Local Area
Almeria is the most easterly province in Andalusia. It is one of the least known areas but one of the most beautiful spots on the Mediterranean coast. Having been overlooked as a tourist destination for a long time due to its remote nature and previously poor travel connections, it is now experiencing a boom and is the fastest growing region in Spain following the construction of a network of new roads and budget airlines flying into local airports. Learning from the mistakes made by neighbouring Costas, Almeria has controlled development to achieve a perfect balance between modern tourism and traditional Spanish needs. This Eastern corner of coastal Andalucía is a privileged place thanks to one of the finest coastlines in Spain - cliffs, coves, rocky outcrops and wonderfully clean beaches with crystal clear waters, with national parks, a warm climate and attractive towns full of history and tradition thrown in for good measure.
Vera/Vera Playa
Originally called Baria, Vera has a long history and rich heritage dating back dating back to Moorish times, the period when Spain was invaded and colonized by Arabs. It is a walled, renaissance town and one of the most important commercial centres in the region. The town is surrounded by fertile farmland, producing fresh fruit and vegetables for local consumption, and for export to northern European countries. Vera is a prosperous town, clean and appealing with a great variety of shops, many selling locally made handicrafts. On Saturdays there is an amazing street market that seems to take over the town.
Vera is increasing in popularity with tourists attracted to its many shops, good cafes, tapas bars, fancy restaurants and the friendliness and hospitality of the locals. Vera is rich in religious buildings and monuments and the town hall has one of the best historical archives in Andalucia. The town is also home to a beautiful old town square, gardens and a bull ring which continues to hold bull fights at various times during the year.
Vera Mar, often referred to as Vera Playa, includes the ‘Playazo’ (nudist beach) and the Park Acquatico (water park) where you can take a thrilling ride on one of the many flumes or sit and relax by one of three swimming pools.
Mojacar
Mojácar consists of two virtually separate towns. Mojácar Playa, a 10km sprawling beach strip with hotels and Aladdin's Cave style shops on one side of the road and chiringuitos along the other and, Mojácar Pueblo, the old town - a cluster of whitewashed cubed buildings clinging to the side of the foothills of the Sierra Cabrera.
The beaches of Mojácar Playa are long, clean and un-shadowed by high rise development. A beautiful stretch of dark sand coastline with whitewashed villas nestling amongst fabulous restaurants, bars and cafes. At times the population seems almost exclusively British but Mojacar is also very popular as a holiday destination for the Spanish. The pace of life is slow, appealing to those who do not crave the hustle and bustle of the more lively Costas. Mojacar boasts a fabulous promenade stretching for 2kms or more from the Centro Commercial towards Carboneras. Take time to stroll along it and take a refreshing drink in one of the many bars and restaurants that line the route.
The Pueblo is a delightful place to explore. Streets are narrow and steep, and car parking is challenging, but there are plenty of shops, cafes, bars and restaurants to make the visit worthwhile. Take comfortable shoes and be ready for narrow, winding and sometimes hilly pathways that will increase the pulse of the less fit or older visitor! However, the effort is worth it with panoramic views, stone arches framing traditional houses decorated with local flowers. You will find charming trinket shops and arty shops with everything from trendy clothing to locally made souvenirs hanging from walls and make shift stalls.
Public activity tends to centre around the main square, the Plaza de las Flores, which is filled with street cafes, bars, boutiques and shops and has breathtaking views to the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Mojácar offers fiestas throughout the summer, regular markets, and many historical, archaeological and architectural treasures to explore. In the evenings, both visitors and residents can be found relaxing on outdoor terraces, eating, drinking or just watching the stunning sunset fall behind the mountains. You'll find a variety of different restaurants and bars, from those that cater for mums, dads and kids to those that offer a more romantic setting or an international menu. The pueblo also has a post office (Correos) and tourist information office.
Villaricos
The charming small fishing village of Villaricos is located approximately 10kms north of Garrucha and is in a unique position at the mouth of the Rio Almanzora and the coast. Villaricos (meaning rich village) derives its name from ancient silver mines which have their place in history, as it is from here that Hannibal paid his mercenaries when he besieged Rome. Villaricos maintains a typical Spanish feel.
