Torrenueva Costa

Torrenueva Costa

Torrenueva Costa is a municipal district created in October 2018 and formerly part of Motril. It has three districts called El Varadero, La Chucha and Carchuna. The name Torrenueva was taken from a seventeenth century watchtower in the area. It has about 3200 inhabitants.

History

Torrenueva Costa was a settlement of the Roman and Arab civilisations. From the passage of the Phoenicians and Romans through the Motril roadstead, remains of amphorae and anchor traps have been found on Las Azucenas beach and in Torrenueva in the Maraute enclave. This site is linked to the Roman Paterna or Batarna, with a port for maritime trade and anchorage.

There are unknown historical references from the twelfth century up until the sixteenth century when the settlement was mentioned and known as Pago de Paterna. During the sixteenth century, for coastal surveillance against the Turks and Berbers, the Torrenueva coastal surveillance tower was built. In the middle of the eighteenth century, the work of Vicente Tofiño San Miguel indicates that there is no anchorage on Torrenueva beach, and that in its tower there were two cannons. The Cabo Sacratif Lighthouse, the main one on the coast of Granada, dates back to the nineteenth century.

It is of great interest to note that this place was a harbour used since ancient times where there were salt mines that supplied the salt industry of the city of Sexi (Almuñécar). These salt flats remained functional until the twentieth century and disappeared under the impetus of tourism-oriented urbanisation.

Things to see

Torre Vigía
A defensive Atalaya tower built in the sixteenth century during the reign of the Catholic Monarchs whose objective was to protect the coast from the attack of the Berber and Turkish pirates who devastated the Mediterranean coasts during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, raiding coastal towns and taking their inhabitants with them as slaves. This tower was part of a network of defensive towers that extended along the entire coast, allowing communication between them using light and smoke signals. It has a circular plan, with a height of about 15m. It is built of stone and has several floors connected to each other by a spiral staircase. At the top of the tower is the terrace, from which you can see the sea and the surrounding territory. The tower has several defensive elements, such as arrow slits, a cannon embrasure and a high access door, which can only be reached using a mobile ladder. In the nineteenth century, it lost its defensive function and began to be used as housing by fishermen and farmers in the area. Currently, the tower has been restored and is in a state of protection and conservation, allowing visitors and locals to learn first-hand about the history and architecture of a bygone era. Located in Plaza del Vigía.

Pasarela Colgante de Jolúcar
The town has managed to make itself known with the first hanging walkway over the sea on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. This project was drafted by the architect, Jorge Suso Fernández-Fígares, Head of the Architecture Service of the Provincial Council of Granada, in a process that has lasted four years from its presentation on paper until the expected opening to the public in May 2022. Creating a panoramic view to the immensity of the Alboran Sea, it rises 35m above sea level and has a length of 60m on Iroko wooden planks. At dusk, the rocky slopes are illuminated with warm spotlights that accompany and allow the height of the structure to be seen along with the LED light bands that cross the entire route from one end to the other. This walkway is part of the route PR-A 420 viewpoints and cliffs of Torrenueva Costa. The Jolúcar Hanging Walkway is the union of its origins as a small coastal population centre with a look towards the future through the new ties that unite and allow it to advance in history. Proof of this is the twinning carried out in 2023 with the El Saltillo Walkway in Canillas de Aceituno, province of Málaga, an agreement that seeks to promote tourism in the two municipalities and their trails thanks to their hanging walkways. Today it is a place where artists of all kinds, from singers to magicians on the national scene, have walked through this structure to record music videos, promotional videos and photo sessions. A setting for creativity where you can clear your mind. Located on Calle Peñon de Jolúcar.

Mirador Peñon de Jolúcar 
The viewpoint stands majestically next to the Mediterranean Sea, offering a picturesque location and spectacular views at any time of the day. From here, you can admire the stunning views of the coast, the Mediterranean Sea and the surrounding area. The sculpture of the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of sailors, adds a spiritual and cultural touch to this viewpoint with its meticulous carving in white marble that has become one of the most special corners where the fervent pay their devotion with floral offerings. The trails that wind around the rock offer opportunities for scenic walks and bird watching. Located next to the Pasarela Colgante de Jolúcar.

Iglesia Nuestra Señora del Carmen
The newer construction of this church began in 1970 and was inaugurated on July 12, 1972, coinciding with the festival of the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of sailors. The history of this church and the devotion to its patron saint dates back to the end of the nineteenth century. María del Pilar de León y Gregorio, known as Marquesa de Esquilache, was a Spanish aristocrat born in 1843 and who died in 1915. She was a cultured woman committed to education and women’s rights in Spain who also stood out for her social and charitable work. She held numerous charity parties to raise funds and she was very well regarded by the upper class of the time. During her visit to Torrenueva Costa in 1897, she promised the locals the construction of a chapel that would allow them to pray and venerate the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of sailors. It was July 16, 1898 the day the original chapel was inaugurated, which over time needed to reform its structure due to the corrosion generated by the humidity in the materials and the harshness of the storms that hit its surroundings. It has a single nave with a wooden roof and a presbytery where the main altar is located. It is much loved by the residents who come regularly to celebrate mass and other religious events. In addition, the church is also a meeting point for the community, where different social and cultural activities take place throughout the year, such as the F. Chopin International Piano Competition or regional choir recitals at Christmas. Located on Calle Acera del Mar.

