Motril

Motril
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Motril
Motril Location in Spain
Coordinates: 36°45′N 3°31′W / 36.750°N 3.517°W / 36.750; -3.517Coordinates: 36°45′N 3°31′W / 36.750°N 3.517°W / 36.750; -3.517
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Andalusia
Province	Granada
Comarca	Costa Tropical
Judicial district	Motril
Commonwealth	Costa Tropical de Granada
Government
• Alcaldesa	María Flor Almón Fernández (2015) (PSOE)
Area
• Total	109.77 km2 (42.38 sq mi)
Elevation	45 m (148 ft)
Population (2012)
• Total	61,171
• Density	560/km2 (1,400/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Motrileño, -ña
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	18600 - 18613
Website	Official website

Motril (Spanish pronunciation: [moˈtɾil]) is a town and municipality on the Mediterranean coast in the province of Granada, Spain. It is the second largest town in the province, with a population of 60,368 as of 2016.^[1] The town is located near the Guadalfeo River and 69 km (43 mi) from Granada. The council of Motril includes the city of Motril and the neighbourhoods of El Varadero, Torrenueva, Carchuna, Calahonda, Puntalón, Playa Granada, Las Ventillas, La Perla, La Garnatilla and La Chucha. The town is the capital of the region of the Coast of Granada.

King Baudouin of Belgium died in Motril of heart failure during a visit to his summer residence, "Villa Astrida" in 1993.

History

Although its origin still remains unclear, it was a Phoenician enclave. It already existed in Roman times.

Sugar Cane Harvest

When the Christians conquered Motril, there were 2,000 inhabitants whose main activities were agriculture, fishing and the production of silk and sugar. The city centre size was around 3.5 km (2.2 mi). Outside the city there are two suburbs: Al-Majon suburb and al-Couruch suburb and a neighborhood called Jandara.

There was a Moorish uprising in 1569 that finished in 1570 with the Christians' victory. This made a recession of sugar production but this finished 5 years later with the repopulation of old Christians .

By the end of 1600s, Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza church was built.

Sugar cane was the most important crop, which was later processed in the sugar refineries. The most important of these was "La Casa de la Palma". Now it's the place where the "Museo Preindustrial de la Caña de Azúcar" or Sugar Cane Museum is found.

In 1657, Philip IV granted Motril the title of city, separating its jurisdiction from Granada.

At the beginning of the next century, Philip V distinguished Motril as "Muy Noble y Leal" , which is now found on Motril's shield.

After the War of Independence, in which Motril was occupied by French troops, the city started a new expansion of sugarcane and the sugar industry.

In the 19th century Motril participated in a singular event, it was proclaimed Independent Canton from July 22 to 25 of 1873. In a few years, due to the increase in the number of sugar refineries, it went to the first position in the Granada industrial ranking. It opened to the public on most traditional ride in the city, "Las Explanadas", in the mid-19th century.

In 2011, the PP with Carlos Rojas got the mayoral service for a third time, with absolute majority. In 2012 he left his charge of mayor to be a spokesman of the "Partido Popular Andaluz", leaving the mayoral service to Luisa Garcia Chamorro.

Monuments

Population

Motril has 61,171 inhabitants spread out over 110 sq km as of 2012. There has been an increase of the population. Emigration was the first cause. Until 1610 there were 4,300 inhabitants. In 2012 there were 61,171 inhabitants. The population kept growing the last centuries.

Agriculture

Situated in the south coast of Andalusia, Motril has main crops like avocado, custard apple, guava, mango and banana; as well as greenhouse cultivation and sugarcane (but 2006 was the last year in which sugarcane was cultivated).

In the ancient countryside of Motril was very important the sugarcane to the production of sugar, for that Motril have several sugar refineries such as:

• "Nuestra Señora del Pilar"
• "Nuestra Señora de la Almudena"
• "Azucarera de San Luis"
• "Nuestra señora de Lourdes"
• "Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza"
• "Nuestra Señora de las Angustias"
• "Azucarera de San Fernando"
• "Ingenio de San José, El Varadero"

These refineries are now abandoned. The potato was also very important.

