Mediterranean sea view villa in El Portet, Moraira

Teulada-Moraira: more than a destination, a way of life

Teulada-Moraira is a municipality in the province of Alicante. Located 120km from Valencia city and 80km from Alicante city. Both with access from the national road N-332 or the AP7 motorway (exit 63). Teulada-Moraira is accessible by car and bus (Alicante-Valencia line). And by train (Denia-Alicante line).

The municipality is within the district of Marina Alta. This also includes the neighbouring villages of Poble Nou de Benitatxell and Benissa.

Teulada-Moraira is 185 metres above sea level. The total area is 32 square kilometres. This municipality has two urban centres, Teulada and Moraira. Teulada is about 8 km from the coast while Moraira is directly on the sea. The population is international. In summer it is a popular seaside resort where many tourists rent a holiday villa.

History

The name Moraira derives from a local legend about an Arabic princess named Ira, la Mora.

In the history of Moraira the Moors played an important role. Some names of urbanisations still refer to the Arab settlement. In the 13th century Christians expelled the Moors. Every year locals celebrate this event during the “Fiestas de Moros y Cristianos”. The new Christian inhabitants arrived from Catalonia and Aragon. This is how the Valencian language entered the region. Teulada exists since the end of the 14th century.

Two hundred years later pirates attacked the coast. To protect themselves they built the watchtower on Cap d´Or. And later the Castle of Moraira which is still in the centre of Moraira.

Economy

End 1700s Teulada was a farming village. Farmers exported the crops by the sea. The locals also started with fishing. They built little fishing houses on the land which is now known as Moraira. For a long time, the fishing industry was the main source of income. But in the 1970s and 1980s international tourists discovered the area. This led to drastic development of hotels, apartments and holiday homes. But no high-rise tourist complexes in this area.

General

Currently there are more than 10.000 people living in Moraira. Many of them are expats and elderly that decided to retire under the sun. In summer the population triples with tourists coming from North Europe. Moraira has an average of 300 sun days per year. The Mediterranean climate is excellent for the cultivation of grapes. In the area there are more than 1000 hectares of vineyards. The famous grape that grows here is the Muscatel.

Moraira is a gentle village with a lovely marina operated by the Club Nautico Moraira. In the centre are many shops, restaurants and bars. Every week, on Friday, there is the market on the big parking lot. Here you find fresh vegetables and fruits. The typical churros. Clothes, leather and souvenirs.

Moraira has 3 main beaches, Playa l’ Ampolla is the biggest. A nice sandy beach close to town, popular with families. There is the beach of Platgetes and the small beach of the lovely bay of El Portet.

Many foreigners love the area of Moraira and choose to live here the whole year round or buy a holiday-home. Interested in the housing market of Moraira? Have a look at our properties and do not hesitate the contact us in case you want more information.