HEALTHPLAN MAGAZINE

Torrevieja is a coastal town in Spain, and a popular destination for foreigners looking to relocate to the country.

Below we give you the lowdown on what you need to know about Torrevieja.

Geographical and Historical Data

Torrevieja is a coastal town situated in the Southeast of Spain in the province of Alicante and the southern region of the Valencian Community.

Located between the Sierra Escalona and the mouth of the Segura river, the town occupies approximately 71 square kilometres.

Torrevieja started life as a salt mining and fishing village due to its location between the sea and two large salt lakes commonly known as Las Salinas de Torrevieja. Today, salt mining is still undertaken in the region, producing around 600,000 tons each year.

The name Torrevieja comes from the fact that up until 1802, the town consisted of only a watch tower which gave rise to its name which is an amalgamation of ‘Torre’ - ‘Vieja’ or ‘Old Tower’.

Weather

Torrevieja has an enviable climate which is considered to be very mild.

During the summer months, the temperature can soar to around 32c with the winter temperatures falling to a low of 6c.

The temperature between April and October ranges from 18c to 27c.

Sea temperatures are 19.5c on average, with a maximum of 26c during the month of August and a minimum of 14c in February.

Population By Nationality

According to the town's Municipal Register, as of early 2022, Torrevieja had a population of 88,800 residents making it the third-biggest town in the Alicante province and the fifth-largest within the Valencian Community.

Of the residents, 50,017 (56.3%) are Spanish nationals with the remaining 38,783 (43.7%) foreigners.

Torrevieja has a diverse mix of nationalities coming from more than 121 countries and five continents. These include citizens from Cuba, India, Switzerland, Hungary, Belarus, Algeria, Senegal, Denmark, Paraguay, Nigeria, Peru, El Salvador, Austria, Bolivia, Pakistan, United States of America, Cape Verde, Mexico, Guinea, Egypt, Nepal, Philippines, Honduras, Israel, Bangladesh, Burkina Fasso, Thailand, Costa Rica, Australia, Japan, South Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jordan, Mauritius, Guatemala, Cyprus, Malta, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Gabon, Gambia, Slovenia, Macedonia, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan or Suriname.

UK nationals are the biggest group in Torrevieja with 4,813 registered residents as of August 2022.

This is closely followed by Ukrainians with a total of 4,596 residents. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, this number increased by around 1,400.

This is followed by Russian nationals with 4,400 registered on the official census.

These are then followed by Colombians (2,719), Moroccans (2,246), Romanians (1,497), Bulgarians (1,442), Swedes (1,360), Belgians (1,189), Italians (1,120), Germans (1,004), Chinese (779), Algerians (657), Poles (634), Norwegians (608), Brazilians (591), Argentines (545), Finns (521), French (516) and Indians (437).

Population By Age

Torrevieja naturally has a real mix in terms of age groups.

According to the Municipal Register, the town has 16,257 children and young people under the age of 20 years equating to 18.3% of the population.

There are 19,014 (21.4%) people in Torrevieja between the ages of 20 and 40 years, and 27,049 (30.46%) between the ages of 40 and 60 years.

There are 21,397 residents between the ages of 60 - 80 years equating to 24.09% of the town’s population. There are also 5,040 people registered between 80 and 100 years old.

Then there are the Centenarians, with 32 people older than 100 years. Of these, 10 are men and 22 are women.

Beaches

With approximately 20 km of stunning coastline, you will find a number of fantastic beaches at which to spend the day topping up your tan.

Many of the beaches are comprised of soft golden sand and are rated as blue flag beaches.

Some of the most popular beaches to visit are:-

• Cala de Cabo Cervera - A small but beautiful sandy cove measuring just 100 metres in length and 25 metres deep.
• Playa de La Mata - This is another stunning beach which is located in the resort town of La Mata. The beach is very long measuring almost 2,000 metres and approximately 50 metres wide.
• Playa del Cura - Located in the heart of the city, Playa del Cura is the most popular beach in the area. The beach is around 400 metres long, 30 metres wide and is comprised of golden soft sand.
• Playa de Los Locos - A favourite among the town's tourists, the beach is mostly made up of soft sand and also offers a number of facilities including a beach bar.
• Playa de Los Naufragos - This blue flag beach is considered to be one of the best sandy beaches in Torrevieja.

Places to Visit

You can’t go to Torrevieja without visiting some of its most interesting and fun places.

• Plaza de la Constitución - Located in the very heart of the city, the Plaza de la Constitución is adorned with palm trees and bougainvillaea. The plaza is also home to the Town Hall and the beautiful Iglesia de La Inmaculada church.
• Flamingo Aqua Park - Open between May and September, the Flamingo Aqua Park is perfect for families with young children looking to cool off during the summer months.
• Torre del Moro Park - Located between La Mata and Torrevieja, the park is small but very historic and offers stunning views of the coastline. There is also a play park area and the main feature which is the ancient Torre del Moro (pictured below).
• Hippie Market - Situated in the Paseo de la Libertad, this is the most popular market in Torrevieja with up to 1,000 stalls offering everything from crafts and fashion to momentos and gifts. During the summer months, there is a smaller evening craft market with around 70 stalls.
• Habaneras Shopping Centre - First opened in 2005, the shopping Centre offers around 60 shops and restaurants for you to enjoy.
• Parque de Las Naciones - One of the city’s most popular attractions, this natural park offers lots to see including a 6,000 sqm lake, lush green foliage, paddle boats, a play area, a tourist train and lots of beautiful wildlife.