Motril

Although its origin still remains unclear, it was a Phoenician enclave. It already existed in Roman times.

Sugar cane harvest

When the Christians conquered Motril, there were 2,000 inhabitants whose main activities were agriculture, fishing and the production of silk and sugar. The city center size was around 3.5 km (2.2 mi). Outside the city there were two suburbs: Al-Majon suburb and al-Couruch suburb and a neighborhood called Jandara.

There was a Morisco uprising in 1569 that finished in 1570 with the Christians' victory. This caused a recession in sugar production, which finished 5 years later with the repopulation of old Christians.

By the end of the 1600s, Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza church was built.

Sugar cane was the main crop, which was later processed in the sugar refineries. The most important of these was "La Casa de la Palma". Now it's the place where the "Museo Preindustrial de la Caña de Azúcar" or Sugar Cane Museum is found.

In 1657, Philip IV granted Motril the title of city, separating its jurisdiction from Granada.

At the beginning of the next century, Philip V distinguished Motril as "Muy Noble y Leal" (Very Noble and Loyal), a motto show on the current Motril's shield.

After the War of Independence, in which Motril was occupied by French troops, the city started a new expansion of sugarcane and the sugar industry.

In the 19th century, Motril participated in a singular event, it was proclaimed Independent Canton from July 22 to 25, 1873. In a few years, due to the increase in the number of sugar refineries, it went to the first position in the Granada industrial ranking. It opened to the public on the most traditional ride in the city, "Las Explanadas", in the mid-19th century.

Motril has 61,171 inhabitants spread out over 110 km² as of 2012. There has been an increase of the population. Emigration was the first cause. Until 1610 there were 4,300 inhabitants. In 2012 there were 61,171 inhabitants. The population has been growing in the last few centuries.

The climate in Motril is determined by two important geographic factors:

• The Sierra de Lújar blocks cold winds from the north (Granada and Sierra Nevada).
• The Mediterranean Sea, to the south, functions as a thermal regulator.

The combination of both factors allows the presence of a subtropical microclimate. The annual average temperature is between 18 and 20 degrees Celsius. Summers are hot, with high temperatures between 27 and 31 degrees and low temperatures between 18 and 22 degrees while winters are mild, with high temperatures usually over 17-18 degrees and low temperatures between 9-10 degrees. The African continent helps to cushion the hard effects of Atlantic and Mediterranean climate, providing warm breezes from the south.

Motril has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh) with very mild winters and hot, very dry summers. On 16 July 2022, a maximum temperature of 44.5 °C (112.1 °F) was registered in Motril.[3]

Motril's theater, named Teatro Calderón de la Barca, organises many shows such as plays, exhibitions,concerts and monologues; and there is a local orchestra, the "Joven Orquesta Ciudad de Motril". In Motril, there is a strong music development. Young people study several instruments at the professional conservatory and there is a local music school too. You can also find many small music bands created by Motrilians.

Flamenco is also performed here in dance academies and exhibitions along the whole year, specially in the Cruces. Flamenco is the most characteristic dance style but other style are also practised, like ballet.

Youth Area proposes many activities organised by local associations to contribute to the city's leisure like video games tournaments, crafts workshops and once a year, an event called Encuentro Joven where young people and children meet and these association prepares games to pass a journey all together and meet new people. This area has a centre called the Centro Joven where expositions of young local artists draws are passed so it helps to get to know their work.[5]

Motril is a growing dynamic city, a place of service where visitors feel at home, thanks to the great hospitality of its people. You can visit many places to have fun and meet new people, for example:

-Paseo de las explanadas: pubs normally open from 4 pm until 4 am.

-Parque de los Pueblos de América: The main feature of this park is great variety of tropical flora to be found in it.

Motril is served by autovías A-7 to Málaga and Almería, and A-44 to Granada. The Port of Motril offers ferries to Melilla, Nador, Tanger-Med, and Al-Hoceima and shipped 2.8 million tonnes of cargo in 2019.[7] Motril is the only Spanish Mediterranean port that lacks a rail service; building a line which would take 25 minutes to travel to Granada railway station was estimated to cost €400 million in 2017.[8] The link to Granada was rejected in 2010 by the Ministry of Development on the basis of being unsuitable for freight railway transport due to the steep slope.[9] From 1925 to 1950, Motril was connected to Granada by means of a cable way that spanned from Motril to Dúrcal.[10]

On July 22, 2008, a second time capsule in Spain was buried as part of an official event organized to commemorate the 135th anniversary of the cantonal movement in Motril, which began on July 22, 1873, and ended on 25 March. The president of the canton was Ruperto Vidaurreta de la Camara. This time capsule will be opened on July 22, 2023, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of this event. It is located at coordinates 36°45′03″N 3°30′44″W.

January 13- Earthquake Day

Its story is particularly tragic: On 13 January 1804 there was a very strong earthquake which had devastating effects: it caused the partial destruction of the city and the death of two people. Currently it recalls a vote conducted by the neighborhood because of the misfortunes suffered by hundreds of families during these disastrous years.

February 28- Día de Andalucía

This day, Andalusia's flag is hoisted at Puchilla's roundabout and the Andalusian anthem is sung. On this day there are numerous acts of civil and military authorities. A popular race is also celebrated in which the runners go from the square of the "Explanadas" to the fire station in the port. After this race there are numerous sports-related activities.

May 3- Festivities of "Las Cruces"

Motril is considered the second most famous city of "Las Cruces", after Córdoba. It's an important festivity considered National Tourist Interest. During the three days of celebration there are several types of singing and dancing shows. There are carriages decorated with traditional objects of the popular culture around the town and in some special squares neighbours make big crosses decorated with flowers. The most typical clothing for this day is the flamenco outfit.

June 24- San Juan

Bonfires are lit on the beach, and people are allowed to camp, there is a tradition by which you throw three wishes written on a piece of paper into the fire and throw three negatives ideas into the sea for the tide to take them.

June 13- Romería de San Antonio

It is celebrated on 13 June and it is celebrated in the north of Motril, in the neighbourhood where there is the old chapel of the Saint. The neighbourhood helps with the organization of this event.

July 16- Festivities of "La Virgen del Carmen", on the port.

These are the festivities of the neighbourhood "El Varadero", on Motril's port. There, a mass in the "Lonja Pesquera" is celebrated and fishermen sing a Salve Mariner. At sunset, after a procession in the streets, the virgin is boarded and leaves from the port followed by all the fleet, decorated for the events. In this festivity show fireworks.

August 15- Patronal festivities of Motril

In the first half of August the patronal festivities of Motril in honour of the "Virgen de la Cabeza" are celebrated. On these weeks, different events are celebrated in the "Ferial del Cortijo del Conde", with some concerts, night fair, dances, sport shows, fireworks with music on the beach, morning fair ... On the 15th, the Virgin goes through the city streets.

These two popular neighbourhoods of Motril celebrate their patronal celebrations during the month of October. Both the "Virgen de Las Angustias" and the " Virgen de la Pastora" leave their churches and they go all over the neighbourhoods with the fervour of their neighbours.

• Albardón, Argentina
• Marple, United Kingdom
• Melilla, Spain
• Agounit, Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic
• Smolyan, Bulgaria

The town has a football team, Motril CF.

• José Callejón (born 1987), professional footballer.

• Chat de Motril

• Costa Tropical & Motril Tourist Info
• Costa tropical
• Motril.org Local History
• Paseo virtual por Motril
• English News Magazine for the Region
• El Cultura Motril
• Ruta de las azucareras
• elculturalmotril.es
• Santuario de Nuestra Sra. de la Cabeza en Motril