The main settlement is located a few kilometers inland, separated from thePort of Motril by theGuadalfeo delta. Motril is the second most populated municipality in the province, with 60,368 inhabitants as of 2016.[2]
Motril has 61,171 inhabitants across an area of 110km2 as of 2012[update]. Over the last several centuries the population has risen from 4,300 in 1610, with migration the most significant factor especially in earlier periods.
The area yielded to theCatholic Monarchs in 1489. The settlements of Pataura (analquería featuring irrigated land) and Jolúcar (featuring mainly cattle pasture) belonged to Motril.[4] At the turn of the 16th century, its population was still overwhelmingly Muslim, and so King Ferdinand prohibited Christians from living in Motril and ruled that those Christians who owned possessions there were to relocate toSalobreña.[5] After the mass conversion of the population in 1500, the town subsequently featured a majority ofNew Christians,[4] orMoriscos. After theRebellion of the Alpujarras (1568–1571), most moriscos were expelled from theKingdom of Granada as had been decreed in 1570. This exodus halved the population of Motril.[6] Due to this, in 1573 the Crown encouraged 60Old Christian settlers to move to the area with their families.[7] By 1574 there were however only 56 registered settlers, accounting for 254 people (a high ratio presumably justified by the number of servants accompanying the settlers' families).[8]
The Church of the Incarnation was built in the 16th century on the site of a mosque. The building formed part of the defences which protected the town centre, and incorporated defensive features which are still visible today.[9]
Sugarcane was thestaple crop in Motril, and after its harvest it was processed into sugar in local refineries. The most important of these was "La Casa de la Palma", the remains of which are on display at theMuseo Preindustrial de la Caña de Azúcar (English: The Pre-Industrial Sugar Cane Museum).
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), the motto shown on the Motril's current coat of arms.
After theWar of Independence, during which Motril was occupied by French troops, the city's sugar industry entered a new era with the introduction of steam technology for sugar production. After a few years, due to an increase in the number of sugar refineries, it became the largest producer in Granada.
Motril has long been synonymous with sugar and sugar cane. The process from sugar cane transformation into various types of sugar, even liquors like thecherished rum of Motril, has always been the basis of the local economy.
Sugar cane refineries in Motril include:
Nuestra Señora del Pilar. This refinery is undergoing restoration as an industrial museum.
Nuestra Señora de la Almudena.
Azucarera de San Luis.
Nuestra Señora de Lourdes.
Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza (Alcoholera).
Nuestra Señora de las Angustias (Fabriquilla).
Azucarera de San Fernando (sólo queda la chimenea).
Ingenio de San José, El Varadero (sólo queda una nave).
It was founded by the Larios family in 1885, a family which founded a company based on the production of sugar and alcohol. At present, the company makes gin.
The refinery was later burned down by workers frustrated with their low salaries.
Leaving Motril and moving towards Puntalón and La Garnatilla is the sugar refinery of Nuestra Señora de las Angustias, built in 1868. Some of its premises have been restored and are now intended for municipal usage, highlighting the magnificent "Nave de los Arcos". Juan Ramón La Chica owned two refineries called "Nuestra Señora de las Angustias", with one in Granada and the other in Motril. He gained full ownership over the latter in 1874. He also owned another sugar cane refinery called "Nuestra Señora del Carmen" in Pinos Puente, Granada.
This church is one of the most important and emblematic monuments in Motril. Located on a hill called Virgin's Hill, the church was built on the ruins of aNasrid fortress in the 17th century by the architect Isidro de la Chica. The building was damaged during theCivil War in the 20th century and it was restored by the sculptor Manuel Gonzales, a sculptor from Motril, in the 1960s. Inside the church is the patron saint of Motril, the Virgen de la Cabeza. The church's modern day surroundings include the Parque de los Pueblos de América and the first fountain built in Motril, featuring a largeSpanish flag.
The cultivation of sugarcane was for a long time important in the countryside, but commercial growing ended in 2006. Once the cane had been harvested, it was brought to Motril's sugar refineries including:
"Nuestra Señora del Pilar"
"Nuestra Señora de la Almudena"
"Azucarera de San Luis"
"Nuestra señora de Lourdes"
"Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza"
"Nuestra Señora de las Angustias"
"Azucarera de San Fernando"
"Ingenio de San José, El Varadero"
These refineries are now abandoned.
The potato was also a significant crop. Situated on the south coast ofAndalusia, Motril grows crops like avocado, custard apple, guava, mango, and banana, as well as greenhouse cultivation. Motril and the villages of its municipality,Carchuna,Calahonda,Castel de Ferro and others, live off of crops grown in greenhouses. Of these crops grown in greenhouses, tomatoes and cucumbers are the most significant although others such as custard apples, beans and peas are also grown.
