Torremolinos Destination Guide

Torremolinos

Published: Friday, 18 January 2008, 3:02PM

Mark Durden-Smith heads to Spain's Costa del Sol to explore one of the first places to expose British tourists to the exotic charms of sun, sea and sangria...

We dig into the Wish You Were Here...? archive and look at the resort's main draws in 1974. Then, the attractions of Torremolinos provoked a mixed response, with one holidaymaker complaining that it just wasn't "quite as swinging as it was supposed to be". However, the verdict was unanimous on the year-round sunshine and the beach – they loved it. If simply topping up your tan wasn't enough, there was always the lure of hunting for wild bears in the nearby mountains – a pursuit perhaps unique to Seventies tourism.

The beach remains the main attraction today. Mark doesn't have to stray far from the sands for sustenance, tucking in to local speciality grilled sardines at one of the many chiringuitos, or beach bars.

The neighbouring resort of Benalmadena offers thrillseekers an even wider variety of entertainment.  There's theme park Tivoli World, and the more sedate appeal of a cable car ride up Monte Calamorro for spectacular views.

Mark also gets out and about to rub shoulders with Marbella's jetset and heads for the hills to find out whether Benalmadena Pueblo has retained its original charm.

Ex-pat Marie Thomson made the move abroad 36 years ago. She explains what's kept her and property developer husband Grant on Spain's sunshine coast, and how extensive development has transformed the landscape.

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Top three highlights

• Take a cable car up Monte Calamorro for views stretching as far as North Africa
  
• Check out the chiringuitos and try the grilled sardines
  
• Explore the 300+ rides and attractions of Tivoli World