Information about
the province of Almeria,
Andalucia, Spain.
 The
province of Almeria is becoming more and more popular both as a
wonderful holiday destination and as a beautiful and climatically
ideal place to live. As infrastructures within Europe continue to
develop, with motorways connecting all major cities and budget airlines
competing to offer the lowest fares, those areas that were previously
thought to be a bit off the beaten track are now being discovered.
One such area now deservedly gaining popularity is the province
of Almeria.
First
time visitors are pleasantly surprised by the tremendous variety
this province has to offer and, more and more people every year
are discovering not only the sun soaked beaches and crystal clear
water but also the natural beauty of
this part of Spain.
It
is a land of geographic contrasts with long sandy beaches and also
small secluded coves, desert areas and fertile expanses with varied
vegetation, and high mountains and extensive plains. From the snows
of the Sierra Nevada you can drive to the only desert in Europe
(Sierra de Alhamilia) in about an hour.
 Situated
on the southeast tip of the Iberian Peninsula on the shores of the
Mediterranean Sea, the province of Almeria covers an area of 8,774km2.
Here, the sun shines for more than three thousand hours in the year,
more than any other part of the Mediterranean.
Perhaps
it was due to the beautiful scenery, the climate, or the geographic
situation that led many different civilisations to come to Almeria
in the course of history.
The
influence of the Arabs, who ruled these lands for nearly eight centuries,
was the most important of them all. During this period Moslems,
Christians, and Jews succeeded in living together in harmony and
both culture and art flourished. The architectural style of the
white villages reflects this influence.
 The
construction of the Alcazaba (Moorish citadel) by order of Abderramán
III in 955 was the birth of the present-day city of Almeria. The
new city, Al-mariya (Mirror of the Sea), enjoyed great maritime
and commercial activity and therefore soon became the region's capital.
In the 19th century Almeria experienced an economic boom from mining,
especially lead (Sierra de Gádor) and iron (Ser6nBacares).
Over
the last few years there has been great socio-economic development
within the province of Almeria, mainly due to the introduction of
modem agricultural methods that have increased productivity manifold.
Many varieties of fruit, vegetables, and flowers are grown under
plastic greenhouses spreading over tens of thousands of hectares
in the Campo de Dalias and producing some 250 million kilos of crops
a year, most of which are exported to the other European countries.
In addition, the mining of the famous fine white marble, which is
exported throughout the world, in the area of Macael (Sierra de
los Filabres), has also played a part. Finally, the excellent climate
and the beauty of the many varied landscapes have helped to make
Almeria a favourite holiday area for many Spaniards and foreigners
alike.
Almeria
is an area with a long cultural history that is kept alive so that
one can still enjoy the varied folklore and a large number of popular
fiestas, all inherited from the past. Local craft industries produce
a great variety of skilfully fashioned articles made from pottery,
marble, esparto grass, etc. Another inheritance from the past is
to be found in the gastronomic specialities of this area and the
famous tapas which, in many bars, are provided free with each drink.
Looking
toward the future, Almeria has also become an important centre for
scientific research. The Hispano-German Astronomical Centre (Calar
Alto) is located near Gérgal in the Sierra de los Filabres
and houses the most
powerful telescope in Europe. At Tabernas there are solar power
stations designed to utilise the energy of the sun. There are also
many windmills harnessing energy from the wind and there is even
a project to evaluate the commercial viability of converting agaves
into ethanol.
 One
of the virtues of the coasts of Almeria is their ability to combine
the comforts of the urban developments with the scenic beauty of
natural areas that have been left virtually untouched by man. One
such place is a large area of salt lakes and dunes known as Punta
Entinas which is inhabited by ducks, gulls, and flamingos as well
as other species of birds.
Just a little to the west of Punta Entinas lies the town of Almerimar,
a modern well-planned tourist complex with several kilometres of
beach with crystal clear waters and a fine marina with over 1,000
berths. Almerimar offers shops, restaurants, hotels, holiday homes,
and apartments, and a 27-hole golf course.
 The
most southeasterly point in Spain is the Cabo de Gata. The surrounding
area is a natural park that eventually becomes the desert areas
of the Campo de Tabernas. Here, a thriving film industry existed
where many westerns as well as such classics as Lawrence of Arabia
were made, and several film set towns, built in the style of the
old Wild West, have been preserved. Some of these are open to the
public and, for a hand full of dollars; they offer the re-enactment
of Wild West life, gunfights, etc.
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