Vera, Spain

Vera, Almería, Spain
General view
Flag Seal
Coordinates: 37°15′N 1°52′W
Country	Spain
Community	Andalusia
Province	Almería
Government
• Mayor	José Carmelo Jorge Blanco (Partido Popular PP)
Area
• Total	58 km^2 (22 sq mi)
Elevation	97 m (318 ft)
Population  (2018)[1]
• Total	15,837
• Density	270/km^2 (710/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)

Fortified church of the Encarnación, as seen across the Central Square

Vera is a municipality of Almería province, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain. Today Vera is one of the most important commercial centres in the region^{[citation needed]}, with a thriving traditional core and a number of supermarkets and commercial organisations spread along the ring road. Vera itself lies approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) 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^{[citation needed]}. Since 1990, Vera Playa has developed into an important^{[citation needed]} naturist village.

History

The earliest Carthaginian, Roman and Muslim settlement was at Baria, by the sea near Villaricos^{[citation needed]}. But in the unsettled times of the early Middle Ages the settlement was moved inland to the hill of Espíritu Santo but an earthquake destroyed it in 1518 [1]. Following the earthquake it was rebuilt on the site it currently occupies [2] 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 Barbary 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^{[citation needed]}.

Demographics

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±%
1999	6,926	—
2000	6,930	+0.1%
2001	7,351	+6.1%
2002	7,970	+8.4%
2003	8,717	+9.4%
2004	9,504	+9.0%
2005	10,439	+9.8%
2011	14,689	+40.7%
2012	15,010	+2.2%
2013	15,424	+2.8%
2014	15,018	−2.6%
2015	15,108	+0.6%
2016	15,168	+0.4%
2017	15,528	+2.4%
2018	15,837	+2.0%
Source: INE (Spain)

Vera Playa

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

Naturism

The north of Vera Playa is known for its naturist area^{[citation needed]}, one of the largest in Europe, with accommodation and nightlife. Since 1990, Vera Playa has developed into an important centre for naturism (nudism).^[2] 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 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) 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 ^{[citation needed]}. A local charity for children suffering from disabilities benefited from the Guinness World Record crowds ^{[citation needed]}.

Notes and references

1. Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
2. Jeffrey Aleksandr Seminoff (2003). Proceedings of the Twenty-Second Annual Symposium on Sea Turtle Biology and Conservation: 4 to 7 April 2002, Miami, Florida, USA. National Marine Fisheries Service.

External links

• (in Spanish) Vera – Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía
• (in Spanish) Vera – Diputación Provincial de Almería
• (in Spanish) Vera – Información sobre Vera]
• (in Spanish) Vera – Ayuntamiento de Vera]