A Sunny Trip To Almeria Spain
We took a sunny trip to Almeria Spain with the family. Almeria is a city in Andalusia, situated in the southeast of Spain on the Mediterranean. Almeria has a laid back atmosphere, is steeped in history, boasts beautiful sandy beaches with a cosmopolitan promenade complete with yoga classes on the beach, restaurants, bars and still manages to retain it’s classic Spanish feel. Here’s a mini travel guide and a few snaps from our sunny trip to Almeria:
Transport: On our way to the airport I was so excited to get the chance to enjoy a family holiday (which can be quite a feat with our busy schedules) We used the fabulous Blacklane Limo service, which I’ve used several times and love, the drivers are always so polite and helpful and the cars are beautifully luxurious. Our flights from Manchester to Almeria were smooth and we picked up a hire car in Almeria airport (which was a great advantage as it meant we could drive out to Mini Hollywood)
Beach apartment: We rented a beautiful airbnb apartment overlooking the beach, which meant great sunny breakfasts on the balcony and excellent people watching. The promenade ran right in front of our place and was perfect for jogging, roller blading or just sauntering in the sun.
Around town: The pretty streets of Almeria are beautifully kept, colourful and picturesque, lined with pastel painted buildings, fountains, boutique shops and there’s a fresh food market selling local produce.
Alcazaba of Almería: Climb the hill above the town and you’ll reach a rather impressive medieval fortress that originates from the 10th century, but was destroyed by an earthquake in 1522.
The fortress is beautifully preserved and includes a majestic keep and large impressive gardens. >TIP< Pack water as Almería is officially the driest city in Europe and is located in the only region on in the European continent with a hot subtropical desert climate. (so climbing the hill is thirsty work, but well worth it!)
The Cathedral: Almeria’s huge Cathedral has a fortress-like appearance due to its towers, merlons and protected paths, created to defend it from Mediterranean pirates. Originally designated as a mosque the Cathedral was later converted into a Christian church, before being destroyed in the 1522.
In the 16th century it was rebuilt in the Renaissance style, whilst keeping some of its defensive features. Outside the Cathedral is a large square with cafes and eateries.
Catamaran Restaurant: On my last night we enjoyed a lovely dinner at the Catamaran Restaurant. Catamaran Restaurant serves up fresh fish caught locally and looks out over the ocean.
How heavenly!
Christine