Turre, Almería
Your Neighbourhood is a series of local area guides from VIP Almeria. We’re bringing you the best of local villages combined with the latest property data. Turre postcode: 04639.
Turre’s name comes from the Latin turris, meaning ‘tower’. Situated in the south east of the Province of Almeria (Andalucía) in southern Spain and on the Mediterranean coast, Turre enjoys one of the hottest climates in Europe. The distance beauty of Mojácar Village, a majestic melting pot of a cluster of white houses, clinging to the very end of the Sierra de Cabrera foothills creates the beginning of the magical sensation that one experiences visiting the area.
Follow the road from old Mojacar across the dry farmland and you’ll soon spot the small town of Turre. With wonderful architecture, a traditional Spanish feel and a number of excellent restaurants it’s a great place to get away from the usual tourist attractions. The supermarkets are good value and its good to stock up on wine, food and local produce during your visit.
Turre offers all daily amenities including the medical centre, school, chemist, shops of all description, bars and just about every type or restaurant.
It is 10 km from the beach of Mojacar Playa and in the valley looking across the Sierra Cabrera mountains. There is many lifestyle opportunities to a person having a home here with blue flag beaches, walking trails in a natural environment, biking, award winning golf courses and fantastic restaurants all minutes away.
With over 320 days of sunshine a year and an average yearly temperature of 20 degrees, it opens the door for a great quality of life with sport year-round, including hiking, mountain biking, cycling, horse riding, cycling, golf, tennis and paddle tennis, soccer, and just 15 minutes drive to the beach for surfing, sailing, swimming, etc.
Why Turre?
It is a very cost effective option away from the beach but an area with all year services and amenties. It has a fairly large expat population
Turre is a busy place, fairly pivotally located for those wanting to near the coast of Mojacar but avoiding the higher property prices.
The typical gastronomic menus in Turre consist of dishes such as migas (fried bread with meat), albondigas (meatballs), gurullos con conejo (gurullo pasta with rabbit), caldo pimentón (fish stew), olla de trigo (wheat stew), caracoles (snails), ajo colorao (garlic soup) and papas al ajo cabañil (garlic potato salad).
Friday is market day offering the opportunity to buy fresh local grown produce. It is also a great time to partake in a drink with a local tapa on the terrace of any one of the variety of bars and restaurants in this quaint market town whilst soaking up the lovely atmosphere.
Where to Move:
You do have your pick a purpose built villa urbanization's such as Agua Nueva and Vista Cabrera within easy walking distance to the village main street.
There are alternative areas zoned as a hamlet or more rural places such as Cortijo Grande and Sierra Cabrera (The prestigious Moorish village). The architecture and setting of these zones are very unique to the area so please note that a car is required as it is not on a bus route to Turre main street.
For apartments and townhouses, a majority are available in the village center with shared facilities such as elevators but many lack access to a community pool.
The Cost: “Really anywhere in Spain so it is a lifestyle choice, a single could live comfortably on €1,200 — or less. A couple can live for around €2,000 a month. Eating out at restaurants is very inexpensive as are childcare, groceries transportation and sport and leisure club membership/activities.
Turre is a municipality of Almería province. It has a population of approx 3,400 people.
Take me there!
Turre main street
What’s the story with house prices?
2020
The average asking prices are:
2 Bedroom Apartment - 70,000€
2 Bedroom Townhouse - 80,000€
2 Bedroom Villa - 175,000€
3 Bedroom Apartment - 70,000€
3 Bedroom Townhouse - 135,000€
3 Bedroom Villa - 225,000€
Local amenities?
Turre is excellent place to live with great infrastructure such as schools, banks, dentists, medical centre, a good choice of bars and restaurants. In addition to local shops, there is two good supermarkets that are suitable for daily and weekly needs.
Where should I get lunch?
La Sorpresa Restaurant / tapas bar is located in the heart of Turre. Stylish interior · Excellent service · Friendly staff · Cosy atmosphere ·
Restaurante Solare - offering everything from coffee to menu del dia.
Restaurante Casa Pepa Turre - Traditional hostel with terraced bar and restaurant.
Star of India 2- A good authentic Indian food.
Restaurante Casa Pepa Turre - Lovely, home cooked food that never disappoints. A proper taste of Andalusia!
