Torrevieja InformationGiving information for Torrevieja since 1998 |
Torrevieja, on the Costa Blanca, in Spain |
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Torrevieja is one of the fastest expanding towns in
the whole of Spain, but Torrevieja has learned a few
lessons from places like Torrevieja is surrounded by two large and beautiful natural salt water lakes which form the "Salinas de Torrevieja" and are an official Spanish nature reserve. These lakes attract a wide variety of bird life. The entire area around Torrevieja and Orihuela are famous for their salt production. Huge salt lakes surround the road down from Alicante airport to Torrevieja. The city of Torrevieja which gets its name from an old tower (old=vieja ; tower=torre), was first mentioned around 1800. It became famous in 1802, when it took over the salt administration from Orihuela. Apart from the salt industry, tourism and fishing keep the city alive. The harbour in Torrevieja gives home to 300 fishing ships and over 900 private sports boats. A wonderful view, especially when the sun sets.
"Every year just before Christmas an amazing transformation takes place by the Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción. From apparently nowhere the Belen grows, built ingeniously around the existing trees and lighting, half the plaza becomes a delightfully detailed and beautiful representation of the Middle East at the time of the birth of Jesus Christ - depicting the story of the Nativity from the Anunciation right through to the Flight into Egypt. The figures and moving models are a subtle and humorous fusion of the old and the modern - for instance you can see in one of the photos Mary sewing an obviously modern cross-stitch piece while Joseph hammers in his workshop. Elsewhere, the market traders are selling candy-floss and a variety of fruits and vegetables unknown in the region at the time. Children are playing, wine-makers are 'drinking the profits' and somehow the history of salt industry of Torre gets incorporated seamlessly into it too! The designers are to be congratulated as every year the layout is slightly different and a new challenge is presented to find the solitary gentleman taking a quiet (but not very private!) visit to the loo! The Belen is a wonderful sight that's not to be missed - but beware, after the Three Kings have been, the whole thing disappears just as suddenly as it arrived, until next year .........."
The text and brilliant photos of the Belen in Torrevieja above, have been kindly emailed in from one of our
loyal visitors to this website, Maureen Manby and when anyone comes across any useful photos for Torrevieja, just email them to us
on the email link below. Salt Museum in Torrevieja The sea and salt museum in Torrevieja (in Spanish, it's called the Museo del mar y de Sal), is an excellent place to visit and is full of history. It is tucked away in a side street - Calle Patricio Perez and is open most days from 10am to 1.30pm and 5pm to 9pm (mornings only on Sundays and festival days, closed Monday afternoons). It's a great place to learn about the history of the salt industry in Torrevieja/La Mata - it helps if you brush up your Spanish before you go as everything is labelled in Spanish (quite right too!).
For directions to the salt museum in Torrevieja, just go along Caballero De Rodas and when you go past the Church on your right and the Church square (Plaza de la Constitucion) on your left, take the second turning on the left, down Patricio Perez, across the 1st junction and the museum is a little way along on the left. The museum is pictured to the right. (Photo kindly emailed from one of our regular visitors Maureen Manby). (If anyone else comes across any useful photos for Torrevieja, please email them to us - email address is on the feedback page).
Torrevieja - a good place for a holiday Torrevieja is a developing tourist centre and one of the most important on the Mediterranean coast. However, you'll find it is not nearly as commercialised as the Costa Blanca resorts to the north of Alicante. It still retains that special "Spanish" feel and is in a relaxed environment. The concentration of salt and the temperature, combine to endow Torrevieja and nearby areas with a particularly healthy micro-climate, recommended by doctors for its beneficial properties. Bathing in the salt lagoons is also becoming popular for many medicinal reasons. The weather in Torrevieja makes it an ideal location for year round holiday activities, especially if you want to fulfil that yearning for some sunshine during those dreary winter months in the UK.
On
All banks in Torrevieja have English speaking staff,
and will cash travellers cheques, change currency and
have cash dispensers that accept all the popular cards
including Visa, Mastercard, Switch, Cirrus and Link. |
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Torrevieja offers all the typical activities for the holiday maker and as you go through this website you'll get a flavour of what is on offer. Go down to the marina at Torrevieja and walk along the front, at lunch times and in the evenings this area and the surrounding streets are a hive of activity, with many busy cafes, restaurants and bars. The activity continues into the early hours. These streets also offer many shopping opportunities and an excellent indoor seafood market. There is also a marina daily street market where there are bargains to be had. Every Friday morning one of the largest street markets in Spain is in Torrevieja and the market in Torrevieja, is on Avenida de las Habaneras. Click here, for more details on the market in Torrevieja. Torrevieja is famous in Spain for it's many fiestas and For more details on the fiestas in Torrevieja, click here: fiestas in Torrevieja - the biggest fiesta being the Habaneras festival in August. For forty years, every August, Torrevieja has held its traditional Competition of Habaneras and Polyphony, which now has an international character, since it is one of the greatest cultural celebrations in Europe. Voices from all over the world come together in Torrevieja, and the Habanera sings its way out of the competition precincts, and becomes the folklore of the locals. For a whole week, Torrevieja sways to the rhythm of the habanera, with its tropical flavour from Cuba. The competition awakes the interest of thousands of people throughout Spain, who experience it each year in Torrevieja.
Habaneras Shopping Centre in Torrevieja A very good place for shopping in Torrevieja is the Habaneras shopping centre, it opened in March 2005 and has beautiful shops to suit everyone. If you're a shopping 'widow', then take heart because the top level open-air bar/cafe area offers a great place to sit with a drink in your hand looking at the distant mountains while you wait! The Habaneras shopping centre is pictured on the right. (Photo kindly given by one of our regular visitors Maureen Manby). (If anyone else comes across any useful photos for Torrevieja, just email them to us - email address is on the feedback page).
Park of Nations in Torrevieja The Park of Nations in Torrevieja is an oasis to be found in the most unexpected place - right next to the N332!!! Not the obvious venue for peace and quiet, but despite the location, it's a surprisingly tranqui
Photos kindly
If anyone else comes across any other photos for Torrevieja, please email them to the email address on the feedback page.
Hombre del Mar - Man of the Sea, situated on the Paseo Maritimo Juan Aparicio, at Torrevieja, is a tribute to the fight and sacrifice made by sea-faring men, and has become a symbol of Torrevieja.
Midway down the harbour wall at the Torrevieja seafront, his lady love stands, handkerchief in hand, waving her man off to sea.
Along the seafront at Torrevieja, a beautiful lady patiently gazes out to sea and waits in vain for the return of her brave man.
Alicante 47 km |
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l and beautiful place - nestled between the highway and the city, the thoughtfully landscaped green areas and lake, coupled with the rustling palm trees and fascinating fountain, make a great place to sit and rest while you watch
the world go by.
given by one of our regular visitors to Torrevieja - Maureen Manby.
