Torrevieja
Torrevieja has the reputation of being THE “boom town” of Spain and with a resident population that once passed 100,000 (at one stage it rose by 50,000 in just 7 years!) it’s not difficult to see why it has this dubious claim to fame. What is even more astonishing is that the majority of these new torrevejenses are expats – primarily Brits, Irish and Scandinavians. Moreover for a town of its size it must be one of the most cosmopolitan towns in the world. There are currently over 160 different nationalities registered on the local census and that number also keeps increasing. The latest big group to arrive en masse are the Russians and many shops now have signs in the Russian language as well as Russian-speaking staff.
The town seems to have accommodated and absorbed these newcomers very well but they have also added much to the town. They have founded almost 200 expat clubs, charities and associations and they have become an integral part of the Holy Week parade. Sadly, along with the positive side to expat life, there have been some negatives. None more so than the town’s reputation for crime. The Costa Blanca Neighbourhood Watch was the first officially recognised citizens’ scheme in the whole of Spain and has worked closely with the police to combat this social curse. Thankfully, crime is most definitely on the decrease, gauged on whichever figure one reads.
To cater for these residents and would-be residents, Torrevieja boasts an excellent website and forums. If you want to know anything about Torrevieja you should find all the information and more on www.torrevieja.com .
There are literally dozens and dozens of clubs and associations and a very active social scene with many bars putting on quality music. In the town centre there are the new Municipal Theatre and Cultural Centres with many events every day. The town boasts one of the very first Foreign Residents’ Office in Spain. This office is specifically to deal with foreign residents’ queries re National Identity numbers, residence requirements, health matters and a thousand and one matters which are best dealt with in your native tongue and using familiar terminology!
The local papers now all have online editions and you can keep up with all the news with www.costablanca-news.com (Costa Blanca News) and Round Town News in English. There are www.vikingposten.no and www.spaniaposten.com in Norwegian and www.costablancanachrichten.com in German.
Further details of local media: www.thisisspain.info/help-advice/the-media
Torrevieja is rightly proud of its past and has five museums that are all definitely worth visiting. There is the nativity museum, the Sea and Salt museum, the new Natural History Museum, the Ricardo Lafuente Aguado museum (Torrevieja’s most prolific writer of Habaneras songs) and also the excellent Semana Santa (Holy Week) museum
Torrevieja is fast maturing and its state hospital and Las Habaneras, a vast shopping centre were two of the last pieces in the jigsaw from becoming a town to a fully-fledged city. Torrevieja also has a major private hospital so now residents will now have the choice of private or public healthcare “on the doorstep”. In 2011 the music conservatory opened whilst just down the road the sports city developed. Whatever your views on the change of Torrevieja over the past twenty years it has most definitely been an exciting place to live and it looks like it will stay that way for many years to come. Enjoy!
Property
Estate agents have come and gone over the past 20 years but one company has always been at the forefront of property investment in this area, Girasol Homes. The builders and developers are now focusing on modern, high specification but reasonably priced homes and apartments. Many of these properties, plus many thousands of other properties in the Alicante region are on the Girasol Homes website.
Airport Transfers
Translations
Salt Church, Torrevieja
Adventure Hunt
A self-guided outdoor escape room in Torrevieja. Follow the app, solve puzzles and see local highlights at your own pace. One booking covers a group of up to 6 people.
What is Adventure Hunt?
Adventure Hunt is a self-guided outdoor escape room. It’s a cross between a walking tour, an escape room, and a scavenger hunt. Each puzzle is based on features you’ll find in plain sight. They might be murals, buildings, landmarks, water features, statues, play areas, or information boards. The questions are designed to make you think and pay attention, making for a fun group activity. Unlike a traditional walking tour, the puzzles encourage you to notice details that most visitors would simply walk past. Book online and start whenever you like. There are no guides or fixed departure times. Available in English, Spanish, German, French, Italian, Portuguese and Dutch, with each booking covering a group of up to six people.
The Adventure Hunt app guides you between puzzles without simply asking you to follow a dot on a map, making the journey itself part of the adventure. The app runs on your own Android or iPhone, so there’s no need to collect equipment or meet a guide before you start.
Explore entirely at your own pace. Stop whenever you like for a drink, a meal or to admire the sights, then continue whenever you’re ready—even the next day if you wish. Hints are available for every puzzle, so you can always continue your adventure.
For example, one Adventure Hunt takes place in the old town area of La Laguna, Tenerife. The route starts near Plaza del Adelantado and passes by many of the popular and interesting locations in La Laguna, including the Catedral de San Cristbal de La Laguna, Iglesia de la Concepcion, Plaza Doctor Olivera, Iglesia y exconvento de San Agustin. The route is one way, it crosses through the many side streets and covers roughly 2 km and consists of 19 clues. It includes some cobbled areas but is almost completely flat, making it suitable for most visitors with limited mobility.
Adventure Hunt is ideal for friends, couples, families or colleagues. It’s a great way to spend 1.5 to 2 hours – or longer if you stop along the way. Bring water, maybe a snack, and enjoy the journey at your own pace. If you prefer to enjoy some local foods or refreshments along the way, you’ll be in the perfect area of the city to do so, with restaurants and bars galore! To make sure everyone is engaged, we suggest groups of 2 to 4 participants. If your group is larger, split into smaller teams for a fun, friendly competition. Gather your friends or family, challenge your minds, and discover La Laguna in a brand new way. Adventure is waiting! Are you ready?
We currently have Adventure Hunts throughout the Alicante province with several in the capital, others in San Juan, El Campello, Villajoyosa so if you enjoy the Torrevieja one as much as we are sure you will, why not try them too? Be sure to follow Adventure Hunt on Facebook or Instagram to stay informed of all new hunts.