What is John Lennon doing in Almeria?

No visit to Almería is complete without a walk around its fantastic old town, or as it’s known in Spanish, Casco Antiguo. But you may be shocked to discover that smack bang in the middle is a statue of John Lennon.

Lennon, taking a break from the Beatles, was asked to play Musketeer Gripweed in Denis O’Dells film How I Won the War. Filming took place during the autumn of 1966 in the German state of Lower Saxony, at the Bergen-Hohne Training Area, Verden an der Aller, and Achim, as well as the province of Almería in Spain. During Lennon’s time in Almería, he composed Strawberry Fields Forever, which the statue pays tribute to.

The life-size statue was initially installed on Avenida Federico García Lorca but is now located in Plaza de las Flores.

No one leaves a visit to the Casco Antiguo without a selfie with the statue, and even a small queue can form in the early evening in summer.

But there’s more to see close by. Explore the grand Alcazaba, a Moorish fortress offering stunning views of the city and sea, visit Almería Cathedral and experience the amazing Gothic-Renaissance architecture. You could wander down Calle de las Tiendas and spend a few euros on this historic street, filled with charming shops and boutiques or discover the Refugios de la Guerra Civil, underground shelters from the Spanish Civil War. Finally, when you’re worn out from taking selfies with John Lennon, shopping, and history, relax in Plaza Vieja with a coffee or even a beer, wine, and tapas, and do some people-watching.