Cities

Lorca is also known as the ‘City of the Sun’. It is a place where time seems to have stood still. The town is dominated by its imposing castle. The castle has marked the boundary between the Christian Kingdom and the Moorish Kingdom throughout the centuries.Today, it is a lively attraction offering recreational activities, exhibitions, multimedia presentations, entertainment and people dressed as medieval inhabitants who will transport you back to the 13th century. Start your visit to the town at the Lorca Visitor Centre, where you’ll find everything you need to discover the town, its history, culture and traditions. There is a fascinating exhibition and an audio-visual ‘Journey Through Time’ to get you off to a good start. Unfortunately, the town was hit by an earthquake on 11 May 2010, which damaged many historic buildings; sadly, these have not yet been restored. If you’d rather go shopping than soak up some culture, this is of course a great place to do that too.

The city of Almería is just over an hour’s drive from Albox. The city’s name, ‘Almería’, is derived from the Arabic term Al-Mariya (‘Mirror of the Sea’). It is the capital of the province of the same name, Almería. In 2008, the city had a population of 187,521. The coastline near Almería is known as the Costa de Almería and stretches for 219 kilometres, featuring sunny beaches. The region enjoys the highest average number of hours of sunshine per year in Europe. To the west-north-west of the city lies the Sierra Nevada, and on the other side of this mountain range is the city of Granada. Almería has an airport and a motor racing circuit. The city also has a railway station. Places of interest in and around Almería: 16th-century cathedral, Alcazaba (Arabic fortress), Muralla de Jairan, Sala de Prehistoria (prehistory museum), Sala de Historia Antigua (ancient history museum), Torre de los Espejos.

Granada is a 2-hour drive from Villa Damara. Few cities have such a rich cultural history as this one. This is evident from the many monuments and the city’s everyday atmosphere. First and foremost, you can visit the Alhambra and the Generalife, with its beautiful gardens. You can book your tickets here in advance. From the Torre de la Vela to the Silla del Moro, a vast area stretches out, offering a magnificent view of the city and its surroundings: the Patio de los Leones, the Jardines de Lindaraja, the Salón de Embajadores, the Patio de Arrayanes, the Palacio de Carlos V, the Puerta de la Justicia. The city centre bears witness to a Renaissance and Baroque past, as well as many Arabic influences. For instance, there is the grand Renaissance Cathedral with its Gothic Capilla Real, which houses the tombs of Catholic monarchs as well as a large art gallery. Not far from there, one can find traces of the city’s Arab past: the Madraza, the old Arab university; the Alcaicería, the small market; and the Corral del Carbón, the old market. Between the Cathedral and the Monasterio de San Jerónimo, another major Renaissance building, there are several Baroque churches, such as those of San Juan de Dios, San Justo and Pastor, as well as a number of palaces. Furthermore, the Cartuja, the apotheosis of the Baroque period, is certainly worth a visit. Other attractions include the well-preserved sections of the old city wall and the well-maintained cármenes (villas with beautiful gardens). One of the most beautiful streets in Andalusia is undoubtedly the Carrera del Darro: on one side runs the river and on the other stand palaces housing the archaeological museum, the Casa del Castril and Arab baths, as well as churches such as San Pedro. The street leads to the Plaza Nueva, home to the Chancillería and the elegant Moorish tower of Santa Ana. Elvira Street, with its antique shops, and the Plaza de Bib-Rambla, with its many kiosks, are also well worth a stroll. There are also monasteries and convents, such as Santa Paula and Santa Isabel la Real, and museums such as the Casa Museo de Manuel de Falla. Further north lie the Sierra Nevada mountains, where winter sports can be enjoyed from December to May. This mountain range is home to the highest peak on the Iberian Peninsula, the Mulhacén.