Torrox, a very white town with 12000 inhabitants, which is 45 km. away from Malaga and 20 from Velez. 126 m. high and sheltered from the Northern winds by the mountains of Tejeda, Torrox is proud of its denomination as the place with the best climate in Europe. This is a privileged spot to have a rest, as well as to enjoy its mountains and its beaches and of course to try some of its gastronomic specialities, such as "espetos of sardines", "migas cortijeras", fresh anchovies or "papas a lo pobre", enhancing the taste of any of them with the famous local wines.
A minute of History:
The name of the town derives from the Arabic word for a tower, but the history of Torrox goes back a long way before Moorish times, to the 1st century A.D. We know this from archaeological remains found in the mouth of the river Torrox. The Phoenicians settled here, and after them, the Romans.
Location:
Torrox is situated in the Axarquía, at the foot of the Sierra Tejeda and Sierra Almijara, 49 kilometres from Malaga and 23 from Vélez, at 145 metres above sea level.
General Information:
Still untouched by tourist development here you can truly appreciate the Spanish way of life and have unmatched mountain and sea views. In Torrox you can find popular architecture such as the Moorish Quarter and wine and raisin presses and interesting industrial architecture such as the Sugar Factory.
Events:
Torrox has a busy festive calendar all the year round, its most important festival being from October 4th and 8th. The Fiesta de las Migas takes place on the last Sunday before Christmas, a festival in which visitors to the town can sample this exquisite dish accompanied by a glass of wine from the area and music and dancing in the streets.
Leisure:
Torrox is an ideal base for exploring this fascinating region with its mountains, national parks, and famous old towns. Local activities include hiking in the local countryside, horseriding in the Sierras or touring the local villages to sample their wines and cuisine.
There are Roman ruins all along the coast and the caves at Nerja for those with sightseeing in mind.
Places to visit:
The town centre of Torrox is exceptionally rich in historic architecture, its narrow and winding streets reminiscent of Moorish times. The town centre is filled with small houses built as the ground rises and falls. The central Plaza de la Constitución has a unique collection of Roman busts on the gable ends of the buildings, and there too is the imposing parish church.
The ruins of the Roman Village at the Torrox Lighthouse are protected as a Property of Cultural Interest. The National Hunting Reserve of the Sierras Tejada and Almijara are closeby, and the famous Alhambra Palace, Granada and skiing in the Sierra Nevada are also within easy reach.
Alternative Activities:
For a touch of the tourist life you can try Torrox Costa, a resort only some some 4 kilometres (2 miles) from Torrox with beautiful beaches, promenade, restaurants, shops, night life, tennis courts, swimming pools, etc. It is this combination of old and new which makes Torrox such an interesting place to stay. Here you can have a quiet villa holiday in the Torrox countryside with the convenience of easy access to modern Costa del Sol holiday resort facilities.
Gastronomy:
The most traditional dish in Torrox is the migas, delicacies fried in breadcrumbs, around which an annual festival has been organised. These are accompanied by sardines, cod, clams and olives, according to taste. The ajoblanco, an Andalusian soup, is also very popular here, and this often comes enriched with grapes. Torrox has it own special salad, and papas a lo pobre, a delicious potato dish, is also a speciality of the area. The wine doughnuts are eaten at Christmas, and the local arropía (syrup) is cooked for the Cruces de Mayo.
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