Heladeria-Cafeteria Ice Cream Parlour - snacks, ice cream, coffee and alcoholic drinks too.
BAR TERCERA ETAPA - Tapas Bar in the main square
Rosie Lee's Tea Room - A personal favorite for homemade cakes and a Extensive menu for breakfast and lunch.
So what’s the big draw?
As a town, it has great community spirit, there is no shortage of venues providing Live music, entertainment, great festivals and all year round living not aimed for tourism.
What do people love about it?
Much of the municipality of Turre is surrounded by the Sierra Cabrera (Natural Mountains and park). The mountains here are excellent for rock climbing or for the more sedate there are many pleasant walks and the preserved remains of the old villages of Cabrera to visit or enjoy a game of golf in Cortijo Grande. Close to Agua Nueva are also good sporting and equestrian facilities.
And... what do people NOT love about it?
Many residential apartment communties do not have access to a swimming pool so if this is important to you, do you research.
Turre itself does not offer much accommodation for visitors, however, there are some beautiful bed and breakfasts and a few luxurious self-catering options available in the surrounding countryside. The nearby town of Mojácar has an abundance of hotels and accommodation, and is located just a short drive away.
And what’s my new local?
From top of Turre along the main street:
Mesón Meko
La Pará
Cafeteria Julio Bar
Bar Charlot
Bar Zambra Tapas
Bar Anica Del Chupi
Alice's Sports Bar
On the main square:
Bar Jarrica
Haldanía
Cafeteria Plaza Mayor
Los Cazadores Cafe Bar
Alternatives:
Los Pastores Restaurant in Cortijo Cabrera.
Hostal Rural Turre from Tio Tomas is a one stop venue. It has an inland "Beach Bar", swimming pool, live shows, flamingo nights. Zip-lines, quads, paintball, climbing, horseback riding or sports areas.
Finca Listonero - Popular for Sunday lunch, Fine dining or weekend retreats. Advance booking required.
Schools and supermarkets?
Total Entertainment - This is a great shop that takes in Amazon orders, supplies all the Newspapers and magazines you could need in English. Loads of free local papers. Internet, photo copying, sim cards and lots more.
Super Turre - Turre main supermarket open 7 days a week, with the most diverse range of products (especially food and drink). Fresh meat butchers and deli counter. Well stocked with UK brands and European products.
Plenty of boutique shops, hardware stores, charity shops.
Main primary school is CEIP María Cacho Castrillo.
OK, I’m sold. Give me one piece of local trivia to impress a local
Do you know in a rural field stands a memorial?
An extract from David Jackson:
Translated “Here he gave his life for GOD and for SPAIN, the martyr D. Florencio Lopez Ejea, Priest of Turre, early one morning between the 16th and 17th of August of 1936, HERE.”
Or, in Spanish, “Aqui dio su vida por DIOS y por ESPANA, el martir D. Florencio Lopez Ejea, Parroco de Turre en la madrugada del 16 a 17 de Agosto de 1936, PRESENTE”.
It’s a simple, evocative memorial to the civil war. One morning, the local priest was taken up to this buff, overlooking the valley; and, as the sun rose, was shot. I wonder, was he allowed to pray to his god? Who pulled the trigger? A soldier from elsewhere, or one his neighbours? Maybe someone he had known since they were a child? Had he baptised them? Married them?
There isn’t much about him in the records. I know he was born in 1883, in Tahal, a small village in the mountains of Almeria. Not much else, really. He was just another statistic of the Spanish Civil War. Luckier than some. After all, the priest of Bédar was marched down the road and thrown off a bridge. No memorial to him.
Yet the people who did this may still be alive. Certainly many of them have made deathbed confessions to their families. But nobody wants to talk about it. It is the secret that so many people will hold close to their chests. So many people refuse to even talk about what their fathers or grandfathers did in “the war” – they know, from bitter experience, not to talk about it, for it opens wounds and divides friends and families.
Who put up this memorial? Nobody seems to know. Certainly nobody seems interested in talking about it. Somebody paid for the memorial, and walked up there, and put it up. Was it to remember him, or to atone for the deeds of a forefather?
If you wish to find out more stories, we would encourage you to get this book: Turre: a history (English Edition) by David Jackson https://amzn.eu/c8fUihy
We attended one of his talks and his research, knowledge and antidotes were fantastic so it is highly recommended.
