Torrevieja On The South Costa Blanca
Contents
Torrevieja, Spain’s port city, is vibrant, contemporary, and fully modern. Its advantageous beachfront position blurs the borders between metropolitan city center living and Mediterranean resort-style beach life in a way that few other European cities can match.
It is possible to mix the greatest aspects of your summer vacation with the top-notch amenities that current overseas property purchasers expect to find in any city center back home. Torrevieja accomplishes this feat. Generally speaking, the city has a lovely Mediterranean climate, with mild and mercifully brief winters and long, balmy summers that last from April to November on most years.
However, while pleasant weather has an impact on local activities, food is a vital ingredient that contributes to the overall well-being and diversity of a city’s population. In Spain, food is not only a necessity, but it is also a highly regarded recreational activity. It’s not uncommon for the search of the ideal paella to grow into a pleasurable (if little obsessive) city-wide gastronomic crusade in Spain, where it’s considered a well-practiced hobby, a cultural and socially inclusive rite.
The indigenous Spanish community, which is culturally diverse and unconditionally accepting, is enormously hospitable, and today the south Valencian municipal city is home to more than 80,000 individuals representing practically every possible ethnicity. With a crime rate that is statistically low and continues to decline, it is extremely easy to feel immediately at ease in Torrevieja: comfortable and safe, as well as welcoming.
Torrevieja is a Resort City in Spain.
Torrevieja is a Spanish resort town on the Costa Blanca that stretches for 13 kilometers along the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea, from Torre La Mata in the city’s northernmost district to La Caleta and Mar Azul in the city’s southernmost region.
The city, which is bordered to the north by Guardamar del Segura and to the south by the Orihuela Costa residential enclave of Punta Prima, as well as by two salt lakes both inland and to the northeast, enjoys a scenic and ecological setting that is well regarded.
The nearest airports are Alicante-Elche (44 kilometers north) and Corvera-Murcia regional airport (61 kilometers southwest), which are both located in Spain. Both airports are easily accessible by automobile and can be reached in under an hour.
Located on the Costa Blanca’s south coast, Torrevieja is governed by its own administrative Town Hall. The N-332 coastal highway runs through the city, offering easy access to beachside sites around the region’s southern coast.
Torrevieja’s Illustrious Past
It is believed that early Iberian immigrants settled in Torrevieja before the Roman colonization of Spain, as evidenced by the finding of ceramic and bronze archaeological artifacts near Laguna de La Mata, which were discovered in the vicinity of the town.
To begin with, Torrevieja was little more than a fishing and sea salt harvesting community. However, after a royal decree shifted the official site of the salt lakes, the town saw fast industrial growth. The Royal Decree was issued in 1803 and, in the years that followed, Torrevieja grew into a major center for salt harvesting and exportation operations, as well as a center for residential growth in the surrounding area.
Later, less than three decades later, the area was ravaged by a strong earthquake that virtually leveled the entire city. The earthquake, which measured 6.6 on the Richter scale, struck Torrevieja in March 1829 and is widely recognized as one of the most significant events in the city’s history, as depicted on the city’s coat of arms, which depicts the old tower partially demolished.
As of 1870, the city’s population had grown to 8,000 people, and the city’s trade and shipping fleets were experiencing a period of continuous expansion, delivering the city’s salt to South American locations. Building a harbour in the city was becoming increasingly important as a means of providing reinforced safe-waters for ships and protecting them from the rough inshore currents that afflicted cargo ships during the time period in question.
However, it wasn’t until September of 1929 that Torrevieja’s modern port was officially inaugurated, marking the completion of a massive engineering project that had begun in 1862, some 67 years earlier. While the 1.6 km long Dique de Levante breakwater continues to provide the same level of protection for fishing and recreational vessels, a stroll along this Mediterranean promenade remains one of the most popular things to do in the city.
As a tourism pioneer, Torrevieja embraced the rising leisure industry, which provided local citizens with a variety of job opportunities in a growing economy. The first residential communities (known as urbanisations) were built in the late 1960s, and when combined with a burgeoning tourism sector, they helped to boost the economy of the surrounding area significantly. By 1972, Torrevieja’s economic well-being was no longer reliant on fisheries and salt exports, and residential construction had emerged as a key component of the city’s economy and a significant source of revenue.
During the past 50 years, Torrevieja has experienced almost uninterrupted expansion, and the city has grown into a bustling and contemporary beachside metropolis. Torrevieja, with its cutting-edge medical facilities, a thriving local services industry, and a plethora of bustling streetside cafes, lively bars, and superb restaurants, is as active and beautiful now as it has always been.
Torrevieja’s Geographical Setting
A diverse range of geographical features cover more than 70 km2 of terrain in Torrevieja, ranging from fully modern urban landscapes to protected natural wetland environments that are home to thousands of migratory African birds. Torrevieja is a popular tourist destination with visitors from around the world.
Two salt lakes flank the location, one a vibrant azure blue and the other a natural spectacle filled with candy-floss coloured pink salt water, both of which are spectacular sights to behold. The marsh is revered in the community for its undeniable sheer beauty and botanical significance, and the Town Hall has established a nature reserve to save the fragile environment throughout the years.
