A Guide to Costa Almeria 

Almeria Town  

Almeria Town is a lively and modern city that co exists with the old town with plenty of art galleries, museums and shops.  The wonderful historical monument of Alcazaba, originally dating back to 995, is perched on a hilltop overlooking the town.  Alcazaba, once an Arab fortress which was capable of holding an army of 20,000 men, is open throughout the year and offers visitors fabulous views.  

The 16th century Gothic style Cathedral in the old town is also an interesting place to visit, years ago this was fortified to withstand pirate raids. The Parish Church of Santiago Apostol, a national monument built in 1559, can be found in Calle de las Tienda or take a stroll along the avenue of La Rambla with its street cafes and children’s play areas. The inhabitants of this town are half Spanish and half North African, a large number of its migrant workers originating from Morocco or Tunisia.  A ferry service to North Africa operates from this major working port and there is a popular sports marina.  

Mojacar  

Sandwiched between the mountains of the Sierra Cabrera and the Mediterranean Sea stands the ancient, Moorish town of Mojacar, overlooking a shore of pristine beaches and sparkling waters. This pueblo blanco ( white village ) is full of traditional charm and character and has become a thriving art colony.  

The Old Town has a fairytale quality with clusters of ancient, whitewashed buildings and narrow, cobbled streets and each summer, the locals stage an extravagant “ Moors and Christians “ fiesta to honour their Arab ancestors. Mojacar has a weekly street market and a large modern shopping precinct, the Parque Commercial.  

A local bus service runs from the town to the long, sandy beach resort of Mojacar Playa just two kilometres away. Here you will find a variety of beach bars, shops and local and international restaurants. A wide range of water sports are available and for the more daring visitors, there is a microlight centre where you can experience a flight over the beach and admire the spectacular coastal views.

Vera

The walled town of Vera is one of the most important commercial centres in the region. The town has many building of interest, in the main square, the Plaza Mayor, visitors will find the Church de la Encarnacion flanked by four great towers and built in 1520 as a fort to protect against attacks by the Moors. The 16th century Town Hall, once used as barracks for the Civil Guard now houses a museum. The more recently constructed Plaza de Toros, or bullring, was originally built in 1879 but restored in 1993 and bullfights are held on St. Cleofas day.

This prosperous town has a great variety of shops, many of which sell local handicrafts and several restaurants and tapas bars specializing in local cuisine.

The beach area of the town, Vera Playa, has the only water park in the area, Parque Acuatico, open from May to September and a popular venue for families with its three swimming pools and many chutes and slides.

Garrucha

Between Mojacar and Vera is the picturesque seaport of Garrucha. The town dates back to the 16th century, founded by a group of fishermen, who protected themselves from pirate attack by constructing a tower. Today this fishing port is the second most important in the province and fishing provides its main source of income. The focal point of the town is the attractive working harbour, where the day's catch is auctioned each afternoon on the quayside fish market. The fishermen supply the many seafood restaurants along the seafront and in the summer display a wonderful array of fish and shellfish, especially red prawns which are only found in the local waters.

Paseo Maritimo, the palm tree lined promenade framed by white marble balustrades, runs the length of the town and is a peaceful oasis for locals and visitors.  Garrucha is well known for its magnificent stretch of golden unspoiled beaches and a long shady beach walkway is perfect for a leisurely stroll at any time of day.

Roquetas de Mar

This popular tourist resort is one of the faster growing cities on the Costa Almeria with wide, sandy beaches that have won the coveted Blue Flag award for cleanliness. The town has a great many attractions, the Grand Plaza centre with its cinema, bowling alley and restaurants, a theatre with a seating capacity of 1,300 and a bullring accommodating 8,000 spectators. From its colourful harbour visitors can take advantage of the many water sports on offer or take a trip in a glass bottom boat, and the town has two marinas and a golf course. The natural beauty of the salt lagoons at Las Marinas is a good vantage point to watch the magnificent flamingoes and other species of birds that visit the area in almost every season.