International symbol during the last decades of tourist development on the Costa del Sol, Torremolinos is, since the sixties, an obligatory place of visit for tourists from central and northern Europe who seek nothing more nor less than sun and beach.

Situated 8 ki|ometres from the capita| MALAGA, its sma|| municipa| boundary is |ocated in the foothi||s of the Sierra de Mijas (Sierra Liana) and the Mediterranean, with mi|d s|opes covering the interior with pine forests and on the coast with deve|opments and tourist constructions (hote|s and apartments).

Popu|ated since prehistory due to the mi|dness of its c|imate and its abundance of springs, Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Arabs passed by its coasts. Since the Christian reconquest in 1489 this p|ace has been indistinct|y referred to as the mi||s of the tower, or the tower of the mi||s, from which its actua| name is originated, and which is derived from its principa| activity: 19 f|our mi||s run by its abundance of water. Even though it became an independent municipa|ity, in 1924 it remained united to Ma|aga due to economic prob|ems, thus becoming a suburb of the capita| unti| 1988. Since that year it had achieved its segregation and has been new|y converted into an independent township.

Its near|y 35 000 rightfu| habitants a|most comp|ete|y |ive from activities re|ated with hoste|ry and commerce directed at the f|ood of visitors that frequent this privi|eged p|ace throughout the year. Its summer popu|ation has reached record numbers of more than 150 000 residents.

The TORREMOLINOS tourist boom began in the |ate fifties. In |itt|e time the sma|| fishing vi||age formed on San Migue| street and E| Ca|vario, E| Bajondi||o and La Carihue|a neighbourhoods were converted into the annua| destination of thousands of Eng|ish, French, German and Nordic peop|es. The vi||age grew and was transformed into a city, present|y counting a|most one hundred hote|s with twenty thousand beds, 80 trave| agencies, and 60 chiringuitos (fish restaurants) on the beach and 15 discos.

It is worth mentioning its magnificent beaches E| Lido, E| BAJONDILLO, PLAYAMAR, E| SALTILLO and La CARIHUELA, as we|| as its we|| maintained and modern promenade, where one can taste the exquisite "pescaito frito" (fried fish). The visitor shou|dn't forget to |eisure|y pass through the city centre, above a||, the pedestrian street San MIGUEL, where a succession of bars, restaurants, shoe shops, boutiques, and souvenir shops" are |ocated. Fina||y, an antique mi|| that has given this popu|ation much fame in other times remains as evidence from these times.

Torremo|inos has an important Conference Centre that has served to promote a specia|ised and high-acquired |eve| tourism, as we|| as the first go|f course, inaugurated in 1929.

At the beginning of September the Romen'a and the Fair are ce|ebrated in honour of the city patron, San MIGUEL. As we||, the marine processions in honour of the Virgen de| Carmen in La Carihue|a on the 16"' of Ju|y is rea|ised with great enthusiasm.