Fishing and tourism are the main sources of income. There are two beaches, a pebbled expanse and an unspoilt golden sandy beach which has an excellent chiringuito and a children's playground. The latter is in a sheltered bay which, although popular with the locals is never crowded. Just beyond the village is a rugged coastline where you can relax in solitude among rock pools and sand. Villaricos has two harbours which sit at either end of the village linked by a broad promenade. It is a popular place for an evening stroll by visitors and locals alike.
Villaricos is known for its crystal clear warm waters and diving and diving school. There are many good restaurants and bars with food at very reasonable prices with both Spanish and English cuisine available and a small but lively market every Sunday in the main square.
Garrucha
Garrucha
is a beautiful and lively fishing town that still retains much of its original
charm and over the last few years it has become a popular tourist destination.
Its tourist slogan is "Garrucha, sun and seafood".
The town is famous for the quality of its large red prawns, only fished in the local waters. It combines plenty of character, a yachting marina and fantastic local cuisine based on fresh fish caught daily and processed in the beachfront market. The local fishing boats leave the harbour in the morning and return between 17:00 and 18:30, unloading their catch to auction in the market to the local fish restaurants. Tourists can wander around the auction while it’s in progress.
Garrucha is also well known for its magnificent golden sandy beach which offers a perfect place to sunbathe, play sports or just wander along. It is the only blue flag in-town beach in Europe! One of the pleasures of Garrucha is taking an evening stroll around the bay. A palm tree lined promenade framed by white marble balustrades spans the length of the town and takes in the three ports of Garrucha: sports port, fishing port and the commercial port. There are landscaped areas to sit and relax while watching the sunset over the Mediterranean sea and play areas for children.
Garrucha also boasts plenty of shops - a supermarket, butchers, grocers, hardware, clothes and a few shoe shops (for the ladies!) as well as a pharmacy, several banks, a good selection of restaurants and a couple of ice cream parlours. Whatever you want, you'll be able to get it in Garrucha!
Finally, every Friday (unless there is a fiesta) there is a very big market that runs along two parallel streets of 500m each.
Cabo de Gata Natural Park
Cabo
de Gata can be reached by a great drive along the coast road through mountainous
scenery. This may take a couple of hours or you can take the San Jose exit off
the E15 highway to reach the heart of the area in around an hour.
High temperatures and the lowest rainfall in the Iberian peninsula has created Cabo de Gata, a large semi-desert area and national park. Cabo de Gata covers 45,663 hectares and is Andalucía’s largest coastal protected area, a wild and isolated landscape with shrubby vegetation and dwarf fan palms and some of Europe's most original geological features.. The mountains comprise Spain's largest volcanic rock formation with sharp peaks and crags which fall steeply to the sea creating jagged cliffs and hidden coves with numerous white sandy beaches, some of which are the most beautiful in Andalucia. Offshore are numerous small rocky islands and underwater extensive coral reefs which teem with marine life.
The park encompasses an outstanding variety of habitats from coastal dunes, beaches, steep cliffs, saltpans and salt-marshes and dry river beds, and shelters a wealth of wildlife, including many rare plants and endangered fauna. One of Spain's most important wetland areas for breeding birds is called the Salinas de Cabo de Gata, a saltwater lagoon that runs parallel to the beach, separated from it by a 400m wide sand bar. Located between San Miguel and the Cabo de Gata headland, this lagoon is of outstanding ecological interest. The salinas (saltpans) are the only ones still in operation in eastern Andalucia and are home to pink flamingos.
Cabo de Gata is the perfect place to visit fishing villages, a lighthouse and the unusual beaches of Mónsul, Genoveses and San José. The latter is perhaps the most picturesque village along this route and is the nerve centre and main tourist centre in the park, with a gorgeous harbour flanked by wonderful seafood restaurants. Much of the coastline is only accessible on foot, via some well-marked footpaths and walks, especially between Cabo de Gata headland and San José and Las Negras and Agua Amarga.
