Almunecar

About

Dating back to 800 BC when it was founded by the Phoenicians, the city’s long history has left this resort town strewn with historic monuments. Even today, the ancient necropolis and salting works still stand, inviting visitors to step into the distant past. And left behind from the Roman rule are an aqueduct and baths on the outskirts of the city. Within the Cueva de Siete Palacios, which predates even the Phoenicians, the Almuñécar Archaeological Museum has collected artefacts from surrounding site. The city’s strategic location made it appealing to the Muslims, who erected the San Miguel castle, which was later refortified under Christian rule. The area around the castle has retained its historic air, with cobbled streets and whitewashed houses, and courtyards full of flowers. The Renaissance Church of La Encarnación was designed by Juan de Herrera, and is the first church in the region to begin incorporating Baroque elements.