Published 03 May 2026 | Community

TL;DR: Almeria’s landscapes and local film crews are gaining fresh international attention after Lee Cronin’s The Mummy used locations across the province to recreate Cairo and New Mexico.

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy used Almeria to recreate Cairo and New Mexico

Several locations across Almeria province were used during filming for Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, once again placing the region in front of a global cinema audience.

From historic streets in the city of Almeria to desert scenery near Tabernas and rural areas around Pechina, the production used the province’s unusual visual range to double for places thousands of kilometres away. In the finished film, parts of Almeria were transformed into scenes set in Cairo and New Mexico.

For locals, it is another reminder that this province is not only a popular place to live and visit — it remains one of Europe’s most valuable natural film sets.

Watch the official trailer:

Which parts of Almeria were used?

According to local production reports, filming took place during June 2025 in several recognisable locations across the province.

• Areas near the Alcazaba of Almeria
• Pescaderia-La Chanca
• Plaza Pavia
• The School of Arts area in the city
• Tabernas Desert
• Sierra Alhamilla near Pechina

These settings were adapted through set design, props and camera work to portray both urban Middle Eastern scenes and landscapes from the American Southwest.

That ability to shift from one world to another is one of Almeria’s biggest strengths. Within a relatively short driving distance, productions can access deserts, mountains, coastline, villages, historic architecture and open countryside.

Why film productions keep returning to Almeria

Few places in Europe offer the combination of space, climate and light found in Almeria. The province enjoys many dry, bright days each year, making planning easier for film crews. It also offers dramatic scenery without the higher costs often associated with larger production centres.

For directors and location scouts, that flexibility matters. A single province can replace multiple countries or landscapes, saving time and simplifying logistics.

Modern productions also benefit from growing local experience. Almeria now has technicians, set builders, transport providers, accommodation networks and support companies familiar with international filming requirements.

Almeria’s long cinematic history

Almeria’s relationship with cinema did not begin with modern streaming platforms or horror films. The province became internationally famous during the 1960s and 1970s when major westerns were filmed in the area.

The dry landscapes around Tabernas became legendary after productions such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, A Fistful of Dollars and many other spaghetti western classics used the region to stand in for the American frontier.

Stars such as Clint Eastwood, Henry Fonda and Lee Van Cleef worked in landscapes that many viewers still associate with the Wild West.

Beyond westerns, Almeria has also appeared in epics, adventure films, television series, music videos and commercials. Its cinematic identity has continued to evolve rather than disappear.

What this means for the local economy

Film shoots bring more than publicity. They create direct spending across many sectors of the local economy.

Hotels host cast and crew. Restaurants provide catering. Drivers, electricians, carpenters, security staff, equipment suppliers and many others can all benefit when major productions arrive.

There is also long-term value. A successful international release can place Almeria in front of millions of viewers who may later search for filming locations or consider visiting the province themselves.

Early box office numbers suggest a solid launch

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy opened with $13.5 million in the United States and Canada during its first weekend, finishing third at the box office. The film also added $20.9 million internationally across 78 markets in its early release period. According to public box office reports, worldwide takings later climbed to around $80 million against a reported production budget of $22 million.

For Almeria, that matters because successful international releases can keep filming locations in the spotlight for longer, potentially creating more interest in the province’s cinema history and future productions.

Could Lee Cronin’s The Mummy create film tourism interest?

Possibly. Film tourism has grown worldwide as travellers increasingly visit places they first discovered on screen.

Almeria already benefits from this trend thanks to its western heritage and Tabernas studios. If Lee Cronin’s The Mummy becomes a global hit, it could introduce a new generation of viewers to the province’s scenery and film legacy.

Even when audiences do not realise exactly where scenes were shot, the atmosphere and landscapes often create curiosity later.

Final thoughts

In Lee Cronin’s The Mummy, viewers may believe they are seeing Cairo streets or New Mexico landscapes. In reality, much of that cinematic illusion was created in Almeria province.

That is something the region has been doing for decades: becoming somewhere else on screen while quietly building its own reputation behind the camera.

For Almeria, this latest production is not an isolated success story. It is part of a long tradition that continues to bring culture, jobs and international attention to the province.

Want more local updates, cultural stories and regional developments? Explore our latest Community coverage.

Published 01 May 2026 | Community

TL;DR: Funbox, promoted as the world’s largest inflatable park, has opened at Torrecardenas Shopping Center in Almeria. The temporary attraction runs until June 7 and brings slides, obstacle zones and family-friendly sessions to the city.

