Culture of Almeria. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

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.

Fans of natural attractions should not forget to explore Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park, which is located in a suburban area of Almeria. Visitors of the park will be able to see charming palm groves, deserted volcanic landscapes, wild beaches and even sand dunes. The best way to explore the variety of the local flora is to make a ride on a huge Ferris wheel. During a walk through the nature reserve tourists may see rare birds and animals. Graceful flamingos remain the main inhabitants of Cabo de Gata-Nijar. The ancient settlement of San Jose is another place worth visiting. Abandoned mines are the main attraction of the settlement. Not long ago here were mined precious minerals. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Being built in the classicisms style is the distinctive feature of Plaza de Toros de Almería which sets it apart from all other buildings located in other cities. On the main door is positioned the head of a bull – this way the building just cannot be confused with any other. For inspiration, you can go to Escuela De Artes, which is an excellent example of a colonial style building. You can go to the patio and enjoy the beautiful views from here. An interesting and unanticipated attraction of the city is the monument to John Lennon, which is located on Calle Azara.

One attraction you will find fascinating is the Cable Ingles. This is a docking facility of impressive size, which was designed by Gustave Eiffel. The place of interest was constructed in the year 1904. At first, it was a masterpiece of engineering – its main purpose was for the export of minerals from Spain. But nonetheless, this was not destined to happen. As a result, what should have been a railway masterpiece turned into one of the most interesting tourist attractions of the city. Around Cable Ingles you will come across a park (Parque de las Almadrabillas) and a memorial (Monumento a Víctimas Almerienses de Mauthausen).

Interesting views open up from Paseo de Almeria. On top of that, this is a great place to take a walk, and you can hide here from the heat thanks to the fountains and the shade of trees. There are a lot of art objects as well as fountains here. Likewise around the boulevard you will find a lot of cafes and restaurants, each of which beckons on you to enter and savor delicious food. For many, familiarity with the city begins with the station Estacion Intermodal de Almeria, which in itself is a landmark. In addition to being functional, the station’s building is striking in its beauty, as well as in the fact that you can immediately feel the flavor of the locals here.

Almeria is full of many fascinating museums. For example, there is the Museo Refugio de la Guerra Civil which introduces visitors to the sad events that took place during the Spanish Civil War – the fact being that the tunnels were once used as a bomb shelter. Some tunnels are very narrow, thus you have to be careful when visiting them. Los Millares - Museo Arqueologico de Almeria is a great place to get a lot of interesting information while looking at the archaeological finds discovered during excavations near the city. You will be glad to know that admission into the museum is absolutely free. Another mesmerizing museum is called Centro de Interpretacion Patrimonial de Almeria, here you can get to know the city and its culture better.