"Hasta la vista" is a Spanish expression that literally translates to "until we see you." It's used as a farewell greeting and means something like "see you later," "see you later," or "farewell." The routes under the Hasta la Vista umbrella all have in common that they head towards the Spanish sun, and along the way you'll encounter (almost) forgotten sights, refresh your memories, and relive the joy.

Cehegín is a charming and lively village with a wide variety of rural houses and churches. Various routes have been established: the Route of the Churches, with enclaves as impressive as the Renaissance church of Santa María Magdalena and the hermitage of the Immaculate Conception, both declared national monuments.
The city center is considered one of the best preserved in the region. It's the oldest and most traditional part of the city: cluttered, narrow streets and alleys, dotted with a few passageways, enormous squares, and monuments. There are shops, several good restaurants, and cozy bars. After refueling, head south towards Lorca.

Lorca boasts an intriguing 10th-century castle, which houses a Parador hotel, and an impressive Plaza de España. The city is known as the "Baroque City" because of its numerous Baroque monuments in its historic center. In 2011, the city was severely affected by two earthquakes, killing nine people and causing (severe) damage to many buildings.
Above the old town, built into the mountainside, stands the castle. It is one of the largest fortifications in Spain, measuring 640 meters long and 120 meters wide! The defensive walls are of Moorish origin, but the two towers were built by the Christians. From the castle, you have an incredible view of the city. The centerpiece of the old town is the (renovated) synagogue, part of which is buried underground.
Lorca had its back to the river, but the Manterola pedestrian bridge came to the rescue. The bridge connects the old town with the new town, situated further afield. Around the beautiful little square, Plaza de España, are several noteworthy buildings, including the 16th/17th-century San Patricio Cathedral with its beautiful Baroque portal and the Casa Consistorial, the town hall from the 17th/18th century. The Pósito de Panaderos (Peasant Farmhouse) was used for the storage and distribution of grain. The square boasts numerous local bars, where you can easily find a spot for a coffee.

Sorbas is an exceptionally impressive village. It is situated on a small plateau above the Río Aguas, and its white houses practically hang over the ravine, above the river Aguas. Among the maze of narrow and steep streets of Moorish origin are several viewpoints—Porche, Castillo, Calvario, and Torreta—from which you can admire the hanging houses and the beautiful surrounding landscape. The town boasts one of the largest gypsum mines in the world. From the ports of Garrucha and Carboneras, it is exported worldwide. Sorbas is famous for its pottery, made from red clay sourced locally. In the central square of Sorbas, you will find the most important monuments: the Santa María Church, built in the 16th century on top of an old mosque and featuring many Mudéjar, Baroque, and Neoclassical elements; the Town Hall; the houses of the Duke of Alba, the Duke of Valois, and the Duke of Marqués del Carpio; and the Villaespesa Theatre.
Just a few kilometers outside Sorbas, the Karst and Yesos de Sorbas Nature Reserve, covering over 2,000 hectares, is one of Almeria's biggest tourist attractions. This is no wonder, as it's the best example of a karst formation in Spain and one of the most important in Europe. This geological gem, a stalactite formation in a gypsum plateau, is a product of rainwater falling over thousands of years.

Lucainena de las Torre, a great place for lunch, has just 600 inhabitants and lies at the foot of the Sierra Alhamila. This small, beautiful mountain village was founded under the rule of the Roman Empire. The Moors gave it a defensive wall and seven towers to protect it from incursions. In 1505, the first church was built on the ruins of the former mosque. After the Moors left, the village remained uninhabited until the 16th century, when 19 settlers arrived to settle it. The village grew until it had a population of 2,455 in 1900. In the 19th century, much of the surrounding land was reclaimed from the old feudal masters and the church and given to the local population. After this, agriculture and mining flourished, resulting in a thriving industry in the area thanks to newly built clothing and soap factories, wind and watermills, potteries, and distilleries.
The pristine whitewashed walls are dotted with colorful flowerpots, which the locals take great care of year-round. As you walk through the village center, be sure to look out for the 18th-century church and the old washhouse, where villagers gathered to wash their clothes and drink fresh water.
Mirador del Garruchete, offering stunning mountain views. Mirador del Poyo de la Cruz is a well-maintained lookout point with benches where you can enjoy the panoramic view for hours. East of the village lies the famous Juagarí Ravine, home to hot springs with numerous stories of miracles.

Tabernas is an elongated Roman town with a Moorish appearance, surmounted by the ruins of a 14th-century Moorish castle, which was the second most important in the province after Almeria. The 15th-century Mudéjar church is also worth a visit.

Would you also like to take a look at the desert? About 7 km from Tabernas lies the last remaining (semi-)desert in Europe. A bone-dry area of 280 km² with year-round sunshine and the least rainfall in all of Europe! Only a few days per year see heavy downpours. Temperatures here range from -5°C to 48°C. This has resulted in a spectacular landscape with impressive rock formations, ravines, steep gullies, barren slopes with ochre hues, and the occasional palm tree, cacti, and succulent. The desert is dotted with numerous dry riverbeds (ramblas), which create a unique microclimate that is more humid than anywhere else in this otherwise parched landscape. Here you'll see reeds, oleanders, and tamarisks. There are also numerous springs, but the water they produce has a high salt content and is not suitable for drinking. This rugged landscape may not seem like it has much wildlife, but along the edges of the seasonal rivers there are many reptiles and birds, including eagles.

Filmmakers have long been drawn to the landscape, with its similar appearance to the North American Wild West. Many Spaghetti Westerns, such as Lawrence of Arabis and A Fistful of Dollars, have been filmed there in the last century. More recently, Game of Thrones was filmed in the desert gorges known as the Rambla del Cautivo and La Rambla del Buho near the village of Tabernas. Several film sets can be visited here: Mini-Holywood, the smaller Texas Hollywood, 2 km from Tabernas, and Western Leone nearby.

And you're nearing your destination. Almeria, the easternmost capital of Andalusia, is situated at the foot of a mountain range crowned by the magnificent Alcazaba. The city enjoys a warm climate in both summer and winter. At first, you might think Almería is "just" a large port. But upon closer inspection, it's a pleasant place to stroll through. With its white houses and flat roofs, surrounded by an ochre-colored desert, the city is reminiscent of North Africa.
Almeria was already an important Mediterranean port in Roman times as "Portus Magnus." It was also an important port under the Caliphate of Cordoba, exporting silk, cotton, and brocade from the port. Almería then had its "golden age." Ferries to Morocco and Algeria now depart from the port. Stroll along the seafront Parque Nicolás Salmerón (the oldest park in the region and city) with its palm trees, fountains, and gardens. Here, djellaba-clad men gather to drink their mint tea. They work in the surrounding greenhouses that have made Almería so prosperous. The region is a leader in agriculture, and the entire area is surrounded by horticultural greenhouses.
The city's sights include the Alcazaba, the cathedral, the Plaza de la Constitución, the Santiago Church and a Moorish underground water reservoir (aljibe) and the underground shelters (refugios) of Almería, built during the Spanish Civil War.