Pink lagoons and flamingoes: the hidden gems of Spain’s Torrevieja

Spain’s Costa Blanca is best known for its Mediterranean climate, beautiful beaches and water sports.

Just south of Alicante, lies the holiday resort of Torrevieja, a firm favourite with northern Europeans seeking sunshine all year round.

In this episode of Explore, we’re getting off our sun loungers and discovering a lesser-known side of the seaside town, from hiking and cycling trails in a stunning nature reserve to the town’s surprising cultural heritage.

Torrevieja means “Old Tower” in Spanish and the town takes its name from a watchtower built to defend it from pirate attacks in the Middle Ages.

Although the original tower no longer exists, visitors can explore its ‘twin’, the well-preserved Torre del Moro, located along the coastal road leading out of the town. Holidaymakers venturing away from the beaches and up the hill are rewarded with spectacular views along the coast and Mediterranean.

Torrevieja began as a fishing village and the town’s statue, the Bella Lola (Beautiful Lola) honours the wives of those fishermen and sailors lost at sea.

“The Bella Lola represents the long waits and uncertainty” explains local tour guide Maria José Minguez Mateo. “Waiting for that person, that loved one, to come back from those long journeys. Which sometimes they came back from and unfortunately other times they didn't come back”

Maria José’s family have lived in Torrevieja for generations and she is passionate about sharing the treasures of her hometown.

“There are lots of interesting things to see in Torrevieja” describes Maria José.

“If you go into the centre of the city, there is the Church of the Immaculate Conception with its square, then there are the pedestrian streets, and the Casino, which is an emblematic building, it’s