Adra, Spain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Adra
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Adra, Spain Location in Province of Almería Show map of Province of Almería Adra, Spain Location in Andalusia Show map of Andalusia Adra, Spain Location in Spain Show map of Spain
Country	Spain
Community	Andalusia
Province	Almería
Comarca	Poniente Almeriense
Municipality	Adra
Area
• Total	90.05 km2 (34.77 sq mi)
Elevation	20 m (66 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	24,859
• Density	276.058/km2 (714.99/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Abderitano
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Website	adra.es

Adra is a town in the Almería province of Spain. It was known as Abdera in ancient times. Adra is a municipality, which means it's a local government area. The town is located by the sea in the region of Andalusia.

History of Adra

City Centre, March 2011

Typical street in Adra, March 2011

Adra has a long and interesting history. It was first started by the Phoenicians. They were ancient people who were great traders. They built Adra as a trading colony. Later, the town became very important under the Roman Empire.

Adra was the last place in Spain where the Moors had power. In January 1492, the Moorish forces led by Boabdil were defeated here. This battle ended the Moors' rule in Spain.

In the 1500s, strong walls were built to protect the town. Some parts of these old walls can still be seen today.

People and Population

Adra is home to many people. In 2020, about 25,412 people lived there. This number comes from the official census by the National Institute of Statistics.

In 2005, about 5.2% of the people living in Adra were born in other countries. Most of these people, about 49%, came from Morocco.

More and more people are choosing to live in the main part of Adra. In 2017, about 80% of the town's population lived in the urban center.

Culture and Festivals

Adra has a rich culture with museums and lively festivals.

Adra Museum

The Adra Museum is a great place to learn about history. It has three rooms filled with items from the Phoenician, Punic, and Roman times. These exhibits help visitors understand the past in a fun way. The museum also hosts special exhibitions. You can even buy copies of old artifacts in the museum shop.

Near the museum, there is an old mill called El Molino del Lugar. It was built around 1814 and has been restored. This mill is now part of the museum and shows how people used to live.

Local Fairs and Celebrations

Adra's fair is one of the biggest in the province of Almería. It takes place every year from September 5th to 10th. Many people from Adra and visitors come together to celebrate.

• September 8th: This day honors la Virgen del Mar, who is the town's patron saint. A special procession takes place.
• September 10th: This day celebrates San Nicolás de Tolentino. There is a procession through the old town, known as el Barrio.
• April 25th: Farmers in Adra celebrate San Marcos. This festival is so important that it's an official tourist event in Andalucía.
• July 16th: This day is for Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the patron saint of fishermen. A unique procession happens on boats in the water.

Adra also has bazaars twice a month. They are held on Saturdays in a carpark next to the Sports Center and the I.E.S Abdera School.

Albufera de Adra Wetland

The Albufera de Adra is a special wetland area. Wetlands are places where land is covered by water, like marshes or swamps. This site is so important that it's on the Ramsar list. This list includes wetlands around the world that are important for nature.

Even though it's a protected nature reserve, the land around it is used for farming.

See also

In Spanish: Adra para niños