A bustling port city steeped in history, Almeria is a popular getaway destination in the heart of Andalusia. In the past, Almeria had been overlooked by those visiting Spain, but has received a new lease of life in recent years. With an abundance of historic churches, nearby beaches and a wide choice of tapas bars, Almeria is a hidden, coastal gem.
Alcazaba of Almeria
A defensive complex close to the Plaza de San Pedro, the Alcazaba of Almeria – or Conjunto Monumental de La Alcazaba, to give it its Spanish title – is a well-known historic landmark within the region.
The name comes from the Arabic for a walled fort within a city, al-gasbah. Construction on the enormous complex began in 955 and since then it has been visible from every corner of the city. Entrance is free to residents of the European Union and is open to the public year-round apart from on Mondays.
Almeria Cathedral
A Gothic and Renaissance church built in the 16th-century, Almeria Cathedral – or Cathedral de la Encarnacion – is a unique and eye-catching building. It was originally designed as both a place of worship and a defensive fortress. Visitors can now explore the cathedral with a highly informative audio tour from Monday through to Saturday.
Civil war shelters of Almeria
Almeria’s civil war shelters were used to protect city residents during the Spanish Civil War in the early 20th century. Buried nine metres beneath the city, the 4.5km-long network provides a unique and haunting perspective of Spain during wartime. Make yourself in for a tour to find out about the shelters’ historic significance, as well as a guided tour inside.
Poniente and Cabo de Gata
Among the most popular stretches of sand along the Spanish coast, Almeria’s beaches are a great place to spend your day soaking up the Mediterranean sunshine. The most well-known are the beaches of Poniente in the south-west and Cabo de Gata in the south-east.
Poniente’s beaches – which are especially smooth and white nearRoquetas de Mar – are where you’ll find plenty of places to eat and stay, whileCabo’s beaches are more rural and wild, leading to the Cabo de Gata Natural Park.
The gastronomic capital of Spain
Almeria was crowned Spain’s gastronomic capital in 2019 – so it’d be rude not to discover why. Enter almost any bar or restaurant here, and some tapas will accompany your drink. If you’re looking for something more substantial, dishes like bacalao fresco con tomate – that’s cod served in a hearty tomato sauce. For those with a sweeter tooth, paparajote is a must. Lemon leaves are battered and fried, then finished with a sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar – just don’t eat the leaf itself.
With so much history and culture pouring out of this incredible city, it’s hard to fully immerse yourself in all Almeria has to offer. With car hire from Hertz, you can tick off all of the top attraction as you easily glide down Almeria’s roads. Make your trip to the south of Spain as smooth and as easy as possible with Hertz.
