Motril

Motril
—  Municipality  —
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Motril
Motril Location in Spain
Coordinates: 36°44′N 3°31′W / 36.733°N 3.517°W / 36.733; -3.517Coordinates: 36°44′N 3°31′W / 36.733°N 3.517°W / 36.733; -3.517
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Andalusia
Province	Granada
Comarca	Costa Tropical
Judicial district	Motril
Commonwealth	Costa Tropical de Granada
Government
– Alcalde	Carlos Rojas García (2007) (PP)
Area
– Total	109.77 km2 (42.4 sq mi)
Elevation	45 m (148 ft)
Population (2008)
– Total	59,163
– Density	539/km2 (1,395.9/sq mi)
Demonym	Motrileño, -ña
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
– Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	18600 - 18613
Official language(s)
Website	Official website

Motril is a town and municipality on the Mediterranean coast in the province of Granada, Spain.

Motril is the second largest town in the province, with a population of 59,163 as of 2008. The town is located near the Guadalfeo River.

King Baudouin I of Belgium died during a visit in the Villa Astrida of heart failure in 1993.

Agriculture

Probably the most important sector of the economy in Motril and its region is the agriculture. There are many greenhouses in Motril, and in the nearby towns, like Carchuna. The most important crops are: beans, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers. Motril has an almost tropical climate. Due to this, there are also a lot of crops imported from South America, like mango and avocado.

Historically, sugarcane was also an important crop in Motril, but in 2006 the long-standing tradition, after hundreds of years of history, has been discontinued.

Beach

There are many different beachs in Motril, including a nudist beach. The most famous beach is "Playa Granada". There are also beaches at the nearby towns of Torrenueva, Carchuna, and Calahonda. The weather is usually good in Motril, so the beaches are always full of people, especially in summer, when people from the interior regions travel to the coast. Currently, the most serious problem for the beaches in Motril is the jellyfish.

Cuisine

The most popular dish from Motril is migas (crumbs), which is similar to Arabic couscous, made of bread or flour. Fish is also very popular in Motril, due the town's important fisheries. The most popular fish are anchovy (in Motril there is are special anchovies named boquerón), sardine and shrimp. The most famous drink, exclusive to the area, is ron palido which is a locally produced rum.

Time capsule

On July 22, 2008, a second time capsule in Spain was buried as part of an official event. This burial was 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' 2.75", -3° 30' 44.15"

Sister cities

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

External links

• Information about Motril
• Local History
• Motril - Sistema de Información Multiterritorial de Andalucía
• Paseo virtual por Motril
• English News Magazine for the Region