History of Torremolinos.
Interesting facts about Torremolinos History.

Torremolinos History

The strategic coastal location of Torremolinos, made it a place of settlement for ancient civilizations: Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs.

The first mention of the town appears in 1498, year of the Christian Re-conquest of Málaga during the land parcelling. Reference is made to a marvellous spot known as the "Molinos de la Torre", (the mills of the Tower), powered by water from the abundant springs in whose environs the Catholic Kings and their vast troops encamped during the siege of Málaga; territory that in present day belongs to the municipality of Alhaurín de la Torre. In 1502 it came under the rule of Málaga with the name of "Torres de Pimentel" ("The Towers of Pimentel", in honour of Rodrigo Pimentel, Count of Benavente to whom most of the lands were given in thanks for his cooperation with horses and food, during the siege of Malaga.

In 1849 "el Madoz" published: "Torremolinos is a place with a town hall, belonging to the province, judicial district and diocese of Malaga, two leagues from the capital; Territorial Audience and General Captainship of Granada. Due to its location at the foothills of the Mijas Mountains and at rifle shot distance from the sea, it has a healthy climate, only with seasonal common illnesses. It has 234 houses, one square room used a jail, and a elementary school with 44 pupils, with an annual allotment of 1.100 "reales" plus 300 more for material and a private school sustained by the 14 girls attending it; a parochial church (San Miguel), a cemetery with 6 burial chambers belonging to the "Hermandad de las Animas" (Brotherhood of Souls) and 8 belonging to the local people and lastly an abundant spring, whose waters are used for Human consumption, movement of mills and for irrigation".

From the peaceful agricultural, fishing and flour producing Andalusian village of 3000 inhabitants that Torremolinos used to be in 1920, Torremolinos has grown into the world- known touristic town, that in high season houses more than 25.000 tourists placing it ahead of more than 35 Spanish province capitals in number of inhabitants.

Torremolinos remained an independent municipality until 1924, when it became part of Málaga, until a popular movement promoted by the Proautonomy Council of Torremolinos, regained its independence, constituting the municipality of Torremolinos on September 27, 1988.

At the end of the 50's, when the tourist boom began, the small town composed of a downtown area around San Miguel streets and "the Calvario", "Bajondillo" and "La Carihuela" neighbourhoods, began its urban and economical take off to become the number one touristic municipality of Andalusia and one of the most important at national and international level.