Almería

Presided over by its imposing Alcazaba, Almería sits in the bay that shares its name. Capital of the eponymous province, much of its municipal area is within the Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park.

Inhabited since Prehistoric times, it is an area where significant cultures such as Los Millares and El Argar developed. It was also an area of Phoenician, Carthaginian, and Roman occupation. It truly flourished from the Andalusian period onward. Al-Mariya Bayyana, the name given during that period, was a significant port for the Caliphate of Córdoba for centuries. After a period of Christian attacks from the 13th century, the city was conquered by the Catholic Monarchs in 1489. From that moment and until 1833, it belonged to the Kingdom of Granada. From this period onward, the area's mining exploitation transformed the city and provided an important economic boost, eventually replaced by the cultivation of its vast greenhouses.

This rich history has left us a series of valuable monuments. For instance, the Alcazaba, erected by order of Caliph Abd al-Rahman III, crowns the city. Also notable from the Christian period is the Cathedral Church of Our Lady of the Incarnation. This construction dates from the 16th century and is particularly peculiar as it is organised as a "fortress". This is because it was built at a time when Berber pirate attacks were frequent.

As an example of industrial heritage, the Cable Inglés stands out, a former mineral loading platform that belonged to The Alquife Mines and Railway Company Limited. The structure, a remnant today of the mining exploitation, was used to transport minerals from Alquife.

From the Civil War period, a series of exceptionally well-preserved air-raid shelters have survived to the present. The Civil War Shelters of Almería are a network of underground galleries stretching over 4 kilometres, among which operating rooms or large stores stand out. Undoubtedly, a respectable testament to a recent past.

Beyond this heritage, the beaches of Almería are some of the most prominent on the peninsula. This pairs very well with its cuisine and its extensive offer of bars and restaurants where one can enjoy a wide variety of tapas.