Motril and the villages belonging to the municipality: Torrenueva, Carchuna, Calahonda, Castel de Ferro ... live of the crops in greenhouse. On one hand we have crops in greenhouse, the more importants are the tomatoes and the cucumbers. And on the other hand in a more reduced proportion crops outside such as custard apple, beans and peas.

Industry

Its geographical position makes it a commercial and industrial centre. The most important industry in Motril is the paper mill that gives 400 jobs and produces around 250 tons of paper per year. "The Port of Motril" is a commercial and fishing port. Fishing is the second most important industry in Motril after the paper industry. There is a famous museum in Motril, "The Sugarcane Museum" because, some years ago, there was a sugarcane refinery, where they extracted the sugar to sell it.

Climate

The climate in Motril is determined by two important geographic factors:

• The Lujar Range that makes a wall that locks the arrival of cold winds from the north (Granada and "Sierra Nevada").
• The Mediterranean Sea that is to the south, has a function of termic regulator.

The set of both factors allows the presence of a subtropical microclimate. The annual average temperature is between 17 and 18 degrees Celsius. Summers are warm, between 25 and 30 degrees and winters are mild, with temperatures usually over 12 and 13 degrees.

• Africa help to cushion the hard effects of Atlantic and Mediterranean climate, providing a meridional warm breezes.

Culture

Motril's theater, named Teatro Calderón de la Barca, organises many shows such as plays, exhibitions,concerts and monologues; and there is a local orchestra, the "Joven Orquesta Ciudad de Motril". In Motril, there is a strong music development. Young people study several instruments at the professional conservatory and there is a local music school too. You can also find many small music bands created by Motrilians.

Flamenco's tradition is also performed here in dance academies and exhibitions along the whole year, specially in the Cruces. Flamenco is the most characteristic dance style but other style are also practised, like ballet.

Youth Area proposes many activities organised by local associations to contribute to the city's leisure like video games tournaments, crafts workshops and once a year, an event called Encuentro Joven where young people and children meet and these association prepares games to pass a journey all together and meet new people. This area has a centre called the Centro Joven where expositions of young local artists draws are passed so it helps to get to know their work. ^[2]

Leisure

Motril is a growing dynamic city, a place of service where visitors feel at home, thanks to the great hospitality of its people. You can visit many places to have fun and meet new people, for example:

-Paseo de las explanadas: pubs normally open from 4 pm until 4 am.

-Parque de los Pueblos de América: The main feature of this park is great variety of tropical flora to be found in it.

Holy Week

The Holy week in Motril has been declared National Tourist Interest, It consist of 12 brotherhood, 23 pasos and more than 6000 followers. There are processions every day. The Holy week in Motril started in 1600 with the eldest brotherhood, called Vera Cruz. After the civil war every brotherhood had to restore its patrimony.^[3]

Almost all the statues in Motril are made by some artists from the province of Granada. The most interesting processions are:

-The starting procession is on Palm Sunday. In this procession we can see two different pasos, it is so interesting because there is a lot of people that accompany it with palm.

-On Easter Sunday there is a procession called Dulce Nombre de Jesus, it is really special. It consists on a group of children carrying the statue. It is accompanied by a lot of little children carrying bells.

Nowadays, the members of the brotherhood accompany the image with special clothes that cover their face.

In Spain there is a tradition of not to eat meat on Good Thursday and on Good Friday. Each city has their own stew. The typical menu in Motril is the stew made with chickpeas and cod, the cod with tomato, and some cod omelette. Also, there are different desserts like rice pudding, torrija ... In these days it's common meeting the family.

Beaches

Motril belongs to the Costa Tropical, a large region of the coast is very famous and touristic.

Motril beaches can be small (bays) or large (like Playa Granada). The weather is usually good, so they are very popular during the summer by people from the surrounding as well as the interior regions. The main problems are the wind and the jellyfish.

