Urban people and families

Almería,DreamEscapes

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Almería, with one thousand and one opportunities

Alcazaba Tower with the City in the background

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Since ancient times Almería has been a crossroads, a corner in the Mare Nostrum where the Phoenicians, Car-thaginians, Greeks, Romans and Muslims settled and left their footprint.

Almería has close to hand the snow of the Sierra Nevada, the Desert of Tabernas, the Marine-Terrestrial Natural Park of Cabo de Gata and Sierra María Los Vélez, the wild beaches of the Levante, the crowded beaches of the Poniente, the tourist complex of El Toyo, Carboneras, Mojácar or Vera on one side and Roquetas and Alme-rimar on the other; the sea, the mountains, the country and the desert.

Without leaving home, without abandoning the city; the heritage of the Muslims and Christians is evident in the Alcazaba fortress, the Cathedral and the churches, the parks and gardens like La Rambla or Nicolás Salmerón Park alongside the Port, the narrow streets of La Alme-dina, the old quarters and the wide avenues of the cen-tre. Also the extended areas of the Promenade that open

out to the Mediterranean sea, with a bar in every corner; each one with its own typical tapas, museums, war raid shelters, stories and more than one thousand passions.

For decades it has been said that Almería was far away from everything. Lo-cated in a corner of the peninsula, not on a through way, for this reason the Almerian people had everything without having to look elsewhere.

Mineral Loading Platform and Marina

Church of Las Salinas (Cabo de Gata)

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The weekend in Almería can start on a Friday morning, visiting one of the most emblematic monuments of the city: Its fortified Cathedral, built in the Gothic style with a Renaissance façade. It is found in the square of the same name, opposite the Bishop’s Palace. After seeing the symbol of the “Sun of Portocarrero” (in the Cubo street), you can enter the Cathedral from the side entran-ce in the Velázquez street.

Not very far away the route can continue to the 16th century Convent of “Las Puras” and its Church with a Mudejar style tower. You can also see the House of the Poet José Ángel Valente, in the street of the same name. Continue to the Plaza Campoamor, which has a monument dedicated to the lovers, and the Palace of the Marquises of Cabra. From there, the Arráez street leads to the Plaza de la Administración Vieja next to the Plaza de la Constitución, also known as “the Old Square,” where you can find the Town Hall and the Monument to “Los Coloraos.”

A short walk away and close by the Mariana and Las Tiendas streets, lead to the Churches of Santiago and San Pedro, as well as to the Alijbes de Jayrán (Muslim cisterns), which are now the headquarters of the Peña Flamenca (fan association) El Taranto. This same pedes-trianized street leads to El Paseo de Almería, one of the main commercial avenues of the city, with the Reyes

Católicos street running parallel to this. At the top of the main avenue the Puerta de Purchena with the Casa de las Mariposas (Butterflies House), the traditional “Ca-ñillo” (drinking water fountain) and the statue of Nicolás Salmerón, president of the first Spanish Republic.

At the back of this, in the Plaza Manuel Pérez García you can find the entrance to the Civil War Air Raid Shelters, that require more time to visit them. Heading north, not very far away is the Plaza de Toros (bullring) in Vilches avenue.

Lunch should consist of tapas in the bars of the city cen-tre, La Rambla, El Paseo or in the surrounding areas; or you can stroll down El Paseo to the promenade and El Zapillo quarter.

In the afternoon a visit to the Museo Arquelógico de Al-mería (Archaeological Museum) is a must, on the Carre-tera de Ronda, where you can learn about the history of prehistoric settlements like El Argar and Los Millares, also about the Roman and Muslim periods. Not very far away, heading further down the Carretera de Ronda towards the Estación Intermodal (railway and bus station), you can find the Centro de Arte Museo de Almería (City Art Museum) which houses different temporary art, sculpture and photography exhibitions.

In the evening an interesting suggestion is to visit a peña

Weekend escapes

19th Century Building Archaeological Museum of Almería

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flamenca like El Morato (Tel: 675 525 460), situated in a typical cave house on the mountain side at the northern most point of the city (access through the Rambla García Lorca); or to the already mentioned El Taranto (C/ Tenor Iribarne, next to the Paseo.Tel: 950 235 057).

On Saturday morning the visitor can go to El Toyo and Retamar, tourist beach resorts with various 4 star hotels, a 18 hole golf course and the Cabo de Gata-Ciudad de Almería, Congress and Exhibition Centre. El Toyo was the main administrative centre of the 2005 Almería Me-diterranean Games, whose Mediterranean village today forms part of the resort.

In the Levante direction (east), you can arrive at Cabo de Gata village, an urban nucleus which is the entrance to the Marine-Terrestrial Natural Park of the same name, which is a Bisosphere Reserve. It has beautiful beaches and sensational views where the Sierra de Gata (volcanic mountain range) meets the Mediterranean sea. There are bird viewing hides with more than 80 species of birds; amongst them, flamingos. To round off the morning, a good idea could be a paella or mixed platter of grilled fish in San Miguel de Cabo de Gata, Las Salinas (salt flats), La Fabriquilla, or La Almadraba de Monteleva, without even leaving the Natural Park.

