Overview: Southern Spain's answer to Benidorm, Torremolinos is a vast
purpose-built resort situated 10 miles (16km) west of Malaga, on
the road to Marbella. Holidaymakers looking for a cultural
experience will be disappointed, as Torremolinos, particularly in
high season, is noisy and fast-paced, 24 hours a day. With six
miles (10km) of wide, sandy beaches, lots of watersports, masses of
bars and restaurants and an exhausting nightlife, the resort
attracts tourists of all ages from all over Europe. There is a
large gay scene, but the resort is equally popular with families
and the inevitable 18 to 30 crowd.
Shopping: There is a great range of shops in Torremolinos ranging from
international clothes stores to lots of small shops catering for
the tourist trade. Good buys include the local jewellery, leather
goods and the famous Spanish Lladro porcelain. For self-caterers,
there is a good selection of corner shops and supermarkets stocking
all the well-known international brands. Calle San Miguel is at the
heart of the shopping centre; it is an attractive pedestrianised
street, flanked by small shops and cafes and is a good place to sip
sangria and people watch for those not interested in shopping. More
extensive shopping can be found in Malaga.
Restaurants: Torremolinos is packed with restaurants catering for the tourist
trade but few could be described as serving haute cuisine. The
menus, usually in a few languages, offer good staple dishes such as
fish and chips, steak, pasta and schnitzel. However if they look
hard visitors can find some excellent Spanish restaurants. Some of
the best seafood restaurants are in the fisherman's district of La
Carihuela which has been relatively undisturbed by high-rise hotels
and has retained its Andalucian coastal charm. The upmarket harbour
at Puerto Banus is only ten miles (16km) along the coast and is
packed with good restaurants overlooking rows of expensive-looking
yachts.
Nightlife: Nighttime in Torremolinos can be fairly intense with dozens of
bars and clubs catering for all tastes and persuasions. A good
place to start the evening is in one of the tavernas in Calle San
Miguel or in one of the cafés and restaurants that line the
promenade. The clubs start to open at around 10pm; the Palladium
disco being a good bet. The best selection of clubs is along Avda
Palma de Mallorca. There is a big gay scene in Torremolinos centred
on La Nogalera, where the clubs vary from the mainstream to drag
bars. Exotic shows are a feature here and are popular with both the
gay and straight visitors. For those looking for more options,
Benalmadena Port and 24 hour square a short distance from
Torremolinos might have what you looking for.
Activities: Most people come to Torremolinos to spend idle days on one of
its beaches. The largest and most popular two are Playamar and
Bajondillo, both offering safe swimming and all sorts of
watersports. Bars and cafés along the promenade offer
respite and refreshment away from the sun. The nearby water park is
one of the best on the continent and is a great family day out.
Visit www.aqualand.es for
more information. Popular excursions from the resort include a trip
to El Ranchito, a wonderful show where horses and riders display
their skill in a form of equestrian ballet, choreographed to music
www.ranchito.com The
spectacular hilltop town of Ronda is also worth a visit for those
wanting to escape the beach for a day.
Negatives: Torremolinos is a sprawling purpose-built resort; those
expecting any cultural or architectural merit will be disappointed.
Explore a few miles inland, however, and the real Spain can quickly
be discovered. As with most large resorts Torremolinos is very
commercial, tourist are regularly pestered by salesmen selling
everything from trinkets to timeshare apartments. Be firm and don't
trust anyone with scratch cards. Guests at some hotels have to
climb lots of steps when returning from the beach - elderly people
should check before booking, however in general the resort is easy
to get around with an excellent bus and train system. The centre of
Torremolinos is fairly run-down in places; the suburbs of
Benalmadena and Fuengirola are cleaner, friendlier and cheaper.
Attractions
Granada: Granada, a high altitude city of romance and folklore, boasts
one of the most popular tourist attractions in Spain, the Alhambra
palace-fortress. Built by the Nasrid rulers in the 14th century the
Alhambra is the most important and spectacular piece of Moorish
architecture in Spain. The huge complex, set against the backdrop
of the Sierra Nevada mountains, includes the summer palace with its
fountains and gardens; the Palacios Nazaries with its intricate
ornamentation; and a hilltop fortress. The city also boasts a
Cathedral containing a Royal Chapel in which Isabel and Ferdinand
of Spain lie buried, and a Moorish medina area, known as the
Albaicin, with its labyrinth of narrow streets and whitewashed
houses. North of Granada is Sacromonte hill, famed for its cave
dwellings which were once the home of a large gypsy community. The
Interpretation Centre has an Ethnographic Museum detailing the
history and culture of the cave dwellers. See www.sacromontegranada.com
for more information.
Ronda: Situated on a towering plateau in the mountains 30 miles (48km)
inland from Marbella stands Ronda, one of the loveliest and most
historic towns in the region. Ronda is a popular day-trip for
holidaymakers on the Costa del Sol wanting to escape the beach and
soak up some culture in one of the many cafés and
restaurants. It is famous for the plunging river gorge that divides
the medieval from the 18th-century parts of the town. Known as El
Tajo, the gorge is spanned by a stone bridge, Puente Nuevo, that
once housed a prison and now acts as a dramatic viewpoint for
visitors. There is a spectacular walkway, El Parador, along the
river gorge, which offers superb views of the surrounding
countryside. Ronda is also well known for its bullring - the oldest
and largest in Spain. When there are no fights, the bullring is
open to visitors, and has a fascinating museum.
The Barwick Family.; Jun 2006:
The La Carihuela is the original fishing village where it all started for Torremolinos. The first hotel to accomodate tourists still exists on the beach front. The Paseo Maritmo is lovely to walk along and you must try the wonderfull... more
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