Summer holiday
A trip to a coastal destination usually means one thing for us sun-starved north Europeans. Beach. There's nothing like it after the damp and drizzle of Britain and Ireland. Today we're seeing the sights of Almuñécar on the Costa Tropical, in Granada province. Not just surf you see, but also turf. Let's walk...
A cultural spot
Almuñécar is quite a cultural town, with an ancient past, as well as being lauded as a modern-day destination for beach lovers and water-sports fanatics. But today we're exploring some sights to see, rather than rolling out our towel. Don't worry, we'll get to the beach at the end! Let's look at 5 tourist must-see spots of Almuñécar.
How to get there
Situated on the Costa Tropical, in the province of Granada, and east of Málaga. Go past Nerja on the Costa del Sol (Málaga) and just a little further on to La Herradura and then Almuñécar, recognisable by the citadel towering over the coastal town.
It was misty and moody the day we arrived, it soon burned off to reveal miles of stunning coastline.
Walking the talk
We arrived by bus - for us it was a village day trip - and parked up in the main bus station, just off the main road into Almuñécar. The old town has the predictable narrow streets that seem to get tighter if you're attempting to manoeuvre a car around them, so follow our lead and choose the park and walk option too. Head across from the bus station and uphill towards the old town and the town hall and church. From there, into the main Plaza and you'll see a signposted street for the castle. It's all uphill from here!
1. The Cave of the Seven Palaces
First stop on your right up that steep and cobblestoned hill. Flat shoes are the order of the day as the going is pretty steep and it's a long way before lunch. Now, the Cave of the Seven Palaces is neither a cave nor does it contain any royalty, but is the remains of a Roman Palace and is now the home of the town archaeological museum.
2. The Castle
Next stop is the castle, looming above you on the hill. *There's a little shop over the road from the main entrance where you can purchase cold bottled water if it's a hot day. This is also a great spot from which to take panoramic pictures. Inside there are plenty of ancient artefacts to pore over and the walk around the ramparts allows far reaching views in all directions.
3. The Botanical Gardens
Back out of the main entrance/exit from the castle, make a left turn and wind down the hill, vibrant Bougainvillea thrown carelessly over the ancient walls and the screech of the caged birds in Loro Sexi Parque to your left. All the way to the bottom and turn right through the gates to the botanical gardens. Besides the flowering shrubs, planted beds, fountains and walkways, there's also an interesting collection of giant soap-stone carvings from far-flung places.
*There are clean public loos here too.
4. Archaeological Park
Also situated within the botanical gardens. Long before the tourism of today, Romans followed the Phoenicians, and the town was known as Sexi Firmum Julium. The Romans (ever the entrepreneurs) constructed an aqueduct and greatly expanded the fish-salting industry, the remains of which you can see today. Be grateful there's no Garum paste to try today as part of our visit - it was made from an assortment of fish guts.
5. The stunning beach and coastline for lunch
Well, it must be time for lunch? Before hitting the long stretch of fine shingle for an afternoon of relaxation and serious battery recharging, find a place to eat. Actually finding somewhere is not difficult - but choosing one is! The beach is littered with delicious chiringuitos and restaurants. Choose a Menu del Dia, or - if you can erase the mental picture of fish-gut paste from your memory - opt for the classic sardines cooked right there on their little wooden stakes. Fish and a cold beer facing the surf? There really is nothing better!
