Mojacar

Population circa 6,000

Market days - Wednesday and Sunday

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The whitewashed Arabic town of Mojacar was built over 1200 years ago high in the foothills of the Sierra Cabrera, just two kilometres from the Mediterranean coastline, to be defendable against any invading forces. The area, and indeed much of Spain (then known as Al Andalus), was then ruled by Islamic governors of African and Arab origin, having conquered the region between 711 and 722 AD.

These conquerors and their people became known as 'Moors', corrupted from the Roman term 'Maures' for 'black race'. The Moors brought culture, trade and civilization to the area, only to be crudely kicked out of Spain when the Catholic Kings recaptured the country in the late 1400s.

The influence of the African Moors can be seen everywhere in the architecture, art, customs and indigenous people of the area. The town still celebrates the routing of the Moors by the Christians in the annual 'Moriscos y Cristianos' Fiesta, which is celebrated every June, even though technically 'Moriscos' refers to Moors who converted to Christianity.

Fast forward to the 1960s... the area had been starved of federal funds by dictator General Franco as the Almerians resisted his rule, and was in a sorry impoverished condition with poor infrastructure and little means of earning a living. Many of its people migrated to other parts of Spain and Europe, leaving the area under-populated.

The then Mayor of Mojácar offered land free to anyone who would build a house and work the soil: gradually the area was revived through farming until development of the playa (beach) area began in the 1980s. By this time, it was apparent that other Costas had made huge planning mistakes and so laws were enacted to avoid the rampant high-rise development so prevalent elsewhere.

Nowadays, the town consists of two parts: the pueblo (old town or Mojacar Pueblo) and playa (beach, of Mojacar Beach), both administered by the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) in the pueblo. Both areas are favourites for Spanish tourists, who still make up some 75% of the tourist trade. The viewing platform of the Plaza Nueva is internationally renowned, and the historic Fuente Publica (Public water fountain) is still used by some of the local women to wash clothes.

Mojácar Playa offers a number of wide, sandy beaches and some rocky ones - in total some 17 km. The commercialisation of the beach area is 'low key', and the majority of prices reflect the relatively low development of the area. Today this is a cosmopolitan town with fare from around the world. There are many banks, solicitors, supermarkets and anything you need to live, work and play here. Beach bars, restaurants and discos stay full of clients the whole year round. Windsurfing, diving, fishing and sailing at the beach are safe for beginners and a delight for experts. There are 6 golf courses nearby, all less than 20 minutes drive.

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