Web sites: www.degata.com / www.parquenatural.com
Aguilas
Situated 30 mins drive North, Aguilas is a large, modern but well planned town, bathed by the sea along 28kms of lovely coastline. It is crossed inland by high mountain ranges that create a very abrupt and uneven terrain. Aguilas offers a good variety of outdoor activities from climbing or hiking through areas of splendid beauty, to aquatic sports and diving in warm waters resplendent with magnificent fish and vegetation. On the cultural scene, it offers art exhibits, conferences, concerts, artisan demonstrations, theatre and much more. The Carnival de Aguilas (approximately 40 days before Easter) has been celebrated for the past 200 years and offers ingenious costumes of all shapes and colours and is one of the largest shows in the country. The view from the impressive promontory of the castle San Juan de las Águilas, which was used by Greeks, Romans and the Moors, is marvellous. The town has an ample harbour, walkways along the sea and boasts serene bays. Further inland is the impressive dark green of an aromatic pine forest and two protected natural areas - the Parque Regional Costero-Litoral de Cabo Cope-Calnegre and the Paisaje Natural de Cuatro Calas.
Albox
Albox is a typical Spanish market town and is approx 418m above sea level. A good sized town it offers many amenities and services such as supermarkets (including British), banks, post office, restaurants, bars, internet cafes, and several builders’ merchants. There are local doctors, many of which speak English and local pharmacies. There is also a 24 hr Medical centre in Albox. Other facilities include a municipal swimming pool, which opens in July and August, a sports centre and tennis club. A large colourful market is held every Tuesday morning and a smaller one on Saturdays
Arboleas
Arboleas is a small rural town in Almeria, inland but only a 40 minute drive. This area of Spain has its own charm as do the small surrounding villages. Arboleas has many amenities and services such as a local butcher, a bakery, paper shops, supermarkets, chemists, post office, banks and many good bars and restaurants. There is also an outdoor swimming pool open during the summer.
Bédar
Bedar is an old hill town that has managed to maintain its peace, tranquillity and beauty, overlooking a fertile valley dotted with cortijos and small farms. For many years these characteristics have made it a popular location for the artistic - painters, actors and musicians. Its history goes back to the Middle Ages when Bédar, along with neighbouring village Serena, belonged to the municipality of Vera. A mosque survives as a reminder of the Muslim past, converted and used for many years as an olive oil mill and, more recently, a private residence. Bédar's Muslim heritage can be observed in its narrow twisting side streets and its fertile plain.
Cabrera/El Cortijo Grande
The valley of El Cortijo Grande, flanked by the Sierra Cabrera mountains rising to almost 1000m, is an ancient oasis in the traditionally arid region of Almeria. In the heart of a province claiming the only desert in Europe, El Cortijo Grande has become famous for its lush green landscape and profuse vegetation. It is a peaceful and tranquil location unlike anything else in the area with a breathtaking natural landscape. The first time visitor is often amazed at the greenness of the valley and the dramatic difference to nearby towns and villages. The valley also has a well established 9-hole golf course on which native wild boar can sometimes be seen.
The peaceful and tranquil village of Cabrera sits high above the valley and the golf course. Cabrera has been influenced by the Moors (13th to 15th century) and the Moorish influence is all around. Every visitor to Cabrera will recognise that it is a unique area and unquestionably one of the most unspoiled parts of Almeria. While Cabrera offers the rural charms of the Almeria countryside, it is just a short distance from the villages of Turre, Garrucha, Vera, Los Gallardos and Mojacar.
Cuevas del Almanzora
Cuevas is one of the oldest towns in the Almería province. In the 19th century many a fortune hunter flocked to the town from all over Spain as silver had been re-discovered in the nearby Sierra Almagrera mountains. This was a time of splendour for the town and the legacy left behind by the silver rush can be seen all around.
The Castillo de Cuevas de Almanzora is a palace/fortress that sits high up in the town and was built in the gothic style in the 16th century. In the 1770s it was extended in the neo-classic style making it an interesting blend of the two styles. The museum of contemporary art is housed in a two-storey mansion that was built as a symbol of the military strength of the Marquis of Vélez.
Cuevas de Almanzora is situated just 15 minutes away and it has a good range of services and facilities including schools, doctors, shops, banks etc.
Huercal Overa
Huercal Overa is the result of the fusion of two medieval villages, Huercal and Overa, situated approximately 20 minutes from Mojacar with easy access to the connecting motorway.
