Almeria is both a province and a city, the latter of which is dominated by the large Islamic fort of Alcazaba which remains as a reminder of Almeria’s heyday. Almeria has a long history marked by the several civilisations settled down in its territory over the ages. The first city to emerge in the Metal Ages, during the Calcolithic Period, is the town of Los Millares, apart from the former existence of a number of Palaeolithic sites in the province and important cave paintings from the Neolithic Age. In the Bronze Age, between 1700 and 1400 B. C. the Argar culture blooms around the Eastern part of the province.

Afterwards Almeria was incorporated to the Muslim kingdom of Granada, and the attempts by James II, King of Aragon, to conquer the city in 1308 were fruitless. Almost two hundred years had gone by when in 1489 the Catholic Kings freed Almeria from Muslim rule.In 1489, the city was taken over by the Catholic Monarchs and its Muslim populace expelled soon thereafter. In 1522, Almeria was devastated by an earthquake and rebuilding and recovery didn't really get underway until the 19th century.

During the Spanish Civil War Almeria was shelled by the German navy. It and Málaga were the last cities to surrender to Francisco Franco and the fascists. In the second half of the 20th century, Almería witnessed spectacular economic growth due to tourism and to its intensive agriculture, with plants grown year-round in massive 'invernaderos' - plastic-covered intensive farms. The silk industry in particular proved especially beneficial for Almeria, due to the area’s dry landscape; perfect for the growth of mulberry trees (a silkworm’s favourite food). Today its fertile fields, marble, research and tourism contribute to the economic activity of the province.