Just 16 kilometres from the city of Murcia is Las Torres de Cotillas, a town of Roman origin whose visit allows you to discover the remains of an entire society based on orchards.
Las Torres de Cotillas is characterized by having a relief of low altitude, with small elevations that make up the highest altitude geographical features with a slight slope towards the middle valley of the Segura river.
Without further ado, we present our 10 reasons to visit Las Torres de Cotillas:
1. Church of Our Lady of La Salceda: This building was recently restored; it dates from the end of the 18th century and was enlarged at the end of the 19th century.
Inside, the chapel of Our Father Jesus is worth seeing, where some escutcheons from the end of the 19th century are still preserved, as is the chapel of the Virgin of La Salceda.
2. Hermitage of the Cross: This beautiful construction has its origins in the period of the extension of the Church of Our Lady of La Salceda.
At the end of the 1990s, an exhaustive restoration was carried out on the entire façade, inside and on its aluminum door, presenting the appearance that can be seen today.
3. Museum of Holy Week: This is home to a permanent exhibition called "Exhibition of the Superior Chapter of Brotherhoods".
It was inaugurated in 2014 and is located in the old Town Hall of the town, in the heart of the town.
4. Gardens and natural areas: In the vicinity of Las Torres de Cotillas, we can find very interesting places such as La Rambla Salada or the badlands, both of which are worth visiting.
Among the most outstanding gardens in the municipality are Constitution Park and Paco Rabal Park.
5. District of Los Pulpites: This is located in the southern part of the municipality. In this district is Paco Rabal Park, the largest in the municipality in terms of length.
6. Festivals: Among the most outstanding celebrations of the population is Saint Anthony, which is celebrated on January 17, the day of the Cross, on May 3, and the different neighbourhood gatherings such as the night of the “Sardinada y la Zurra”, where the sea and the orchard go hand in hand on a summer night in August.
7. Holy Week: This is one of the most outstanding in the Vega Media del Segura region due to its historical trajectory and evolution, from the first brotherhoods in the 17th century to the beginning of the 20th century. It is a very intense, colourful and emotional celebration that is worth enjoying.
8. Gastronomy: Las Torres de Cotillas has a gastronomy that combines dishes from the orchard and the countryside, such as semolina, rice stew and “olla gitana”, among many others.
Its tastiest desserts are “paparajotes”, peaches in syrup, chocolate fritters and fried or aniseed cakes.
9. Hermitage of Saint Peter: This is located in the district of the neighbourhood of San Pedro. It has its origins in the 19th century and is built on what would be the first Christian temple in the municipality.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the hermitage underwent intense reforms, leaving the building as it is known today.
10. Peñeta de La Florida: This is the oldest hydraulic vestige preserved in the municipality.
It corresponded to an old medieval aqueduct that connected the town with Alguazas during the 16th century and that was destroyed in the 17th by the Saint Callixtus flood.
Its tastiest desserts are “paparajotes”, peaches in syrup, chocolate fritters and fried or aniseed cakes.
