Spain - Andrea Tosca

Spain
Almería Coast

Contents
Introduction 1
Destination
How to get there 4
Where to stay 5
Climate 5
Itineraries
From Adra to El Ejido 6
Almerimar and
the Punta Entinas-Sabinar
Nature Reserve 7
Roquetas de Mar, Playa
Serena and Aguadulce 8
Almería 9
City street map 12
Cabo de Gata -Níjar
Natural Park 15
From Retamar to Cabo
de Gata lighthouse 15
Around San José 16
From Las Negras
to Carboneras 18
From Mojácar to the
boundary with Murcia 19
The interior 20
Leisure and entertainment 21
Useful addresses
and telephone numbers 24
Ireland
Dublin
Cantabrian Sea
Portugal
Lisbon
Spain
Madrid
Almería
Coast
United Kingdom
London
Paris
France
Mediterranean
Sea
Ceuta
Melilla
Atlantic Ocean
Rabat
Morocco
Canary Islands

CARAVACA 82 km
CARAVACA 59 km
MÁLAGA 179 km GRANADA 50 km
P
340
Dual Autovía Carriageway
National Carretera Cazorla Trunk nacional Road
Basic Ctra. network Red básica 1 st 1class orden road
Basic Ctra. network Red básica 2 2º orden
Carretera Quesada
nd class road
Local roadlocal
Railway Ferrocarril
Parador
Sanctuary-Monastery
Santuario-Monasterio
Castle Castillo
Monumento Pozo
Historic Ruinas históricas ruins Alcón
Nature Parque Reserve Nacional
National Parque Natural Park
Camp-site Camping
Golf Campo course de golf
Lighthouse Faro
Spa Balneario
Marina Puerto deportivo
Airport Aeropuerto
Río
Gorafe
Adra
A-92
er
Emb. de
la Bolera
Castril
Campocámara
Cortes
de Baza
Zújar
Puenta Duda
Castillejar
Benamaurel
G R A N A D A
Baza
Cúllar
Río
Reserva Natural
de Punta Entinas y Punta Sabinar
Toscana Nueva
Huéscar
Orce
La Cañada
de Cañepla
Chirivel
Oria
M A R
Toperas
María
C O S T A D E A L M
Vélez Rubio
Río
344
342
Los Cerricos
Las Pocicas
Emb. de
Valdeinfierno
PARQUE NATURAL
DE SIERRA MARÍA
Almanzora
M
E R Í A
Vélez Blanco
Taberno
Alias
E
Río Aguar
M U R C I A
Rìo
Emb. de
Almanzora
D
341
I
T
Fuensanta
Emb. de
Puentes
Puerto
Lumbreras
Abejuela
Sta. María
de Nieva
Caniles
Pulpí Águilas
Lúcar
Somontín Partaloa Albox
Los Olmos
Huércal-
Almajalejo
Benalúa
Purchena
de Guadix
Tíjola
Cantoria
Overa
Zurgena
San Juan de
Macael
Cuevas de
los Terreros
Alcóntar
Serón
Almanzora El Pozo
del Esparto
Guadix
Albánchez
El Raposo
Bacares
La Rambla
Las Herrerías
Dos Picos
Códbar
Aljibe Antas Vera Palomares
2096
Tahal
Lubrín
Villaricos
Cogollos
de Guadix
Huéneja
Olula
Velefique
La Perulaca
Puerto Rey
de Castro
Lacalahorra
Fiñana
Castro
Uleila
Los Gallardos
Garrucha
de Filabres
del Campo
Abrucena
Turre
Mojácar
P
2606
Abla
Gérgal
Lanteira
Sorbas
Nacimiento
340-A
Lucainena Paraje Natural Karts
PARQUE NACIONAL
en Yesos de Sorbas
DE SIERRA NEVADA
Tabernas
de las Torres
Bayárcal
Ohanes
Alboloduy
DESIERTO DE
La Rambla
TABERNAS Turrillas Honda
El Llano de
SIERRA NEVADA Laujar de
D. Antonio Carboneras
Andarax Canjáyar
Alsodux
Venta
del Pobre
Ugíjar
La Mesa de Roldán
Alcolea
Alhama Gádor
Níjar
Rioja Las Cuevas de
Campo Hermoso
SIERRA DE GÁDOR de Almería
Agua Amarga
Darrícal
los Úbedas
PARQUE NATURAL
Chirán Dos Hermanas
Piorno
Benahadux
CABO DE GATA-NIJAR
Pechina
Fernán Pérez
1996
1443
Enix Huércal
ALPUJARRAS
Castala
Los Albaricoques
Beninar
de Almería Viator
Las Negras
Félix
El Alquián
Turón Berja
Rodalquilar
Dalías Vícar Aguadulce
Retamar
La Isleta del Moro
N
Reserva Natural
La Parra
Sta. María
ALMERÍA
Reserva de
Los Escullos
Albufera de Adra
del Águila
San Miguel las Salinas
Albuñol
El Pozo de los Frailes
El Ejido
de Cabo de Gata
La Rábita
Balanegra
La Almadrava
San José
La Mojonera Roquetas de Mar
de Monteleva
La Alcazaba Adra
Matagorda Las Salinas
La Fabriquilla
Balerma
Golfo de Almería
Guardias Viejas
Almerimar
0 15 30Km.
SIERRA D E
Punta de los Baños
B AZ A
S IERRA DE LOS
Punta
del Sabinar
Playa de
la Garrofa
Playa de Roquetas
Playa de Aguadulce
Playa Serena
Playa de Cerrillos
FILAB R E S
S IERRA DE
SIER RA DE M A RÍA
S IERRA DE LAS ESTANCIA S
A LHAMILLA
SIERRA DE GATA
Playa de los
Genoveses
Playa de Mónsul
Cabo de Gata
P
340
Punta de
los Muertos
Cala de San Pedro
E R
La Paca
Guadalentìn
Vera Playa Club
R
Á
N E
Lorca
O
CARTOGRAFÍA: GCAR, S.L. Cardenal Silíceo, 35
Tel. 91 4167341 - 28002 MADRID - AÑO 1998
302
MURCIA 32 km

