The town of Turre has grown from an agricultural area into a tourist destination. Turre cherishes its Moorish past and is now committed to the environment.
Turre
Turre is located in Spain and is part of Almería, in Andalusia. It is located more than eighty kilometers from the provincial capital. Turre has approximately four thousand inhabitants. Together with a number of other villages, it is part of the Municipal Council of the Consorcio del Río Aguas.
Physical Geography
Turre is located about four kilometers from the Mediterranean Sea. It is located between a river and at the bottom of the Sierra Cabrera.
Flora and fauna
Until around 1700, the area around Turre was surrounded by forests of cork oaks and holm oaks. These forests were decimated by agricultural activity
. Now only a few cork oaks (Quercus suber) are found. At the moment they are a rarity. Scientists also collect genetic material. Efforts are being made to reintroduce certain tree species to other areas. At the moment, there are mainly trees and shrubs in the region. Think of sea buckthorn, wild olives, rosemary and blackberries. This area contains a number of rare trees that thrive mainly in wet areas. Consider gall oak, oleander and white poplar.
Economy
Turre’s economy has long been mainly focused on agriculture. Tourism has been added to this area in the last thirty years. Like many places in Spain there was quite a bit of construction going on.
History up to 1900
Over the past two hundred years, this region has experienced quite a few economic peaks and valleys. Around 1800 there was the Spanish War of Independence, which caused the French army to invade the region. This was followed by twenty years of hunger and illness. Around 1840, silver ore was discovered by a farmer. The discovery of this precious metal made the region economically interesting. Work began on the construction of an associated infrastructure. An ore smelter was constructed in the area. Yet the population continued to rely on income from agriculture and livestock farming. Immediately there was a lot of speculation about shares in the mines. A number of fatal accidents occurred due to overdue maintenance. The mines were closed around 1850. Mining and the workers it attracts have accelerated the deforestation of the region.
History from 1900
The Spanish Civil War raged from 1936 to 1939. Like the rest of Spain, the Turre sank into poverty and hunger. Due to the lack of good nutrition, many diseases were prevalent. After the Spanish Civil War, the region fell into disfavor due to its left-wing leanings. The region emptied due to the migration to the city and emigration. The region was badly left behind by the renewed dependence on agriculture and livestock farming for income. Since 1970, the rise of tourism and the construction sector begins. The region is connecting with the rest of Europe. Over the past ten years, a large service sector has emerged, linked to tourism.
Sights Turre
There are several cemeteries from different periods in Turre. The oldest graves date from the Neolithic, the Islamic graves are more recent. Furthermore, utensils from the Bronze Age and the Iron Age have been found. A number of churches such as the chapel of Francis of Assisi and Moorish remains such as an aqueduct and fountains are worth seeing. Furthermore, one can view remains of early settlements that are now located in residential areas of Turre. A tip: Easter is celebrated here very extensively and for a long time (thirteen days).