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Date Published: 21/05/2024

This popular Almeria tourist attraction will soon stop being free to visit

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New plans are underway to begin charging for entrance to previously free museums and monuments in Andalucía

This popular Almeria tourist attraction will soon stop being free to visit

While it may not have the fame of the Alhambra in Granada or as many visitors as the Alcazaba in Málaga, but the Alcazaba in Almería capital city has long been a hidden gem amongst the visitable historical landmarks in Andalucía.

Perhaps because it is not as well known, Almería’s Alcazaba castle and fortress, resting on a rocky outcrop overlooking the port city, surprises visitors when they first walk in.

It is well worth a visit if you have never been. Endless stone steps take you around a carefully curated Mediterranean garden, babbling with mini canals that weave between your feet as you walk. An unexpected delight.

Until now, admission to the Alcazaba of Almería has been free for all citizens and residents of the European Union, while those from other countries had to pay €1.50. But that is soon set to change.

The Regional Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport is processing an order to update the public prices that will apply to museums, ensembles and cultural sites managed and/or owned by the regional government. These include the Alcazaba Monumental Complex in Almería, as well as the archaeological sites of Los Millares, Villaricos and Puerta de Almería, the castle of Vélez-Blanco and centres such as the Museum of Almería and the Andalusian Centre of Photography (CAF), to name but a few.

According to the draft order, general admission to the Alcazaba of Almería will cost 5 euros. This is in the second of three price brackets; on the more expensive side, the Madinat Al Zahra in Córdoba, the Dolmens of Antequera and the Museum of Málaga will all soon cost 8 euros to get in, while other monuments and museums will charge 3 euros.

While there will be a series of exceptions and price reductions for certain groups, there is no planned provision for free admission if you live in Andalucía or in the province of Almería.

Entrance to the Museum of Almería (formerly the Archaeological Museum of Almería) will also cost 5 euros. It should be noted that this space, despite being free at present, is one of the least visited of all those managed by the Junta de Andalucía. In 2023 it received 46,499 visitors, making it the twelfth of the 19 that make up the regional museum network.

Pending the publication of the draft of the order, the price of the rest of the monuments and museums in Almeria managed by the Junta de Andalucía is unknown, but they would be between 3 and 5 euros.

The aim of charging to visit Andalusian monuments and museums is to “increase investment in cultural institutions,” according to the economic report accompanying the new measure. The cost of the tickets would go towards the “restoration and conservation of the collections”, “action on infrastructures” and the “acquisition of new funds for the permanent collections”, expenses that until now have been covered under the umbrella of the annual budget.

In the case of the Alcazaba of Almería, taking into account that in the last ten years it has averaged 226,321 visitors per year, with an entrance fee of 5 euros it would raise just over 1.13 million euros per year. This is assuming that the entrance fee does not have a dissuasive effect or, at least, a significant reduction in visits.

The Alcazaba is currently undergoing important renovation work, for which additional funds are of vital importance.

The Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport’s forecast is that a total of 7.8 million euros will be raised from entrance fees to all the cultural venues it manages.

Free admission four days a month

The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport, Arturo Bernal, said that the charging of entrance fees “is a common measure throughout Spain”, arguing that “universal access” to culture “does not mean free access”.

Bernal explained that there will be a series of exemptions to the entrance fee. There will be four days a month, or one day per week, when admission is free, but it is not yet known which day that will be. Access will also be free for children under 18, the over 65s, retired people, the unemployed, and people with a degree of disability of at least 33% (together with their companion if they are dependent). Also included in the free admission are holders of the European Youth Card, as well as teachers accompanying students, official guides, members of the corresponding boards, etc. There will also be a reduced price of 50% for large families with three or more children.

Admission will also be free on certain specific celebrations such as Andalucía Day, International Museum Day, International Tourism Day and the day on which the European Heritage Days are held.

Images: Consejería de Turismo, Cultura y Deporte

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