TORREVIEJA

Historical Background

While most people begin to settle in fertile valleys and mountains, near rivers or harbors, Torrevieja has its raison d'etre by two salt ponds and a tower which took its name.

In 1320 the tower was rebuilt de la Mata, then called Turris de las Salinas de la Mata, under the reign of Don Jaime II.

The purpose of these towers was to guard and monitor the coast from possible attacks from privateers or pirates.

In 1767el botanist Antonio Cavanilles in its geographical study of the Kingdom of Valencia, is what might be the first written record of the existence of Torrevieja and urban settlement. The document reads: "Adjacent to Cabo Cervera, looking southwest, has been forming a town called" Old Tower, where twenty-five years ago, there were three families, and currently (1792) 106 families occupied almost all in the various tasks of the salt.

In 1772 several years as the lake called of Guardamar, (now de la Mata) was devoted to salt extraction, concentrated in its surroundings a small hamlet consisting of the said day laborers and soldiers Salinas de la Torre .

In 1802 a royal order of Charles IV, moved offices Salinas de la Mata to Torrevieja. Soon after, approving the preparation of a construction plan of the village next to the existing one, when in fact the number of inhabitants was about 1,500.

Don Manuel Godoy, Minister of King Charles IV in 1806, due to the maritime movement that existed in the town he built an office in Torrevieja.

The earthquakes of 21 March and 18 April 1829, devastated the entire city. Ferdinand VII sent Torreviaja rebuild under the plan by the engineer Don Jose Agustin de Larramendi.

In 1867 he founded the Casino Numancia which became, in 1882, the Cultural Society Casino of Torrevieja. Year in which the railway line opens Torrevieja-Albatera, attended the ceremony of the Head of Government, Antonio Canovas del Castillo.

In 1931 on his recent development in agriculture, industry and commerce, SMD Alfonso XIII granted Torrevieja, by Royal Decree No. 571, the title of City.

From September 26 to December 9, 1939 the torrevejense Chapaprieta Joaquin Torregrosa was prime minister of the Second Republic.

In 1953 he published a Ministry of Finance, which is available areas of land belonging to the municipalities of Almoradi, Guardamar del Segura, Rojales and Orihuela and aggregating them to the town of Torrevieja.

The City Council of Torrevieja, in 1997, chaired by Mayor Pedro Hernandez Mateo, agrees with the Directorate General of State Assets, writing for the town of Torrevieja which becomes the owner of the historic Eras de la Sal.