Area Guide The Costa Tropical
| The Costa Tropical |
|
Due South of Granada, along the Andalucían coastline known as the Tropical Coast, there are several delightful towns that have welcomed an International Community, whilst at the same time, retained their Spanish charm.
Salobreña, a whitewashed, coastal town set into a hill, topped by the proud, historic Moorish castle and surrounded by crops of sugar cane, delights visitors with its far reaching views both to the south along the dramatic coastline and North to the magnificent mountain range of the Sierra Nevada.  The combination of meandering through the steep winding streets, admiring the white houses nestled together; taking refreshment in one of the many inviting bars and restaurants, and visiting the church and the castle all evoke images of the town’s Arab history.Separating Salobreña’s two main beaches is El Peñon, a rock half-submerged in the Mediterranean. La Playa del Peñon is the larger of the two beaches, along which can be found the many bars known locally as ‘chiringuitos’, who specialise in serving a range of typically Spanish food. Offering the best facilities and atmosphere, La Playa del Peñon is extremely popular with all ages and nationalities. On the opposite side of the rock is the long and wild beach known as La Playa de la Guardia. With fewer facilities, making it quieter than its neighbour, it separates the luscious crops of sugar cane from the deeply transparent blue of the Mediterranean Sea. Accessible from the sea are many beautiful coves providing ideal locations for diving. Almuñecar, west of Salobreña, is said to have the most attractive Costa Tropical beaches, 26 in all.  The Phoenicians discovered Almuñecar 3000 years ago, and loved it so much they settled there. For history lovers the Archaeological Museum where Phoenician artefacts can be examined is worth visiting.Also worth a visit is the impressive former Arab Castle, built upon Roman fortifications on the hill overlooking the town. Whilst under the occupation of the Arabs the town was known as Al-Munakkab or Hins-al-Monacar (Fortified Town, or Flanked by Hills), and it is clear to see from where the modern name of Almuñecar is derived. Just below the castle can be seen the remains of the salazones, a Roman fish salting factory. A long flight of steps built into the Peñon (Rock) leads up to the Mirador de la Cruz, offering a superb viewing point across the bay. La Herradura, named by the Christians after its distinctive horseshoe shape, shares a similar history to its closest neighbour, Almuñecar. However, in October 1562 La Herradura witnessed a disastrous event. 25 ships of the Spanish Navy heading eastwards from Málaga, were caught in a strong storm. After battling with the elements and being forced to row against the mighty easterly squalls, they finally made shelter in the lee of the Punta de la Mona. Somewhat unexpectedly the wind changed direction to the south, thus driving the galleons in to each other and on to the rocks. From the original 25 vessels, only three survived. Originally an agricultural and fishing village and despite its colourful history, the economy of La Herradura is now concentrated almost entirely on tourism and recent years have seen an increase in the development of the local infrastructure. La Herradura enjoys a truly international feel with numerous hotels, chalets and apartments having been constructed to cope with the increasing number of visitors. An evening spent in one of the many bars, who offer both local and international cuisine, is the perfect way to relax after a busy day sightseeing this beautiful area. Motril is the second highest town in the province after Granada itself, and is home to the Costa Tropical’s main shopping centre. With a hypermarket on the outskirts of the town and many supermarkets, boutiques, bars, restaurants and nightclubs within the town centre, it is always a bustling hive of activity.  Again, for history lovers, there are plenty of interesting buildings namely churches, hermitages, and civil buildings, in particular the 17th century baroque-style town hall with its Moorish panel work in the ceilings of the entrance and assembly halls. Also in baroque-style is the Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza, built on the former Moorish palace of Aixa, mother of Boabdil. It stands gracefully on a hill overlooking the pleasant Park of the People of the Americas.Well worth a visit too, is the Museum of Sugar, devoted to the production and processing of sugar cane, the main industry of this area for centuries. Sadly however, 2006 saw the last crop of sugar cane to be harvested in Europe as the last remaining factory, in nearby Salobreña, will close. From the main coastal road south of Motril one can see ‘Casa Astrida’, belonging to the King of Spain and somewhat formidable looking with its heavy security. It was here where the late King Baldwin of Belgium was staying when he died in 1993. Motril has two busy ports, one commercial, the other fishing, where you can watch the boats come in and auction off the day’s catch. The marina, with over 150 moorings is a wonderful place to pass time, either hiring a boat yourself or merely people watching. At the marina and nautical club there are a variety of water sports on offer, including diving, sailing, fishing and windsurfing. |