Motril's geographical location makes it a commercial and industrial center. One of the essential industries in Motril besides greenhouse agriculture is the paper mill, which provides 400 jobs and produces around 250 tons of paper per year. The Port of Motril is both a commercial and fishing port.
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.[citation needed]
Motril has ahot 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.[10]
There is a 19th-century theatre, the Teatro Calderón de la Barca, which is protected as aBien de Interés Cultural. It is built in Italian style with many boxes.It organises many shows such as plays, exhibitions, concerts and monologues.
There is a localorchestra, the"Joven Orquesta Ciudad de Motril". In Motril, there is a strong music development. Young people study several instruments at the professionalconservatory and there is a local music school too.
Flamenco is also performed here in dance academies and exhibitions along the whole year, especially in theCruces. Flamenco is the most prominent dance style but other styles are also practised, like ballet.
Youth Area provides many activities organised by local associations that contribute to the city's leisure like video games tournaments, crafts workshops and once a year, an event calledEncuentro 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 theCentro Joven where expositions of young local artists draws are passed so it helps to get to know their work.[12]
TheHoliest Christ of the Good Death during the 2022 Holy Week in Motril
TheHoly Week in Motril has been declared aNational Tourist Interest, It consist of 12 brotherhood, 23pasos and more than 6000 followers. There are processions every day.TheHoly Week in Motril started in 1600 with the eldest brotherhood, calledVera Cruz. After theSpanish Civil War every brotherhood had to restore its patrimony.[13]
Almost all the statues in Motril are made by some artists from the province of Granada.Processions of note include:
The starting procession is onPalm Sunday. In this procession we can see two differentpasos.
OnEaster Sunday there is a procession called "Dulce Nombre de Jesus". It consists on a group of children carrying the statue. It is accompanied by a lot of little children carrying bells.
Nowadays, the members of the brotherhood accompany the image with special clothes that cover their face.
In Spain there is a tradition of not to eat meat onHoly Thursday and onGood Friday.Each city has their own stew. The typical menu in Motril is thestew made with chickpeas and cod, the cod with tomato, and some cod omelette. Also, there are different desserts likerice pudding,torrija ... In these days it's common meeting the family.
The most popular dish from Motril ismigas (crumbs), made of bread. Fish is also very popular in Motril, due to the town's important fisheries. The most popular fish areanchovy (locally namedboquerón),sardines andshrimp. The most famous drink, exclusive to the area, isron pálido which is a locally produced rum.
Motril is within theCosta Tropical, a large tourist region on the coast. Motril has small beaches (bays) and large beaches (like Playa Granada). They are popular during the summer with people from the surrounding as well as the interior regions.[citation needed]
Beaches in the area include Playa de Poniente (a large gravel/shingle beach), Playa Granada (shingles), Playa Carchuna (gravel and pebbles), and Playa Calahonda (gravel).[citation needed] Many of the area's beaches include car parking facilities, first aid stands, showers,beach cleaning, bars and restaurants, typical beach facilities (such as beach umbrellas and hammocks) and S.O.S. telephones.[citation needed]
Motril is served byautovíasA-7 toMálaga andAlmería, andA-44 to Granada. ThePort of Motril offers ferries toMelilla,Nador,Tanger-Med, andAl-Hoceima and shipped 2.8 milliontonnes of cargo in 2019.[14] Motril is the only Spanish Mediterranean port that lacks a rail service; building a line which would take 25 minutes to travel toGranada railway station was estimated to cost €400 million in 2017.[15] The link to Granada was rejected in 2010 by theMinistry of Development on the basis of being unsuitable for freight railway transport due to the steep slope.[16] From 1925 to 1950, Motril was connected to Granada by means of acable way that spanned from Motril toDúrcal.[17]
On July 22, 2008, a secondtime 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,[needs update] to celebrate the 150th anniversary of this event. It is located at coordinates36°45′03″N3°30′44″W / 36.75076°N 3.51226°W /36.75076; -3.51226 (Motril time capsule).
Its story is particularly tragic: On 13 January 1804 there was a very strongearthquake 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 theAndalusian anthem is sung. On this day there are numerous acts of civil and military authorities. A popularrace is also celebrated in which the runners go from the square of the "Explanadas" to thefire station in theport. 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", afterCórdoba. 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 theflamenco outfit.
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 oldchapel of the Saint. The neighbourhood helps with the organization of this event.
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.[citation needed]
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 aSalve 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 showfireworks.
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 someconcerts, nightfair, dances, sport shows, fireworks with music on the beach, morning fair ... On the 15th, the Virgin goes through the city streets.
October
These two popular neighbourhoods of Motril celebrate theirpatronal 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.
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