The architecture of the town is impressive with the Church de Nuestra Senora de la Asunción, the Chapel of Jesús Nazareno and a bell tower dating back to the Middle Ages - well worth a visit. This agricultural market town enjoys an enormous weekly market on a Monday with stalls selling fruit, vegetables and local produce. Huercal Overa offers many facilities including schools, hotels, restaurants and a brand new modern hospital, municipal swimming pool and leisure centre.
Lorca
Lorca is a diverse and interesting town from the thriving cosmopolitan centre through the agricultural inland areas where centuries of tradition are conserved. As well as the many shops, Lorca offers a wide range of restaurants, café bars, hotels, and leisure facilities and its residents all live beneath the famous 13th century hill top castle which overlooks the entire area. Lorca is well known for its love of cultural life and its passionate and lavish fiestas. Lorca is set in an expansive valley between the mountains and has many historical buildings including churches, Roman villas, and Palaces.
Los Gallardos
The small town of Los Gallardos is ideally located between Bedar, Turre and Mojacar and is within striking distance of the motorways and just 40 minutes from Almeria Airport. The local market is on Tuesday where local farmers congregate in the town square. The patron saint of Los Gallardos is San Isidrio, whose festival day is the 5th of May.
Lubrin
Lubrin is conveniently located just 45 minutes from the beaches of Mojacar yet offers an opportunity to experience the real Spain. There are around 20 hamlets in the area of Lubrin, some of which have become de-populated due to the decline in agricultural activities. Local towns in the area worth a visit are El Marchal, El Chive and El Pilar. Lubrin’s roots have been traced back some 3.5 million years and about 100,000 years ago Neanderthal man arrived in Lubrin.
Palomares
Palomares is less than 1km from the coast and it retains a very Spanish feel largely unaffected by the coastal development of the area. It offers a real mixture of traditional Spanish houses and new apartments. The village has various shops, doctor, banks, chemist and a good selection of Spanish bars offering tapas and light snacks. Within walking distance of Palomares is a long stretch of sandy beach and tree covered picnic area, with two Spanish beach bars offering typical Spanish fare during the high season. Slightly further away are numerous rocky coves waiting to be discovered and often empty even in high season. Palomares nearest neighbour is Villaricos, also within walking distance, with its bars, restaurants and 2 picturesque marinas.
San Juan De Los Torreros
San Juan De Los Torreros is a 20 minute drive north of the apartment. It has a recently modernized promenade area alongside a lovely beach which adds an air of sophistication and makes for a pleasant stroll to a variety of new and old restaurants and bars on the outskirts of town. Plentiful parking is available. The beaches are golden and shelve gently into the sea which is turquoise and shallow, so ideal for children, with fish and rocks to snorkel around.
Sorbas
A typically Spanish hillside town with a charming main square and worth a visit. It houses the gypsum mines museum and is just as famous for its ceramics as it is the mines. Take the sign to Ceramica Artensia just before the main road into Sorbas to discover a range of family owned potteries, each offering a different style of ceramic which are available for purchase in the pottery shop. Traditional kilns and hand painting techniques are used to produce wonderfully colourful products.
Tabernas
Located approximately 24kms from Almeria on the N-340, Tabernas is a village of contrasts. It sits between the Sierra de Alhamilla and Sierra de Filabres mountains and is situated in the only desert in Europe. Summer temperatures can reach 45C! Dry river beds and cacti line the route to Tabernas which takes around 1 hour to drive. Tabernas is best known for the production of spaghetti westerns and various film sets built into the desert which have been transformed into three theme parks (see Other Activities).
Turre
Turre is a small town of flat roofed white washed houses originally of Moorish origin, and more recently, with strong traditional links with the Spanish gypsy community, giving it an interesting background. It lies at the foot of the Sierra Cabrera mountains which provide a colourful backdrop. For such a small town, Turre has a surprising range of restaurants, from traditional Spanish, Argentinean Steak houses and Chinese, to Indian and Italian Pizza Houses. There is a wide and varied nightlife in the main street which runs the length of the town. Turre offers a local school, doctor’s surgery, pharmacy, supermarkets and shops. The town also holds a lively weekly street market with stalls of fresh produce, shoes, clothes and household goods. The local square is at the heart of this attractive small town and, with its coffee shops and bars, it is easy to while away an hour watching the world go by.