Introduction
The Almería coast is a land of
contrasts and artful
contradictions, where every mile
offers a new discovery. With
3,000 hours of sunshine a year
and a mean annual temperature
of 20 ºC, the Almerían littoral
contains treasures of rare beauty;
one such is the Cabo de Gata-
Níjar Natural Park, an
For those who prefer, Roquetas
de Mar offers one of the most
comprehensive open-air sports
centres anywhere on the
Mediterranean coast. There they
can enjoy all kinds of sports in
surroundings of natural beauty
with excellent hotel and catering
facilities at places like Mojácar,
another favourite venue for
tourists. Golf enthusiasts can visit
Almerimar, one of the most
underwater and dry-land
paradise of blissful coves and
smooth golden beaches, and the
scene of some of the great
motion picture adventures of the
last twenty years. Charming and
peaceful fishing villages await
any traveller who cares to tread
this patch of yet-virgin soil where
the aura of solitude is as if time
had stopped.
Mojácar
luxurious complexes in the area –
a veritable oasis with the added
attraction of a 1000-berth
marina.
1

If you like to immerse yourself
among sand-dunes and bird life,
there are two good choices: the
Adra and Punta Entinas-Sabinar
nature reserves. If you feel a
touch of nostalgia for the
familiar scenes of western
movies, the Tabernas Desert is
one of the few places in Spain
that achieve a perfect balance of
scenery, desolation and beauty.
And for those wishing to
discover a subterranean realm of
natural wonders, the ideal
choice is Karst in Yesos de
Alhambra in Granada. Other
attractions are the Cathedral,
the historic port, a busy
promenade and numerous tapas
bars where, as everywhere else
on this coast visitors can delight
in the savour of a wide variety of
fish and shellfish, homely soups
and stews, and juicy fruit.
Sorbas, the most important
gypsum karst site in the world.
In the interior, white cortijos,
cisterns and waterwheels recall
the Moslem past; in the centre,
presiding majestically over the
littoral and opening on to the
Mediterranean, gleams Almería.
Its great pride is the Alcazaba,
the second-largest Arab
construction in Spain after the
Almería
Playa de Rodalquilar
2

Destination
How to get there
By air
Almería Airport, 9 km outside
the city, has direct air
connections with a number of
major Spanish cities and receives
charter flights from several
By rail
Renfe Information:
902 24 02 02
www.renfe.es
By bus
Bus Station:
950 21 00 29
Garrucha
places in Europe. There is a bus
link to the city.
Airport Information:
950 21 37 00
Iberia Information:
950 40 05 00
www.iberia.com
By sea
Cía. Trasmediterránea:
902 45 46 45
www.trasmediterranea.net
Departures to Melilla.
Daily except Saturdays,
at 23:30 hours.
Ferrimaroc Agencias:
950 27 48 00
www.ferrimaroc.com
Departures to Nador.
Tuesday to Saturday
at 13:30 hours.
Sundays at 24:00 hours.
4

By road
The Autovía del Mediterráneo
dual carriageway links the coast
of Almería with Alicante and
Murcia to the north and the rest
of Andalusia to the south. Those
who prefer can take the old road
that follows the coast.
Where to stay
The coast of Almería boasts a
comprehensive and varied supply
of accommodation including
luxury hotels and apartments,
guest-houses, charming cortijos,
simple fishermen’s cottages to let
on the sea shore, and camping
sites.
There is also a Parador
in Mojácar.
Almería Tourist Office
Parque Nicolás Salmerón
(corner of Martínez Campos)
950 27 43 55, fax 950 27 43 60
Climate
With 3,000 hours of sunshine a
year, the climate of the Almería
coast is typically Mediterranean,
with mild winters and hot
summers. The mean annual
temperature is around 20 ºC.
There is practically no winter to
speak of – it is more like a
protracted springtime.
Tabernas Desert
5

340
Río
Adra
Canjáyar
Alsodux
Ugíjar Alcolea
Alhama Gádor
Rioja
SIERRA DE GÁDOR
de Almería
Darrícal
Chirán Dos Hermanas
Piorno
Benahadux
ALPUJARRAS
Pechina
1996
1443
Castala
Enix Huércal
Beninar
de Almería Viator
Félix
Turón Berja
Dalías
Aguadulce
Vícar
Playa de
La Parra
Sta. María
la Garrofa
Almería
El Ejido del Águila
Playa de Roquetas
Balanegra
Playa de Aguadulce
La Mojonera
Roquetas de Mar
La Alcazaba
Matagorda
Playa Serena
Adra
Las Salinas
Balerma
Almerimar
Golfo de Almería
Playa de Cerrillos
Guardias Viejas
Punta de los Baños
Punta
del Sabinar
Itineraries
From Adra to El Ejido
This itinerary begins in Adra, a
farming and fishing town close
to the boundary with Granada
with a comprehensive network
of hotel and catering services in
lovely surroundings. The place to
Albufera de Adra
visit besides the harbour is the
parish church, the shrine of the
town’s patroness, the Virgen del
Mar. Four kilometres away, the
Albufera de Adra Nature
Reserve, best visited in August
and September, harbours
numerous species of water fowl
which nest in the three lagoons.
From Adra the next stop is Berja,
called Virgi (garden) by the
6

