Motril, Coastal Town in Granada, Spain - A Practical Guide

Motril is the most important town on the Costa Tropical, located 69 km from Granada. With more than 60,000 inhabitants, it is the largest town in the province after Granada.


Motril is a modern town with wide streets and all the services you would expect for a population of this size. Nevertheless, it retains great charm and beauty.


It is located at the foot of the Sierra de Lújar and surrounded by a fertile plain at the mouth of the Guadalfeo River. In the vicinity of Mortil, you'll discover picturesque villages and a port of significant importance.


Why is it called Motril? The name 'Motril' likely originates from the Latin 'Murteto', which means 'place of myrtle' (an aromatic shrub). During the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, its name was also documented as Mootril, Mutrayil and Metrel. Over time, these names evolved into the Motril we recognize today.


What makes it special is the tranquility of its beaches, its exotic landscape, and the mountainous enclave, which somewhat isolates it from the rest of the world.

King Baudouin of Belgium must have been moved by something when he fell in love with this land and built his summer retreat here.

Brief History of Motril

Motril has a very interesting history, particularly from the Arab era to its transformation during the Christian reconquest, which defines its cultural identity and economic activity.

Roman Era

Archaeological remains and various coin finds have been discovered, indicating the Roman presence in the city. However, there is no archaeological evidence confirming the existence of a permanent urban settlement.

Arab Era

Motril began to develop during the Muslim era. During this period, the town underwent a significant transformation and became a small economic center of the Iberian Peninsula, with a population of approximately 1000 people.

The city became a prominent producer and exporter of sugarcane to other parts of the Mediterranean. The inhabitants were also engaged in silk production and fishing.

Christian Era

Motril was conquered by the Catholic Monarchs in 1489, during the Reconquest of Granada, ending Muslim rule in the region. This conquest marked a turning point in the history of Motril, as it became part of the Kingdom of Castile.

After the conquest, Motril experienced a period of urban and economic development under the new Christian government.

Agriculture was promoted, and crops were diversified to take advantage of the rich soil of the region.

Along the Costa Tropical, various tropical fruits such as mangoes, avocados, and custard apples were cultivated, alongside the traditional production of sugarcane.

Motril continued to thrive as an important seaport, facilitating trade with other regions of Spain and the Mediterranean.

During the Christian era, churches, convents, and civil buildings were constructed, which are still part of the city's historical and cultural heritage today.

20th and 21st centuries

Motril reached its peak splendor from the 19th century onwards, driven by the development of sugarcane. However, the crisis in the sector during the 20th century led to the closure of all its sugar mills.

Nevertheless, traces of this past are still present in the city and constitute a significant part of its cultural heritage. A stroll through its streets allows us to observe many of its factories, some of which are forgotten and now in ruins.

Throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries, Motril diversified its economy beyond agriculture and fishing.

Sectors such as manufacturing, maritime trade, and tourism were developed, contributing to the economic growth of the region.

Motril has established itself as a prominent tourist destination on the Costa Tropical, renowned for its crystal-clear beaches and rich cultural offerings.

Places of Interest in Motril

Motril achieved the height of its prestige in the nineteenth century with the development of sugar cane production.

However, the crisis in the sector in the twentieth century brought an end to all of its sugar factories.

Even so, traces of its past are still present in the town and are part of its cultural heritage.

A walk through its streets will allow you to see many of its former factories, some of which have long since been forgotten and left in ruins.

Casa de la Palma

If you are particularly interested in the history of Motril, then a visit to the Sugar Cane Interpretation Centre or the Sugar Cane Pre-Industrial Museum in the beautiful Casa de la Palma is highly recommended.

This carefully restored building is the only sugar mill from the sixteenth century still in existence in Motril.

Ron Montero Wineries and Spanish Rum

You can also visit the Ron Montero Wineries, where this excellent and unique Spanish rum has been produced for 50 years.

You can taste here a flavor of the Caribbean in Southern Europe, in the southernmost town of the Old Continent.

And this is not surprising, since the cultivation of sugar cane arrived in Latin America precisely from this land, from Motril, several centuries ago.

It is an irony of destiny that it is now from across the Atlantic that this distillery from Motril imports its raw material: sugar cane.

Parish Church of the Incarnation (Encarnación)

The artistic and cultural heritage of Motril includes several churches, with the Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnación standing out as the oldest structure in the town.

It dates back to 1502 and was built thanks to Cardinal Mendoza, Archbishop of Toledo, chief counsellor of the Catholic Monarchs and great patron of the fifteenth century.

Town Hall

There are also some seventeenth-century palaces, such as the Town Hall, built in 1631, which displays a coat of arms on its façade granted by King Philip V and features beautiful Mudéjar-coffered ceilings in its rooms.

Commercial Port and Fish Market

Today, Motril maintains important agricultural and commercial activity thanks to the cultivation of tropical fruits.

Its active and important port stands out in the Mediterranean. It serves as a commercial port, a fishing port, and a marina.

Take a wander through the town, find a terrace to sit in, and enjoy a cold beer accompanied by seafood or pescaíto (fish tapas) of the area; this is a pleasure not to be missed.

See how the fishermen offer fresh fish at sunset, and observe how the auction works in the fish market; it will doubtless prove to be an unforgettable experience.

Villages Near Motril - Torrenueva, Carchuna and Calahonda

The villages of Torrenueva, Carchuna and Calahonda belong to Motril. All three are main highly tourist-oriented places, located just a few kilometers east of Motril.

Carchuna

Carchuna is located in the midst of an expansive alluvial plain, presently dominated by a vast expanse of greenhouses. The town boasts an ancient castle dating back to the era of Carlos III.

Enclosed in a circular shape, it was one of the defensive constructions that this monarch erected to safeguard the coastal area.

Carlos III, from which Carchuna receives its name, commissioned its construction in 1783.

Calahonda

Calahonda is a fishing village located very near Carchuna, in the direction of Almeria.

Formerly utilized as a port for Motril, it boasts one of the finest beaches in this area of the Tropical Coast, with crystal-clear waters and considerable depth.

Torrenueva

Torrenueva is another town of maritime origin that has unfortunately deteriorated due to tourist development.

It is also situated near Carchuna, but in the opposite direction from Calahonda.

Torrenueva hosts a lookout tower, the New Tower or the Peseta, dating back to the early sixteenth century, which has recently undergone renovation.

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