History of Torrox, Spain in Andalucia, Axarquia Region

History:In Andalucia,Spain,in the Axarquia region one discovers a quaint village kn won as Torrox Pueblo. Torrox was settled in the time of the Phoenicians and Greeks trading in olives, figs and wines in Spain. It rose in importance with the Romans as Caviclum, producing Garum a sort of anchovy fish paste. You can see ruins of Garum factories in the nearby town of Almunecar. After the Romans, the Visigoths occupied the area until the arrival of the Moors in the 7th century. They called the town Torrus or Turrux, meaning Town defended by towers.

The Moorish occupation had a huge influence on Torrox, introducing a new way of agriculture, terracing of the land and irrigation still in existence today. The Moors produced silk materials supported by the silk worm from the mulberry tree, artisan products, sugar cane, figs, almonds , vines much of which is important to the area to this day.

As with the rest of the area, war visited Torrox with the conquering of Spain by the Christians and the defeat of the Moors. Torrox suffered in the Moorish uprising and in 1487 was awarded the title of “Very Noble and Loyal Village”During the 17th and 18th centuries, Torrox recovered its importance and various palaces were constructed as well as the Customs and Treasury for business overseas. The castle of Torrox was destroyed in the Napoleonic wars.

In the Christmas of 1884 an earthquake befell Axarquia and this brought a visit from the King at that time Alfonso X11. In this time the sugar cane started to be widely produced and factories called "ingenios" were constructed for production of sugar as well as molasses, honey and liquors.The cultivation of sugar cane began to decline in the second half of the 20th century and other sub tropical products such as avocados and mangoes came to prominence in the agricultural industry.

Now tourism is the leading industry in the area.