The origins of Roquetas de Mar are shrouded in mystery. The
coast was visited by Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans, but the
Neolithic cultures only settled temporarily on the coast of
Almeria. We have to go back to the beginning of the XVIII century
to find the first vestiges of lasting establishments, around
1737.
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Any investigation
is complicated due to the destruction of buildings that
has occurred. Also the economy of Roquetas de Mar has
turned into subsistence agriculture and fishing.
As is typical of Muslim culture, life centred around
a castle bordering the sea, and groups of Farmhouses.
In 1757 the Parish Church was constructed. 1777 was
an important date for Roquetas de Mar when the independence
of Almeria was obtained and, step by step, municipalities
were annexed to form the nucleus of the Roquetas de
Mar that we know today.
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During the time of Arab domination several coastal buildings
like the Tower de los Cerrillos, the Tower del Esparto and the
Castle of de Santa Ana were constructed. This later became the
Castle of Roquetas, currently being renovated. Documents mention
the nucleus of Roquetas as synonymous to the municipal town
of Enix. The view of Roquetas de Mar is totally different from
the one we know nowadays. Between the present centre of Roquetas
de Mar and Aguadulce grapes were cultivated in the area of Los
Parrales. Today, we know also that the Romans founded the town
of Turaniana in the area of Los Bajos that symbolically has
given name to the Turaniana Secondary School. One of the key
reasons for the Romans abandoning the area is that the town
was prone to floods in the Autumn which made life, and especially
agriculture difficult. We should think that Roquetas de Mar
as a town is dedicated mainly to fishing and agriculture.
During the XX century Roquetas de Mar has experienced great
economic development; first with the operation of its two salt
mines – in Poniente and Levante and this together with
fishing and intensive agriculture has substantially improved
the quality of life of the Roqueteros.
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In 1963 the first
greenhouses were established in El Ejido marking the start
of a real agricultural revolution for Roquetas de Mar
and the whole region of Dalias. Sand is used to preserve
humidity and the irrigation by misting was possible due
to the low saline underground water deposits. During the
past 50 years these have been discovered in the west (Poniente)
side of Almeria. They are fertile drinking water sources
that come from the mountain range on route to the sea.
A miracle has occurred due to the efforts of thousands
of citizens who managed to turn a dessert into a fertile
orchard. The new system spread throughout the province
and generated economic growth without precedence. Numerous
auxiliary developments followed. From that moment to the
present time agriculture has been the main source of wealth
for the municipality along with the development of tourism
that advances at an unstoppable rate. |
Nowadays, tourism is one of the main bases of the economy
of Roquetas de Mar and this sector has expanded. In 1964 Aguadulce
was declared centre of National Tourist Interest. In 2005
the future is assured with an impressive population growth
to the current 70,000 inhabitants – which is hoped to
double in the next five years. Agriculture and tourist business
is joining with real estate business, and the expectations
of development in the province of Almeria and Roquetas de
Mar are fabulous. In addition, recently, we have received
with some satisfaction, the news that Almeria´s regional
economy is destined to be the greatest national growth in
Spain.
Later we present information on the socio-economic growth
and development of Roquetas de Mar and in general the province
of Almeria.
http://www.instituto.cajamar.es/boletin/2al.pdf
http://www.instituto.cajamar.es/mediterraneo/revista/me0122.pdf
http://www.camaradealmeria.es/Cufiles/estudios/AEC2001.pdf
http://www.cibersur.com/auxiliares/pdf/dossieralmeria.pdf
http://www.canalsur.es/Informativos/-ArchivoNoticias/2005/06.Junio/15/150605-sf-009-LAL.htm
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