Spain’s sunniest region, the coastal areas of Almeria are probably the last places where you can still find a beach to yourself. This area has not yet become overrun by tourists, even though many new resorts and hotels are beginning to make their presence felt.
The name Almeria traces its origins back to Arabic and means a “mirror of the sea”. It was founded in 955 AD by Calipha Abd-Ar-Rahman III of Cordoba and was one of his major ports. Today, Alcazaba, the Moorish Castle is the last vestige of the Moorish history of this area.
This area is also renowned for having the largest naturist beach in Europe at El Playazo at Vera. There have been many attempts to reduce the extent of this movement there, but to little avail.
The arid landscape around Almeria has been the setting for many a Western movie. There are also some beautiful beaches in this area, and parks such as Cabo De Gata are great tourist attractions.
Visitor Suggestions: Must visit: The National Park of Cabo De Gata Nijar – it is just outside America and is a natural reserve of volcanic origin. Covering over 380 square kilometres, it is really a must-see place on every traveller’s itinerary.
Must see: The Alcazaba – after the Alhambra, this is one of the best remnants of over eight centuries of Moorish rule in Spain. It was begun in the 13th century, but it was destroyed partially by an earthquake in 1522.
Must spend time in: The naturist beach in the Almeria region. If you have the courage, do join the nudists as they spend time in one of their favourite beaches in Europe.
When to go there:
A fairly arid climate has kept the temperatures of this region around 18 C around Almeria city and coastal regions. Warm winters and hot summers, dry days with very little rain, make this a year-round destination for travellers. The summer months are among the busiest, but even in winter, the temperatures never seem to drop below 8 C, so many people prefer to travel then.
How to go there:
From the bus station at Almeria you can travel to any part of Spain. The roads are good and comfortable and the scenery is very picturesque.
Airlines such as Monarch and Ryan Air have flights to Almeria, but not too many of the larger airlines make trips to this area. You can easily fly to Madrid or Malaga and take a bus from there