Almeria was originally a strong hold for the Moors during the Caliphate ruling. As in most places in Andalusia, the Moors built a large Islamic fort, known as the Alcazaba, which dominates and overlooks the city and port as a reminder of Almeria's Islamic past, when it was one of the major ports for the Cordoba caliphate.
It became wealthy on its trade and textile industry producing silk woven from the silkworms of the Alpujarras mountains.
In 1489, the city fell to the Catholic Monarchs and the Muslim population were expelled soon after.
In 1522, Almería was destroyed by an earthquake and the rebuilding and recovery of the city, didn't get underway until the 19th century.
Almeria now is a very popular holiday destination for northern Europeans.