History of La Mata, Torrevieja
The village’s name comes from a 16th-century coastal watchtower.
Check availability
The origin: a tower and a jetty
La Mata takes its name from the Torre de La Mata, a circular, cone-shaped coastal watchtower about five metres across, built in masonry. It was raised over earlier remains in the 16th century and rebuilt by military engineer Juan Bautista Antonelli.
Next to the tower there was once a jetty used to load salt from the salt flats for shipping, and the channel that feeds salt water into the nature reserve’s lagoon still runs past it.
The coastal watchtower network
La Mata was part of a network of watchtowers of the Kingdom of Valencia, built to warn of Barbary pirate raids. Three towers covered this stretch of coast: the Torre de La Mata, the Torre del Moro at Cabo Cervera, and the Torre-vieja, near Cala Cornuda, which gave the city of Torrevieja its name.
The 1829 earthquake
In 1829, La Mata was badly affected, along with Torrevieja, by an earthquake. The surviving structures were rebuilt and 24 new homes were built.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the name La Mata come from?
And Torrevieja’s name?
What happened in the 1829 earthquake?
Apartment 200 m from La Mata beach and 2 km from the Torre del Moro.
Check availability →
