Phoenicians, Romans, and fish sauce
The town is one of the oldest on the coast. The Phoenicians established a trading post here and named it Sexi. Under the Romans, the town became famous throughout the empire for its garum, a potent fish sauce produced in large salting vats. The remains of the salting factory can still be seen in Parque El Majuelo in the heart of town.
The Romans also built an aqueduct that brought water from the Río Verde into the town. Several of the arches are still standing, and some of them continue to channel water out to the orchards.
The Moors and 1489
In 755, Abd ar-Rahman I landed at Almuñécar. He later founded the Emirate of Córdoba, and his landing is considered a turning point in Spain's Moorish-Andalusian history. During the Moorish period, the castle on the hill served as the town's fortress and seat of government.
In 1489, the town surrendered to Castile. The cross on the Peñón del Santo rock by the beach marks the event – and today it stands as one of the town's best viewpoints.
The town today
The old town climbs the hillside below the Castillo de Miguel with its narrow, whitewashed streets. Towards the water lie the beach promenades, and to the west – on the other side of Playa Tropical – lies La Herradura with its horseshoe-shaped bay.
