A Spanish Villa Guide to Almeria in the
Andalucia & Costa Del Sol region of Spain

Its virgin eastern beaches with developing nudist complexes and the large tourist complexes on its west side are high-quality destinations for the most demanding traveller.  The Natural Parc of Cabo de Gata-Nijar is surrounded by a privileged littoral of wide sandy beaches and hidden creeks washing into the hot water of the Mediterranean.  Visiting Almeria becomes a fascinating adventure during the traditional festivities of Moors and Christians.

Almeria, owing to its strategic situation, open to the Mediterranean Sea, housed many different civilisations, during its history.   An important trace is found in the archaeological remains spread out all over this province.

The Bronze Age left the marks of a very special culture in Los Millares and in the Argar.  Tartessians, Phoenicians, Carthaginians and Greeks exploited its mines and commercialised on its coasts.  The Romans, who have settled here starting from the third century BC, turned it into the “Porto Magnus” of the Mediterranean Seas and dominated the region until the belated arrival of the Visigoths in the seventh Century.  In the 10th Century, the Arabs created Almoracin, the actual capital, where one of the most important kingdoms taifas of the Muslim Spain was established.  The Arabic influence has been stronger that the other ones because of their long stay here; for almost eight centuries.

The rich history of this province is demonstrated by some of it monuments.  Castles and fortress are a privileged historical witness in order to know about the past societies.  Having been frequently exposed to the frontier conflicts and to the necessities of self-defence; the province of Almeria keeps a great number of varied castles that nowadays constitute a heritage, which is not very well-known.  In the ninetenth Century the economic recovery was fostered thanks to the mining activities.