A short summary of information about the Moraira area. ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS Historical Summary: The history of Moraira-Teulada has been traced back almost to the beginning of the history of civilised man. Remains of the first settlers (Upper Palaeolithic 15,000 to 20,000 BC) were discovered . . . About the Moraira Area: Enhancing a privileged area of natural beauty! Moraira has been cited as "the San Tropez of the of the Spanish Mediterranean" . . . Local Statistics: How Teulada-Moraira has evolved demographically and now ranks 5th in Spain with over 60% foreign residents . . . Communications: Roads, railways, bus services etc. More Information about the Moraira Area: Links to the Moraira Area. About the Moraira Area Enhancing a privileged area of natural beauty! Moraira has been cited as "the San Tropez of the of the Spanish Mediterranean" but this is just being kind to the town on the French Riviera. Both can date their origins back to pre-history but present-day Moraira is an almost perfect model of good planning and an example to other Spanish coastal and rural areas where, sad to say, things have gone horribly wrong. Many years ago Moraira was a coastal hamlet, within the municipality of Teulada, where the local fishermen lived and stored their boats and nets. Very little remains except the castle and the parish church, both have restored and the latter considerably enlarged. Moraira marina was constructed over the old harbour but the fishermen have a a number subsidised moorings and a covered auction slab, where the catch is publicly auctioned every morning. Moraira-Teulada municipality has prevented the development, characteristic of other Spanish coastal resorts, by exerting strong planning control since the beginning. The only buildings higher than two stories have been built in Moraira village centre. The terrain slopes gently down from the pine clad foothills to the coast providing views of the Moraira coastline uncluttered with high-rise buildings. The Moraira valley is the convergent point of several mountain streams. Over the ages they have deposited their rich alluvial soil on the valley bottom. Even during the driest August weather, the water flows across the beach and into the sea and, thanks again to the foresight of the Local Authority, the Moraira valley has been designated as green belt. The foothills surrounding Moraira provide both a natural vortex for cooling summer sea breezes and shelter from the harsh winter weather from the north. It is amongst the pine forests in the Moraira foothills where the most sought-after properties are to be found as this perfect orientation provides the majority with a southerly downhill view towards the sea. The Moraira Developments are mainly detached villas with private swimming pools and the typically Spanish "pueblo-style" developments. The only apartments are in Moraira villa centre and their are few holiday hotels. This dictates to some extent the holidaymakers who patronise the resort who tend to be mainly family units since the accommodation available is virtually limited to privately owned villas. The majority of properties in Moraira are owned by Northern Europeans, either as retirement or holiday homes. The well spaced individual character of development does mean that the villas are spread over quite a substantial area. A hire-car is a necessity in most areas as there is no local bus service except along the Calpe-Moraira-Teulada road The Moraira Roads do not have one single traffic-light but the traffic remain fluid due to a series of roundabouts, not the cheapest option, and each has a unique decorative theme. The old main street (c/ Dr Calatalud) becomes a pedestrian precinct during the summer months and fiestas and connects to a series of plazas and palm-lined avenues. This whole central area becomes a haven for strollers among the tables set outside by the local restaurants and the festival atmosphere is rounded off by the evening market of handicraft stalls and pavement artists. << Back to Top >>

About Teulada-Moraira: Communications

Roads - The RN332 provincial highway passes within 1 klm. of Teulada town and it is a further 6 klms. to Moraira Village. Motorway - The AP-7 Motorway Interchange Nº 63 (Calpe, Benissa and Teulada) is 3 klms from Teulada. Airports - Alicante (El Altet) 90 klms from Teulada. Valencia (Manises) 120 klms. Railways - The railway station at Teulada Town is served by the narrow-gauge service between Denia and Alicante. There is no interchange into the national network at Denia and at Alicante it is some distance across the city to the main-line station. Bus Services - La Unión de Benissa provide an hourly service, Alicante to Valencia, for most of the day, which stops at the Teulada roundabout on the RN332 and the Bus Station at Bar Frau in Benissa. Both points provide an onward service to anywhere in Europe. Autobuses Ifach S.L. provide a service from Calpe railway station, through the town, along the coast to Moraira Village, up to Benitachell, through Teulada Town to the railway station and along to the RN332 bus stop.

