ALMUNECAR

Almunecar, situated in the province of Granada, within the coastline now designated as the Costa Tropical, lies amidst orchards of tropical fruits. It presents a very picturesque scene, typical of so many villages to be found in southern Spain, with a cluster of whitewashed houses rising up the hillside, crowned by an old castle Its history goes back to the time of the Phoenicians, with subsequent occupation by the Romans and the Moors.

The Castillo de San Miguel stands on top of a tall rock, dividing two bays. It was built during the reign of Carlos V, over the site of a former Moorish fortress, and features a great square tower known as La Mazmorra. The town itself is a delightful jumble of narrow, cobble-stoned streets, climbing steeply up to the summit.

Do not miss a visit to the Ornithological Park located at the foot of the hill. Here you can see brilliantly coloured parrots and rare species of birds in a beautiful setting of subtropical plants and flowers. The seafront is lined with apartment blocks, bars and restaurants, with a lively scene by day and night, during the season.

Also worth a visit is the small archaeological museum housed in the Cueva de los Siete Palacios, thought to have been a Roman reservoir for water. The museum has a display of artifacts from the area. A lookout post at nearby Punta de la Mona offers sweeping views of the harbor and the Mediterranean.