There are several beaches, but the most popular are the following:

Cuisine

The most popular dish from Motril is migas (crumbs), made of bread. Fish is also very popular in Motril, due the town's important fisheries. The most popular fish are anchovy (locally named boquerón), sardines and shrimp. The most famous drink, exclusive to the area, is ron pálido which is a locally produced rum.

Time capsule

On July 22, 2008, a second time capsule in Spain was buried as part of an official event organized to commemorate the 135th anniversary of the cantonal movement in Motril, which began on July 22, 1873, and ended on 25 March. The president of the canton was Ruperto Vidaurreta de la Camara. This time capsule will be opened on July 22, 2023, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of this event. It is located at coordinates 36°45′03″N 3°30′44″W / 36.75076°N 3.51226°W / 36.75076; -3.51226 (Motril time capsule).

Festivities

January 13- Earthquake Day

Its story is particularly tragic: On 13 January 1804 there was a very strong earthquake which had devastating effects: it caused the partial destruction of the city and the death of only two people. Currently it recalls a vote conducted by the neighborhood because of the misfortunes suffered by hundreds of families during these disastrous years.

February 28- Andalusia's Day

This day, Andalusia's flag is hoisted at Puchilla's roundabout and the Andalusian anthem is sung. On this day there are numerous acts of civil and military authorities. A popular race is also celebrated in which the runners go from the square of the "Explanadas" to the fire station in the port. After this race there are numerous sports-related activities.

May 3- Festivities of "Las Cruces"

Motril is considered the second most famous city of "Las Cruces", after Córdoba. It's an important festivity considered National Tourist Interest. During the three days of celebration there are several types of singing and dancing shows. There are carriages decorated with traditional objects of the popular culture around the town and in some special squares neighbours make big crosses decorated with flowers. The most typical clothing for this day is the flamenco outfit.

June 24- San Juan

Bonfires are lit on the beach, and people are allowed to camp, there is a tradition by which you throw three wishes written on a piece of paper into the fire and throw three negatives ideas into the sea for the tide to take them. Women wash their faces with sea water and rose petals in the morning to be more beautiful during the rest of the year. June 13- Romería de San Antonio

It is celebrated on 13 June and it is celebrated in the north of Motril, in the neighbourhood where there is the old chapel of the Saint. The neighbourhood helps with the organization of this event.

July 16- Festivities of "La Virgen del Carmen", on the port.

These are the festivities of the neighbourhood "El Varadero", on Motril's port. There, a mass in the "Lonja Pesquera" is celebrated and fishermen sing a Salve Mariner. At sunset, after a procession in the streets, the virgin is boarded and leaves from the port followed by all the fleet, decorated for the events. In this festivity show fireworks.

August 15- Patronal festivities of Motril

In the first half of August the patronal festivities of Motril in honour of the "Virgen de la Cabeza" are celebrated. On these weeks, different events are celebrated in the "Ferial del Cortijo del Conde", with some concerts, night fair, dances, sport shows, fireworks with music on the beach, morning fair ... On the 15th, the Virgin goes through the city streets.

These two popular neighbourhoods of Motril celebrate their patronal celebrations during the month of October. Both the "Virgen de Las Angustias" and the " Virgen de la Pastora" leave their churches and they go all over the neighbourhoods with the fervour of their neighbours.

Sister cities

• Albardón, Argentina
• Marple, United Kingdom
• Melilla, Spain
• Agounit, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
• Smolyan, Bulgaria

Sports

The town has a football team, Motril CF.

Notable people

• José Callejón (born 1987), professional footballer.

References

External links

• Turismo Motril
• Motril mobile app
• Costa tropical
• Information about Motril
• Local History
• Motril - Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía
• Paseo virtual por Motril
• English News Magazine for the Region
• Turismo Granada
• El Cultura Motril
• Ruta de las azucareras
• Santuario de Nuestra Sra. de la Cabeza en Motril