Torrevieja is a coastal town and center of tourism in the south of Alicante province in Costa Blanca, Spain. It is situated within the district of Vega Baja and has a population of 90,000 inhabitants. Torrevieja is 41 km away from Alicante to the north, 23 km from Elche to the northwest, and 53 km from Murcia in the southeast.
Torrevieja has a protected Natural Park with two salt lakes, and 20 km of coastline containing six large beaches - La Mata, Cabo Cervera, Los Locos, El Cura, Los Náufragos and Ferris - and about 20 coves with an abundance of cliffs.
The name Torrevieja literally means "old tower". Torrevieja as a town dates from the early 18th century when it was a fishing village built around one of the watchtowers that flanks the Costa Blanca coastline. Today it's one of the fastest growing cities in Spain due to tourism. Many Spanish and other European citizens have a holiday home in the city.
There are many English-language newspapers including The Leader, Round Town News, Coastrider, Euro Weekly News and the regional Costa Blanca News. They all have on-line editions. There are also numerous magazines, several radio stations and even a TV station.
In recent years the local economy has hugely expanded due to the tourist industry. This includes both a strong contingent of British, Irish, Germans and Scandinavians, many of whom live there all the year round, and Spanish tourists who have a holiday home in the city. By 2004 Torrevieja had the largest number of British residents of all the Spanish municipalities (approx. 7,180), and that figure has now exceeded 12,000.
By plane
El Altet airport (Alicante) about 40 km north and San Javier airport (Murcia) some 25 km south of the city.
By train
Alicante RENFE train station and Murcia RENFE train station are the closest. From there take the bus.
By car
National mainroad 332 Alicante-Cartagena, Levante motorway Madrid-Alicante, Mediterranean motorway Alicante-Murcia, A-37 motorway Alicante-Cartagena, regional mainroad CV-90, provincial road 3321.
By bus
Passenger transport companies which have direct routes to Torrevieja: ENATCAR-ALSA[1], Costa Azul[2], Vega Bus, Continental Auto and La Inmaculada.
By boat
Torrevieja has a large harbour for private yachts and small sight-seeing boats offer cruises around the coastline and to the nearby island of Tabarca, but there are not any passenger ships sailing to Torrevieja. Nearest passenger port is in Alicante.
