A beautiful cathedral remains the main symbol of Almeria. Many years ago an old mosque was located on the site of the cathedral. In the beginning of the 16th century the mosque was completely destroyed and on its ruins was started the building of a temple. During the Middle Ages the building has been called the Fortress Cathedral. The local residents used the thick walls of the church to protect themselves from the attacks of Berbeci and Turks. Nowadays the cathedral is known as the best monument of Gothic architecture in the city. The ancient Moorish castle of Alcazaba is a no less impressive monument. Built in the 8th century, this is the best monument of the Moorish architecture in the country. The castle is located on a high hill. A large observation deck just in front of the castle features beautiful views of the coast. Not only the castle itself, but also the auxiliary buildings have survived till our days retaining their original look, so tourists can also see a cellar, huge tanks for storing water and barracks.
Santo Domingo Monastery is an important religious monument. After rescuing Almeria from the Moors, the construction of the monastery was started by the order of the king. The building started in 1490. The statue depicting the Virgin of Sea is known as the main decoration of the monastery. The Holy Virgin was also considered the patroness of the medieval city. Every year the monastery attracts a huge number of pilgrims, who want see the holy relic. The local Archaeological Museum exhibits a large collection of ancient artifacts. Visiting the museum will be particularly enjoyable to tourists who are interested in numismatics as a significant part of the museum’s collection is dedicated to ancient coins.
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