Torrox

What to See in Torrox

The village of Torrox is spread over a low hill and therefore its urban plan, as capricious as any to be found, is a clear example of adapting to the terrain. The uniform white of its houses is interrupted by splashes of colour from flowerpots, and any corner of the old quarter takes the visitor back to the Moorish epoch with no effort of the imagination being necessary.

Due to its historical importance, the Roman archaeological site of El Faro de Torrox is an obligatory visit. Various historians agree that this site is that of the Mansio Caviclum referred to in the Antonine Itinerary. It is a vast complex whose installations were active at least between the first and fourth centuries. A villa, a dried fish trading post, some bathhouses, a kiln and an extensive necropolis have been found at the site. It was Tomás García Ruiz, the lighthouse keeper of the Faro de Torrox, who found the ruins in the early twentieth century. He unearthed most of the archaeological remains that are being studied by experts at present. Mosaics, sculptures, amphorae, urns and coins have been found. The Villa of the Faro de Torrox is considered to be one of the few sites known as "villa a mare" or maritime village in Spain. From the Roman ruins there rises the Faro de Torrox (lighthouse). It was built in 1864 and olive oil lamps inside it used to glow like bonfires in the dark. In the early twentieth century, the oil lighting system was installed and in 1922 the lighthouse started to be lit by electric power.

Back in the village, the Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación church is noteworthy. Its original construction was in the seventeenth century over a former congregational mosque, and it was rebuilt in 1889. It has a Latin cross floor plan and consists of three naves. The main chapel is covered by a barrel vault, while the side naves are oval. The exterior is remarkable for its square-based tower. It is divided into three levels, and the uppermost is crowned by a pyramidal steeple. .

The Franciscan order of the Minim friars founded the Nuestra Señora de las Nieves convent and chapel in the sixteenth century. The church has a Latin cross floor plan, with side naves and chapels, a presbytery, choir room and belfry. It has an excellent Mudéjar roof frame. The convent attached to the chapel has two floors and consists of a cloister, interior courtyard and stables. The convent living quarters were used in the nineteenth century as a fruit warehouse and later served as a Civil Guard garrison and barracks, which function it continued to perform until the 1970’s.

The San Roque church, not used for worship at the present time, was erected in the neo-Mudéjar style over the original sixteenth century structure. It has a single nave, whose area over the main chapel is covered by a hemispherical vault. The exterior is notable for its graceful belfry and for its face brick that is painted an unsuitable red.

The village contains other interesting historic buildings, such as the Palacio de la Aduana (Customhouse) and the eighteenth-century Casa de la Moneda (Mint) on Calle Baja, a building that has now been converted into a dwelling, an exponent of the old splendour. Torrox was home to many Jews, whose most prestigious man was Luis de Torres, a sailor who travelled with Christopher Columbus to the Americas. During his visit to the municipality in 1885, Alfonso XII stayed in the old palace, built in the mid-nineteenth century, that today houses the Casa de la Cultura (House of Culture, the former Casa de la Hoya).

Torrox

overlooks the Mediterranean Sea and, as a coastal village, one of its main attractions is its beaches, a 9-kilometre strip of sand divided into seven sections: Calaceite, El Cenicero, El Morche, El Peñoncillo, Ferrara, Mazagarrobo, and Vilches. They are dark sand beaches that have been awarded the Blue Flag year in, year out, which means they are the best beaches in Europe thanks to the quality of the sea as well as to the services and accesses.

Torrox’s Fiestas and Gastronomy

The Feria de Octubre (October Fair, from 4 to 8 of that month) begins with a street parde by the students of the Academia Municipal school of Music), followed by a parade of "gigantes y cabezudos" (giant grotesque large-headed figures) and that night the lights are turned on at the fairgrounds. There are musical performances and numerous sporting activities. The most moving event of the fiesta, however, is the transfer of the patron saints, Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (Our Lady of the Snows) and San Roque, from the parish church to the chapel of our Lady, a journey that is made to the accompaniment of a prolonged display of fireworks.

