Adra

Adra is a coastal town in the province of Almería, in Andalusia, located in the Poniente Almeriense district, at the south-western end of the province, next to the boundary with Granada. Founded by the Phoenicians in the 8th century BC under the name of Abdera, it is considered the oldest city in the province, and in Roman times its port exported minerals from the nearby mountains as well as salted fish and a garum prized throughout the Empire. With some 24,000 inhabitants, its economy today rests mainly on agriculture, with more than 1,300 hectares under greenhouse cultivation, while the lagoons of the Albufera de Adra form a protected natural area by the sea. In sport, CF Adra is based in the town, and the Vuelta a España, the Vuelta a Andalucía and the Clásica de Almería have crossed its municipal area on several occasions. Adra was recognised by ACES Europe as European Town of Sport 2011, a title that places it within the Spanish representation of the ACES network.