What can you see at the Museo de Almería?

It traces the prehistory of the province through Los Millares, the great settlement of the 3rd millennium BC beside the river Andarax, and El Argar, the Bronze Age culture. It is one of the most complete archaeological collections in southern Spain.

What are the main museums in Almería?

The Museo de Almería (archaeology), the Centro Andaluz de la Fotografía, the Alcazaba, the Civil War shelters and the Museo de la Guitarra, dedicated to Antonio de Torres.

Is museum admission free?

Admission to the Centro Andaluz de la Fotografía is usually free. For the other venues it is best to check the rates before your visit.

What are the opening hours of the Museo de Almería?

It opens Tuesday to Saturday from 9am to 9pm and Sundays from 9am to 3pm.

Why is the Museo de la Guitarra important?

It is dedicated to Antonio de Torres, born in Almería in 1817, who set the shape and proportions of today's classical guitar. Opened in 2013, it is also home to a school of lutherie that was a pioneer in Spain.

Museums — Alhama de Almería

Cable Inglés Early 20th-century mineral loading pier on Las Almadrabillas beach, now a promenade and viewpoint over the Mediterranean. Industrial heritage 17 km Museo de Almería The prehistory of south-eastern Spain told through Los Millares and El Argar, in one of the most complete archaeological collections in southern Spain. Archaeology museum 17 km Centro Andaluz de la Fotografía The first public centre dedicated to photography in Spain, with author exhibitions in the former Liceo of the historic centre. Photography centre 16 km Alcazaba de Almería One of the largest fortresses built by the Muslims on the Iberian Peninsula, with three walled enclosures and views over the bay. Monument 15 km Civil War Shelters More than 4 km of underground galleries that protected the population from the bombings, among the best-preserved shelters in Europe. Historic site 16 km Museo de la Guitarra Dedicated to Antonio de Torres, the Almería luthier who set the shape of the modern classical guitar. Single-theme museum 16 km

17 km from Alhama

Cable Inglés

The Cable Inglés is a mineral loading pier built between 1902 and 1904 by The Alquife Mines and Railway Company Limited, designed by Scottish engineer John Ernest Harrison. Inaugurated on 27 April 1904 by King Alfonso XIII, it linked the Alquife mines (Granada) to the port of Almería by rail to export iron and lead. Its iron-and-timber structure, using more than 3,800 tonnes of steel from Scottish foundries, is a landmark of industrial architecture in Andalusia. Declared a Site of Cultural Interest (monument category) in 1998, it has since been rehabilitated into an urban promenade and open viewpoint over the sea.

Address :Playa de las Almadrabillas, s/n, 04007 Almería

Phone :+34 950 210 538

Opening hours :

Archaeology

17 km from Alhama

Museo de Almería

The museum traces the prehistory of the province through two cultures born here: Los Millares, the great settlement of the 3rd millennium BC beside the river Andarax, and El Argar, which in the Bronze Age spread its influence across much of south-eastern Spain. It is one of the most complete archaeological collections in southern Spain.

The current building, opened in 2006 and designed by architects Ángela García de Paredes and Ignacio García Pedrosa, is organised around an enormous stratigraphic column running through its floors: each level of the story matches its historical stratum. The model of the Los Millares territory is one of the most memorable pieces of the visit.

Address :Ctra. de Ronda, 91, 04005 Almería

Phone :+34 950 016 256

Opening hours :Tue-Sat: 9am-9pm | Sun and holidays: 9am-3pm | Closed Mondays

Photography

16 km from Alhama

Centro Andaluz de la Fotografía

Founded in 1992, the CAF was the first public centre dedicated to photography in Spain. It holds an important archive of Andalusian photographers and programmes exhibitions that bring very different perspectives to Almería, from documentary work to author essays.

Since 2007 it has occupied the former Liceo, a 16th- and 17th-century building restored in the historic centre, with nearly 600 m² of galleries, plus workshops, a library and a screening room. Admission is free.

Address :C. Pintor Díaz Molina, 9, 04002 Almería

Phone :+34 950 186 360

Opening hours :Tue-Sun: 10am-2pm | Winter (Oct-May): 5:30pm-8:30pm | Summer (Jun-Sep): 6:30pm-9:30pm | Closed Mondays

National Monument

15 km from Alhama

Alcazaba de Almería

Built in the 10th century on the orders of Abderramán III, who in the year 955 granted Almería the rank of medina, it is one of the largest fortresses built by the Muslims on the Iberian Peninsula. The work was completed by the Taifa king Hayrán in the 11th century.

The complex is divided into three enclosures: the first two from the Andalusi period, and the third a Christian castle built by order of the Catholic Monarchs after the city was taken in 1489. Among walls and gardens, the views reach the port, the bay and the rooftops of the Almedina quarter.

Address :Calle Almanzor, s/n, 04002 Almería

Phone :+34 950 801 008

Opening hours :Winter (21 Sep-20 Mar): Tue-Sat 9am-6pm | Extended hours in summer | Closed Mondays

History

16 km from Alhama

Civil War Shelters

More than 4 km of galleries dug beneath the town centre to protect the population from the bombings of the Civil War. Designed by the municipal architect Guillermo Langle, they could hold around 40,000 people and even featured an operating theatre and a pantry.

The visitable section preserves the benches, the signage and the atmosphere of those years, some ten metres underground. They are considered one of the most extensive and best-preserved shelters of their kind in Europe.

Address :Plaza Manuel Pérez García, s/n

Phone :+34 950 268 696

Opening hours :Tue-Sat: 10:30am-1:30pm | Winter 5pm-8pm / Summer 6pm-9pm | Sun: 10:30am-1:30pm | Closed Mondays

Music & Lutherie

16 km from Alhama

Museo de la Guitarra

Antonio de Torres was born in Almería in 1817 and was the one who set the shape and proportions of the classical guitar as we know it today. His name is mentioned alongside that of Stradivarius, and this museum, opened in 2013, looks back at his figure and the history of the instrument.

Across three floors it combines guitars, documents and interactive resources to hear and understand how each piece sounds. The centre is also home to a school of lutherie that was a pioneer in Spain.

Address :Ronda del Beato Diego Ventaja, s/n

Phone :+34 950 274 358

Opening hours :Tue-Sat: 10:30am-1:30pm | Winter 5pm-8pm / Summer 6pm-9pm | Sun: 10:30am-1:30pm | Closed Mondays

Back to Almería

The Soul and the Matter

Cable Inglés

Museo de Almería

Centro Andaluz de la Fotografía

Alcazaba de Almería

Civil War Shelters

Museo de la Guitarra

The museums of Almería, in brief