Almerimar
Romans. In the central square
stand a Neo-Classic church, the
town hall and the curious Fuente
de los Diecisiete Caños with its
seventeen spouts, one of twenty
fountains that the town boasts
and an outlet for cool waters
from the thaw in Sierra Nevada.
Twenty kilometres further on is
El Ejido, surrounded by a sea of
greenhouse cultivation redolent
of wealth and prosperity.
Returning to the coast road, the
route goes through Balerma
and Balanegra, towns with a
fishing tradition and spacious,
clean beaches boasting the Blue
Flag. The end of the road is
Guardias Viejas, an area of
now-abandoned salt pans and a
nesting-place for all kinds of seabirds.
Almerimar and the
Punta Entinas-Sabinar
Nature Reserve
Almerimar is one of the
province’s most luxurious
developments, a veritable oasis
set in an arid zone with a
magnificent golf course designed
by world champion golfer Gary
Player, a nearby luxury hotel
surrounded by 2500 square
metres of well-tended gardens, a
marina ( 950 49 73 50 /
950 49 70 28. Fax 950 49 73 53)
and all the services one would
expect from a big city.
Only a few minutes away is the
Punta Entinas-Sabinar Nature
Reserve. The reserve shelters
over 150 species of water fowl
and a prosperous community of
vertebrates and can be toured on
foot or by bicycle. Worth a visit in
the Reserve are Playa de
Cerillos, where nudism is
allowed, and the lighthouse, a
magnificent spot for enthusiasts
7

of photography and submarine
archaeology.
Roquetas de Mar,
Playa Serena
and Aguadulce
From Almerimar, the road runs
among greenhouse crops to
Roquetas de Mar, a luxury
holiday paradise with 40,000
beds and one of the bestequipped
open-air sports centres
on the Mediterranean coast.
There are three main tourist
complexes in Roquetas: Playa
Serena, Roquetas de Mar and
Aguadulce. In Playa Serena,
over two kilometres of broad,
fine sands offer windsurfing
schools, sunshades, cafes and
beach bars for the pleasure of
visitors. There is an 18-hole golf
course for those who prefer to
keep fit without getting wet.
Bordered by a broad promenade,
the beach at Urbanización de
Roquetas is one of the best on
Roquetas de Mar
the entire Almería littoral. Two
kilometres from the complex is
the village of Roquetas, where
one can visit the Castle of
Santa Ana, the Church of the
Virgen del Rosario and the
fishing port where the catch is
traditionally auctioned on the
quayside.
Roquetas de Mar
8

Playa de Aguadulce offers a
promenade, warm waters for
bathers of all ages winter and
summer, and a marina with over
1000 berths. At night, hundreds
of youngsters crowd
discotheques, bars and cafes.
former heart of the Alcazaba
where Moslem monarchs and
rulers dwelt amidst cisterns,
mosques, baths and
dwellinghouses. In the third area
is the mediaeval castle built on
the orders of the Catholic
Monarchs in 1489 when they
reached the city and found the
Alcazaba partially ruined by an
earthquake two years before.
Almería
The first stop on the visit to
Almería is the Alcazaba (1), the
second largest Arab construction
in Spain after the Alhambra in
Granada. Its 43,000 square
metres are divided into three
areas. The first is the largest and
loveliest: an area occupied totally
by gardens which one enters by
way of the Puerta de la Justicia.
A 15 th century Gothic archway,
all that remains of an old palace,
leads into the second area, the
Aguadulce
Hard by the Alcazaba is the city’s
best vantage point. Down below
is the Church of San Juan (2).
Built on the foundations of an
Arab mosque, it still preserves
the original walls of the quibla
and the mihrab.
Only a few minutes walk away is
the Hospital Real (3), a
beautiful two-storey Renaissance
building with a central cloister.
9

On the corner the Paseo de San
Luis, part-avenue and part-park,
leads to the fountain known as
La fuente de los Peces.
Opposite is the Calle Real, one
of the most traditional and bestknown
streets in Almería.
A short step away is the
Cathedral (4), built in the 17 th
century as a place of worship
Cathedral
Alcazaba
and a refuge from pirate
attacks. This explains its grim
exterior, with crenellated walls
and four defensive towers.
Particularly interesting are the
main chapel, with its
Renaissance arcades and a
magnificent collection of 18 th -
century paintings, and a Choirstall
with delicately-carved
walnut benches and fine reliefs.
10

