Almería: An Audio Tour of Andalucía’s Wild East

Almería’s story is inextricably linked to the Mediterranean, which gave it lucrative trading opportunities, yet also left it vulnerable to pirate raids. Under Muslim rule, it flourished by exporting fine silks and marble, but later it became sidelined, hampered by poor overland communications through the rugged, mountainous terrain. The city recovered thanks to a mining boom in the 1800s, before reinventing itself as a hub for agriculture and movie-making. This self-guided audio tour starts in the Parque de Nicolás Salmerón between the port and the city, where you’ll explore the area around Almería cathedral, developed by Bishop Diego de Villalán in the 1500s. From there, you’ll climb through the Almedina district to the Alcazaba (fortress). The tour ends near the port, opposite the Cable Inglés, which was used to transport iron ore to waiting ships.