Torrevieja, discover its treasures: City guide

A Dynamic and Attractive City
With its status as the fifth most populous city in the Valencian Community and the third largest in the province of Alicante, Torrevieja is a lively and vibrant destination.  
The city has about 100,000 inhabitants of 122 different nationalities, with Ukrainian citizens being for the second year in a row the most present residents in the municipal census with 6,939 registered, ahead of Russia 5,540 and the United Kingdom 4,910. Citizens of Spanish origin represent 51.9%. 
 
Tourism 
Its 14 kilometres of coastline, an average annual temperature of 18º and low rainfall throughout the year, in addition to the unique fact that 52% of the municipality is a Natural Park, make it an important tourist destination on the shores of the Mediterranean.  
Its hotel offer is limited, being the municipality in Spain with the most second homes, second home tourism and apartment rentals predominate. 
Its economic and tourist development makes it a place conducive to opportunities, whether for residents or visitors.   
 
Economy 
Economic activity is mainly focused on residential tourism and services. In the past, fishing and the salt industry were the engines of the local economy. In recent decades, construction and real estate development have been the main drivers of economic growth. 
Agricultural production has decreased significantly, partly due to the proximity of the Vega Baja orchard, one of the most productive and of the best quality orchards in all of Europe, and the tourist boom since the early 60s with the arrival of the Swedes, Germans and British, producing considerable economic and demographic growth of the city. 
Citrus fruits, vegetables and vines are among the crops grown in the countryside. 

A fascinating past, a bright future
Originally, Torrevieja was a town focused on salt production, fishing and shipping. However, from the 1960s onwards, it began a major transformation thanks to the rise of tourism and real estate. Today, its growth model is based on residential tourism, with modern buildings along the coast and in the city centre, ideal for second homes or seasonal stays. 
 
Torrevieja was formed and has its raison d'être, thanks to the sea, the two salt lagoons and the towers from which it takes its name, which for several centuries have played a fundamental role in the economy and in the defence of this coast. 
Although it is a young city, finds of Roman origin such as amphorae, anchors, human skeletons, bracelets, coins and remains of funerary tombstones and other remains of the Roman Empire and other periods, found both in the sea of this coast and in the territory, whose chronological period extends from the first century BC. in the third century, testifies to an early human presence in the region of La Mata. Very little is known about the use of the salt mines of La Mata by the Romans, however, on the northern shore of this lagoon there are some remains of a factory that was used for the extraction of salt and the manufacture of salted fish, such as the pools where these products were prepared. 
Torrevieja has a short history but at the same time intense and complex. The first recorded settlement dates back to the Middle Ages, with a small fishing hamlet near Cala Cornuda, but it was not until 1770 that these settlements took on the character of a village in the square of the Torre Vieja, gradually developing thanks to the sea, salt extraction, fishing and maritime trade. Although the real trigger for population growth was the exploitation of salt, we must not forget the importance of the farms in the nearby countryside that produced cereals, vines, almonds, figs and other fruits, as is the case of the very old La Ceñuela farm, which appeared as early as 1308. 
 
The History of Salt in Torrevieja  
Since ancient times, salt has played a crucial role for humans, especially for the preservation of food and as a source of wealth. In Torrevieja, salt mining has its origins in the La Mata lagoon, renowned for the quality of its salt since ancient times. This salt was a precious Crown asset, used to finance campaigns and subject to taxes.  
In 1283, the Torrevieja lagoon was ceded to the city of Orihuela, but it returned to the Crown due to the technical difficulties associated with its exploitation. From 1376, the salt mines of La Mata and Guardamar were leased to merchants, including Luis de Santángel, a financier who contributed to Christopher Columbus' voyage to America.  
The systematic exploitation of the Torrevieja salt pans began at the end of the eighteenth century, after the discovery of important salt deposits in the lagoon. In 1766, the salt pans of Torrevieja and La Mata were exploited under the administration of the state, thanks to the quality of the salt and the bay of Torrevieja, ideal for maritime transport.  
In the nineteenth century, Torrevieja became an important fishing village and a center of maritime trade, with a fleet of sailing ships transporting salt and other products to America. The construction of the West Wharf and the Salt Wharf in 1958 marked the end of the traditional use of the bay.  
Today, the annual production of salt reaches about 650,000 tons, although this amount varies depending on weather conditions. In 1970, an oil pipeline was built to transport brine from the Diapir de Pinoso to the Torrevieja salt flats, thus increasing production.  
Torrevieja remains a symbol of the historical and economic importance of salt, with a legacy that continues to mark its landscape and identity. 
 
The Habaneras, a Musical Heritage of Torrevieja  
For years, Torrevieja's sailing ships sailed for maritime trade, making voyages to America, including Cuba and Puerto Rico. During these expeditions, Spanish sailors, including those from Torrevieja, discovered habaneras, Cuban rhythmic melodies. These songs, evoking love, landscapes, successes and failures of voyages, became a means of expression for sailors.  
Back in Spain, the sailors introduced the habaneras, which became the musical emblem of Torrevieja. In 1955, the city organized the first International Habaneras Competition, celebrating this tradition. The competition grew in size and by 1989 it had become an international event, attracting the best choirs in the world.  
Today, every year in the last week of July, the habaneras resonate by the sea, where the sailors of Torrevieja once began their voyages to the Caribbean. This festival perpetuates a unique cultural legacy, linking Torrevieja to its maritime past and Caribbean influences.