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Almería: beaches, hikes and gastronomy, our must-sees in beautiful Andalusia

2021-08-01T05:20:23.142Z


Bordered by 200 km of Mediterranean coastline, this province occupies the south-eastern tip of Spain. With 320 days of sunshine per year and an average temperature of 18.5 ° C - and over 30 ° C in summer - the Costa Almeriense is a spot conducive to relaxation all year round.


Sunbathe on dream beaches of Cabo de Gata Natural Park, visit Almería and admire its architectural treasures, savor the local gastronomy, hike in the Tabernas desert and discover the remains of a prehistoric civilization unique in Europe, or slip into a geode with giant crystals.

This relatively unknown region of Spain is worth a visit!

To discover

  • Partner stay in Spain |

    8 days |

    The authentic Andalusian treasures

Enjoy the best beaches in Spain

Mónsul beach, in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park.

Servicio Provincial de Turismo de la Excelentísima Diputación Provincial de Almería

In the extreme south-east of the territory, the Cabo de Gata Natural Park is home to the most beautiful beaches in the province. The

playa de Los Muertos

is one of the most famous, and is unfortunately very invaded in summer despite its large size (1 km in length). Relax on the small ocher pebbles that make up this natural beach before exploring the seabed of its turquoise waters. We reach this place of paradise from the village of Carboneras. In summer, parking is chargeable (5 € per day). The beach is accessed by a sloping path. An alternative ? Get there by boat from the port of Carboneras (around € 15 return per adult).

More intimate and more pleasant, the

cala de Enmedio

is a small cove of fine golden sand, little frequented in summer.

Surrounded by fossilized dunes, this wild beach offers a breathtaking view of the bay.

Behind it stands the

Cerro Mesa Roldán

, a vestige of an underwater volcano on which nowadays stands a lighthouse and a castle.

By land, access is via a rustic path not recommended for children from

cala del Plomo

.

The places are accessible by kayak from Agua Amarga (allow 2-3 hours if you also take the road through

cala del Plomo

).

Read the file: Seville: the

Figaro

travel guide

Discover Almeria and its hidden treasures

The ramparts of the Alcazaba, one of the most important Muslim constructions in Spain. Excelentísimo Ayuntamiento de Almería

The capital and the province share the same name: Almería. The city owes its current sublime appearance to the prosperity generated from the middle of the 19th century by the grape trade and especially by the extraction of iron ore which enriched the new local bourgeoisie. She built sumptuous residences of different styles that now make up the city center. Like the

Casa de las Mariposas

, of modernist architecture topped with a dome adorned with butterflies, or cultural constructions like the

Teatro Apolo

and its beautiful

historicista

facade

. Vestige of this mining past, near the

dock

, the Cable Inglés is an ore loading dock inspired by Eiffel's work.

It facilitated the transport of material extracted from the

sierra

, between the port and the train station, whose entrance is decorated with a magnificent glass roof.

Information for guided tours on the city site.

Museo d'Almería.

Visiting the site and the museum is free for Europeans.

Visit the Alcazaba

On a hill overlooking the city and the bay, the magnificent and imposing Alcazaba can be seen from several points of the city.

This fortress, protected by 1.5 km of ramparts, was erected in the 10th century and bears witness to the city's strategic position, between Europe and the Maghreb, which attracted sailors and traders.

After the

Alhambra

, the

Alcazaba

d'Almería is the largest Muslim building in the country.

It is made up of three enclosures, one of which dates back to Christianity.

The places include gardens, medieval cisterns, reconstructed houses, public baths and the

Mudejar

(Hispano-Muslim)

Hermitage of San Juan

.

Entrance is free for Europeans.

Learn the history of the Spanish guitar

In the heart of Almería, the Spanish Guitar Museum pays tribute to the

Almerien

luthier

Antonio de Torres (1817-1892), to whom we owe the authorship of this instrument.

Throughout the visit, we discover the ancestors of the contemporary guitar since Antiquity, the techniques and materials of manufacture, guitars designed by Antonio de Torres, the place of this instrument in culture and history by a series of tables, among others.

The visit, educational and interactive, will interest all generations.

The icing on the cake: several models are available to the curious who wish to try their hand at the Spanish or electric guitar.

Adult admission: € 3 per person.

Taste simple cuisine, between the coast and the mountains

We feast here on a cuisine of fishermen, hunters and breeders.

Vegetables hold an important place there, because the province is a high place of agricultural exploitation.

Among the emblematic dishes of this region, the

gurullos

, local pasta (without eggs) which is shaped like grains.

They are prepared in broth with game (rabbit, hare, partridge, etc.), seafood (octopus, cuttlefish, etc.) or snails.

On rare rainy days, it is customary to taste

migas

, a shepherd's dish.

In a pan with garlic and oil, brown semolina flour with garlic and oil that will be served with meat, fish and vegetables.

  • Our advice

a generous tapa is always offered with the drink.

Let yourself be tempted by the

tabernero

, a kind of slightly spicy ratatouille with meat or fish, or the

ajoblanco

, a thick cream made from almonds, bread, garlic and olive oil.

