Tabernas Desert

Although Tabernas feels wholly lost in its surroundings, still maintaining its provincial aspect and strong cultural ties, being found between the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada to the West and the beautiful golden beaches of the "Costa Tropical" to the East, it is, in fact, suitably situated as your base for exploring this diverse and thought provoking area of South West Spain.

The Tabernas Desert Natural Beauty Spot is located on a strip of 11,625 hectares situated to the north of the city of Almería, between the Filabres and Alhamilla mountain ranges.

It is considered to be the only desert on the whole European continent and its scenery is tremendously stimulating and startling. With a semiarid Mediterranean climate, rainfall that seldom passes 200mm per year.

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Alcazaba

The Alcazaba of Almería can be seen from any part of the city and it is the biggest of the citadels built by the Arabs in Spain. Its construction was begun in 955 by Abderramán III and finished by Hayrán, "taifa" king of Almeria, in the XI century. After the Christian conquest it was reformed by the Catholic Monarchs and Carlos I.

It was a royal residence and today stands at the foot of Al-Mutasin palace with all its rooms, its mosque, converted into a church since the end of the XV century, and its baths.

It has only one entrance, made almost invisible by the enormous walls as well as large rooms with vaulted ceilings and gothic doors.

From the top of the castle walls we can enjoy marvellous views of the city and the port.

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Playa de Los Muertos

Playa de los Muertos - The Beach of the dead. Contrary to its name this is a beach full of life, from the abundent sea creatures just offshore to the numerous sunseekers that flock here every year.

The beach is found on the coastal area of the protected natural reserve of Cabo de Gata and the beach which is at the foot cliff can only be reached by well trodden winding footpaths. But once there, it seems as if you have reached paradise. On Playa de los Muertos you can even sunbathe naked!

Los Muertos beach extends over a kilometer in length and nowhere is the sea as clear and blue as here. It is one of the most beautiful beaches in Spain, and is one of the most used images on postcards from Almeria.

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