Torrevieja

Torrevieja Tourist Information

Torrevieja in Spanish or Torrevella in Valencian is a seaside city and municipality located on the Costa Blanca in the province of Alicante, in south-eastern Spain.

Torrevieja lies about 30 miles south of the city of Alicante and has a population of 104,000 (2008). One of the great issues is that many foreign visitors do not register on the official census el padrón and many Spaniards with second homes are obliged to register in the town they are "habitually resident".

Torrevieja was originally a salt-mining and fishing village as it is located between the sea and two large salt lakes (Las Salinas), which give Torrevieja a healthy micro climate.

In recent years the local economy has hugely expanded due to the tourist industry. This includes both a strong contingent of British, Germans and Scandinavians, many of whom live there all the year round, and Spanish
tourists who have a holiday home in the city. By 2004 Torrevieja had the largest number of British residents of all the Spanish municipalities (approx. 7,180), and that figure has now exceeded 12,000. The city is a conservative stronghold, with the Partido Popular maintaining an absolute majority at the Municipal Elections of 27 May 2007.

Torrevieja is one of the fastest expanding towns in the whole of Spain, but Torrevieja has learned a few lessons from places like Benidorm, because you will find no high-rise skyscrapers or package holiday hotels in Torrevieja, Torrevieja is also an ideal place for family holidays.

The beaches at Torrevieja include Playa los Locos, Playa del Cura, Playa Naufragos and Playa del Acequion

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.

Salt Museum in Torrevieja

The sea and salt museum in Torrevieja (in Spanish, it is 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 is a great place to learn about the history of the salt industry in Torrevieja/La Mata.

Distances from Torrevieja:
Alicante 47 km
Alicante airport 36 km
Benidorm 77 km
Murcia airport 28 km
Valencia 217 km

By road: Torrevieja is situated by the Mediterranean coast in the province of Alicante, 35 km from Alicante, 195 km from Valencia and 455 km from Madrid. You can drive via the Mediterranean motorway (A-7) and the road N-332 direction Murcia from Alicante.

By rail: The nearest railway station is situated in Alicante and is connected with the most important cities in Spain and Europe.

By air: The nearest airport is situated in Alicante, the airport of El Altet, 35 km from Torrevieja. It has daily connections with the most important cities in Spain and Europe.

Sightseeing and places to visit in Torrevieja

Torre del Moro ( Moorish tower), the old casino, the Eras de la Sal in the old salt deposit, the Roman pier in La Mata, the bridge of Sillería in the Acequión, the Archpriest´s Temple, Museum of the Sea and the Salt, municipal socio-cultural centre and the Holy Week Museum Tomas Varcarcel.

Useful Telephone Numbers for Torrevieja

Town Hall: 96 571 08 61
Ambulance: 96 571 79 91
Aquagest: 96 571 05 69
Post Office: 96 571 06 79
Electricity: 96 571 16 00
Fire Brigade: 96 670 44 80
Citizens protection: 96 571 39 27
Local Police: 96 571 01 54
Guardia Civil: 96 571 01 13
Health Center: 96 670 08 77
Red Cross: 96 571 18 18
Samu: 96 670 37 44

Hospitals in and near Torrevieja

Hospital Vega Baja (Orihuela), telephone 00 34 96 677 61 66
Health Center of Torrevieja I (La Loma), telephone 00 34 96 670 30 11
Health Center of Torrevieja II (El Acequión), telephone 00 34 96 670 20 53
Hospital General Universitario de Alicante, telephone 00 34 96 590 83 00
Hospital of Elche (Elx), telephone 00 34 96 667 90 00
Golf course in and near Torrevieja

Golf club Las ramblas de Orihuela (Orihuela), telephone 00 34 96 532 20 11
Golf club El Plantio (Elx), telephone 00 34 96 518 91 15
Golf club Alenda (Monforte del Cid), telephone 00 34 96 562 05 21
Alicante Golf club (San Juan Alicante), telephone 00 34 96 515 37 94

Festivals and Fiestas in Torrevieja

Torrevieja is famous in Spain for it's many fiestas. 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.

January 5th/6th – The Carnival of the Three Wise Men

February 21st – Carnival

May 3rd to the 8th – The May fair in Torrevieja is held in the Port Area
June – Saint Johns Bonfires, the Sacred Heart festivities
July – Election of the queen of the salt, Habanera songs on the beach

International Contest of Habanera songs and choirs, continued sometimes into August. Virgen del Carmen
August – International Contest of Habanera songs and choirs. Promotional fiesta parades in the region, Reina de la Sal"
November – Feast of Saint Cecily
December – The Immaculate Conception

Markets in Torrevieja

There are 2 main markets in Torrevieja, one is the "Craft" or "Hippy" market on the promenade by the port, the other market in Torrevieja is one of the biggest in Spain and is easy to catch a bargain there for clothing, fruit, vegetables, leather, shoes, handbags, bedding, curtains etc

Torrevieja Craft Market
Frequency – Every night
Times – 8pm to midnight
Location – Paseo de la Libertad (The Promenade of Liberty)

Torrevieja Main Market
Frequency – Every Friday morning
Times – 8am to 1pm
Location – Salinero Calle (just off the Avda. De Las Cortes Valencianas)

Supermarkets in Torrevieja

Carrefour
Ctra A Crevillente CV-905
Opening times – Mondays to Saturdays 09.00 to 22.00
Sundays – July to September inclusive
09.00 to 22.00
During July, August and September, open until midnight 7 days a week

Mercadona
Antonio Machado
Opening times – Mondays to Saturdays 09.30 to 21.00

Mercadona
Calle Marconi
Opening times – Mondays to Saturdays 09.15 to 21.15