The neighbourhood of El Morche celebrates its big day on 15 August in honour of Virgen del Carmen (Virgin of Mount Carmel). The date of the fiesta was changed from 16 July, the day of that Virgin, to August merely for the sake of tourism. There is a fishing competition, musical performances and, needless to say, the marine procession of the Virgin.

The carnival fiesta has made a strong comeback and at the present time is one of the best-attended fiestas in Torrox. The engaging and highly competitive competitions of "murgas" and "comparsas" (types of street performance groups) are avidly followed by the Torroxeños, who also identify with the parades that these groups stage on the village streets.

The "Crosses" are celebrated in May, and in Torrox there is the unusual feature that they are made with flowerpots instead of with flowers only. By way of adornment the most varied items imaginable are placed on the obligatory staired altars, prominent among which are shawls and lace handkerchiefs. The altars by preference are placed in courtyards inside houses, and fiestas are organised around them in which the gastronomic element predominates.

The eve of the day of San Juan (23 June) has special meaning in Torrox, where the traditional burning of the "Júas" (Judases) combines with the tradition of leaping over bonfires and a series of rituals in which water plays a fundamental role, but that are nearly always focused on finding out if amorous relations are going to have a happy ending or not.

On the Sunday before Christmas Torrox finds itself literally invaded by thousands of outsiders who come to the village to celebrate the Día de las Migas (Migas day; migas are a dish made from fried bread crumbs), which is without a doubt the village’s fiesta par excellence. Street marches, verdiales (a traditional kind of Málaga music), fandangos and many other folk events serve as the backdrop for the frenetic activity of the villagers as they prepare their famous and delicious migas, which are eaten with true enjoyment by the thousands of attendees at this great fiesta in which the Torroxeños demonstrate their limitless hospitality.

In the first weeks of December, Torrox has been celebrating since 2008 a Christmas Market as those they set up in Central Europe. The Lonja de Hortomálaga is at the centre of this market, where you can buy all kinds of Christmas products, from ornaments to arts & crafts and food. Along with the market various music performances are offered.

 

During May, Torrox holds the Tourism and Gastronomy Fair, a trade show open to the general public and aimed at showcasing the local historical, cultural and gastronomic treasures and the tourism assets. The trade show takes place in the Lonja de Hortomálaga, which runs music and dance performances and where traditional food prepared by Torrox residents is served. One of such dishes is the dulce de la arropía (honey syrup).

Torrox’s Gastronomy

Obviously migas are the most popular and characteristic dish in this village. Its ingredients are as simple as they are basic: flour, garlic, olive oil, cracklings, bacon, and the preparer’s know-how. From such simplicity comes a truly exquisite dish that is accompanied by the no less famous ensalada arriera (a salad made of codfish, olives, onions, tart oranges and olive oil).

Potaje de Nochebuena

(a kind of bean pottage) is very traditional for Christmas, and sopa de maimones (a soup made from bread and olive oil) and guiso de calabazas (stewed squash) are eaten at any time of the year. Gazpacho and ajoblanco (cold soups) are customary in summer, and espetos (grilled sardines) are traditional on the coast. Confectionery items that should be mentioned include arropía, a caramel of Arabic origin made with boiled honey. On the day of San Juan hornazos (a kind of pastry containing a boiled egg) and roscos (a kind of spiral pastry) at Christmas complete the menu of typical Torrox confectionery.

More Information About Torrox

Famous People From Torrox

Al-Mansur, born Muhammad Ibn Abi Aamir, was born in the year 939 in Torrox, according to some historians actually in the village castle. As well as holding other positions, he performed the duties of "cadid" of Seville and commander of the armies. He conquered Zamora and León, and on 3 July 997, Santiago de Compostela. He respected only the tomb

of Saint James the Great in that city, assigning a special guard to protect it. He had the cathedral bells and the gates of the city brought to Córdoba where they were placed in the mosque like trophies; the transportation was done by Christian captives. His labour was in vain, as years afterwards Ferdinand III the Saint would return to Santiago what belonged to it, using Muslim captives to transport it. Al-mansur, who according to chroniclers had grown excessively arrogant, was defeated by a coalition of Christian forces in the Battle of Calatañazor in 998 and died in Medinaceli in the year 1002.