.: Turismo Motril :.

It seems that the origins of Motril go back in time to the Neolithic period with the “culture of the caves” with some caves such as the “Cueva del Capitán” located in the village of Lobres.

From the century IV (BC) onwards we have knowledge that the Phoenician created small ports all around our coast to develop fishing and commerce. It’s supposed that a small population started to live around these ports. Although this theory has not been completely verified.

Going back to the times of Roman dominance we have knowledge that there were many villages along the region, that were located around Vía Heraclea or Hercúlea, attributed to Hércules who was travelling around all the Andalusian Coast on his way up to more inland Spain. It seems that the only settlement of relevance in this region was the Municipium Firmum Iulium Sexi (Almuñecar), as Motril’s plain and Salobreña were almost all a navigable bay which meant that the Romans settled in places situated more at the north.

All the region was of great interest to the Romans Empire, thanks to the silver mines in the “Cerro Del Toro” and the excellent quality and abundance of fish around this coast. In Almuñecar with the fish that was left over, a delicious sauce was made for the salted fish, called Garum that was specially transported from here to Rome for the Emperor and all the high society.

It is also important to mention that Aníbal unloaded his army on these coasts and got plumb and copper from the Vélez de Benaudalla mines before he left to conquer Rome and caused the crisis which ended with the fall of the Roman Empire.

Motril under Arab domination

It was not until this period when Motril became an urban community, being the Arabs who christened the town with the name of Mu-Tra-Yil. Due to its strategical importance the town soon became a highly important defensive area, proceeding to the building of defense walls and towers along the coast. It wasn’t until 1489 that the town was conquered by the Catholic Kings, and the consequent expulsion of all Muslim people in 1507. It is then when Motril received its current name.

As a result of the Moors expulsion the town became practically deserted therefore the Christians began to repopulate, which was abruptly interrupted with the war of Las Alpujarras in 1569 that totally destroyed the town.

Shortly after that the town started a building process to reconstruct and fortify the town to protect it from the continuous pirate attacks. Also a new city wall was built around the town, destroying the original one. The Mosque was also demolished and its stones were used to build a Church-Fortress, keeping only the main entrance doors that were located in the church and in the Homage Tower that later on was modified and converted into a bell tower.

Thanks to all these excellent merits gained for the defence system established and the importance gained by the town during the reign of Felipe IV, in 1657 the king of Spain conceded Motril with the title of the “Very noble and loyal town of Motril”.

From this moment on the town continued its expansion growing very quickly and overcoming with success all the difficulties such the Black Death plague in 1679 and the earthquakes of 1884 and 1885 that demolished the town completely.

Motril was divided fundamentally into two different sectors: agriculture and fishing industries. Whilst the fishing industry achieved a wide range of products, the agricultural sector was based basically on the cultivation and recollecting of sugar cane which since then has been the most relevant and important product which made Motril known worldwide. In the 19th Century in Motril and surroundings there were a total of 7 factories all working to cover the immense demand of sugar, honey and rum.

Currently the town is less orientated to the agricultural sector and is more orientated to the industry of services, leaving aside sugar cane production and so unfortunately we will loose a part of our history and heritage when the sugar cane production eventually disappears from our landscape.

Fiestas in Motril
Get to know our culture and enjoy the local fiestas. The history of Motril, a life full of colour, flavour and soul.