Send Gift Baskets to Torrevieja, Spain

Until 1802, Torrevieja consisted of an ancient guard tower, which gave the town its name (Torre Vieja, Spanish for ‘Old Tower’), and a few cottages for the laborers. Charles IV, however, authorized the relocation of the salt production offices from La Mata to the town in 1803, and he also allowed the construction of dwellings there. The city was destroyed by an earthquake in 1829, but the basins were rebuilt and opened again. As part of Alfonso XIII’s special grant, Torrevieja was given city status in 1931. Also, flax, hemp, and cotton were in high demand during this time.

The salt was mainly shipped from the town by Swedish and Dutch ships in the 19th century. To a lesser extent, there was only limited demand from other regions of Spain, mainly Galicia and Valencia. By the turn of the 20th century, a quarter of the salt harvested from the lagoon in Torrevieja was sold in Spain, and the remainder was exported overseas. The industry is still an essential employer in Torrevieja today. There is a museum dedicated to the sea and salt in the city.

As a result of the tourism industry, the local economy has overgrown in recent years. The city is home to a large contingent of British, Irish, German, and Scandinavians, many of whom live there all year round, as well as Spanish people who have second homes there. It is estimated that Torrevieja had the most British residents of all Spanish municipalities by 2004 (approx. 7,180). Some holidaymakers refer to Torrevieja as the ‘Yorkshire Coast’ due to many British expatriates, and paella can often be served in giant Yorkshire puddings.

As of 2001, the city’s authorities and Random House’s Spanish subsidiary, Plaza & Janés, have awarded Spain’s second most important literary award, the Ciudad de Torrevieja Novel Award and the Torrevieja City Poetry Award.