On Saturday afternoon it is a good time to go shopping in the neighbouring streets of El Paseo de Almería, visiting the Mercado Central (covered food market), located on the Rambla Obispo Orberá. Enjoying the shops and typical 19th century houses, like those found in the Navarro Ro-drigo, Reyes Católicos, Méndez Núñez streets or the Ram-

bla Federico García Lorca; also the sight of the Palacio de la Diputación and nearer to the sea, the Casa de González Montoya or Chalé Montañés. The Nicolás Salmerón Park that runs alongside the Port and the Cable Inglés (mineral loading platform), a monument of iron archictecture close to the train station, give a cultural touch to the afternoon. This same area with its natural light can be a place for a evening stroll, from dinner to drinks, here or in the area surrounding El Paseo and the Calle Real. Sunday morning is an ideal time to visit the Civil War Air Raid Shelters in the Plaza Manuel Pérez García, next to the Puerta de Pur-chena. This is one of the largest air raid shelters in Europe with a kilometer and a half of recreated areas open to the public, it has an exit onto the Pablo Cazard street (Tel: 950 268696 and at refugios@ayuntamiento.es). The first thing you see on leaving the Shelters is the Escuela de Arte y Oficios (School of Arts), which has an 18th century cloister. At the back of this, you will find the Santuario de la Patrona, Virgen del Mar (the Church of the Patron Saint). Walking towards the sea is the Nicolás Salmerón Park with the Fuente de los Peces (Fountain of the Fish); and in a westerly direction, the gardens of the Paseo San Luis and the entrance to the old quarter of Almería from La Reina street to the fortress.

The area surrounding the Nicolás Salmerón Park, the Port and the Promenade, are ideal places in which to find something to eat. From this area, the city beaches reach out to the visitor offering a peaceful walk, or a place to rest and have a coffee in any one of the numerous bars and cafes along the promenade. This area has a great at-mosphere at night as well as that of the historical centre.

Paseo de Almería Church of Santiago Cafeteria in El Zapillo Quarter

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Holy week, along with the Feria of Almería, has beco-me the time that has the greatest number of visitors to the city.

Over nine days there is fusion of religious fervour, his-torical and cultural tourism. An opportunity to enjoy the spring weather, that is sometimes almost like summer; shopping, gastronomic delights and a chance to catch up with family and friends. The streets, mainly in the cen-tre, are soon crowded with people from different quarters of the city. The Saetas (Easter prayer songs) and various religious rituals are the protagonists of the processions. Some of the best moments are found in the more typical streets, the Cathedral, or in the Carrera Oficial (Official Route) in the Paseo de Almería.

The Holy Week of Almería has experienced extraordinary recognition over the last few years, becoming one of the most attractive and popular celebrations in Andalusia. More than twenty Brotherhoods and Fraternities with their images of Christ and Virgin Mary, head out onto the streets with their floats over a period of 9 days that pro-

longs this religious, touristic and social festivity.

There are four processions on the Saturday before Palm Sunday: Together with Rosario del Mar, which leaves from the Capilla del Real Hospital de Santa Maria Mag-dalena and follows a route around the historical quarter, El Calvario from San Roque, La Unidad from the neigh-bourhood of Piedras Redondas, and the Cristo del Cami-no de Araceli from the quarter of the same name.

On Palm Sunday, all the attention is concentrated on the early morning procession of La Borriquita, which leaves from the Church of Espíritu Santo in the Altamira area. Now in the afternoon, the protagonist is the very popular quarter of Los Ángeles. La Estrella is another quarter full of history along with Regiones. La Santa Cena has its penitence station located in one of the most well known churches of the city, San Pedro.

The procession of three Brotherhoods takes place on Monday: La Macarena from the Church of Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, next to the bullring; El Gran

Almería Easter escapes

The Casa Rosa Paseo de Almería, Easter Procession

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Poder from the Church of San Pio X in El Zapillo, and La Pasión from Santa Teresa in Oliveros.

On Tuesday the attention is concentrated on the proces-sion of El Perdón, with a silent exit from San Ildefonso, next to the bullring and a spectacular float going through El Silencio street. Together with the Brotherhood of La Co-ronación, which leaves from the temple of Santa María Magdalena in Los Molinos; and El Amor, from another symbolic temple of the city, San Sebastián next to Puerta de Purchena.

Two more take place on Holy Wednesday when Holy Week is approaching its final phases: El Prendimiento, that leaves from the Cathedral and finishes in the Cha-pel of La Hermandad, in the Plaza de Jesús Cautivo de Medinaceli, which has its name from the image; and La Hermandad de los Estudiantes, that also starts from the Cathedral and returns in the early hours of the morning.

There are three spectacular early morning processions on Maundy Thursday. La Cofradía del Encuentro from the Plaza de España in El Zapillo quarter, and the famous Encuentro (encounter) which takes place in the Plaza Circular, usually at around nine pm.