Behind the Cathedral is the
Convento de las Puras (5),
which contains a lovely Baroque
altarpiece. The adjoining
Episcopal Palace (6) boasts a
fine facade from the last century.
A walk by way of Plaza del
Bendicho, one of the city’s most
charming squares, Plaza
Masnou and Calle Séneca leads
to the Basílica de Nuestra
Señora del Mar (7), the
patroness of Almería. The old
City street map
Places of interest
1 La Alcazaba
2 Church of San Juan
3 Royal Hospital
4 Cathedral
5 Convent of Las Puras
6 Episcopal Palace
7 Basílica de Nuestra Señora
del Mar
8 Cloister of Nuestra Señora
del Mar
9 Teatro Cervantes
10 Círculo Mercantil
11 Templo del Sagrado Corazón
de Jesús
12 Plaza Vieja
13 Church of Las Claras
14 Church of San Pedro
15 Templo de Santiago
16 Arab cisterns
17 Puerta Purchena
18 Templo de San Sebastián
19 Bull ring
Círculo Mercantil
cloister (8) in Plaza de Pablo
Cazard is now the School of Arts
and Crafts. Also worth a visit are
the neighbouring Teatro
Cervantes (9) and the beautiful
rooms of the Círculo
Mercantil (10).
Further along Calle Ofalia is the
Templo del Sagrado Corazón
de Jesús (11), which in its time
has seen service as a storehouse,
a theatre and a dance-hall.
i
P
H
Conventional signs
Tourist information office
Post Office
Parking
Red Cross
Hospital
Bus station
Railway station
Police
11

Lorca
Alfareros
MOTRIL 112 km
N-340
Cuevas de
San Joaquín
Maromeros
Socorro
Hernández
ALMERÍA
Arquímedes
Calle Reductol
C. San Ildefonso
Plaza de Pavía
S. Antón
C. General Luque
FUENTECICA
1
Parque Ramón Castilla
Plaza
San Antón
Chafarinas
Cuevas de la
Fuencisla
San Juan
2
Sta. Cruz
Pl. Joaquín
Santiesteban
Alborán
Andén de Costa
MAR MEDITERRÁNEO
N
Cerro de
San Cristobal
PUERTO COMERCIAL
Muelle de Levante
GCAR, S.L. Cardenal Silíceo, 35CARTOGRAFÍA:
0 100 200
300 m
Tel. 91 4167341 - 28002 MADRID - AÑO 1998
C. Descanso
Calle Pedro Jover
C. I. Moro
M. Cepero
Calle de la
Calle
Reina
Calle
Heracles
3
H
Fuentecica
B.
Ayuntamiento
C. Arráez
Velázquez
Alicante
Bolas
C.
PASEO DE SAN LUIS
5 6
Parque Nicolás
Salmerón
Plaza
Quemaderos
Posito
12
Plaza de
la Catedral
4
C. Duimo Vich
C.
Platón
Plaza
Bendicho
Plaza
Montes
L. Sirvent
13
Plaza
Careaga
Plaza
Campomanes
C.E. Pérez
Calle
C. del General
C. Cádiz
Sta. Trinidad
Paseo de Coches
Calle de las Mercedes
Plaza Derechos
Humanos
Calle de Regocijo
C. Federico
15
C. Tiendas
Real
de Castro
Antonio Glez
Plaza del
Carmen
Plaza
Flores
Plaza
San Pedro
Plaza
Virgen del Mar
C. Gravina
i
Iglesias
C. Restoy
C. Magistrado Domínguez
Plaza M.
Pérez García
P
C. Castelar
C. G. Ricardos
7
C. Gerona
C. M. Campos
Pablo
Avenida
16
14
11
Egea
Lachambre
Pl. M.
Heredia
C. D. Arapiles
AVDA.
17
C. Ramos
Rambla
PASEO DE ALMERÍA
8 9 10
C.
G.
de
REINA REGENTE
Plaza
Inmaculada
C. de las Cruces
C. Marcos Judias
Navarro Rodrigo
Calle
Católicos
Reyes
G. Tamayo
Segura
C. Terrizar
Playa
Almadravilas
C. de la Palma
CARRETERA
18
CALLE
Rambla
Circunvalación
Pl. Hilarión
Eslava
Plaza
Amistad
Calle González Garbin
C. Juan Lirola
Calle Javier
Avenida de Vilcnes
Calle
Sanz
C. del Humilladero
Hns.Oliveros
RAMBLA DEL OBISPO ORBERA
P
García
Rambla
García
C. Juan Aguilar
CALLE
ALTAMIRA
C. Tirso de Molina
Calle Hermanos
Pinzón
C. San Léonardo
Avenida de Bélen
Avenida Federico
Federico
Hermanos Machado
Calle R. Alberti
C. A. Jover
C. Stos.Zárate
Paseo Marítimo
C.
Murcia
C. Canónigo M. Alonso
C. Matadero
19
P
H
P
C.
Cantares
ALCALDE
Calle
Circo
Avenida de la Estación
C. José Artes de Arcos
C. J. Peralta
MUÑOZ
Los
CARRETERA
Calle J. Morales Abad
TABERNAS 37 km
N-340
Calle Ismael
Calle Florida
de
Calle Sicardo
DE GRANADA
BARRIO
ALTO
Bélen
Picos
Lorca
RAMBLA
C. Duende
GREGORIO MARAÑÓN
DE
Plaza
Palmera
C. Real
Avenida de Vivar
Calle
del Barrio Alto
Calle Doctor Carracido
Plaza
Altamira
C. Cnal. Herrera Oria
C. Poeta Paco Aquino
Calle Azorín
DE
AMATISTEROS
H
Calle de la Marina
R. Chico
Río Grande
San José Obrero
RONDA
Calle de América
N-340
TABERNAS 37 km

