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Back to: Almeria
car hire
Back to: Spain car hire
Almeria Coast, costa de levante, almeria spain
The levante coast, Costa de Levante
This stretch of coast covers a wide strip of land between the limits
of the Cabo Gata Níjar Natural Park and the provincial border with
Murica.
Carboneras, with its 16th century Castle of San Andrés, is a typical
Mediterranean town, clean and tidy, and which is experiencing a
growth of tourism. The arquitecture of the developments by the sea
recalls once more the area´s Arab past, with dazzlingly-white cube-shaped
buildings finished off with half-spheres, all set against the intense
blue of the Mediterranean. This whole area reflects the indalica
culture. Close by the town, on the beach at el Algarrobico, the
locals still recall the Arab village built by David Lean to represent
Aquaba, Jordan, for the filming of Lawrence of Arabia. Yet again,
the magical light of Almería worked its effects, and for a few days
this land was home to great stars of the screen, such as Peter O´Toole,
Omar Shariff, Alec Guiness and Anthony Quinn.
From this point onwards, and moving out of the Níjar area, the road
rises among the cliffs, to then drop down to Sopalmo and Agua del
Medio. Soon, the charming image of the Castle of Mecenas appears
before our eyes as a predule to the wide beach populated with tourist
developments, some which stretch up into the Sierra Cabrera. This
is Mojácar-Playa, a tourist explosion where everything is possible,
from the least imaginable wtaersports to dinning on exquisite fish
dishes, from the most outrageous dances in one the fashionable discos
to the simple peace and quiet of relaxing among the find golden
sands of the beach. Overlooking all this from ots watchtower or
atalaya, the village of Mojácar is situated in the foothills of
the Sierra Cabrera. It is actually quite difficult to find two streets
at the same level in this beautiful, ancient town, with its clear
Arab past. A past which stretches back to before the times of Al-Andalus,
and even the Spain of the Romans and Iberians. This one of the points
of entry for the first settlers of south east Andalusia. Mojácar
should be visited without hurrying, to fill our senses with its
strong personality which has caused such a deep impression on many
foreign visitors, especially the English, many of whom came here,
became attracted, and stayed.
The end of the Sierra Cabrera opens out on to a fertile valley which
is home to villages such as Cortijo Grande, with its golf course,
Cabrera (set up high upon a mountaint), Bedar and Turre (with a
very special centre and archaeological remains close by), and further
inland, the magical landscapes of the Karst and Yesos de Sorbas
Natural Site.
This valley, known as the Valle del Bajo Almanzora, has clearly
defined personality, very different from the neighbouring area of
Campos de Níjar.
Up to the southern limits with Murcia, a number of villages with
tourist developments can be found. Garrucha, thanks to its ancient
mines and related industries, was transformed into an elegant summer
resort at the end of the 19th century. Nowadays, the attractive
promenade, with its elegant marble balustrade looks out over a clean
sea, where, every evening at sundown a collection of small fishing
vessels make their back to the shelter of the port. A good place
to try their fish dishes.
Vera, with Roman and Arabic heritage, maintains some of its past
through the churches of la Encarnación and San Agustín, as well
as in the interesting Museo Arqueológico (Archaeological Museum).
Meanwhile, its coastline offers yet a wide range of touristic activities,
with the special attraction of Europe´s first nudist hotel, located
in the area´s best-known complex, "Puerto Rey".
Antas, cradle of thhe prehistoric Argar civilization, Pulpí, with
its Charles V-era castle, San Juan de los Terreros and its cave-houses
along with fishing villages such as Palomares and Villaricos completed
our itinerary along the attractive east Almerian coastline.
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