Las Angustias leaves from the chapel of the Colegio Compañía de María, meanwhile El Silencio goes from the Church of San Agustín in the Rambla Alfareros. On Good Friday, all of the city people are out on the streets to accompany the processions of the four Fraternities: El Santo Cristo de la Escucha that heads out onto the street from the Cathedral, La Caridad from Los Franciscanos or Church of San Agustín in the Rambla Alfareros, El Entie-rro from San Pedro, and La Soledad from Santiago. This is another emblematic temple of the Holy Week and an example of the religious architecture of the city.

Respecting the rest on Holy Saturday; Easter week closes with the procession of Jesús Resucitado on Easter Sun-day, with a float that starts and finishes at the Cathedral (Catedral de la Encarnación), which is another impor-tant moment of the Almerian Holy Week.

Flores Square, Penitents

Chapel of the Brotherhood of El Prendimiento

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Almería, start of the Mozarab route of the Camino de Santiago

From Almería to Santiago de Compostela: 1,352 km of the Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James), along the route known as the Mozarab. It connects the Ca-thedrals of both cities, which are so different with their landscape, their climate and their way of life on opposite points of the Peninsula.

Butterflies House, Puerta de Purchena

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A different and unique way to walk the Camino de San-tiago is along the long Ruta Mozárabe, which links the old city of Mariyat with the final destination of all routes, the Cathedral of Santiago. Mariyat (Almería) was forti-fied in 955 by Abderramán III, at the same time cons-truction started on the Alcazaba fortress.

A starting point on this Ruta Mozárabe offers the adven-turous traveller various combinations and options before embarking on the journey. There are endless opportuni-ties before you start the Camino, through the historical quarter and the recently pedestrianized city centre: the remains of the Muslim and Christian architecture, from the Alcazaba fortress to the fortified Cathedral, past the

churches, with the Patron Saint (Virgen del Mar) as the focal point; the so-called iron architecture, the Bourgeois Almería; and the wide avenues and green zones next to the maze of narrow streets in the historical quarter. Ex-perience the museums, the typical gastronomy, the ta-pas and the beaches. Not forgetting Cabo de Gata and El Toyo with the Mediterranean Village (from the 2005 Games) and its golf course.

The Ruta Mozárabe shows us Almería from a different perspective, allowing us to see the charms of the city un-der the influence of the bewitched Camino and life from seven centuries ago.

Pilgrims Information Centre in the Constitution Square

Information board at the start of the Mozarab Route

Signpost indicating the Way of Saint James

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The city of Almería bases its touristic interest in a variety of choices for all senses. Culturally, it is a must to visit the Alcazaba fortress, the largest standing Moorish fortress in Europe; the fortified Cathedral; the churches of San Pedro, Santiago, San Sebastián; and above all the Pa-tron Saint, Virgen del Mar.

Historically, the Civil War Air Raid Shelters are the big-gest example in Europe of this type of air raid construc-tion. La Casa del Cine (Cinema Museum) is the most dig-nified recreation from the golden period of cinema in the province, when Almería was known as the “European Hollywood.”

The Christian and Muslim architecture alongside that of Iron, whose most significant examples are the Mineral Loading Platform, that stretches out to the sea, as well as the Railway Station and the recently renovated Cen-tral Market.

Alongside the Air Raid Shelters and the Casa del Cine, the city offers other museums: Museo Arqueológico, Centro de Arte Museo de Almería and Museo de la Guitarra; without forgetting Casa Museo de José Ángel Valente.

As a Tourist, it is essential to stroll along the Promena-de and the city beaches. It is worth visiting El Toyo with

To not lose yourself in Almería

Puerta de Purchena

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its golf course and tourist amenities, and the coast with Cabo de Gata Maritime-Terrestrial Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve.

Gastonomically, it would be unforgiveable not to try the typical dishes from Almería: migas (fried breadcrumbs), gachas (wheat porridge), pimentón (white bait stew) or gurullos(game meat stew); as well as the fish, fresh from the sea. Don’t miss the small culinary delights, which are the tapas, that Almería is well known for.

Wander and lose yourself in the narrow and steep streets of the Almedina en route to the Alcazaba; enter the his-torical quarter passing by the Plaza de la Constitución, Calle Real and the pedestrianized centre. El Paseo or La Rambla are other options not to forget, whilst enjoying the peace of the city with everything close to hand and its special charm and unique climate, an enchanting place.

www.turismodealmeria.org

www.turismoalmeria.com

www.almeriaturismo.org

www.spain.info/es/ven/provincias/almeria

Travel websites about Almería

“Sun of Portocarrero” Central Market Surrounding area of the Central Market

Accommodation. Much more than just hotels

Congress and Exhibition City. Exclusivity in the Mediterranean

Charms of Cooking. 190,000 “thankful palates”

Land of Film. Unique scenes

Year round Sun and Beaches. Spectacle of light and water

Health, Leisure and Sport. An oasis of wellness

Golf Courses. Walking on the green

Cruises and Yachting. Almeria from the sea

Culture and Traditions. A walk through history

www.turismodealmeria.org

Oficina Municipal de TurismoTel. 950 210 538

Email: oficinadeturismo@aytoalmeria.es