Almunecar Granada Andalucia Spain

Almunecar

Almuñecar, situated just 45 minutes south of Granada and Sierra Nevada also one hour to the east from Malaga International Airport, a occupies an enviable position on the Costa Tropical with the mountain view up and over Sierra Nevada West – Alpujarra.
You reach Almunecar by the lovely coast road N-340 from Marbella – Fuengirola – Malaga – Nerja – Almunecar.

Almuñecar with the fantastic position and climate.

Enjoying a unique, sub-tropical microclimate, the mountains shelter the coast from Northern winds in winter whilst breezes blowing in from the Mediterranean cool down the summers. Evidence of this superb climate is to be found in the agriculture in the region; the almond trees start to blossom even before Christmas and much of the terrain is brimming with tropical fruit production - avocados, mangos, pineapples and cherimoyas are all produced in abundance around Almuñecar.

The climate and location of the town has also attracted International tourism since the 1960's as Northern Europeans flee the bitter winters in search of warm sunshine. During the summer months, Almunecar is also a popular resort with native Spanish.

Almunecar history

Almuñecar history is a rich and varied one. People inhabited the area as early as the Bronze Age but it was the Phoenicians in the 8th Century BC, which put the place on the map trading oil and wine from the Andalucían interior. Their colony, known as Ex or Sex was then transformed under the Romans into the Sexi Firman Iulium.

Based upon a well-constructed town with firm economic foundations, the Romans set to work making their famous garum paste, a spicy seasoning derived from fish and famed throughout the empire. With the proceeds they built temples, theatres and aqueducts.

On the outskirts of the town, a length of one of the old aqueducts stands in tact and the Necrópolis Puente de Noy, a Phoenician and Roman cemetery where over 200 tombs have been excavated can also be found about half an hours walk from the old town today.

The Moors in Almuñecar history

The next settlers to the region were the Moors. In year 755 Abd ar-Rahman arrived to Torrox from Damascus, Syrian and went on to found the Muslim emirate of Cordoba. One of the few survivors of the Umayyad dynasty, he was soon accepted by the various warring factions and proclaimed the first emir of an independent state in Cordoba, over which he ruled successfully for more than 30 years.

Later, the town became a coastal fortress for the Granada emirate and the castle and walled medina became a real force. Producing sugar cane, bananas, cereals and fruits, and fishing the rich waters, the town became an important trading post in the region. In 1493, the last emir, Boabdil, fled with 1130 supporters from Almuñecar to Africa, finally abandoning the Muslim hold over Spain.

Almunecar today

Almuñecar today - has a relaxed feel to it but its monuments scattered throughout the town are a constant reminder of its incredible history. Its many bays, divided by small headlands and rocky outcrops are sheltered and clean and the sea here is crystal clear. The waters of the coast line on Costa Tropical provide superb conditions for snorkelling and scuba diving and the wealth of under water life guarantees plenty to see.

Every Fridays, there is the traditional weekly local market next to the bus station. It offers you fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, shoes, leader, rugs from the near by village Alpujarras and other local village around in Andalusia and the usual tourist products in a friendly atmosphere

El Peñon del Santo and Loro-Sexi Ornithological Gardens

For fantastic views of the beaches and bays, head up to El Peñon del Santo, a rocky headland between two of the town's beaches and faced by rocks jutting from the sea bed. A huge wrought iron cross crowns El Peñon and at its base a large bronze statue of Abd-ar-Rahman I stands proud with his words inscribed at its base "Oh Palmera! Tu eres Como yo, extranjera en occidente, alejada de tu patria", ("Oh palm tree, you are like me, a stranger in the western world, away from your homeland.)

From El Peñon I headed to the tourist office which is housed in the beautiful Moorish building of the Palacete de La Najarra, complete with burbling fountains in the garden and exquisitely carved window and door frames.

Armed with helpful information I walked next to the Parque Botánico El Majuelo where amongst a wide range of tropical flowers, plants and trees are the excavated ruins of the Carthaginian and Roman fish-salting workshop where the foul smelling garum was made.

Just outside the park are the Loro-Sexi Ornithological Gardens. Opened in 1987 the park is home to some 1500 birds representing a staggering 200 different species and attracting over 30,000 visitors a year.

The Castillo de San Miguel

A steep road leads from the park up to the castle which dominates a hilltop just inland from El Peñon. The Castillo de San Miguel was built by the conquering Christians but over the older fortifications of the Romans and Moors and a lot of it remains in excellent condition.

The castle is wonderful to wander around; affording fantastic views of the town, El Peñon and the beaches and inside the ancient ramparts, a small museum briefly outlines Almuñecar's history with some great models depicting the area under Roman rule.

A ticket to the castle also entitles you to visit the Museo Arqueológico located in 1st century Roman galleries called the Cueva de Siete Palacios. The museum is home to local Phoenician, Roman and Islamic finds as well as a rare 3,500-year-old Egyptian amphora, probably brought by the Carthaginians. The location for displaying these artefacts couldn't be more appropriate.

Almuñecar old town

I wandered out of the Palacio and took a walk around the old town. Dizzyingly steep streets with peeping views of the pretty Iglesia de la Encarnación support white washed houses, and little plazas. Mopeds fly around the narrow lanes - a reminder of which century you're in - but the town is so typical of many in Andalucía and still allows visitors a glimpse back in time.

On Playa Cristobal, just to the west of El Peñon, fishing boats with faded pastel hulls lie at rest on the shore while fishermen straighten their nets ready for the night's trip out to sea. Almunecar Hotels allow holidaymakers laze in the sun or float around in the warm Mediterranean waters and the whole image is one of relaxed integration between past and future, residents and visitors.

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