About Moraira-Teulada: Local Statistics

AREA: 32 sq.kms. with more than 2,000 hectares under cultivation and 1,000 of vineyards.

POPULATION: Almost 13,000, according to the last census but this increases to as many as 45,000 during the tourist season.

HEIGHT:  Rising to 185 m. above sea level.

DISTANCES: Alicante 80 kms. Valencia 108 kms. Barcelona 438 kms Benidorm 40 kms.

* Demographic Development: According to the 2006 census the resident population is 12,745, of which 60.37% are of foreign nationality, which ranks 5th in Spain for foreign residents.
23.25% are British nationals, 13.19% German and 10.46% other Europeans
Non-Europeans account for 8.35%, mainly from Latin American.

* Demographic data provided by Wikipedia.

More information about Teulada-Moraira from Wikipedia

 

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About Moraira-Teulada: Historical Summary

The history of Moraira-Teulada has been traced back almost to the beginning of the history of civilised man.

Remains of the first settlers (Upper Palaeolithic 15,000 to 20,000 BC) were discovered in a Cave (Cova de la Cendra) on the Cap d´Or (the headland that protects Moraira and El Portet beaches).

At the Cova de Les Rates and El Morro de Castellar are rupestrian paintings depicting life in the bronze age.

Much later there were Iberian settlers and ceramic remains have been discovered to support this on the Cap d´Or where the lookout tower would have guarded the Bay of Moraira.

Later still the Moors occupied the area and left their mark on the culture and economy of the area.
The signs of this early society can be noticed the architecture, agriculture, irrigation systems and town planning. Many Moraira-Teulada areas have been handed down from the Moorish era, e.g. Benimarco, Benimeit, Pouet del Morro, Moravit, Tabaira, Alcassar etc.

The Christian conqueror Jaime I expelled the Moors in the 13th century and then people from Catalonia and Aragon settled there, bringing with them the Valencian language.
The Lords of Llúria, Serría and Gandia founded the town of Teulada in 1386 and they were the owners. Later ownership was handed over to the Barons of Ariza and Teulada and in the nineteenth century it was claimed by the Spanish crown.

Moraira was plagued by the attention of Barbary pirates during the 16th century, the Town of Teulada was fortified and a lookout tower (now restored) was built on the Cap d´Or.

It is said that Moraira was named after the heathen princess "Ira, la Mora" (- hence "mora ira") and this could be true.

The tale that her remains are buried under the old castle on Moraira beach most certainly is not.

Moraira castle has now been restored and is a historical museum.

The fact is that it was planned by Juan Bautista Antonelli, during the reign of Felipe II to protect the bay of Moraira from the Barbary invaders in the 16th century but, according to a plaque at the entrance, it was not complete finished until 1742.

It is also known that it was badly damaged by the British on July 20th 1801, even though it was armed with four bronze cannons.

 

Useful Links to the Moraira Area

Moraira-Info.com from VillaServers. Advertising and Information portal about the Moraira area. Probably the most extensive guide to the Moraira area.

 

The Moraira Tourist Office is located in Casa de la Por at the entrance to Moraira and the Moraira/Teulada Road close to the Barclay Centre. Here you will find virtually everything you need to know about Moraira. The Moraira Tourist Office Website provides details of all current local events but is only in Spanish.

 

Moraira is part of the municipality of Teulada and the Town hall is in Teulada. The Teulada-Moraira Town Hall Website provides information for Moraira residents and property owners and is in English, French, German and Valenciano.

 

The Moraira Webcam is mounted on the castle, overlooking the main beach.  Access the Moraira Webcam Website here.

 

Everything Moraira - A nice little info. site dedicated to Moraira.

Teulada Moraira Info - Mainly advertising.

Moraira Fiestas - Information about the local Moraira Fiestas.

Alicante-Spain.com - Moraira travel tips.

Thompson Travel - Holidays in Moraira.

VillaSpain.com - More Moraira info.

ThinkSpain.com - More Moraira Info.

 

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