Explore the wilderness

Interior view of the Geode of Pulpí.

Servicio Provincial de Turismo de la Excelentísima Diputación Provincial de Almería

Let yourself be embarked in this palace of flaming crystals.

This space covered with enormous gypsum formations is hidden inside a mine in Pulpí, a village in the north of the province where iron, lead and silver were mined.

Its dimensions (8 x 2 meters) make this striking geode the largest in Europe and the only one in the world whose easy access allows it to be visited without any equipment.

Adult admission: € 22 per person, advance reservation required.

Claustrophobic refrain.

Discover Cabo de Gata

You must pass through this arid landscape of volcanic mountains where lava flows and domes pass by as well as fossil dunes.

Covering nearly 50,000 hectares, the maritime and terrestrial park of Cabo de Gata has been recognized by Unesco as both a Biosphere Reserve and a Global Geopark.

There are native plants there, such as saffron from Cabo de Gata.

On the seabed side, we find vast meadows of Posidonia where crabs, octopus and fish make their home.

Remarkable birds like flamingos fly over the salt marshes.

The successive occupants of the park have left in the past vestiges that can be found here and there in the park, such as a Roman salt factory, watchtowers and Arab cisterns,

cortijos

(sort of farm) abandoned and still a former mining village.

Read also: Andalusia nature side: Iberian safari in Doñana National Park

Hiking in Tabernas, a unique desert in Europe

The desert has hosted the shooting of many films.

Alberto Giacomazzi

In the desert of Tabernas the rain is rare and the temperatures oscillate between -5ºC in winter and 48ºC in summer.

It is a protected natural site that has served as the backdrop for many films such as

And for a few dollars more

and

Lawrence of Arabia

.

Venture out on a hike through the Desert Trail (PR-A 269) which has relatively little difficulty.

The path follows the path of

ramblas

dug by dry torrents, while crisscrossing between old

spaghetti

western

settings

: an artificial oasis, wooden bridges, a fake abandoned Mexican village and the Oasys MiniHollywood theme park.

The latter is also the starting point for this pleasant hike, which can be reached by the A-92 from the city of Almería, towards Granada.

Distance: 14 km.

Journey time: 5 hours.

Remember to download the map.

Explore the remains of a unique civilization in Europe

You will discover the Los Millares site in the town of Santa Fe de Mondújar, on a plateau a 30-minute drive from the city of Almería.

The inhabitants of this village of the Copper Age lived according to a very complex organization of their society, between the four enclosures enclosed by ramparts and a set of forts.

A necropolis comprising 80 large burials stretches over 13 hectares on the edge of the village, while at the end of the site stands a reconstruction of the houses, towers and the wall, with a reproduction of everyday life. of the time.

Allow 2h30 for the visit and remember to download the

Millares Virtual

app

, which helps interpret the remains in augmented reality.

Practical notebook

GO

From France, there are no direct flights to Almería.

Two options: fly to Málaga or Granada and continue by road (around 2 hours of travel in both cases).

Renting a car will be convenient for you to explore the area.

OR SLEEP

Murallas de Jayrán Hotel Boutique

In the old town of Almería, the hotel offers six charmingly decorated rooms, combining old and modern elements.

Each has a theme evoking the history, the landscape and the culture of the city: its light and its blue tones, its 19th century bourgeois houses, the industrial style of its

cable inglés

... luxury junior suite inspired by the Muslim period.

Best of all: the terrace has a swimming pool.

Price from € 75 per double room.

Murallas de Jayrán Hotel Boutique, Calle Antonio Vico, 21, 04003 Almería.

Phone.

: +34 633 74 43 58 / +34 657 56 60 68.

La Joya de Cabo de Gata

This ecological complex offers three authentic

cortijos

(a kind of traditional farmhouse) with rustic and warm decor.

Located in the Cabo de Gata Natural Park, you can enjoy a view of the arid hills from the swimming pool and the jacuzzi, surrounded by a vast garden of olive trees, palm trees and pomegranates.

Starting price: around 205 € per night in high season.

La Joya de Cabo de Gata, Carretera Al-5106 km.

3,700, Paraje La Joya, s / n, 04149 Agua Amarga.

Phone.

: +34 619 15 95 87.

WHERE TO EAT

La Mala - Tortillería

Here the

Spanish

tortilla

is revisited in a baroque atmosphere tavern with a touch of modernity.

About thirty ingredients replace the potato in their recipes: octopus, cod, raisins, apples, chorizo, fruits.

Other tapas and dishes of Spanish gastronomy are offered there.

Average price: 35 to 40 € per person (starter, main course, dessert, drink and coffee).

La Mala - Tortillería, Calle Martínez Almagro, 6, 04001 Almería.

Phone.

: +34 693 71 22 02.

Restaurante El Cabo

Careful and gourmet cuisine in this welcoming establishment by the sea. The menu honors both meats and products from the coast.

Count on average 30-40 € per person.

Restaurante El Cabo, Paseo Marítimo, 67, 04140 Carboneras.

Phone.

: +34 629 40 51 51.

Source: lefigaro

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