The Real Spain

Torrox Pueblo is a real Spanish village where tourism, although important, is not the only concern.

The main square, Plaza de la Constitution, is the heart of Torrox. Busy in the morning as everyone completes their daily shopping. Fresh fish and vegetables from the market, bread still warm from the bakery. Then all goes quiet for the hot afternoon siesta until dusk when it awakens again. Dining al fresco in the balmy night air with just the hint of a cooling breeze.

Larger Image Dining in the Plaza

The houses are traditional Andalucian buildings, their style going back to the Moors who used to occupy this part of Spain when it was Al Andalus.

The older properties have walls two feet thick with small windows, painted white inside and out. The heat of the sun is kept out with shutters and the village sleeps in the heat of the afternoon.

At night, as the temperatures fall, the village comes back to life. The main plaza is busy until the early hours where many of the local people sit down for their evening meal at 10pm or even 11pm.

It is often noisy at night, the Spanish demonstrating their love of life and people sitting in the streets, chatting and laughing. In the summer this can go on until one in the morning or later.

After a brief sleep, they arise early before the heat of the day. Down to the Plaza de la Constitution and its bakeries and shops or perhaps to the market and then a coffee or something stronger in one of the 14 or so bars.

Back home in the afternoon for the siesta and the village falls quiet.

There is also a municipal swimming pool where a cooling dip can be had if you do not fancy the short trip down to the coast.