The region of the Levante of Almeria is the easternmost area in the province of Almeria and is composed of 13 municipalities: Vera, Turre, Sorbas, Pulpi, Mojacar, Lubrin, Los Gallardos, Huercal-Overa, Garrucha, Cuevas del Almanzora, Carboneras, Bedar and Antas.
This region attracts a great tourist interest given the diversity that its geography offers and the kindness that its excellent climate gives, which has turned its coastal towns into authentic tourist centers of the finest quality.
There is clear evidence of the presence of Palaeolithic peoples in the area. Then came the Neolithic communities where knowledge was cultivated in the areas of agriculture and livestock. Later, with the arrival of the Age of Metals, techniques were developed and perfected that made it possible to take full advantage of the minerals present in the area.
The landscape transformation began to consolidate with the arrival of the Phoenicians, the Punic and the Romans. This Almeria region finished acquiring its configuration with the passage of the Muslims and finally after the Christian reconquest.
These primitive human vestiges remained as evidence at several archaeological sites, such as El Argar. The site is located in Antas and the study done there has been essential in knowing the prehistory of the Iberian Peninsula. It has also helped teach us about the birth of the most important culture of the Bronze Age in Europe, the Argaric. This culture that has been able to be studies thanks to the excellent state of conservation of these archaeological remains.
The most developed towns of the Eastern Mediterranean were attracted by the mineral wealth of the area, which later became the coast of the Levante of Almeria. It was lively with commercial activity during the Phoenician and Carthaginian domination. The increase of the population caused a greater development of the livestock and agriculture, allowing not just a salt industry, but an industry regarding ceramics. This was until the shipyards for manufacturing marine ships came about.
During part of the Roman domination these activities were maintained, but they declined during the crisis of the 3rd century. This caused the inhabitants of the Levante of Almeria to return to more rural activities and abandoned any mining action. They left behind a depopulated coast, mainly due to fear of the Byzantine pirates.
In the 8th century, a new stage began for the Levante of Almeria with the arrival of Muslim colonization. At the same time, a war was waged between the North African people and the Christians who imposed their rule towards the north. All this tense climate kept the coast uninhabited, while the Muslims were located inland on high surfaces where they created buildings.
The Levante of Almeria has been home to different civilizations propagating their respective cultures, which is why many consider it to be true museum zone. Each corner offers a history of invaluable value.
The strategic location of its coast has made it the scene of innumerable battles and invasions, all with the purpose of acquiring territorial control. Fortresses, castles, towers and turrets have been built on its land, as well as all kinds of defensive constructions. On this land countless archaeological sites have been found that give us an idea of what life was like in the past.
The landscape is made up of an exotic semi-arid beauty that mixes with the traces left behind by the civilizations that once dominated the area, resulting in a magical place where history speaks for itself.