Find Costa del Sol perfection on one of Torremolinos’s beaches. Photo courtesy of ainudil via Flickr.
Whether your vacation preferences swing toward resorts and nightlife, or instead toward a more mild holiday of sightseeing and the beach, Torremolinos is prepared to deliver. As Costa del Sol’s first proper resort town, the once fishing village has a long history, layout-worthy shores, and plenty to do both within the city borders and beyond.
While the site of Torremolinos has been occupied for possibly up to 150,000 years, its most notable history (at least on record) dates back to the 1960s when the city began to boom as a tourist destination. It was then that luxury hotels cropped up, nightclubs opened, and the little fishing village that was became overshadowed by soaring skyscrapers (for better and for worse). Indeed, today’s Torremolinos is more famously associated with its British expat community and as a nightlife hotspot (especially for the LGBT community) than with exotic Spanish sights.
But there is in fact a lot more to the city than just discotecas and resorts. With a history dating back to the Neolithic age, the city has been occupied by inhabitants ranging from the Phoenicians to the Greeks, Romans, Arabs and of course Christians — many of whom left their mark on the Costa del Sol enclave. See an especially important part of this history at the end of the main pedestrian street San Miguel, where you can spy the Torre de Pimental. It was built by the Muslims as a defensive tower and later used as a mill, thus being called Torre de los Molinos, and giving the city its name.
The city’s sandy shoreline lures visitors to Torremolinos as well. Head seaside to discover the famous beaches, in addition to the neighborhoods that flank them: El Calvarlo, El Bajondillo and La Carihuela (especially noted for its El Carmen Fair, which takes place on July 16). Note that while you’re at the beach, you should be sure to hit up a nearby chiringuito (beach bar) to try some of the region’s cuisine, which most notably includes pescaito frito (small fried fish).
Given Torremolinos central location on the Costa del Sol, it’s a prime starting point for visiting other nearby destinations. Head south to the port city of Benalmedena, or north, where you can get to know Malaga on a hop-on, hop-off bus tour. Meanwhile, if you’d prefer a change of setting altogether, check out another country on a Morocco day trip from Costa del Sol.
- Contributed by Erin Ridley
Torremolinos: Costa del Sol’s First Resort Town from Andalucia & Costa del Sol Things to Do