Situated just 1 hour from Granada and 90 minutes from Malaga, we found Almuñécar perfect in many ways. The main thing we like about this relatively small coastal town is that does not have crowds of tourists descending upon it each summer. It does, however, have pristine beaches, amazing restaurants, and a rich history. Almunecar even has a Blues bar, no wonder we have been here many times. There are many foreign nationals living in Almunecar, but not nearly enough to turn it into a Benidorm or Torremolinos. The beaches like Velilla, San Cristobal and Del Mar are wonderful. Right on the coast, San Miguel Castle is a centuries-old Arab fort. The Rocks of San Cristobal extend offshore.
Local history
There is plenty of history here also, especially for those interested in Roman history like me. During 700 years of Roman colonial rule, the town and its industry prospered, and in 49 BC the municipality (one of 20 cities in Spain honoured at that time) was given the title Firmium Julium Sexi in recognition of the town’s loyalty to Rome.
The remains of a fish salting and curing industry were uncovered during excavations in the 1970s and 1980s. This was originally built by the Phoenicians but modernised by the Romans. A segment of the site has been carefully conserved and can be seen in the beautiful Majuelo Botanical Gardens. The gardens are only five minutes’ walk from the beach, so they can be visited on route to a day out on the sands. or on the way to lunch at one of my favoured restaurants. Fish salting needs freshwater as well as saltwater so the Romans built four miles of water conduit and five aqueducts from the valleys. All, remarkably, are still standing and four of them are still in use after 2,000 years – adapted by the Moors over the centuries to serve the needs of crop irrigation.
There are many other interesting Roman remains here including a Roman bridge at Cotobro and Roman tombs in several locations.There are many more historical influences in the area from The Visigoths,The Moors, and The Arabs; But lets head back to the Now!
Remains of Phoenician Fish Salting Factory Castillo San Miguel Roman aquaduct in the Rio Seco valley
Where to eat in Almuñécar
Almunecar has an “old town” of course like most towns on The Costa Tropical. Exploring the narrow streets and tiny shops, amidst traditional coffee houses and restaurants is great fun. One of my favourite traditional Spanish restaurants is Bodega Francisco 1. Really worth a visit, even if it’s just for a drink at their magnificent bar. The food is typically Spanish at reasonable prices and is good value for money. After a long afternoon shopping, Francisco 1 is ideal for an early evening meal. Booking is essential later on in the evening.
Francisco 1 behind the bar Traditional Paella
The Costa Tropical is situated in The Andalucia Region of Granada. All bars in this part of Spain offer free Tapas if you’re having a drink. The Tapas varies from place to place. The best free Tapas in Almunecar can be found at: Restaurante el Rinconcillo JR, Antonio’s.
Below, all the meat you can eat while watching Flamenco at Chiringuito de Tesorillo. Here is my favourite recipe from this region. My version of a Spanish Tortilla.
Meat barbecue More meat BBQ Pineapple Flamenco on the beach
Music and dance
Almunecar has an extensive Fresh food market and a Flea market takes over one of the car parks twice a week. The normal restaurants, Chinese, Indian, and Italian are all here and are good. There is even a Blues bar, you can imagine my elation when I found out about that. Roberts Top and has a resident band plus an open mike session once a week.
Head east from Almunecar along The Costa Tropical rd. to Salobrena, one of Spain’s eponymous White towns. On your way there, stop at Ron Montero, get a tour, and a couple of Rums. I’ve got the T-shirt. In Salobrena you’ll find yet more beach bars, also with free Tapas, there is also a steakhouse that offers Hotrock meals. Personally I don’t see the point of going out for dinner if you have to cook your own, but it’s popular.
Resident Band at Roberts Top Octopus grilled on the beach at one of Salobrena beach bars Sardines and a beer A little bit of Rum before bottling Rum Factory
To the west is the beautiful La Herradura. An upmarket suburban area drops steeply down to the beach. Hiring a jet ski or snorkelling makes for a great day out.
Valle Verde Animal Rescue
Now, high up in the hills above La Herradura, on a scary mountain road is Cantalobos Animal Sanctuary. Run by Valle Verde Animal Rescue, whose sole purpose is to rescue and re-home abandoned dogs and cats. They even ship these poor creatures to your door. So if you want a pet to go travelling with you, have a look here before you buy from breeders, pet shops etc. Income comes from donations, fundraising events, and flea market stalls. The charity also offers board and lodgings for animals when their owners are on holiday. This proves a little difficult as the sanctuary is quite remote, so pass the message around if possible please.
Fiesta
Then of course come the fiestas. we all know the Spanish love these, none more so than in Almunecar. I went to Epiphany this year, and wow what a procession. Epiphany celebrates the coming of The Three Kings and the floats are endless and great fun. All the town’s children seem get involved. The atmosphere is great.