Funbox opens in Almeria at Torrecardenas with giant inflatable park

Almeria has welcomed a colourful new attraction this spring as Funbox opens at Torrecardenas Shopping Center. Known internationally as a large-scale inflatable experience, the pop-up park is now running in the city from May 1 until June 7.

For families looking for something different, teenagers with energy to burn, or adults wanting a playful group activity, it adds a fresh option to the local leisure scene.

What is Funbox?

Funbox is a large inflatable activity park covering more than 4,000 square metres. Visitors can expect oversized slides, jumping areas, obstacle courses, climbing challenges and soft play-style zones designed around movement and fun.

The attraction is built as an active experience rather than a traditional fairground. That means more running, climbing, bouncing and group participation.

Why it matters for Almeria

Temporary attractions like this can bring extra footfall to Almeria shopping and leisure areas, especially during weekends and school holiday periods. It also gives residents and visitors another indoor-style entertainment option beyond beaches, cafés and cinema plans.

For families in particular, that can be useful on hotter days, windy days or when children simply need space to move.

What visitors should know

Funbox is located at Torrecardenas Shopping Center, one of Almeria’s main retail destinations with parking, restaurants and easy road access.

Before visiting, it is sensible to check official schedules, age rules and ticket availability, especially for weekends or busy afternoon sessions.

For current opening times, ticket prices and availability, visit the official Funbox Almeria booking page: Funbox Almeria official tickets and information.

Is it worth visiting?

If you have children, visiting family, or want a different group activity in Almeria, Funbox is likely to be one of the more entertaining temporary options this spring. It is active, social and something different from the usual routine.

As a limited-time event, it may also be one of those attractions best enjoyed while it is here.

Want to discover more local updates, changes, openings and useful news from across the province? Browse the latest stories in our Community section.

Published March 13, 2026 | Community

TL;DR: Almeria Airport handled 42,092 passengers in February 2026, with international traffic rising 61% driven by strong demand from the UK market.

Almeria Airport traffic jumps as international flights grow by 61%

Almeria Airport started 2026 with solid passenger growth, driven mainly by a strong increase in international travel. According to data published by Aena, the airport handled 42,092 passengers in February 2026, representing a 2.9% increase compared to February 2025.

This equals a daily average of around 1,503 passengers passing through the airport.

The vast majority of travellers used commercial flights. In total, 42,003 passengers travelled on scheduled services, while the remainder used general or executive aviation.

International travel grows rapidly

The most notable change came from the international market. While domestic routes still dominate traffic, international flights grew sharply.

Out of the total commercial passengers:

• 32,700 passengers travelled between Almeria and other Spanish cities
• 9,303 passengers travelled on international routes

The international segment recorded an impressive 60.8% increase compared to the same month in 2025.

The main driver behind this growth was the UK market. In February alone, 8,915 passengers travelled between Almeria and British destinations — a 77.2% increase year-on-year.

This surge follows the launch of two new winter routes to the United Kingdom: Bristol and Liverpool. Both routes started operating at the beginning of the winter season and significantly boosted international connectivity for the province.

Aircraft movements at the airport

During February, 806 aircraft movements were recorded at Almeria Airport. Of these, 506 were commercial flights, with the remainder consisting of training, private or other aviation activity.

Strong start to 2026 overall

Looking at the first two months of the year combined, Almeria Airport handled 77,470 passengers between January and February 2026. This represents a 6.8% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

During this period:

• 61,964 passengers travelled on domestic routes
• 15,305 passengers travelled internationally

In total, the airport recorded 1,503 aircraft movements in the first two months of the year, of which 962 were commercial operations.

Aena network performance

Across the wider Aena airport network, February 2026 also showed continued growth.

Aena operates 46 airports and two heliports in Spain, along with London Luton Airport and 17 airports in Brazil. Together they handled 25.4 million passengers in February, representing a 3.7% increase compared with February 2025.

The network recorded 218,751 aircraft movements and transported nearly 120,000 tonnes of cargo during the month.

For the first two months of 2026 combined, Aena airports handled more than 51 million passengers, confirming continued growth in air travel across the network.

Within Spain alone, Aena airports handled 20.5 million passengers in February, an increase of 2.8% compared to the same month last year.

According to Aena, a small part of this increase was linked to disruptions in Spain’s high-speed rail network earlier in the year, which temporarily shifted some travellers to air routes between major cities such as Madrid, Málaga, Seville and Barcelona.

Follow the latest local updates, infrastructure developments and community news across the province in our Community section.