its crowning glory the magnificent Alcazaba (Arabic for citadel) which occupies a commanding position atop a hill overlooking the city and the Mediterranean Sea. Second only in size and importance to the Alhambra in Granada, this immense fortress was built by Abd-ar-Rahman III in 995 AD to defend against enemy attack from the sea. Catastrophic earthquakes in the 16th century devastated much of the original Alcazaba but its walls and towers have been beautifully reconstructed and makes for a delightful tour. From here the views are magnificent and you can gaze over the colourful rooftops of the Barrio de la Chanca, the old cave quarter which stretch down the steep hillside to the south as far as the dazzling blue of the Mediterranean.

Afternoon

Leave the Alcazaba through the Puerta de la Justicia and wander down peaceful Almanzor Street. It is hard to imagine that this was the actual set of a most thrilling jeep chase in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade! A few minutes walk will bring you to the imposing Almeria Cathedral. Originally built centuries ago it was completely destroyed in the great earthquake of 1522 and then rebuilt in its present Renaissance style after that. The unique feature of the cathedral is that it doubles as a fortress as can be seen by its robust construction with sturdy buttresses and cannons placed within each of its four fortified towers. It would serve as a place of refuge for the local population when they were under siege from the frequent attacks of the pirates of the Barbary Coast. Step inside to admire its soaring ribbed ceilings with baroque trimmings made of jasper and local marble, the wood carvings in the choir stalls and works of art in its side chapels by artists such as Murillo, Ribera and Alonso Cano. A 16th century carved sun, the Sol de Portocarrero, found on the eastern façade is now the official emblem of the City of Almeria.

Evening

End your day with a guided walk through the tunnels of the Museo Refugio De La Guerra Civil which parallels the main avenue of Paseo De Almeria. These underground shelters were built at the time of the Spanish Civil War to protect the civilian population from the incessant bombing from the land and the sea by the Germans. Only about 1 Km of the entire network of 4.5 Kms can be visited but it is a poignant memory of the Civil War and the eye for meticulous planning by architect Guillermo Langle Rubio can be seen in the breathing air vents, the underground pantries and even a surgical operating theatre.

Day 2: Morning

Almeria has a couple of museums that are well worth visiting. The first is the Archaeological Museum housed in a modern building on the Carretera de Ronda whose collection includes items from the Middle Paleolithic Era through to the present day and comes largely from archaeological sites in Andalusia. It has an extensive collection of weapons, pottery and popular costumes presented in an inspiring and interactive way with modern interpretation and complete English translations. The museum has won several awards including the European Museum of the Year Award in 2008 and is free to visitors.

Afternoon

In the afternoon for a complete change of scene take a car and drive out to the Cabo de Gata Natural Park about 20 KM miles to the east of Almeria. The volcanic origins of this park, which comprise 500 Sq Km of land area and 150 Sq Km of marine reserve, have created a stunning landscape where steep cliffs plunge into the sea interspersed with miles of secluded coves, unspoilt beaches and sand dunes.

If you are an outdoor enthusiast, you will love being able to engage in walking, cycling, horse riding, mountain biking and 4X4 excursions amid this spectacular scenery. If you prefer being out on the water, the park offers sailing, windsurfing and kite surfing, sea kayaking and fishing while underwater the coral reefs and colourful marine life invite divers and snorkelers.

**This article has originally appeared in the Air Arabia Magazine “Nawras” in December 2016. Check the PDF version here.