Almuñécar

Almuñécar, in the Andalucían province of Granada, is situated on what is known as the Costa Tropical, and lies pretty well 100 km due south of Granada (see map).

The Costa Tropical comprises the stretch of Andalucían coast between the highly developed Costa del Sol to the west and the more arid Costa de Almeria to the east.  The well known high rise developments of the Costa del Sol around Marbella, Torremolinos & Malaga all lie well to the west, along with their overdeveloped coastlines and English styled bars and restaurants, with Almeria and Europe's only official desert - the location of many of the "Paella Westerns" such as A Fistful of Dollars - lying to the east.

Our climate is classified as "sub-tropical" (we're further south than Greece and Africa is just over the Med) so the weather in Almuñécar & the Costa Tropical is great!.

The "Real" Spain

From here we offer the very best of the "real" Spain that too sadly has disappeared from the concrete mega-resorts, coupled with a unique sports and activities package which allows freedom of choice between all members of your party.  Here, for instance, Tapas are still offered free in many bars, unlike other areas of Spain where they are now charged for.  The surrounding country side is renowned for production of tropical fruits, with Almuñécar being backed by fields of Chirimoya (custard apple) Avocado and Mango, with Olive, Grape & Almond being grown on the surrounding hill sides.

Almuñécar - Pronunciation

The accent on the n modifies the n to sound like the "ni" in onion.  The accent on the e indicates that syllable is stressed, or is pronounced slightly more emphatically.  Therefore Almuñécar is pronounced as "Al moo knee-ECK ar".

Roman & Arab legacies

Almuñécar consists of two large bays divided by a headland, Peñon del Santo, with it's monument to Abderraman I who landed here from Damascus in 755 before establishing the Emirate in Cordoba.  Adjacent is the old town, overlooked by the Moorish Castillo de San Miguel.  This was built by the Phoenicians, on the site of an earlier Roman fort, who originally gave the area the name of "Sexi" or "Exi" in the first millennium BC.  Around the castle lies the old town, with its maze of old cobbled streets holding a myriad shops, bars and restaurants, as well as the town square - Plaza de la Constitucion  - and museum. 

Ruins & Monuments

Almuñécar has a wealth of Roman ruins, remains from Moorish times and a fabulous collection of Miguel Moreno sculptures in the plazas.  An extensive network of aqueducts, with some perfectly preserved spans in excess of 130m long, terminate at the foot of the Moorish castle in an excavated Roman fish curing site, in which tanks of fish paste were salted &  fermented to produce Garam, which was believed to have medicinal properties.  Other sites include a Roman Columbarium, which is  a burial chamber dated as being from 1st C AD, a recently excavated Roman bridge, as well as our 17th century Parish church, Iglesia de la Encamacion, which was the first church built in Granada province in the Baroque style.  The patron of Almuñécar, La Virgen de la Antigua, is kept here.

Fiestas, Ferias & Holidays

We celebrate a lot of fiestas and ferias here!  See our page Fiestas, Ferias and Holidays in Almuñécar, Andalucia for a sample of what may be happening while your here with us.

Climate & Weather

The Costa Tropical has quite a marked micro-climate, whereby the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and Las Alpujarras serve to protect the coast from the extremes of temperature other southern areas of Spain receive.

See our Almuñécar & Costa Tropical weather page for more weather information.

Town Facilities

Almuñécar is well served with a good selection of shops as well as the town fish, meat & vegetable market which is open every morning for the freshest local produce.  There is a large weekly open air market, and a monthly flea market.  You will find a huge variety of tapas bars in the old town, as well as a great selection of beach bars with BBQs and restaurants.

Newly opened is the largest marine aquarium in Andalucia, with superb displays depicting the history of the oceans as well as the coastal margins of the Mediterranean.

Most main banks are in town, as well as a post office, large modern medical centre, sports grounds, tennis, basketball & padel (a very popular form of short tennis crossed with squash played in enclosed open air courts) courts, BMX track, as well as a heated covered swimming pool for winter.
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Beaches

Almuñécar has some 19kms of coastline with 26 beaches, ranging from delightful isolated sheltered coves to large expanses with beach bars (chiringuitos) and lifeguard facilities.  Many have been awarded the prestigious blue flag and all have a unique character, with two being official naturist beaches. 

Most have extensive palm tree lined paseos (or promenades) on which the world and his dog take the airs in the evening. 

Peace & Quiet

You only have to walk a short distance from Almuñécar, either along the dry river beds or following the coast to leave the town behind.

Our extensive program of guided and self guided walking routes give you very opportunity to explore off the beaten track, whether here, in the neighbouring Axarquia or in the enchanting Alpujarras with their white villages backed, in winter, by the snow capped peaks of Sierra Nevada.

Markets

The covered daily town market - Mercado Municipal - is close to the main square and offers superb fresh local produce.  Seasonality of food is king here, with the deep freeze being confined to the supermarkets.  The market is divided, roughly, into three sections: vegetables & fruits, meat and fish, with around a dozen or so traders with their stalls in each section.  Here you will find whatever has been harvested in the last day or so, with the fish being solely those which were caught the previous night.  Around the outside the flower and herb sellers sit, with huge displays of brightly coloured sub tropical plants to tempt you, as well as trays of exotic spices.

Every Friday there is a large weekly general market held in the shady market site alongside the main road, to which everyone from the outlying villages turns up to either buy something, sell something or just simply to shout about something.  Good buys can be local pottery inspired by Moorish designs, leather goods or the brightly coloured and patterned rugs made in the Alpujarras villages. 

Almuñécar & Costa Tropical

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