Next door is the 18 th -century
Church of las Claras (13), in
Mudéjar style with a Plateresque
portico. In Plaza de San Pedro
stands the Church of San Pedro
(14). Founded by the Catholic
Monarchs, it was rebuilt in Neo-
Classic style after the earthquake
of 1790.
Plaza Vieja, Town Hall
The traveller should now return
to the Cathedral and go from
there to the Plaza Vieja (12),
where the Town Hall overlooks
the most appealing and secluded
spot in the city.
Very close to Plaza de las Flores,
the Templo de Santiago (15)
boasts a Renaissance portico and
a majestic tower. While in this
district, it is well worth visiting
the Calle de las Tiendas, one of
the streets with the longest
tradition in the city, and the
Arab cisterns (16), built in 1038
to provide the Moslem
population with drinking water.
The site is now occupied by “El
Taranto” Flamenco Club, so
called after the particular style of
Flamenco singing of Almería.
Puerta Purchena
14

one reaches Ermita de
Torregarcía and the watchtower
of that name, whose guardian
according to legend found the
image of the Virgin, now the
patroness of Almería, floating on
the waves.
Railway station
Walking straight on from Plaza
Manuel Pérez García one comes
to Puerta Purchena (17), the
nerve-centre of the city. From
Puerta Purchena it is only a few
blocks to one of the most
atmospheric squares, Plaza de
San Sebastián, overshadowed
by the 17 th -century church (18)
of that name.
To round up the visit to Almería
it is worth seeing the Bull Ring
(19), the historic port and the
promenade with “el cable”, an
old mineral loading dock built by
an English firm at the turn of the
century.
Near the hermitage is the
entrance to the Las Marinas
Amoladeras Reserve (visits
with guide only) and the Las
Amoladeras Visitor Centre
( 950 16 04 35)
where all kinds of information
about the Reserve are available.
The road runs among dunes and
cane-brakes to San Miguel de
Cabo de Gata, a little fishing
village, and from there it follows
Playa de San Miguel to the
Las Salinas Reserve, home to
flamingos and many other
Cabo de Gata. Siren’s Reef
Cabo de Gata-Níjar
Natural Park
From Retamar to Cabo de
Gata lighthouse
The coast road (carretera de la
costa) from Almería leads to the
Retamar complex, from where
15

Gádor
Rioja
Huércal
e Almería
Pechina
Almería
Tabernas
Turrillas
Lucainena
de las Torres
La Rambla
Honda
Venta
del Pobre
Río
344
Alias
El Llano de
D. Antonio
341
Carboneras
La Mesa de Roldán
Níjar
Punta de los Muertos
Las Cuevas de
Campo Hermoso
los Úbedas
Agua Amarga
Fernán Pérez
Cala de San Pedro
Los Albaricoques
Viator
Las Negras
El Alquián
Rodalquilar
Retamar
La Isleta del Moro
Reserva de
las Salinas
Los Escullos
San Miguel
El Pozo de los Frailes
de Cabo de Gata
La Almadrava
San José
de Monteleva
Playa de los Genoveses
La Fabriquilla Playa de Mónsul
Cabo de Gata
S IERRA D E ALHAMILL A
Golfo de Almería
SIERRA DE GATA
birds which visitors can watch
from a strategically-sited
observation post.
Past La Almadraba de
Monteleva and Fabriquilla, the
road – now a series of tight,
narrow bends – affords a
magnificent panoramic view
over the bay of Almería on the
way to the Cabo de Gata
lighthouse, locked in by the
Arrecife de las Sirenas or
Siren Reef. It is said that this
stretch of coast was once
inhabited by hooded seals –now
in danger of extinction – whose
cries in the night caused sailors
to talk of mermaids.
Around San José
To embark on this second
itinerary, the traveller must take
the road from the lighthouse to
San Miguel de Cabo de Gata, and
from there to the old fishing
village of San José, which has
now been developed as a
peaceful family holiday resort
with good tourist services and a
small marina ( 950 38 00 41).
Cabo de Gata. Playa de Mónsul
16

Playa de los Genoveses
organises boat trips and hires
equipment.
Cortijo de Los Frailes
On the outskirts of the village a
dirt track leads to one of the
loveliest parts of the park, the
backdrop to a number of wellknown
films like Indiana Jones
and the Last Crusade or The
Adventures of Baron
Münchhausen – Playa de los
Genoveses and Playa de
Mónsul where a tremendous
dune rears up over rocks
petrified in the shape of waves.
Returning to Pozo de los Frailes,
the traveller can visit Los
Escullos, whose cliffs have
formed fantastical shapes
through the caprices of erosion.
Here there is a diving club which
From Los Escullos one can descry
La Isleta del Moro, an islet
where the women still use the
public washing-place while the
men tend to their nets and
boats.
Carrying on with a stop at the
vantage-point known as
Mirador de La Amatista, one
of the best spots on the coast for
a view over the entire Park, the
road leads to Rodalquilar, an
old gold-mining town where
remains of the mine can still be
seen.
From Rodalquilar it is only a
short trip to the cliffs and
volcanic gullies of El Playazo, or
to Cortijo de los Frailes, the
scene of the real-life crime
passionel that inspired Federico
García Lorca’s famous romance
Bodas de Sangre.
17

clean cove containing the only
fresh water spring in the whole
Park, built according to legend
by a famous corsair.
From Las Negras
to Carboneras
Carboneras
From Rodalquilar the road runs
on to Las Negras, a beautiful
fishing enclave with a small
promenade and bars offering
fine seafood. Following a path
along the seaward side of the
impressive tor that gave the
village its name, one comes to
Cala de San Pedro, a lovely
To see more of the Park there are
two alternative routes from Las
Negras: go back on to the
Autovïa del Mediterráneo as far
as the Venta del Pobre exit, or
head for Fernán Pérez and from
there take a dirt track that leads
to Agua Amarga. This is a
peaceful little coastal village
where the limpid water is ideal
for bathing, diving and fishing.
Fishing is the main pursuit of the
inhabitants, who draw their
boats up on the beach and there
array their catches for sale.
The Carboneras road passes
through Mesa de Roldán, a
good place to look over
towering cliffs and magnificent
Playa de los Muertos
18

