Almeria is situated at the base of a mountain range. One of its key treasures is the Alcazaba, which was bullt by the Sultan of Cordoba in the first century AD. The Alcazaba is a palace fortress defended by three walls, one of which contains the ruins of a mosque since converted into a royal chapel.

Almeria used to be quite a military power, because of the role it played in defending the sultanate from Mediterranean invaders. In fact, it had quite a turbulent history. Its beauty and prosperity, and its envied location on the Mediterranean coast, attracted the attention of invaders. The city also suffered from the pirate raids mounted by the Turks and North Africans.

Because of this, many of Almeria’s architecture were built with defense in mind. Historians believed that the Alcazaba housed an army of twenty thousand men. Even the Cathedral is fortified, though its Gothic details and Renaissance facade lend a beautiful and charming air to its thick walls. Almeria is also known for its cave quarter, called Barrio de la Chanca. The corner towers once held powerful canons, poised to destroy anyone who tried to approach the city.

However, Almeria is also home to a great many priceless art work. At the heart of the city tourists can find a tabernacle believed to have been built in the eighteenth century. This was made by the great Ventura Rodriguez. Art lovers will also delight in the beautiful paintings of the artist Alonso Canoñ. There are also many religious pieces, such as the altar designed by Araoz, and a gorgeous statue of Almeria’s patron saint, Indaletius, which was credited to the sculptor Saizillo. The Almeria Museum is also home to a fine collection including artifacts found by the Louis Siret, a Belgian mining engineer, during his excavations.

But a trip to Almeria—or Spain, for that matter—wouldn’t be complete without partaking in the fantastic cuisine. One of Almeria’s specialties is gurullos, a savory stew that is served with pasta. The trigo, another kind of stew, contains pork, herbs, and beans, and contains whole grains of weight. Those seeking something spicy should try gachas, which is made of clams, or escabeche e sardines, which is made with hot sauce. If you are looking for an alternative kind of holidays, you can go to the program of volunteers in Costa Rica.