HISTORY

During the Muslim period it was when Almeria reached its peak, especially in the XI-XII centuries, after the fall of the Caliphate of Córdoba, becoming a populous center of civilization. This time, the Alcazaba is the most important legacy that endures to this day, and other debris like mezquita Mayor, Arab Rain tanks or Jairán walls.

The first reliable news about the Muslim Almeria date back to the ninth century, when Abd al-Rahman entrusted with monitoring the coast to a group of Yemenis in order to prevent the landing of the Normans. Together with the local population, a republic based marine Pechina was formed, and whose prosperity was based on trade, especially in North Africa. Pechina magnified and acquired characteristics of real city, with Almería in the IX and X 1st half centuries, maritime Bayyana neighborhood inhabited by traders and fishermen a lookout or watchtower so easily control tower bay.

The watchtower stood at the top of the Cerro de la Alcazaba, in what today is the third enclosure. This watchtower or vantage point comes the name of the city: Al-mariyat Bayyana, the watchtower of Pechina.

After the victorious battle against the rebels mozárabes, “Abd al-Rahman III (912-961), decided to move the capital of the cora of Pechina, and called watchtower of Pechina received the title of” city “. Greater Mosque was founded and attached to the fortress wall was built. The city, was set around a walled core, the Medina, where the Great Mosque or Aljama, the Alcaicería and Zoco Atarazanas and concentrated.The religious and commercial center, which enfold the suburbs, Al-Hawd and La Musalla, forming independent cities, where the population is grouped by origin, beliefs and crafts. In 1009-10 Civil War began, and the city takes on one of the most flourishing Taifa. With the disintegration of the Caliphate, the death of Hisham II, Jairán seizes the city, independent of Córdoba and converts Kingdom of Taifa. Jairán expanded and strengthened the fortress, Almotacín reached the fleeting glory to surround himself with writers and poets in his small court ilustrada.En this eleventh century, Almería was the international port of Al-Andalus. The product that was exported silk, excellent quality and large variety of tissues, which brought fame to the city with its many looms. Almería, despite everything, could not cope with the Almoravids, and subsequently the economic splendor attracted the attention of the Christian kingdoms, commanding the troops of Alfonso VII. The capture of the city by the Christians reconquered almohades was held in 1147. Ten years later in 1157. This brief conquest of the city, was a financial loss.

After the Almohad, enters the Nazarite period in the thirteenth century in Almeria, participating in this continuing internal struggles he had to face the United Nazari. Finally, through the 1488 and 1489 campaigns, Almeria straddles the Spanish sovereignty, and is the December 26, 1489, when Christian troops enter the city.