mb. de
manzora
Huércal-
Overa
ntas
La Perulaca
os Gallardos
Turre
Agua Amarga
Cuevas de
Almanzora
Las Herrerías
Vera Palomares
Villaricos
Vera Playa Club
Puerto Rey
Garrucha
Mojácar
Carboneras
La Mesa de Roldán
Punta de los Muertos
Águilas
San Juan de
los Terreros
El Pozo
del Esparto
views, especially at dusk.
Travellers stopping here should
visit the Playa de los Muertos.
The itinerary ends in
Carboneras, a 16-kilometre
stretch of sands where numerous
restaurants offer the fish and
shellfish brought daily by the
local fishermen.
From Mojácar to the
boundary with Murcia
of the Indalo, an
anthropomorphic device that
travellers will find in every corner
of Almería. Mojácar offers
abundant beaches and coves,
some specially reserved for
practitioners of nudism, a
comprehensive supply of
accommodation and sports
facilities, and a lively night-life.
From Mojácar the road follows
the coast down to Garrucha,
where one can enjoy the
wonderful local fish and shellfish
in the restaurants around the
fishing port and marina.
There are two possible routes
from Garrucha: by way of Vera
and Cuevas de Almanzora,
home of the interesting Museo
Antonio Manuel Campoy and a
good contemporary art
collection, or straight along the
coast to San Juan de los
Terreros on the boundary with
Murcia. This road runs by long,
fine beaches like Puerto Rey,
From Carboneras, one can take
the Autovía del Mediterráneo or
enjoy the fine clifftop views of
the coast road as far as Mojácar,
white silhouette, cupolas and
minarets recalling Moslem times,
which basks under the protection
Mojácar
19

Villaricos or Vera Mar, site of
the Vera Playa Club nudist
complex.
The interior
Moving inland, visitors should
not miss Níjar, a small, typically
Andalusian town famed for its
jarapas (large fabric, cotton or
woollen squares that can be used
as rugs, blankets, curtains or
hangings), esparto work and an
age-old tradition of colourful,
highly-prized ceramics; and
Sierra de Alhamilla, a
breathing-space for the city of
Almería and a venue for
enthusiasts of easy trekking.
Less than an hour away from
Almería is the Paraje Natural
Karst in Yesos de Sorbas, the
most important gypsum karst site
in the world. With over 1000
Sorbas
natural caves and a history going
back more than 6,000,000 years,
it is best to arrange a visit with
specialist guides.
Nearby is Sorbas, a village
perched high up in the hills with
overhanging houses and fine
ceramics to be found in the
Barrio de la Alfarería.
From Sorbas, or from Almería by
way of the N-340, it is well
worthwhile to take a trip to the
Desierto de Tabernas.
There is nothing like it in Europe.
For many years its singular
beauty has attracted the film
industry as a natural setting in
which to shoot. Western towns
still stand (Mini Hollywood.
950 36 52 36), where they
were built for such famous films
as For a Few Dollars More or The
Magnificent Seven. They are
open daily to visitors wishing to
relive the authentic atmosphere
of the Western film – horseback
chases and tumbles, saloon
fights, shoot-outs and dances.
There is also a Zoological
Reserve ( 950 36 29 31).
20

Leisure and
entertainment
Sports
Water skiing, sailing and
windsurfing
There are sailing, water skiing and
windsurfing schools which run courses
and hire material in the Roquetas de
Mar municipal district and Mojácar.
There are a number of marinas that
arrange coastal boat-trips:
diver’s paradise offering myriad animal
and vegetable species.
All along the coast there are clubs that
organise excursions and courses. Some
of these offer boat trips.
Information:
Federación Andaluza de
Actividades Subacuáticas
950 27 06 12
Agencia de Medio Ambiente (AMA)
950 01 28 00
Fishing
In the Cabo de Gato Marine Park, only
traditional fishing methods are
allowed, and there are even areas
where this is restricted. Aqualung
fishing is absolutely forbidden. Rod
fishing for sport is allowed from the
shore and from boats except in
prohibited areas (bathing and species
protection areas). Everywhere else on
the coast fishing is freely permitted.
Trekking
Puerto Deportivo de Garrucha
950 46 00 48
Puerto Deportivo de Almerimar
950 49 73 50
Puerto Deportivo de Almería
(Club de Mar) 950 23 07 80
Puerto Deportivo de Adra
950 40 14 17
Puerto Deportivo de Aguadulce
950 34 15 02
Puerto Deportivo de Roquetas de
Mar 950 32 29 09
Puerto Deportivo de San José
950 38 00 41
Diving
The waters of the Cabo de Gata Park
are the cleanest in the Mediterranean.
With visibility up to 20 metres, this is a
Trekking is one of the most attractive
ways to get to know the Almería
littoral. There are routes through Cabo
de Gata-Níjar Natural Park and around
the Sorbas municipal district, where
the terrain is flat with no really abrupt
declivities. Only in Sierra de Alhamilla
does the ground present any greater
difficulty. (Information at Tourist and
Environment Offices, where there are
route maps).
Off-road vehicles (4x4)
There are restricted half-day and fullday
routes through Cabo de Gata Park
for off-road (4x4) vehicles, with
specialist guides.
There are also organisations devoted
to canoeing, mountain biking,
potholing, horse-trekking, Land-Rover
excursions, etc.
21

