But although culture is high on the agenda in Torrevieja, the main attraction is its seaside location, with 20 km of Mediterranean beaches forming part of the Costa Blanca drawing tourists throughout the summer, as well as a substantial population of foreign residential tourists who live in the area throughout the year, enjoying the healthy lifestyle and Mediterranean cuisine on offer in the many bars and restaurants in the municipality. The kilometre long dyke jutting into the sea is a popular walkway, the promenades are a pleasure for walkers and runners, the natural park areas around the Salinas offer walking and cycling opportunities, the marina offers mooring for leisure boats, there are plenty of watersports available, the municipality has impressive sports facilities in the Ciudad de Deportes and excellent healthcare facilities in the form of the Torrevieja Hospital.

The area is also very well serviced for those who enjoy shopping and sightseeing. The historic roots of Torrevieja can be summed up in just two words: salt and fish. Prior to the nineteenth century there was no evidence of human occupation apart from a couple of watch towers (“torres vigia”, part of the network installed along the coast to protect from Berber pirates), from which the name of the municipality is derived, and a few scattered houses belonging to fishermen, but in 1802 major production of salt began at the La Mata salt flats and the urban development of Torrevieja began.

For many years salt production was the basis on which Torrevieja’s economy was built, and the port became an important outlet not only for salt but also for the fruit and vegetables grown in the rest of the Vega Baja. Indeed, over half a million tons of salt are still produced here every year, and fishing and agriculture still remain important sources of employment.

CLICK HERE FOR THE HISTORY OF TORREVIEJA

The Torrevieja municipality is part of the Comarca de la Vega Baja de la Segura, an administrative district of the Alicante province, which itself is one of three provinces forming the Valencia Region, the Comunidad (or Comunitat in Valencian) Valenciana. Castellano (Spanish) is the main language, although some residents also speak Valencian.

The municipality is well connected, linking into the major AP-7 which runs along the Mediterranean coastline and is close to Alicante-Elche airport, indeed the council runs a well priced bus service directly to the airport.

Where is the Torrevieja municipality?
Click for map, Torrevieja