Torrevieja

Originally a small fishing village resting at the foot of a coastal watchtower, Torrevieja, which literally translates as 'Old Tower', now serves as a popular tourist destination in the heart of the Costa Blanca. Situated in the district of Vega Baja, and with a population of almost 90,000 inhabitants, Torrevieja has expanded a lot since its humble days as a local port of call for fishermen. Indeed, there is no denying that the Spanish Tourist Industry which recently exploded into life has been particularly kind to the city, however Torrevieja has by no means lost site of its past.

Whilst it offers much of the glitz associated with a packaged swimming pool holiday hotspot like Benidorm, there are no hotels dominating the skyline, blotting out the Mediterranean sun. Instead, one finds traditional Spanish villas, local seafood restaurants, and unspoilt beaches. At the same time, it is a lot more accessible than many of the smaller towns which are scattered throughout the area.

Torrevieja provides a welcome environment for visitors yet continues to grant them the privilege of viewing an intimate portrait of Spanish life and culture. It also provides an excellent base from which to explore the rest of the region. Torrevieja is no more than a pleasant drive away from Alicante, Murcia, and San Miguel. The small town of Orihuela deserves mention for the fantastic processions put on by its inhabitants who, adorned in the finest costumes set about recreating the epic battles waged between Christians and Moors many centuries ago.

Attractions

Torrevieja rests upon one of the most beautiful stretches of coast in the Costa Blanca. There are six large white sandy beaches - La Mata, Cabo Cervera, Los Locos, El Cura, Los Naufragos and Ferris. There are also many coves and cliffs offering a more secluded and peaceful setting ideal for bathing and diving around Torrevieja's prized sea beds. Torrevieja has a charming local harbour, filled with an impressive array of fishing boats and private yachts as well as small sightseeing vessels which offer cruises around the coast, and to the neighbouring island of Tabarca. Further inland, just outside the city, there are two impressive salt lakes on display. It is quite breathtaking to behold these gigantic mountains of salt. The region annually produces in excess of half a million tons of salt.

The sea and salt have been of such significance to the local economy that there is now a museum dedicated to the display of Torrevieja's maritime past. The Museum of the Sea and Salt boasts a large collection of unique exhibits, the most interesting of which is probably the recently added Delfin S-61 Submarine which visitors can board and walk around themselves. The Holy Week Museum 'Tomas Valcarcel' on the other hand explores the heritage of the Passion processions. Named after the city�s most revered artist, the museum is adorned with statues, thrones, paintings and sculptures all celebrating the Holy Week processions. The Church of the Inmaculada Concepci�n is also a noteworthy attraction, and holds a statue of the city�s patron saint, La Purisima Concepcion.

Torrevieja is host to many religious and historical fiestas (festivals) throughout the year. From the Procession of the Three Kings in January to the San Juan Bonfires in June and the Seafarer's Festival of the Virgen del Carmen in July, there is bound to be something happening whenever you visit. For the musically inclined, Torrevieja is the site of the [http://www.habaneras.org/index_en.php/ International Habaneras and Polyphonic Competition]. Taking place towards the end of July by the Eras de las Sal (the cathedral of the Habaneras), this famous festival of habanera music attracts the finest choirs and choral singers from all over world to the small city of Torrevieja. For those travelling at other times in the year, the Habaneras Museum 'Ricardo Lafuente' is an excellent museum dedicated to Torrevieja�s most famous habanera song writer, Ricardo Lafuente.

Torrevieja has excellent sporting facilities and an Olympic swimming pool. There are top quality golf courses surrounding the city. [http://www.golfvillamartin.com/ Villamartin Golf Course] (10 minutes from the city centre) is one of the best in the country and has in fact hosted the Spanish Open.

Shopping

Torrevieja offers a wide range of shops stocked in the latest national and international fashions and technologies, as well as an excellent array of large supermarkets. For a sample of more traditional commerce, there are a number of street markets. The largest, containing over 1200 stalls is held every Friday. Handicrafts, ornaments, textiles, clothing and footwear can all be found at very agreeable prices. For those who enjoy the cool evenings with a stroll by the waterside, there are many stalls lining the seaside promenades selling all manner of goods.

Nightlife and Eating Out

Torrevieja offers a wide selection of restaurants and night-time entertainments. In the area of La Punta alone, there are more than 70 pubs and clubs most of which stay open until the early hours of the morning. Building upon its gastronomic heritage, Torrevieja has an excellent selection of local sea food dishes. Bahia and Miramar are two restaurants that stand out particularly. Beyond the traditional, Torrevieja also offers most international styles of cuisine. For those in the mood for Indian, Gandhi Restaurante offers excellent food at very reasonable prices. Nearly all restaurants and caf�s offer outside seating in the summer months. Wandering musicians weave around the many tables that line the pavements playing classical Spanish guitar.

Tourist Information

Tourist Info TorreviejaPlaza de Capdepont, s/n03180 Torrevieja (Alicante)

• Tel: +34 96 570 34 33
• Fax: +34 96 571 59 36
• Email: torrevieja@touristinfo.net
• Web: [http://www.torrevieja.com/eng/ www.torrevieja.com/eng]

Airport

Torrevieja is accessible both from [http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?cid=1049437849176&pagename=Estandar%2FPage%2FAeropuerto&SMO=-1&SiteName=ALC&c=Page&MO=0&lang=EN_GB Alicante Airport], 40km to the north outside Alicante, and San Javier Airport outside of Murcia, which is 25km to the south. The airport at Alicante houses a fine duty free selection as well as offices for all the major car hire companies. Furthermore, it is on the easyJet destination map, meaning that there are cheap flights out of most airports in the UK on a daily basis. Compared to the UK, Spain is a large country, and the airport also offers a wide selection of internal flights to destinations such as Madrid and Barcelona.