Vera is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

Almería province Almería (, , ) is a city and municipality of Spain, located in Andalusia. It is the capital of the province of the same name. It lies on southeastern Iberia on the Mediterranean Sea. Caliph Abd al-Rahman III founded the city in 955. The city g ...

, in the autonomous community of

Andalusia Andalusia (, ; es, Andalucía ) is the southernmost Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. It is officially recognised as a ...

, Spain. Today Vera is one of the most important commercial centres in the region, with a thriving traditional core and a number of supermarkets and commercial organisations spread along the ring road. Vera itself lies approximately inland from the coast, but the municipality extends to the sea shore. There, a tourist settlement, named Vera Playa, has been developed. This now forms the main economic activity of Vera. Since 1990, Vera Playa has developed into an important

naturist village A naturist resort or nudist resort is an establishment that provides accommodation (or at least camping space) and other amenities for guests in a context where they are invited to practise naturism – that is, a lifestyle of non-sexual soci ...

History

The earliest Carthaginian, Roman and Moorish settlement was at Baria, by the sea near Villaricos. But in the unsettled times of the early Middle Ages, the settlement was moved inland to the hill of Espiritu Santo, but an earthquake destroyed it in 1518. Following the earthquake it was rebuilt on the site it currently occupies, as a rectangular layout with eight towers and two gates. At the centre was the Parish Church of the Encarnación, built as a fortress to protect the village against pirates. In the late 19th century the town expanded due to mining activity in the region, but it subsequently declined until its recent development as a tourist centre.

Demographics

Vera Playa

Vera also has a long and wide beach with a large number of '' chiringuitos''. There are many new neighborhoods in construction and the population is growing. The weather is good all year long, and the area receives many holiday-makers. Vera Playa has a different postal code: 04621.

Naturism

The north of Vera Playa is known for its naturist area, one of the largest in Europe, with accommodation and nightlife. Since 1990, Vera Playa has developed into an important centre for

naturism Naturism is a lifestyle of practising non-sexual social nudity in private and in public; the word also refers to the cultural movement which advocates and defends that lifestyle. Both may alternatively be called nudism. Though the two terms ar ...

(nudism). There are several apartment complexes, including Natsun, La Manera, Bahia de Vera and Vera Natura, where naturism is officially permitted. The naturist complex is completely open and there are good parking facilities. About of beach have been reserved for naturists. The area of Vera Playa is a well known naturist area and includes one of Spain's naturist hotels (Vera Playa Club Hotel). On 21 July 2013 a local group called Vera Playa Friends organised a Guinness World Record attempt at the largest ever skinny dip. 729 naturists entered the sea at El Playazo beach at 12:00 noon beating the previous record of 506 set in New Zealand the previous year. Vera Mayor José Carmelo Jorge called the mass nude swim a "tremendous success". The event was organised by Vera Playa Friends in association with Vera Town hall and Tourist Office, also heavily involved were the Spanish Naturist Federation and the day chosen was the "day without swimsuits" with hundreds of Spanish naturists flocking to the beach . A local charity for children suffering from disabilities benefited from the Guinness World Record crowds .

Notes and references

External links

*
Vera
– Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía *
Vera
– Diputación Provincial de Almería *
Vera
– Información sobre Vera] *
Vera
– Ayuntamiento de Vera] {{authority control Municipalities in the Province of Almería Naturist resorts Naturism in Spain Nude beaches Populated coastal places in Spain