Almeria is a province with mountains and sea which can be considered the most Mediterranean of the Andalusian provinces

Almeria is a province with mountains and sea which can be considered the most Mediterranean of the Andalusian provinces. The deep blue of the waters, the dazzling sky, the majestic landscapes, its popular geometrical architecture reflect the atmosphere to be found along the banks of the Mediterranean sea which emphasises its historical past.

The weather in June is wonderful. The night is very mild and the day is warn, about 30 degrees, so you can go to the beach without problems.

The capital, which one writer once described as the most "African" of Spanish cities due to the exotic picture it protrays, is a perfect summary of the province's mood. It is situated at the center of a golf, decorated with rocky outcrops and dominated by the silhouette of the ALCAZABA, the fortress that Abderraman III ordered to be built in the 10th century.

This marked the rown being founded and it would continue to spread until after the Catholic Monarchs had taken it in 1489. Its bastion, gardens and palace remains provide a real lesson in history. Below it, the cubic houses, painted in bright colours are jammed together in neighbourhoods such as La Chanca (the cave quarter), which has caught the attention of artists and writers.

Further down, the old part of the city stretches to the port and the Renaissance CATHEDRAL, which is the outstanding monument the intimist maze of streets and small squares.This fortress-church was finished in 1543.

The cathedral square was designed by the famous architect Alberto Campo Baeza.

Near the cathedral is the center of the town. It has small streets and pretty parks to rest during your visit. The main street is called PASEO DE ALMERÍA.

Almeria is crossed by a (dry) river. Now, it is a very beatufil avenue called LA RAMBLA wich goes from the harbour to the north part of the town.

Almeria is also well-know because of the TAPAS. If you go to a bar and ask for a beer, a glass of wine, etc. then you can choose a small plate of food from a long list and the price (about 1'5 Euro) is the same. Here or here you a have a guide for some places to "tapear".

Close to the capital, landscapes and villages provide proof of the area's different personality. First of all, there is CABO DE GATA, the fantastic natural park that was formed by volcanic eruptions, with basaltic formations that cut through the cliffs, coves and beaches to the seabed below the crystal-clear waters.

A trail of fishing villages, such as San José or Agua Amarga, are scattered along the coast to the tourist enclave of Mojácar.

Beyond it is the only desert to be found in Europe, the TABERNAS DESERT, an area of extreme dryness with a lunar landscape scarred by ravines and gullies. Its dramatic features have been immortalised in films as its has been used as the backdrop for numerous westerns.