There is a small fishing town in Almería that remains quiet, a haven of peace for the few curious visitors who come to its shores. However, it will soon be famous throughout Spain for being the representative of Andalusia in The Summer Grand Prix 2026. We tell you why you have to visit Balanegra before it becomes overcrowded.
This charming coastal enclave of crystal-clear beaches was, for a long time, a refuge for fishermen. In 2015 it received the title of independent municipality, but its seafaring essence has been preserved intact to this day, with the Mediterranean breaking on its shore of black sand and whitewashed houses.
Not in vain, this beach is the town's greatest privilege. Balanegra has more than two kilometers of dark sand and clear, calm waters, flanked by the Paseo Marítimo and natural undeveloped beaches that, thanks to their cleanliness and authenticity, have earned the Blue Flag distinction.
Alhamilla Tower
This town is very exposed to the open sea and, in the time of the pirates, required protection. For this reason, it has the remains of a Nasrid defensive tower from the 13th and 15th centuries known as the Torre de Alhamilla. It is not the most curious thing in the town: it is beaten by the church of Santiago Apostol, a reference for religious urban art in Spain with a Catholic graffiti made in 2013.
As a good fishing port, its gastronomy is based above all on fish and there is no better place to try it than El Chambao, a beach bar where they serve quality with elegant, original and different presentation. Their grilled octopus is a spectacle.
