Weather forecast Torrevieja

Torrevieja (including rainfall and temperature averages)

It’s hard to believe that Torrevieja did not exist until 1802. An ancient guard tower, which gave the town its name, and a couple of labourer’s cottages were all that marked the spot that is now one of the most popular resorts on the Costa Blanca. Then in 1803 King Charles III authorised the movement of the salt mines from nearby La Mata to the area and authorised the construction of homes – this was the beginning of a new town. Destroyed by an earthquake in 1829, it was quickly rebuilt and the mines reopened; thereafter, the town continued to grow in prosperity and influence until it was given city status in 1931. More recently, the tourist industry has had a massive effect on Torrevieja’s fortunes: a large number of British, Scandinavian and German expats have moved there and it has the highest proportion of British residents of any Spanish municipality. Some people may describe it as a concrete eyesore, but Torrevieja’s proponents are passionate about the place…

There’s a lot to enjoy in the city, from the wide beaches that delight northern Europeans (the nicest are just to the south of town – ask for las playas de Orihuela), to the thrilling football matches played by the home team, FC Torrevieja, which has become one of the most popular in Spain. Families will enjoy visiting Aquapolis, a water park that has excellent rides, and Parque Natural Molino Del Agua, a pretty local park with beautiful water fountains. Deep sea fishing is also very popular – there are over 900 private boats in the harbour, many of which arrange day trips. There is also an excellent golf club.

Two huge flat salt lakes stretch out to the west of Torrevieja, eerily beautiful and silent. Back in the city centre, the Museum of Sea and Salt puts it in context – and makes you think about the way we all use salt, without thinking. The fish market is well worth a visit – if you go early enough in the morning, you’ll catch one of the fiercely competitive fish auctions, which are as dramatic as any soap opera!

The city is also renowned for its fiestas and festivals, which seem to go on all year round. The list seems endless: it kicks off on January 5th with the Three Kings Parade; then there’s the pre-Lenten carnival, a week of dancing and drinking; followed a few weeks later by the dramatic Easter processions, a series of parade that culminates in a joyful (and very noisy) drumming session on Easter Sunday. The May feria rivals the most dramatic ferias in Andalucia, with flamenco displays, horseback parades and people dancing Sevillanas in the streets. July and August see an international music festival, the highlight of which is the Habaneras festival for choral groups. Then there are the fiestas in honour of Valencia, the local saints, Halloween…

After all that dancing, you’ll need some fuel and luckily there is food for all tastes here. English, German and Swedish restaurants abound, or you could try tapas at sunset in one of the many bars near the harbour. As you might expect, the seafood is excellent, and this is the region that invented paella. Enjoy!