A healthy Mediterranean semi-arid climate characterised by relatively low annual rainfall and an average 321 days of sunshine per year, with a median annual temperature of 18.3°c, characterizes Torrevieja, which is typically low lying except for a high crest in the land to the city’s northern-most point at Torre La Mata.
Weather in Torrevieja
Cool onshore winds provide relief from the heat of the Spanish summer in the summer, and the permanently warm Mediterranean waters maintain temperatures in the winter slightly warmer than they might be found further inland in the winter. These parts of the Costa Blanca are known for their long, hot summers and short, dry winters, and tourists to the area from June through September may expect pleasant weather with temperatures ranging from 25°c at night to 35°c during the day.
While October is traditionally the wettest month and August, perhaps unsurprisingly, the warmest, historical climate data shows that February is virtually as dry as the month of June. Rainfall rarely exceeds 30 millimeters in most months, and the average sea temperature in the Mediterranean waters bordering the eastern edge of the city reaches a pleasant 25 degrees Celsius during the summer months.
Beaches in Torrevieja
Torrevieja is home to no fewer than six beautiful beaches that have been awarded the Blue Flag. The beaches of Playa de Los Locos, Playa del Cura, Paseo Maritimo Juan Aparicio, Playa del Acequion, and Playa de Los Naufragos, all of which are located in the city center, offer manicured expanses of pristine golden sand as well as a plethora of services and facilities.
La Mata Beach is located within La Mata Natural Park and offers 2.3 kilometers of clean sand, a resort-style promenade, and natural dunes that provide a haven for diverse Mediterranean flora and animals. La Mata Beach is a popular tourist destination in the area.
Torrevieja Amenities
Torrevieja is a contemporary city with all of the amenities that inhabitants and visitors have come to expect from twenty-first-century cities and towns. Currently, the World Health Organization ranks Spain’s public health system as the seventh best in the world, and the local Torrevieja hospital was internationally recognized as a gold standard example of world-class patient care two years ago in 2017.
Torrevieja is home to more than 570 eateries. Twice a year, the city hosts a Tapas Route event. There are 43 participating restaurants offering more than 170 different tapas meals to savor at this popular local festival, which brings enthusiastic eaters to the city every year.
Torrevieja Accommodations
Shopping and entertainment facilities are available inside the city limits, and the Habaneras shopping center, which is an open-air mall-style retail facility with more than 60 shops and restaurants spread across three floors, is a popular destination.
There are regular scheduled bus routes that run throughout the city, connecting the urbanisations of Torrevieja with one another, as well as with the neighboring coastal villages of La Zenia, as well as with Playa Flamenca, Campoamor, and Punta Prima.
The availability of super-fast fibre-optic internet services in such a contemporary and dynamic city is nearly ubiquitous, both to property owners and through shared Wi-Fi connections given by the majority of pubs and restaurants, as you might expect in such a modern and vibrant city.
Torrevieja Properties
The center of Torrevieja, notably the area surrounding the port, is dominated by residential buildings that are normally no more than seven stories high. However, if you look a bit further back from the coast, you’ll discover plenty of detached single-level homes.
Areas in the city such as Los Frutales, Calas Blancas Del Mar II, and Los Olivos are not only conveniently placed, but they also provide a variety of spacious townhouse and villa options. Both Torre La Mata and La Caleta, which are located on Torrevieja’s northern and southernmost outskirts respectively, are considered to be famous resort districts, and houses in these areas attract high prices.
Outlying suburban districts such as El Limonar, El Chaparral, and La Siesta, on the other hand, provide a good selection of properties at a relatively low cost. With a slower pace of life nestled between the two salt lakes, you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty of the natural wonders while still being able to purchase a modest home or apartment for less than €100,000.
In Torrevieja, there is no doubt that city centre apartments outweigh all other types of accommodation, with prices for a central apartment within walking distance of a beach starting at approximately €150,000. These flats would make good investment properties because of their location. The inexpensive purchase price, minimal operating costs, and simplicity of renting year-round are all expected to pay rewards in the form of great rental returns on their investment.
However, due to the sheer size of the city and the variety of geography that surrounds it, there is a plethora of options for prospective property purchasers in Torrevieja, with a detached villa starting at roughly €250,000 being the most affordable option available.
Torrevieja has very limited room for development in the future after over 50 years of continuous growth and development. Only one open area exists between the El Chaparral residential community and the N-332 corridor, which is next to the city’s auditorium. It is located between the residential community and the N-332 road. However, because Torrevieja is located at the northernmost edge of a protected wetland area, the area’s potential for future expansion and new construction is severely constrained.
Summary of Torrevieja
Despite being extremely popular with tourists all year round, Torrevieja also boasts a big number of full-time residents representing a diverse range of ethnic backgrounds — this ensures that the town’s stores, bars, and restaurants are always bustling, regardless of whether it is summer or winter.
Torrevieja’s premier seaside location draws a diverse range of visitors during the extended Spanish summer season, while people come to the city for short getaways and winter sun when the weather turns cold.
While Torrevieja is densely packed with history, culture, and non-stop high-quality amenities, its central location allows it to be conveniently accessible to a number of international airports while remaining relatively free of regular jet traffic above the city.