El Aljibe
The cistern was built in the first half of the twentieth century and has a fundamental historical connection with the Vega de Motril, since it was directly related to a section of irrigation canal of the Guadalfeo River, which irrigated the crop fields of the region. However, it fell into disuse with the arrival of municipal water supply networks, and its structure remained in a state of total abandonment next to the N-340 for years. This work rested on a rectangular masonry base and a solid ceramic brick that raised its walls with a barrel vault. The roof of the cistern collapsed over time and wild vegetation occupied a large part of the construction and its surrounding area. In June 2019, the City Council began a restoration process, recognising the importance of preserving this historical legacy and taking an essential step to rescue and give new life to this hydraulic structure that over time has acquired great value for its ethnographic aspect. Since its inauguration in 2021, this restoration has been an opportunity to recover a part of the region’s history and turn it into a space for culture where artists of all kinds have been able to exhibit their best works for the enjoyment of locals and visitors. In December 2023, this space was renamed El Aljibe: Paco del Pino Cultural Oasis, in tribute to the Torreño artist whose works were admired both nationally and internationally. Located on Calle Brisa.

Plaza del Margarita
This square is the most important public space in the town and the most recently created. Inaugurated in October 2021 on the occasion of the third anniversary of Torrenueva Costa as a municipality, its name pays tribute to the old and iconic Bar Margarita, which resided in this space for many years and which was the meeting point for so many Torreños. It has LED lighting, circular benches and modular seating. In the centre of the square one will find the most important element, the monument representing the birth, creation, freedom and future of the local people: a winged victory full of hope, designed and sculpted by José María Moreno and made at Espacio de Arte Hermanos Dark. The Margarita Bar was a very popular establishment run by Mª Dolores Pérez Rubiño, known as Lola, a much loved woman in the town who sold sandwiches and sweets to the children who studied in the municipal schools. The origin of this bar dates back to the late 1950s, when it was a cane hut located where the Medical Office is currently situated. In the early 60s it was installed in the current location with a wooden structure and metal sheet roof, managing to maintain the business for more than 40 years. The business was closed for years until in 2021 it became the current square that pays tribute to the bar with the designated name and the birth of Torrenueva Costa with its monument. 

Things to see outside the town

Mirador El Hondurón 
This unique viewpoint is crisscrossed by a series of underwater canyons, among which the Jolúcar Canyon stands out, an extinct submerged river valley on the Mediterranean located near the Urbana Beach and extends from the vicinity of the rock to Carchuna Beach. With a steep slope and depths of up to 350m, this canyon is one of the most important on the Tropical Coast and its presence has modified the morphology of the beaches over the years because it traps sediments and prevents them from returning to the shore. 

Beaches

Playa Urbana
An extensive beach with a family atmosphere that has a splendid and extensive promenade. It is an ideal place for children and sports activities, barbecues in the designated spaces, and concerts and open-air cinema. It has been recognised with the “Q” certificate for Tourist Quality since 2005. It also has among its distinctive features the prestigious Blue Flag along with the Cardioprotected Flag, the Environmental Management Flag and the Accessible Beach Flag, as it has infrastructure for people with reduced mobility.

Playa de la Pelá
It extends from the Acapulco Urbanization to its meeting with the so-called “El Cañón” Beach. This beach with a cozy atmosphere is the favourite place for many bathers due to its wide area of sand and its proximity to beach bars for food and drinks. It also has a large parking area a few meters away with a capacity of about 1,700 spaces and nearby services ranging from the aid stations that border Urban Beach to board and kayak rentals.

Playa del Cañón
It is located in the area closest to the port of Motril and stands out for being surrounded by a natural environment as it is far from the city. In it we can find large bathing areas and a long path to walk accompanied by a pleasant sea breeze. A favourite place for those looking for tranquility and spending the day out and about.

Playa de La Joya
“La Joya” beach is located outside the urban area, located between Torrenueva beach and the Sacratif Lighthouse. It is a hidden beach with a warm cove that borders the base of Cape Sacratif and Peñón de Jolúcar which are beaches of incomparable beauty, surrounded by cliffs that serve as a framework for a deep blue sea, rarely disturbed by waves. It can be accessed via the Carretera de Almería or from the town along the coastal path that starts from the Mirador del Peñón de Jolúcar.

Countryside walks

Ruta Miradores y Acantilados de Torrenueva Costa (PR-A 420)
An easy route approximately 10km in total starting and ending at the Torre Atalaya. The particularly interesting thing about this route is that it is largely a panoramic viewpoint. While walking you can contemplate the beaches and the town, along with the frequent sighting of mountain goats, the boats that sail to the port of Motril and much more, this is of great scenic interest. Due to the magnificent climatic conditions, it is suitable for visiting all year round, making it necessary to take precautions and even avoid travelling along cliffs on days with strong winds, especially if accompanied by minors.

Gastronomy

The gastronomy of Torrenueva Costa is varied, with typical dishes such as croquetas de bacalao (cod croquettes), caldero de fideos con pescado (pasta and cod soup), atasca burras (potato and cod salad), carne de ternera a la pimiento (beef with peppers), and asadura con pisto (roasted pork with pepper and tomato). Sweet treats include pastelillos caeros (meringues) and caqui al chocolate (chocolate cakes).

Bus Service

There are bus services from Sorvilán to Granada, Castell de Ferro, Salobreña, Albondón, Motril, Úbeda, La Rabita, La Herradura, Calahonda and Almería. More>

Festivals

Popular festivals in Torrenueva Costa are Día de Andalucía, Día de la Cruz, Fiestas de San Juan and Fiestas de la Virgen del Carmen. More> 

Weather Forecast

The weather forecast for the next few days for Torrenueva Costa. More>

Tourist Office

The tourist office of Torrenueva Costa is located in the Town Hall. More>

Nearby Places

The neighbouring villages to Torrenueva Costa are Calahonda and Motril