Costa Tropical Blog

Salobreña tourism statistics have just been released for the 2007 year. These figures are based on the number of people visiting the tourist information centres either at the entrance to the town or on the beachfront during the summer months. In total, twenty six thousand four hundred and fifty five people visited the offices during 2007 and a further one thousand and forty nine people consulted the offices through fax, email or telephone. The figures show an increase of 5.8% over the same period in 2006, with thirteen thousand seven hundred and seventy coming from different points in Spain followed by the United Kingdom and Germany and then by forty other nationalities. A whopping 45% of the tourists arrive over the July, August and September months although there has been an increase in visitors outside these periods as travel agencies and tour operators (mainly Spanish) are now beginning to include Salobreña as a stopping off point. It will be interesting to see if the 2008 figures overtake 2007 with the removal of Monarch flights in to Granada and the general downturn in the economy.

The annual Romería took place in Salobrena on 6 October.  It really was a beautifully warm blue sky day and certainly cheered everyone up after the September storms and devastation they caused along the coast. 

There had been quite a few debates on the exact day the Romería would be held this year and the final choice of a Saturday really helped to get the enthusiasm (not that they need an excuse for a party) going amongst the locals who turned out.  We understand that the event has been held on Sundays in the past which didn’t give a lot of recovery time for the participants.  The procession with the Virgin del Rosario in her white carriage adorned with white flowers and pulled by oxen started off from the Plaza Juan Carlos I and proceeded rapidly crossing the casco urbano (old town) and down to the beachfront.  Hundreds of people joined the route with women and children dressed in traditional costume (faralaes) and men dressed more formerly in their rociero suits.  Also joining the procession were twenty large decorated carriages and at least one hundred riders of all ages on horseback.

The Virgin del Rosario arrived at the beach at twelve noon and the festivities really took off at this point.  Along the promenade were market stalls selling everything from balloons and sweets to handbags and sunglasses.  At the end of the promenade there was a stage with traditional Spanish music being performed and those ever important bars with food and drink where the locals on horseback would dismount and join their friends for a refreshing drink and a tapas. 

At the end of the day, fireworks were lit from the El Peñon area of the beach while the Virgin del Rosario was escorted by playing musicians back to the Casa Roja (red house) for the night and on the Sunday another traditional procession.

Make sure you put this event into your 2008 diaries now as it really should not be missed if you are living in the area or are thinking of visiting next year.  The many associations who help organise this yearly Romería really do deserve top marks for a spectacular day that everyone thoroughly enjoyed. 

If you are planning a trip to the Costa Tropical and are looking for any specific information then this might be the place to post your question?