Centro de Información del Parque
Natural Cabo de Gata- Níjar
950 38 02 99
Golf
Golf Almerimar (El Ejido)
950 49 74 54
Golf Playa Serena (Roquetas de
Mar) 950 33 30 55
Golf Cortijo Grande (Turre)
950 47 91 76
La Envía Golf (Vicar)
950 55 96 41
Club de Tenis Almería (Almería)
950 30 01 04
Food and drink
On the Almería coast, especially in the
summer season, the common practice
is to go for “tapas” in bars rather than
eating in restaurants. This peculiar
custom consists in ordering a beer or a
wine and choosing from a range of
small fish, meat, rice and salad dishes
that every bar includes in the price of
the drink. Those who prefer to eat in
any of the restaurants that abound all
along the coast can choose from a wide
and appetising range of fresh fish and
shellfish, and warming soups like
bullabesa, made with shellfish and
mayonnaise, garlic soup, the famous
gazpacho, or ajoblanco, another cold
soup made with the white of bread
dissolved in oil, almonds and garlic.
Desserts include fresh fruit all the year
round and sweets with a distinctly
Arab flavour.
Inland there are migas con tropezones
(bread sautéed with garlic and meat),
gurullos con conejos (a species of
doughballs with rabbit), cocido de
trigo (wheat potage), ajo colorao (cod
and potato cooked in garlic, peppers
and paprika), ajipán (garlic bread),
sausage and free-range meat.
Crafts
Many towns still preserve traditional
hand crafts such as ceramics,
embroidery, weaving, esparto-work
and wood. There is a Craft Centre in
Mojácar, a large complex where 16
craft workshops make, display and sell
their products. Hand-crafted wares can
also be found in the itinerant street
markets, which set up in a different
town each day.
Fairs and Festivals
Almería
Feria de Almería. Held in the second
fortnight of August to honour the
city’s patroness, the Virgen del Mar.
This is a typically Andalusian fair,
boisterous and colourful, with booths
open till daybreak where fair-goers
dance Sevillanas, drink cool manzanilla
and eat sausage and tapas. There are
also bull-fights.
22

Carnival. Beginning of March. In the
Auditorium, there is a contest of
parodias and comparsas, troupes
performing their own blends of song
and social comment.
Cruces de Mayo. During the first days
of May, neighbourhood associations
adorn courtyards and squares in the old
town with floral crosses. Visitors to the
crosses refresh themselves with
manzanilla and little morsels known as
tapillas.
Semana Santa. From Palm Sunday to
the Resurrection, fifteen brotherhoods
parade through the city streets
enveloped in a respectful hush, to the
heart-rending song of the saetas. The
images, gold-work, carving and
embroidery of the brotherhoods
present a vivid tableau.
Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park
The villages of the Park celebrate the
traditional Semana Santa with
processions of images, penitents and
Via Crucis. Worth visiting in summer are
the fishermen’s festivals in Las Negras,
Cabo de Gata and Albaricoques, Pozo
de los Frailes and Isleta del Moro.
During the September Fair in Níjar, the
custom is to organise tapas in the
surrounding farm buildings or barracas,
a tradition dating back to the 16 th
century.
Rest of the area
Adra
Maritime processions of the Patrons on
8 September and 16 July. On 25 April is
the Fiesta del Agricultor or Farmer’s
Festival. A procession and festive
pilgrimage or romería is held in the
Vega del Adra in honour of San Marcos;
typical here are roscos de San Marcos, a
species of sweet cake, riding contests
and decoratively harnessed animals.
Carboneras
From 11 to 15 June is the festival in
honour of the patron San Antonio
with a “battle” between Moors and
Christians for possession of the castle.
On 15 and 16 August the Fisherman’s
and Tourist’s Festival is marked by a
seafaring procession and a popular
banquet of sardines.
Roquetas de Mar
Seafaring processions mark the
festivals of Aguadulce (16 July) and
Santa Ana (26 July), when the saint is
carried out in procession after a ritual
laving of her face with harbour water.
Bonfires are made for cooking on the
beach. On 29 December the
inhabitants of Roquetas de Mar spend
the entire day on the beach roasting
fish with dried seaweed.
Vera
Veractiva. Mediterranean Trade Fair.
Second week in August. This is an
annual cross-sector fair offering
samples of gastronomic, craft,
traditional, cultural and folk art,
including amusement and children’s
items.
Vera celebrates a particularly famous
and solemn Semana Santa.
Mojácar
From 7 to 9 June, dancing and
processions mark the festival of Moors
and Christians.
Huercal Overa
The Semana Santa here is classified as a
Festival of National Interest.
23

