Almeria, Spain

A sun-drenched Spanish city 

Founded in AD 955, and situated at the foothills of the Sierra de Gador mountain range, the Spanish coastal city of Almeria is renowned for its wonderful climate. With the sun shining for more than 320 days a year it’s no wonder the Romans, Phoenicians, and Moors once called Almeria home—and to this day, these civilizations’ influences still resonate in the city’s architecture, cultures, and customs.

Once you’ve soaked in the sun yourself, combine the old with the new: tour the modern city center La Rambla then cross The Old Square to Puerta Purchena, the heart of Almeria and where you’ll find many tapas bars and the food market. Almeria is also home to the Tabernas Desert, the only desert in Europe, and a famous Spanish locale where Sergio Leone’s renowned “spaghetti western” movies like Fistful of Dollars were filmed.

Be sure to visit The Alcazaba, a medieval fortress dating back to the 10th century, and Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park—a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve—for volcanic rock formations, coral reefs teeming with marine life and beautiful beaches.