Weekend Itinerary

Friday

Morning

In the Cathedral Square, the Portal of the Renaissance Cathedral Fortress can be admired as well as the Façade of the Episcopal Palace opposite the Cathedral. The Cathedral is only open during Mass. The entrance for guided tours inside the Cathedral is at a lateral street named after the great painter, Velazquez Street.

Before beginning the tour of the Cathedral, our advice is to go to the corner of the Cathedral with Cubo Street to admire the emblem of the City of Almeria the “Sol de Portocarrero”.       

Leaving the Cathedral by the lateral door at Velazquez Street, turn right and go up the street, at the end of which you will be able to contemplate the lateral Portal of “Los Perdones” (the forgiveness) and continue to the XVI Century Las Puras (Religious Order) Church and Convent with its Mudejar (pertaining to Moors in Christian land) Tower situated on a typical street of Moorish descent crowned by the sight of the Alcazaba overhead.   

Strolling up Jose Angel Valente Street, where the poet is house is located, we arrive at Campoamor Street opposite to the XIX Century Palace of Los Marqueses de Cabra, present History Archive of the City.  Continuing up Arréaz Street, you will arrive at the rear Façade of the Town Council Building and to the Administration Vieja Square where the UNED (Spanish Open University) is located in the former XIX Century Las Puras School and inside the Plaza Vieja (Constitution Square) where the Town Council is located, we have the Monument to Los Coloraos (The Reds).

Continuing to the City centre through Mariana Street, we arrive at the emblematic Tiendas Street and finally to the XVI Century Santiago Church (Temple in honour of Saint George). There is a pedestrian street full of bars next to the Temple where we can find the XI Century Aljibes de Jairán (water cisterns). We continue on to the Paseo de Almeria and then turn left to Puerta de Purchena, what could be considered as the real City centre. In this Square, we can admire La Casa de las Mariposas, el Cañillo del Agua, the Statue of Nicolas Salmeron y Alonso and we can also visit the Civil War Bomb Shelters ( Manuel Perez Garcia Square).

Now, we take Granada Street with an interesting variety of shops to Vilches Street, where we can promenade through the market and admire the Bullring (polygonal base with 20 sides built in 1888, very lively during the Fair of Almeria in August) 

To eat, you can visit the restaurants and tapa bars between La Rambla and El Paseo, the Sea Promenade and the Zapillo neighbourhood.              

Afternoon

The Archaeological Museum located at Ronda Road will take you through the history of Almeria from prehistoric settlements (Argar and Los Millares) to Roman and Moorish times. After the visit, we can walk down Ronda Road to the Centro de Arte Museo de Almeria (Almeria is modern art museum), where temporary exhibitions are held. The Museum is next to a building built in 1927, which is an interesting example of bourgeois architecture. Opposite the Museum and the bourgeois Building, lies the Train Station built in 1893 as a great example of Iron Architecture.                  

Evening

Dinner with a flamenco flair at Peña Flamenca El Morato (typical cave at Morato Street, Tel.: 675 525 460) or Peña El Taranto (Aljibe de Jairan at Tenor Iribarne Street, 20 Tel.: 950 235 460). 

Saturday

Morning

Discover the Sun of Almeria at El Toyo and Retamar (highway in direction to Murcia). El Toyo was built for the 2005 Mediterranean Games celebrated in Almeria. The Area has great areas to promenade or to relax; you can play golf or enjoy a spa.                        

Taking the coastal road towards Murcia, we enter the Natural Park Cabo de Gata (declared Costal and Land Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve by the UNESCO). You must see and visit Las Salinas, the beach and the Bird Observation Centre with more than 80 species including flamencos. 

To eat, you can reserve a paella in the fisherman is neighbourhood of San Miguel de Cabo de Gata and enjoy beautiful fresh fish at the Salinas Beach, La Fabriquilla or at La Almadraba de Moneleva.

Afternoon

Shopping in XIX Century Almeria   

You can go shopping in the City Centre and at the same time get to know some of Almeria is past.  Walking down El Paseo at the interSection with the pedestrian Aguilar de Campoo Street, you can see the Main Façade of the XIX Century Central Market, an example of Iron Architecture. Proceeding down El Paseo, we arrive at Navarro Rodrigo Street, where the Palacio de la Diputacion (Provincial Government Building) is located. This Palace encloses a splendid Patio de Luces (interior patio) where temporary art exhibitions take place. Following Navarro Rodrigo Street, we arrive at Obispo Orberá Rambla where the 1855 Compañía de Maria Convent is located.

We take Obispo Orbera towards the Federico Garcia Lorca Rambla an extensive park full of ponds, fountains and garden areas. Now we promenade down towards the sea to the Plaza de las Velas (Sails Square) where the Estatua de la Caridad (Charity Statue 1897) is located and on the opposite side of the street is the unique Casa de Gonzalez Montoya (1928) also known as La Casa Montañes (“Mountain Chalet” pertaining to an architectural style from northern Spain). Now we finally arrive at the Nicolas Salmeron Park from where we can contemplate the Cable Ingles (literally known as the English cable, the mineral Loading Pier built in 1904). The Cable Ingles is linked to the Train Station through a railway bridge all the way to the Almadrabillas beach.  

Evening

Dining out and enjoying the night life: restaurants and bars in the centre of Town (between Paseo de Almeria and Garcia Lorca Rambla).

Sunday

Morning

An inexcusable visit is to the Civil War Bomb Shelters located at Puerta Purchena at Manuel Perez Garcia Square. Bomb resistant subterranean galleries which conservation, dimensions and importance make them unique in Spain (Booking: 950 268 696 refugios@aytoalmeria.es)

Leaving the Shelters at Pablo Cazard Street, you will find the Arts Crafts School with a XVIII Century Cloister. Continuing down Gravina Street, you will come upon the Sanctuary of La Virgen del Mar (temple devoted to the Our Lady of the Seas), where the Image of the Virgen, a XIII-XIV Century Sculpture is kept. At the end of Gravina Street, we meet Real Street and turn down towards the Port where we arrive at Fuente de los Peces (the fish fountain) at the Nicolas Salmeron Park. Turning right up to the end of San Luis Promenade, you will arrive at La Reina Promenade, follow the street all the way up to Almanzor Street and you will finally arrive at the foot of the Alcazaba which is located on the hill dominating the Medina.   

To eat: Nicolas Salmeron Park, the Marina and the beach promenade.

Afternoon

To have a coffee, we recommend the Paseo de Almeria- La Rambla area and the Sea Promenade.  

Visit to the City beaches            

Evening

Going for a walk and having dinner on the beach promenade or at the Old Quarter.