ADDRESSES AND TELEPHONE
NUMBERS
Museums, monuments and other
places to visit
Sala de Prehistoria
(Pre-History Room)
Biblioteca Pública “Francisco Villaespesa”.
C/ Hermanos Machado s/n. Almería.
950 23 03 75
Closed Sunday and Monday.
Salas de Historia Antigua
(Ancient History Rooms)
Archivo Histórico Provincial.
C/ Infanta. Almería.
950 25 37 72
Sala I: Colonisation and the Iberian World
Sala II: The Roman World.
Open Monday to Friday.
Museo Antonio Manuel Campoy
Plaza de La Libertad.
Cuevas de Almanzora.
950 45 80 63
Located in the Palacio del Marqués, the
museum contains various collections
including nearly 200 paintings by
contemporary artists such as Tàpies,
Cristóbal Toral, César and Barceló.
Casa-Museo
C/ Portillo. Níjar.
950 36 00 13 (Town Hall)
Escuela de Artes.
Conde Ofalia, 30. Almería.
950 26 94 33
Seismological Instruments
Camino de la Sismológica, 26.
Almería. 950 23 45 07
Visits by arrangement only
Saharan Reservation
General Segura, 1.
Almería. 950 28 10 45
Los Millares
Located in Santa Fé de Mondújar, about
20 km from Almería, this is a Copper Age
archaeological site. 950 23 50 10
(Ministry of Culture Provincial Office)
Closed Monday and Tuesday.
Alcazaba
Almería.
Open in winter: 9:00 – 18:30
Open in summer: 9:00 – 20:30
Muralla de Jairán and La Hoya
Prior permission required
950 27 16 17
Cathedral
Almería.
Open Monday to Friday 10:00 – 17:00
Saturday 10:00 – 13:30.
Closed Sundays.
950 23 48 48
TOURIST INFORMATION
International Telephone Code: 34
Tourist Information TURESPAÑA:
901 300 600
www.tourspain.es
Junta de Andalucía
www.andalucia.org.
Civic Information
900 509 292
Almería Provincial Tourist Board
950 62 11 17
www.almeria-turismo.org
Ministry of Culture Provincial Office
950 23 50 10
TOURIST OFFICES
Almería
Tourist Office of the Andalusian
Government
Nicolás Salmerón Corner of. Martínez
Campos. 950 27 43 55
Mojácar
Plaza Nueva. 950 61 50 25
Roquetas de Mar
Avenida Mediterráneo, 2. 950 33 32 03
Vera
Ctra. de Murcia, km 209. 950 39 31 42
USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Medical emergencies 061
National Police 091
Municipal Police 950 21 00 19
Red Cross 950 21 09 00
Almería City Council 950 21 00 00
24

P L V S
V L T R A
PARADORS
Central Booking Office.
Calle Requena, 3. 28013 Madrid.
91 516 66 66. Fax 91 516 66 57
www.parador.es
Parador de Mojácar
Playa de Mojácar. Almería.
950 47 82 50. Fax 950 47 81 83
SPANISH TOURIST INFORMATION
OFFICES ABROAD
Canada. Toronto
TOURIST OFFICE OF SPAIN
2 Bloor Street West Suite 3402
TORONTO, Ontario M4W 3E2
1416/ 961 31 31. fax 1416/ 961 19 92
e-mail: toronto@tourspain.es
Great Britain. London
SPANISH TOURIST OFFICE
Manchester Square, 22-23
LONDON W1M 5AP
44171/ 486 80 77. fax 44171/ 486 80 34
e-mail: londres@tourspain.es
Japan. Tokyo
TOURIST OFFICE OF SPAIN
Daini Toranomon Denki Bldg.4F. 3-1-10
Toranomon. Minato-Ku. TOKIO-105
813/ 34 32 61 41, fax 813/ 34 32 61 44
e-mail: tokio@tourspain.es
Russia .Moscow
SPANISH TOURIST OFFICE
Tverskaya - 16/2 Business Center
"Galeria Aktor" 6º floor. Moscow 103009
7095 / 935 83 97, fax 7095 / 935 83 96
e-mail: moscu@tourspain.es
Singapore. Singapore
SPANISH TOURIST OFFICE
541Orchard Road. Liat Tower # 09-04
238881 SINGAPORE
657 / 37 30 08, fax 657 / 37 31 73
e-mail: singapore@tourspain.es
United States of America
Los Angeles. TOURIST OFFICE OF SPAIN
8383 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 960
BEVERLY HILLS, CAL 90211
1323/ 658 71 88, fax 1323/ 658 10 61
e-mail: losangeles@tourspain.es
Chicago. TOURIST OFFICE OF SPAIN
Water Tower Place, suite 915 East
845, North Michigan Avenue
CHICAGO, ILL 60-611
1312/ 642 19 92, fax 1312/ 642 98 17
e-mail: chicago@tourspain.es
Miami. TOURIST OFFICE OF SPAIN
1221 Brickell Avenue
MIAMI, Florida 33131
1305/ 358 19 92, fax 1305/ 358 82 23
e-mail: miami@tourspain.es
New York. TOURIST OFFICE OF SPAIN
666 Fifth Avenue 35 th floor
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10103
1212/ 265 88 22, fax 1212/ 265 88 64
e-mail:nyork@tourspain.es
EMBASSIES IN MADRID
Canada:
Nuñez de Balboa, 35
91 431 43 00, fax 91 431 23 67
Great Britain:
Fernando El Santo, 16
91 319 02 00, fax 91 308 10 33
Japan:
Serrano, 109
91 590 76 00, fax 91 590 13 21
Russia:
Velazquez, 155
91 562 22 64, fax 91 562 97 12
United States of America:
Serrano, 75
91 587 22 00, fax 91 587 23 03
Text:
Victoria Viudes
Translation:
Alistair Louis Ross
Photographs:
Turespaña Archives
Graphic Design:
Florencio García
Published by
© Turespaña
Secretaría de Estado de Comercio
y Turismo
Ministerio de Economía
Printed by:
IMPERSA
D.L. M-24.226-2000
NIPO: 104-00-016-0
Printed in Spain
2 st Edition

Spain
Turespaña
Secretaría de Estado
de Comercio y Turismo
Ministerio de Economía
Almería Coast
I