Eastern Almería

Almería’s easternmost district, the place where eastern Spain merges with the region of Andalucía is bathed by the Mediterranean.
Bordering on the north with the region of Murcia, Eastern Andalucía stretches from the coast to the steep hinterland, from sierras such as Bédar, Cabrera and Almagrera to fertile valleys rich in crops, like those of neighbouring Murcia.

This is a land enjoying brilliant, year-round sunshine, where you con still enjoy a day at the beach, even when the European coastline is cloaked in the cold of Winter. It is a paradise bathed by rivers flowing into the sea while the light playing on the sands of the beaches seems to come straight from the inspired brush of Sorolla the artist.

Since antiquity, Eastern Almería has attracted many different peoples. Today this corner of coastal Andalucía is still a privileged place. Thanks to its scenery, climate, towns and villages, its beaches and the hospitality of its people, with a ready welcome for visitors coming to discover the charm of this unique district.

How to get to the villages of Eastern Almería

Eastern Almería enjoys excellent motorway links and is one of the most accessible districts of the province of Almería. The Autovía del Mediterráneo motorway runs north-south through the district, linking the Andalusian coast, the city of Almería, a popular port of call for cruises, and the Aiport with the rest of Eastern Spain. In the north, this motorway links pu with the A-92, motorway, at the heart of the Andalusian road network, communicating the district with inland Andalucía and the rest of Spain.

Eastern Almería Route around Mojácar

Mojácar´s unmistakeable silhoutte, clinging to the hillside gives the distant traveller a tantalising glimpse of the beauty within; Mojácar is the town which best expresses the very essence of Eastern Almería.
The Moorish character of the town is evident in its narrow, steep and winding streets, in the whitewashed walls of its houses, and in the colourful flowers that embellish their façades. This is a town to lose yourself in, a place where, through countless small details, the past whispers to those who listen.
In Moorish times, the town was called Muxacra and it was a place where Muslims, Jews and Christians lived in harmony. Today it is still an open, cosmopolitan town accustomed to welcoming visitors from all over the world. In the unique setting of Mojácar, it is easy to feel instantly at home and enjoy the hospitality of its people. Both the Valle de las Pirámides and Mojácar la vieja, site of the prehistoric settlement, situated in the river Aguas valley, can be seen from the Mirador in Plaza Nueva.
La Cuesta del Castillo leads us to Plaza del Castillo, the highest part of the town affording marvellous views of the sea. Originally the site of the old castle, of which nothing remains, it is now home to the Centro de Arte or arts Centre, which holds interesting art exhibitions.
Plaza Parterre beneath, which a Muslim cemetery has been discovered, is presided by the fortified church of Santa María. The church was built after the Christian reconquest of the city. Next to the church is the statue of La Mojaquera, holding typically Arab veil between her teeth.
Having passed through the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, with its centuries-old ancient tree brought from America, we arrive at the Puerta de la Ciudad or Puerta de la Almedina, gate, the only gate in the 16th Century town walls.
Adjacent to the Puerta de la Ciudad is the former 18th-Century Casa del Torreon, a toll house for collecting “gate taxes”. Outside is the Arrabal, or extramural quarter, which was probably home to Mojácar’s Jewish community.
The Fuente Mora fountain, also known as Fuente Pública, dates back to Moorish times. In the past, the town´s woman-folk used the water from its 12 spouts to do their laundry.
Leaving the attractions of the town aside, let us now turn towards the sea. Mojácar, with 17 kilometres of beaches offers something for everyone, quiet or lively beaches, resort or unspoilt beaches, large uninterrupted strands or sheltered bays.
Adjacent to Garrucha is Marina de la Torre whose excellent beach is complemented by unequalled hotel services, all a stone´s throw away from a golf course. Further to the west, next to the river Aguas´estuary and parallel to the Paseo del Mediterráneo, we find La Rumina beach offering everything from beach bars to watersports.
The beaches of El Descargador, El Cantal, Cueva del Lobo and Las Ventanicas are all part of Mojácar Playa. These beaches are all within resort areas and so offer the widest range of services.
For a relaxing time in the sun, we recommend the beaches between Castillo de Macenas castle, built on the coast in the 18th Century, and La Granatilla, bordering with Carboneras; this is the place to discover Mojácar´s most natural stretch of coastline.

