a sea-port town in the kingdom of Granada in Spain, pleasantly situated in a fine bay at the mouth of the river Almeria, on the Mediterranean: W. Long. 3° 20' N. Lat. 36° 51'. This town is by some thought to have risen upon the ruins of the ancient Abdera, and was formerly a place of great consequence. It was taken from the Moors in 1147, by the emperor Conrad III. in conjunction with the French, Genoese, and Pisans.—It was at that time the strongest place in Spain, held by the infidels; from which their privateers, which were exceedingly numerous, not only troubled the sea-coasts inhabited by the Christians, but gave equal disturbance to the maritime provinces of France, Italy, and the adjacent islands. The city being well fortified, having a strong castle, a numerous garrison, and being excellently provided with every thing necessary, made a vigorous resistance; but was at last taken by storm, when the victor put to the sword all the inhabitants who were found in arms, distributing the best part of the plunder among his allies. Almeria lies, whom he sent away thoroughly satisfied. The Genoese, particularly, acquired here that emerald vessel which still remains in their treasury, and is deemed invaluable.

Upon its reduction by the Christians Almeria became a bishopric; but is at present very little better than a village, indifferently inhabited, and has nothing to testify so much as the probability of its former greatness, except certain circumstances which cannot be effaced even by the indolence of the Spaniards themselves. What these are, Udal ap Rhys, a Welshman, thus describes, in his tour through Spain and Portugal. "Its climate (says he) is so peculiarly blest, that one really wants words to express its charms and excellence. Its fields and meads are covered with flowers all the year round; they are adorned also with palms, myrtles, plane-trees, oranges, and olives; and the mountains and promontories near it are as noted for their producing a great variety of precious stones, inasmuch that the next promontory to it is called the Cape of Gates, which is a corruption from the word agates, the hills therabouts abounding in that sort of precious stones, as well as in emeralds and amethysts, granites or coarse rubies, and extreme curious alabaster in the mountains of Filaures."