Torrevieja, Spain - the sunniest city on the Costa Blanca
Torrevieja is a cosy sunny city, washed by the Mediterranean Sea and located on the “White Shores” of Costa Blanca in the province of Alicante of the Valencian Autonomous Community.
Torrevieja town in Spain - Guide to Spain
Location
The location of Torrevieja is really unique. Covering an area of 72 km2, on the one side, the city is washed by the Mediterranean Sea and on the other side – by astonishing Pink Salty Lagoons with healing properties.
Yes, this is one of the main natural resources of Torrevieja, which gives the city its own special and unique microclimate.
The climate here is like something from a fairy tale. 320 sunny days a year.
The city is uniquely located, protected from cold atmospheric fronts by mountains and hills and surrounded by huge orange plantations. It's almost never cloudy here. And rains are a very rare occurrence.
Average annual air temperature is + 19℃. The beaches stretch along the sunny coast for 25 km.
At the same time, all the main beaches in the city (Del Cura, De Los Locos, Los Naufragos) are marked with a blue flag for their impeccable cleanliness and well-developed infrastructure. They are cleaned daily with the help of special equipment.
There are also many picturesque rocky coves where you can dive. And the water temperature in the summer is about 27℃.
Another hallmark of Torrevieja is the picturesque Park of Nations ( "Parque Jardín de las Naciones" ). The garden with a huge number of Mediterranean plants and trees covers an area of more than 40,000 square meters. In the center of the park, there is a monument and a small lake in the form of the European continent.
The pier "Dique de Levante" can rightfully be called a landmark of Torrevieja. A more than one and a half kilometers long walk along this pier, especially at sunset or dawn, will be one of the most vivid experiences of the city for you. The views from here, are simply amazing.
Infrastructure
A huge advantage of Torrevieja, both for life and for recreation, is its excellent infrastructure. Everything is within walking distance: supermarkets and markets, bars and restaurants, schools and kindergartens, sport clubs, and much more.
Only a short 15-minute drive from the city, there is one of the largest shopping and entertainment complexes of the Valencian community - La Zenia Boulevard. About 150 branded stores, under one roof, on an area of more than 160,000 square meters. Yes, Spain is famous for its shopping.
Well, in Torrevieja itself, there is a more modest, but no less interesting and cozy Habaneras shopping center.
Street markets in Spain are not only a place to shop, but also a Spanish tradition, a culture rooted in the distant past. It is in this city that one of the largest open markets in the country is located, where you can buy fresh vegetables, fruits, cheeses, hamon, wine, sweets and so on at a very affordable price.
And at the street market, called the "hippie market" ( "Los puestos de los hippies" ), you can buy souvenirs, jewellery, handmade children's toys, clothes and much more.
Torrevieja has a well-developed transport infrastructure. It is convenient to travel by car in Spain and Europe, using the AP7 and N332 motorways. Alicante Airport is 40 minutes away and Murcia Airport is only 30 minutes away.
Sports
Torrevieja will undoubtedly please fans of active lifestyle. You can do outdoor sports here all year round. Running, cycling, water sports, and many more.
The city also offers tourists excellent golf spots. There are 6 fantastic golf courses in this region within a 10 km radius:
- Real Club de Golf Campoamor
- Vistabella Golf
- La Finca Golf
- Villaitana Club de Golf
- Las Ramblas Golf Club
- Las Colinas Golf
It is not for nothing that Torrevieja is known as a paradise for lovers of this sport and attracts golfers from all over the world.
Both in the city itself and 10-15 minutes drive from Torrevieja, there are the best ports of Orihuela Costa for true water sports lovers:
- Marina Salinas (Torrevieja)
- Puerto Deportivo (Campoamor)
- Club Náutico (Torre De La Horadada)
- Marina De Las Dunas (Guardamar)
- Puerto Deportivo (Cabo Roig)
Windsurfing, kitesurfing, sailing, jet skiing, water skiing and many more.
There is also a huge selection of water parks in Torrevieja, including one of the largest ones on the Costa Blanca – Aquopolis Torrevieja.
The city also has a giant amusement park with more than 30 different attractions for every taste and age. Also, here you can find a huge number of fitness clubs, tennis courts and football pitches. If you prefer a more relaxing vacation, we suggest taking a walk along the amazing embankment of the city and enjoy street musicians and sculptors
Population
According to official data for 2022, about 100 thousand people live in Torrevieja. By the number of inhabitants, this city ranks third in the province of Alicante.
The population of this city was largely replenished by foreigners. They account for more than 40% of the total number of permanent residents: British, Germans, French, Romanians, Poles and Ukrainians.
There are also many public and private schools in the city that teach both in Spanish and English.
During the summer season, the population of Torrevieja and its suburbs increases by almost 5 times. This resort city accommodates up to 400 thousand tourists every year, and this number is constantly growing.
Torrevieja's medical care deserves special attention. The city has both private and public clinics with multilingual doctors.
Not without reason, according to the World Health Organization, Spanish medicine today confidently ranks fourth in the world - this is the best indicator within the European Union. It is no coincidence that Torrevieja has such a high standard of living: men in Spain live an average of 79 years, women – up to 85.
Sights
Walking around Torrevieja, you will find many interesting sculptures, each of which has its own amazing history.
- Estatua La Bella Lola
- Monumento Homenaje a los Musicos
- Monumento Hombre del Mar
- Monumento las Coralistas
- Monumento a las Culturas del Mediterráneo
- Abrazos con Alma
The "Sagrado corazon de Jesus" ( "Sacred Heart of Jesus ") church is towering in the heart of Torrevieja, on Plaza de Oriente. This majestic Art Nouveau building was built in 2007 and stands out among the traditional churches with its modern and unique Architecture.
If you are a lover of antiquity and history, you should definitely visit the famous fourteenth century watchtowers Torre del Moro and Torre De la Mata.
And it was these towers that gave the name to the city "Torrevieja", by concatenation of two words - Torre ("tower") and Vieja ("old"). Together Torre Vieja, that is, the "Old Tower".
Real estate
The main areas of employment in Torrevieja are tourism and the restaurant and hotel business. Today, many people earn money by renting out houses for tourists, as this is a promising business and brings good income.
