Spanish
Cities and Towns
Once you have selected your preferred
region of Spain read up on some of the towns and cities to
narrow your choice for a property purchase. The most popular
of these are described in the following pages.
Alicante,
Almeria,
Altea,
Andalusia,
Aspe,
Barcelona,
Baza,
Benalmadena,
Benidorm,
Benitachell,
Blanes,
Calpe,
Cartegena,
Castilla la Macha,
Catalonia,
Crevillent,
Denia,
Elche,
Estepona,
Fuengirola,
Granada,
Guadix,
La Romana,
La Vega Baja,
Lorca,
Malaga,
Mar Menor,
Marbella,
Mazarron,
Mijas,
Murcia,
Nerja,
Orihuela,
Puerto Banus,
Quesada,
Salinas,
Salou,
Sitges,
Sotogrande,
Spanish regions,
Tabarca,
Taberno,
Tarragona,
Torremolinos,
Torrevieja,
Tossa del Mar,
Valencia,
Valencian Community,
Zurgena
Almeria
Almeria, despite it's rugged landscape and
shortage of fertile soil, has managed, with a good irrigation
system, to become an important growth area and it is well
known for the quality of it's oranges and white grapes, most
of which are exported from it's port. As you drive through
the province you will see an endless sea of polythene tunnels,
crammed with produce. The area is almost totally dependent
on this industry. The province of Almeria may initially appear
to be a barren desert-like landscape but on close inspection
you will find it to be the Andalucian province with the longest
stretch of beaches. Empty beaches and tiny hidden coves with
perfectly clear water. Because of the diverse landscapes,
the range of sports activities is endless from water sports
to hiking, paragliding, horse riding and golf.
Almeria city itself is a pleasant and largely modern city
and offers a relaxing holiday destination and has a wealth
of history to offer. The Phoenicans founded the town, Carthagnians,
Romans and Moors all occupied it before Ferdinand and Isabella
finally recovered it for Spain during the reconquest.
This is the perfect place to enjoy water sports
such as sailing, windsurfing and rowing. The cathedral is
a must see, as is the Alcazaba, built in 995. Enjoy a quiet
stroll through the Nicolas Salmeron Park then head up towards
the caves in the old gypsy quarter. A good time to visit Almeria
is during the annual fair in August. From Almeria it is easy
to visit many small towns and villages that offer true, unspoilt
Spain. Take your time exploring the city of Almeria and make
sure you see the old quarter where you will find Casa de los
Puche and the market area of Plaza Vieja. Almeria is quite
unique in so much as it is half Spanish and half African.
Many of the local workers are of African origin. The port
has a ferry service to Africa.
In the centre of the city is La Rambla, a
long avenue with squares in which to rest and play parks for
the children. Almeria city has a major ferry port, a sports
marina and a working fishing port.
If you head along the west coast of Almeria,
along the N340 highway, you will pass huge cliffs that shelter
small coves. After about 13km you will come to Aguadulce that
presents a good tourist centre with hotels and apartments.
There is also a yacht harbour and a coastline that offers
watersports of every description. Further along you find Roquetas
de Mar, a typical fishing village where the white houses contrast
with the colourful harbour. Here you will see the ruins of
the castles of Santa Ana and Los Bajos. At the nearby urban
development there is an 18 hole golf course and facilities
for many other sports. From here, head for the beautiful Punta
Entinas with areas untouched and undeveloped. A little to
the west is Almerimar, a tourist complex with several kilometres
of beach, crystal clear waters and a marina for over 1000
vessels. Almerimar also offers 18 hole golf, hotels, a camp
site and apartments.
Almeria is the region in Spain with the greatest
number of cloudless days, exceeding 3000 hours of sunshine
during the year. Its average temperature is 18º and during
the summer the average is 24.6º. The waters here are
almost crystal clear and usually warmer than the air.
All in all, Almeria offers a diverse landscape
with some excellent beaches, beautiful countryside and a wealth
of history.
|
