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Welcome to Águilas
Murcia - La Costa Cálida
Location | | History | | Transport | | Tourist information | | Services | | Weather and beaches |
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Situated between Cartagena and Almeria – on one of the most beautiful coastlines in the Spanish peninsula, called "La Costa Calida" (the warm coast) lies this lesser known town. It is reminiscent of a small fishing town. With 25,000 inhabitants it is large enough to have developed its own individual infrastructure and yet is small enough to be overlooked.
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| Águilas is a town on the shores of the Mediterranean sheltered by the headland on which stands the castle of San Juan de Águilas, and it is crossed inland by high mountain ranges. Being a port, it is in a setting dominated by the sea. A sea that has shaped the coastline into a series of rocky headlands and islets interspersed by beautiful sandy bays and coves. The Inland is a rugged terrain formed in part by the eastern extremity of the Andalucian mountain range, a landscape of extraordinary geological complexity. It must be noted that Águilas has two protected natural areas: the Parque Regional Costero-Litoral de Cabo Cope-Calnegre, and the Paisaje Natural de Cuatro Calas. |
The modern town of Águilas was born in 1785 and owes its existence to the vision of Carlos III and his ministers Aranda and Floridablanca. At that time the town of Lorca was looking for a port through which to export its agricultural produce grown on its fertile plains and Águilas was the natural choice.
It is located on a site whose history dates back thousands of years, to the ancient Urci. The view from the impressive promontory of the castle San Juan de las Águilas, which was used by Greeks, Romans and the Moors, is truly marvellous. The town with its ample harbour, its walkways along the sea and the serenity of its bays of Levante and Poniente, at the foot of the hill.
Águilas offers an unbeatable climate for the development of tourism. Apart from the climate its undeveloped and unspoiled coastline is almost unique along the Mediterranean. Visitors are captivated by its clear blue skies, incomparable climate and natural beauty, as well as the hospitality of its inhabitants and its unspoilt secluded beaches. The people themselves are as warm and friendly as their climate: hospitable and affectionate. For these reasons Águilas is a most attractive resort and the population reaches 150,000 at the height of the summer season.
In the town of Águilas there is a marina, a small freight and a fishing port. Each afternoon various varieties of freshly caught fish are auctioned in the hall, located in the harbour. It attracts a great deal of interest and curiosity.
However the population does not live entirely from its fishing industry. Due to the outstanding climate of the area around Águilas, the region developed in to one of the largest vegetable gardens of Europe.
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Águilas offers a good variety of outdoor activities, from climbing or hiking through areas of splendid beauty, to diving in warm waters with magnificent fish and vegetation. On the cultural scene, Águilas offers art exhibits, conferences, concerts, artisan demonstrations, theatre, and much more. Águilas is also home to the Universidad del Mar (University of the Sea). The Carnival de Águilas (Carnival of Águilas) which has been celebrated for the past 200 years and which offers ingenious costumes of all shapes and colours. The entire town is out on the streets and offers one of the largest shows in the country.
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The local cuisine is based "on fish" and the most famous dishes are "Moraga de sardinas y caramel", "Caldo pescao", "Arroz a banda", shellfish, picked sardines, prawns, lobsters,... Surrounded by mountain ranges, agricultural lands and bathed by the Mediterranean, Águilas offers the opportunity to enjoy a real holiday, especially in winter, in a place where the natural heritage has been preserved. | .jpg)
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