History
A city
underground
During the Civil War, in the late 1930s, Almería dug beneath its streets a network of more than 4 km of underground galleries to protect the population from bombing raids. It was one of the most significant civilian shelter works of its time in Spain.
The project was led by the municipal architect Guillermo Langle Rubio, with mining engineer Carlos Fernández Celaya and civil engineer José Fornieles. The shelters could hold around 40,000 people and even had an underground operating theatre. The city endured 52 bombardments by air and sea, and 754 bombs fell upon it.
A place of memory
Walking
through memory
Visiting the shelters is not about admiring a monument, but about entering the daily life of a civilian population that sought refuge underground while the bombs fell. The galleries, plain and narrow, speak of fear, of waiting, and of how an entire city organised itself to survive.
The tour is walked in silence and with respect. It is a place of historical memory that invites understanding, without dramatisation, of what the war meant for the ordinary people of Almería.
Visiting
How to visit
The visit is guided and requires advance booking. Here is the practical information, verified in July 2026 — opening hours and prices may change, so confirm them before you go.
Opening hours and prices verified on 6 July 2026 and subject to change. Confirm the information and your booking by calling 950 268 696 or writing to refugios@aytoalmeria.es before your visit.
Practical information