Motril

Motril lies between the blue of the Mediterranean, the green plantations of subtropical crops and the white peaks of the Sierra Nevada. 

The largest town in the area, Motril is the local centre for trade, culture and commerce.with the main bus station offering connections to Granada, Malaga and Almeria.and a thriving port providing a haven for the many Mediterranean sea going ships.  Here, the old brushes against the new still retaining the distinctive character of an Andalucian town and respect for tradition. The town offers a wide range of shops, banks, restaurants and fashionable night spots with friendly tapas bars still to be found in the many narrow alleyways and back streets.

Here, the palate can savour the luxury taste of rum produced locally, in the traditional way. For over a thousand years, sugar cane has been cultivated and appreciated in this area; so highly valued is it that the old Pilar factory is the intended site of the future Sugar Museum. The cultivation of sugar cane was originally introduced by the Moors, and the people of Motril still have a strong affection for the industry. 

Construction of the Encarnacion church began in the sixteenth century, on the site of the former mosque, as a fortification to protect the inhabitants of the town against the frequent attacks of pirates and Berbers. Subsequently, a coastal defence line was built, with watchtowers and forts. 

Well aware of the new type of tourist demand, the town now offers a golf course, camp sites, fully equipped beaches and is a centre for all kinds of sports including windsurfing, hang gliding, horse riding, golf and sailing.