Places to Visit
The Roman remains found in the coastal area of the lighthouse. There are
the remains of a village, a necropolis, baths, basins and common kilns.
In the town, of Arabic origin, there are the remains of turrets and walls.
The urban structure of Torrox is totally Moorish, with narrow, steep and
windy streets, and steps. There we can find unexpected corners with the
typical contrast between the whitewashed walls and the flower filled pots.
The church of the Encarnacion is interesting, built over the mosque in
the 16th century, although it was reformed in the 17th century. It has
a baroque structure, three naves, as well as a square based tower.
It is also worth visiting the church of San Roque, from the 16th century,
and the chapel of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves, from the same century
and in Mudejar style, founded by the Padres Mínimos de San Francisco.
An exponent of the ancient commercial splendour of the city, is the Aduana
or Casa de la Moneda, from the 18th century.
The Casa de la Cultura (culture centre), erected in 1863, housed the king
Alfonso XII during a visit he made becuase of the earthquake which afflicted
a part of the Axarquía. The hospital of San José is in ruins
and only conserves its facade.
Shopping
The old craftsmen are trying to make their art endure through young apprentices.
There are craftsmen who work with lace, leather and wood, but above
all there are works with cane, esparto grass, and textiles for domestic
use.
Gastronomy
Many of the dishes which are typical of the Axarquía, receive
a special touch in Torrox, as with the ‘migas’ breadcrumbs
fried with garlic, ‘gachas’ porridge, ‘maimones’ bread
and oil soup, ‘papas a lo pobre’ which literally means poor
potatoes, ‘ajoblanco’ cold soup, etc. There is also ‘zoque’ or ‘gazpacho
de tomate’ cold soup, and the ‘ensaladilla ariero’ literally
muleteer salad.
On the coast there is the more common sardine kebabs. Among the sweets
there are ‘buñuelos de viento’ sticky buns, and ‘arropía’ syrup.
The wines of the terrain are very famous: one is medium-dry, and another
is called "aguapié", which has less alcohol.
Festivities and Traditions
The festivity of the Virgen de las Nieves is celebrated in August, and
San Roque in October. Between the 7th and 8th of September they celebrate
Candlmas: they light candles in the country house. A month later, from
the 4th to the 7th of October the major festivities of the municipality
take place.
The festivity of the ‘Migas’ and the terrain’s wines
has been turned into a modern tradition, being celebrated the Sunday
before Christmas. On the 24th of June they burn the "juas",
a day in which the people keep the tradition of going to the town’s
fountain to wet their head and ask for three wishes. The May Crosses
take place on the 2nd and 3rd of May and the Carnival is celebrated on
the last week of February.
Finally, there is the Easter, a tradition which is celebrated with the
same devotion as in other towns of the Axarquía.
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