A village situated
in the East of Almería, which has all the
flavours of the Mediterranean Coast. Garrucha was created around a
fishing port, where boats fished under the protection of the "Torre
de la Garrucha" ("Garrucha Tower") which was located by the sea, next to
the "Alfolí" (Salt store),
where today we can find the Town Hall. That typical
Nasrid building was made with adobe walls; it was probably built
as a refuge for the Muslim fishermen when they were attacked by the
Christians who came from
Lorca (Murcia). This tower was destroyed by
the earthquake of 1518.
Being traditionally a fishing village, Garrucha was called "the small
San Sebastián", the big port for the mines
which once had Vice-consuls from ten different countries after the
expansion of the shipment of silver, iron and lead in the middle of the
19th century.
Garrucha was the centre of antique historical remains, which go back
about 5,000 years. A natural port which supplied several armies,
exported esparto grass and marble, and always had a good fish catch. The
active Garrucha was attacked by pirates, and reached its golden age
under the shelter of such mining wealth, as well as being chosen as the
summer residence by those families enriched thanks to the mining
industry.
At turn of the 20th century, Garrucha was enjoying a feverish economic
and social life: casinos, ballrooms, and tennis club gave to the village
the glamour so different from the other coastal villages in the area,
appearance which evoked towns as San Sebastián
(Basque Country), where the streets where filled with appeal in summer.
Today, Garrucha is still a traditional Spanish fishing town.
Take a stroll around the port - there you can see the fisherman
come back with your supper. Just click on the thumbnails below!
And......there's more - pictured below are the miles of gorgeous unspoilt beaches which stretch all the way from Vera Playa past Garrucha along to Mojacar Playa.
Take the freeway "Autovía del Mediterráneo", exits 520 and 534, to get to Garrucha.
