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Villaricos

Population circa 1,200

Market day - Monday

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Villaricos ('rich village') is a quiet fishing town with two marinas - one at each end of the town. It was from here that Hannibal paid his mercenaries for the siege of Rome. Named Urci in Phoenician times, it was a very important centre of mining: iron and silver was brought from the Sierra Almagrera mountains that rise up from the coast north to San Juan de los Terreros. Remains of the mining works and transportation tunnels, some dating back to the 14th century, can be seen north along the coast: the old mining town of El Arteal is a few kilometres away.

The castillo tower at the southern end that once defended this part of the coast from Berber pirates looking for slaves is now a tourist information office. A wide paseo maritimo (promenade) runs between the two harbours: it is mostly residential along it's length, but there are one or two bars to refresh the weary. The sea here is crystal clear and warm, ideal for diving and especially in the rock pools further north up the undeveloped coast. Property prices are higher than Palomares but still mostly reasonable considering the village is right on the coast.

Halfway between Villaricos and San Juan de los Terreros there is a very exclusive zone with holiday homes and some restaurants and hotels called El Calon (big cove) well known by those that prefer beaches, sun and quietness, all at the same.