t A panoramic view of Almería and its port, crowned by the imposing Alcazaba
A colossal fortress bears witness to Almería’s golden age, when it was an important port for the Caliphate of Córdoba. Known as al Mariyat (the Mirror of the Sea), the city was a centre for trade and textile industries. Today a North African air still pervades the city, with its flat-roofed houses, desert-like environs and palm trees, and regular ferry services still link the city with Morocco.
t A panoramic view of Almería and its port, crowned by the imposing Alcazaba
experience Granada and Almería
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Berber pirates from North Africa would often raid Almería. Consequently, the cathedral looks more like a fortress than a place of worship, with four towers, thick walls and small windows. It was designed by Spanish architect Diego de Siloé and work on it began in 1524.
Almería’s two main prehistoric civilizations, Los Millares and El Algar, are explained in this archaeological museum that displays 900 exhibits from its collection of 80,000 pieces at any one time.
t El Buen Pastor de Gador (The Good Shepherd of Gádor) in the Museo de Almería
John Lennon wrote “Strawberry Fields Forever” in 1966, while living in Almería.
Traces of Almería’s most important mosque can still be seen at the Iglesia San Juan – one wall of the present church is Moorish. Inside is a 12th-century mihrab, a prayer niche with cupola. Damaged in the Spanish Civil War, the church has since been restored.
This was the largest fortress built by the Moors and once covered an area of more than 25,000 sq m (269,000 sq ft), with the walls extending for 430 m (1,410 ft). Construction started in AD 955, under Abd al Rahman III, but there were considerable additions later. The fort withstood two major sieges but fell to the Catholic Monarchs in 1489. Their coat of arms can be seen on the exterior of the Torre del Homenaje, which was built during the monarchs’ reign. The 1,000-year-old Alcazaba has been restored and within its walls are pleasant gardens and a Mudéjar chapel. Fine views are offered from the top of the fortress. In the past, a bell in the Alcazaba was rung to advise the farmers in the surrounding countryside when irrigation was allowed. Bells were also heard when pirates had been sighted off the coast.
Located at the heart of the city, the Puerta de Purchena was once one of the main gateways in the city walls. From it run a number of shopping streets, including the wide Paseo de Almería. A tree-lined thoroughfare, this is the focus of city life, with its cafés, Teatro Cervantes and nearby food market.
experience Granada and Almería
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