Macenas beach, occupying the stretch of shore between the castle of the same name and Torre del Peñón tower, gives unrivalles views of the coast. Next is Sombrerico beach, reached either on foot or by car along an unmade track. It has been used as a natural setting in numerous films and its beautiful, calm surroundings act as a kind of introduction to the spectacular scenery awaiting us further south, from Cala Bordenarescore, a diver´s paradise, to the cove of Cala Granatilla, reached either on foot or by car from the Sopalmo quarter.
Mojácar is much more than just sun and sand, the borough contains natural sites of great interest, most notably Sierra Cabrera whose foothills are home to numrous species of birds and reptiles.
The coastline´s wetlands are a habitat for several species of birds, both native and migratory such as ducks, herons and cormorants while Río Abajo, an area made up of lagoons that have formed in the river Aguas estuary, is a valuable habitat for water-fowl. Moreover, the North African Testudo, a species of tortoise in danger of extinction, is also found in the area surrounding Mojácar.
Mojácar also offers an infinite range of sports and active leisure pursuits, including golf Marina Golf Mojácar and in neighbouring Turre.
Turre, on the banks of the river Aguas, combines the mountainous scenery of Sierra Cabrera with fertile farmland. The Latin place name “Turris”, meaning tower, alludes to an ancient watchtower raised in the area. The area consists of dispersed settlements Cabrera and Santa Teresa both boast prehistoric remains and were founded during the Al-Andalus period. Interesting archaeological remains have also been found in Cuevas de la Palmera and Cuevas de los Murciélagos caves as well as in the Argaric settlement of Gata, on Cerro del Castellón hill.
The origins of present-day Turre date from a hamlet founded by Muslims when they were forced to leave Mojácar after the Reconquest. In times of Philip II, the hamlet was repopulated by Christians.
The mosque’s minaret, the 12th Century cisterns and the very street plan of the town which clearly follows Moorish principles, are all witnesses to Turre´s Andalusi past. Other places of interest to visit are the 16th-Century shrine of San Francisco de Asís and the parish church.
This rural setting offers many different activities, from hiking in the surrounding countryside and visiting beauty spots such as Yesos in la Umbría de Sierra Cabrera, to golf in Cortijo Grande.

Eastern Almería Route between Garrucha y Vera

This route, full of contrasts, threads its way between fishing and farming communities, between the waters of the Mediterranean and the fields of Campo de Vera.
Garrucha is an Eastern Almería fishing village par excellence. It is moreover a growing tourist centre combining character with an excellent Blue-Flag beach, excellent local cuisine based on fish from the area and all of the facilities, including a Yachting Marina, to make your holiday perfect.
During the 19th Century Garrucha was an industrial area, the former foundry chimney a silent witness to its mining history.
Everything here has a maritime flavour: from the former Andalusi salt warehouse, or Afolí which is now the Town Hall, to the Castillo de Jesús Nazareno or Escobetas castle, looking out over the Mediterranean and built during the reign of Charles III to defend the coast. Next to the town Hall is Plaza del Ancla, thus called because of the older anchor recovered from the sea bed which now presides the square. Our Lady Virgen del Carmen, whose shrine can be visited, is patron both of fishermen and the town. Also worth a visit is the church of San Joaquín in front of which is the image of Our Lady, la Inmaculada, looking out to sea.

We can also stop and watch the fishermen repairing their nets and carrying out other tasks or indeed to to a fish auction in the Lonja or port auction hall while the Malecón, or jetty, is the ideal place to enjoy the sunset. The Paseo Marítimo is home to the Monumento al Pescador, celebrating the fishermen who founded Garrucha.
Inland, Los Gallardos is to be found in Campo de Vera, between the coast and the Sierra. Los Gallardos came into being thanks to mining activity in Sierra Bédar and we can still see remains of the overhead cable mineral ore loader which ran between El Pinar and Garrucha.
Among the archaelogical remains in Los Gallardos, the most important is the Cadima site with the remains of a Roman villa and the Moorish baths of Alfaíx. El Molino de la Cueva mil, la fábrica de harina (flour mill) and the wood-fired oven all remind of the area's strong agricultural presence.

A bit further north is Antas, with its 16th-Century church and early 20th-Century Acueducto del Real (aqueduct). To mention Antas is to mention El Argar, on of the province's largest archaelogical sites and one of the Iberian peninsula's largest Bronce Age sites.
Vera, surrounded by fertile farmland, has a long history and rich heritage. Its name comes form the Phonecian factory of Baria (Villaricos).
In Moorish times, the population moved inland form the coast to the area known as Vera la Vieja, on Cero del Espíritu Santo hill, finally being handed over to the Christians in 1488.
In 1518 the city was flattered by a disastrous earthquake and it was rebuilt on its present site. At the same time, the fortified church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, was built.Outside its lines are quite severe while its interior is in the Gothic-Mudejar style.
Other works undertaken at the same time were building of the church of San Agustín, the shrine to Virgen the las Huertas and the Plaza Mayor at the very heart of the city.
Vera's heritage was further enriched over the following centuries with the building of other churches and religious builidings such as the shrine to San Ramón, dating from the 16th Century and of the Virgen de las Angustias, home to Vera's proctector. Civil buildings include the 17th-Century Fuente de los Cuatro Caños fountain.
The 19th Century contributed recreational areas such as la Glorieta and the Plaza de Toros (bullring) as well as the Town Hall, boasting one of the best Historical Archieves in Andalucía and the Ethnographical and Archaelogical Museum.
Apart from its cultural offer, Vera also posseses some magnficant beaches, a golf course and wide range of active tourism to make the most of the thousands of hours of annual sunshine.

Fuente: www.dipalme.org