Costa del Sol Tourism Guide - Costa Almeria

Almeria Tourism

Almeria, the main city and capital in the Almeria region, is beginning to cater well for tourist visitors with a number of fascinating new museums opening up. As well as the historic sights of Almeria's striking Gothic interior cathedral and hilltop Alcazaba, a number of new Almeria museums and exhibits have just opened or are currently being worked on. These include the fascinating Spanish Civil War refuge centre, with further plans afoot to turn this one time bomb shelter into a Civil War museum focusing on the Almeria region and its role during the Spanish Civil War. Almeria's Museum of Archaeology is under construction (2007) on Carretera de Ronda and will when opened focus on the Muslim period. Other relatively new museums in Almeria include the Olive Oil Museum on Calle Real, the Seismology Museum on Calle Seismology and the Las Amoladeras Visitor Centre on the Ctra Cabo de Gata to Ameria Road (tel. 950 16 04 35) which serves and wildlife information centre for the stunning Cabo de Gata area. Full listings of Almeria's museums and monuments are to be round on the Almeria Region Tourist guide weblink right which is now available in English.

The founding of Almeria's Alcazaba dates from the Cordoba caliph period of Abd ar Rahman III around 955. During this period Almeria was a key port within Al-Andalus. Note the Ermita de San Juan chapel to the east side of the Alcazaba, converted to chapel from mosque by the Catholic monarchs who finally took Almeria in 1489. The winding walk upto Almeria's Alcazaba via old town streets is equally as fascinating as touring this ancient fortress, which from the top has spectacular views across Almeria. Almeria Alcazba, C/Almanzor, Almeria. Tel. 950 17 55 00. The Alcazaba is closed on Mondays, open Tues to Sun 9am to 6.30pm. Double check opening times with Almeria Tourist Information centre.

Not by chance does Almeria's striking cathedral look like a fortress. It was built that way from 1524 to withstand pirate raids from North Africa. Bishop Diego Villalan, the cathedral's founder has a tomb inside. The Gothic interior is well worth a browse, and Plaza de Cathedral is one of the prettiest spots to sit in Almeria. The square is lined with cafes.

Almeria's Centro de Arte Museo - Art Centre can be found on Plaza de Barcelona, s/n 04006 Almeria. Tel. (00 34) 950 266 112. The building is in Neomudejar style and dates from 1927. The focus inside is contemporary art.

Roquetas de Mar & Mojacar Costa Almeria Resorts, Cabo De Gata Nature Reserve

If you're looking for an all inclusive Spanish seaside resort with a chilled out feel, a long paseo maritimo, easy access to excursions to Granada, Cabo de Gata, Almeria and elsewhere then Roquetas de Mar will do nicely. There is good access to a choice of excursions around Andalucia and into the Murcia region east of Almeria from Roquetas de Mar. Car Hire Almeria is recommended if you really want to get out and about and explore, as public transport is less serviced to tourism here, and Roquetas although all inclusive with numerous resort amenities within, is quite an isolated Costa Almeria resort. (see Car Hire Almeria weblink right for best Holiday Autos deals). The fast A7 motorway just north of Roquetas also makes it easy to access day trips to Almeria, Malaga, Nerja, Murcia and more from Roquetas.

Roquetas de Mar sits just 25km west of Almeria and in this Spanish resort rainfall is particularly scare and sunshine hours are long. Roquetas has around 320 days of sunshine a year. Guaranteed sunny hot weather, combined with good resort facilities and a choice of holiday accommodation, bars, restaurants and shops have made Roquetas de Mar a top resort spot on the Costa Almeria. Good holiday golf is in the area too, see the Playa Serena Golf Club in Roquetas weblink right. Watersports - no problem, both surfing and sailing are popular on Roquetas de Mar's long and flat beach (see the Roquetas Nautical centre's weblink right).

The Cabo de Gata nature reserve sits just east of Almeria on the promontory. This area was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1997 so development is restricted. Here mixes the spectacular mountains of the Sierra de Cabo de Gata and the stunning coastline. Popular with birdwatchers, walkers, those looking for untouched hidden beaches, spectacular cliffs and reefs all combined with low rainfall head here to Cabo de Gata. Excursions to it are easily accessible from the resorts of Roquetas de Mar (by boat) and Mojacar. Checkout the Almeria tourist guide weblink right for details. Two stunning fishing villages within the Cabo de Gata area are San Miguel and Las Salinas.

Mojacar sits 60 miles east of Almeria Airport to the far north of the Almeria region on the coast. Like Roquetas, Mojacar is prime all inclusive beach resort territory with a more laid back feel as compared to the bustling Costa Del Sol main resorts. Mojacar's main beach Palmer Rumina Beach has Blue Flag status, and the beachfront in total runs for 10 miles here. Mojacar is particularly popular for watersports - surfing for example, as waves can be rather strong here. Just over a mile uphill and inland from the beach sits the pretty Mojacar village.

Cheap Flights Almeria, Almeria Airport

There's no doubt Almeria Airport has been an asset to this region's growth in tourism. Almeria Airport sits just 8 km from Almeria city, hence it's also close to Costa Almeria resort Roquetas de Mar and to the Cabo de Gata nature reserve. Passenger numbers are steadily growing, with in 2006 1055,545 passengers coming through Almeria Airport.

Easy Jet and Monarch both fly direct to Almeria. Flights in come from London Gatwick, Birmingham, London Luton and Manchester to Almeria Airport, making cheap flight choice to Almeria good (see cheap flights to Almeria weblink right for flight comparison prices, or contact Iknow Holidays booking line direct for booking assistance).

Car rental from Almeria Airport is recommended to push out from the Costa Almeria's fairly isolated (if well resourced within) resorts.

A choice of Car Hire firms operate from Almeria Airport.