When film stars such as Grace Kelly, Ava Gardner, Marlon Brando, Orson Welles and Frank Sinatra roamed its streets in the 1950s and 60s, Torremolinos was still just a seaside district of the city of Malaga that attracted tourists seeking a more secluded location while at the same time being just as cosmopolitan as the city itself. More than half a century later, Torremolinos still retains the charm that drew those screen legends to it and, what is more, it has become one of the leading tourist destinations on the Costa del Sol.

Torremolinos is one of the economic drivers of the province, thanks in part to the tourism industry and the activity generated by the Costa del Sol Conference and Exhibition Centre. What is more, it is a city that achieves the perfect match of its local population with its tourists, as every year there are many who decide to settle there permanently to enjoy its many comforts and a lifestyle by the sea. One need look no further than the figure of 2,000 UK nationals who have chosen Torremolinos as their permanent place of residence. If you opt to escape to this seaside town that is just a short hop from Malaga (10 kilometres), you may the next one to decide to stay.

MUST-SEE SIGHTS IN TORREMOLINOS

MONUMENTS AND BUILDINGS

The Plaza de la Costa del Sol and Calle San Miguel are two places you have to see if you want to get to know Torremolinos. The square at the heart of the town is a cultural hotspot and is fully pedestrianised - you can see numerous exhibitions and performances there at street level. Calle San Miguel is an immense shop window where you can find all the souvenirs of Torremolinos you will want to take back with you.

A tour of the historical heritage of the town could start with the Pimental Tower or the Torre de los Molinos that gives the town its name. It was built by the Muslim Nazaries around 1300 as part of the defensive fortifications of the Kingdom of Granada and today is a listed building.

The Casa de las Navajas is another of the monuments that make Torremolinos a special place. This is a palace whose interior is inspired by the Alhambra of Granada. Since it was renovated and re-opened in 2014, it has become one of the most popular sights among tourists and is listed a historically significant building. Nearby and located close to the sea is the Monumento a las Playas...

Visitors can continue their tour with the sculpture entitled ""El Rapto de Europa"", the stature of Picasso and the ""Monumento al Turista"". From there, you should move on to see the churches of San Miguel and La Virgen del Carmen, the Hotel Pez Espada (Swordfish Hotel) and the former Railway Workers Orphans School, now home to the Pablo Ruiz Picasso Cultural Centre. To round off your tour, Torremolinos also offers its visitors a slice of its history and tradition with the quarter known as

El Barrio del Calvario, where every Thursday the popular flea market is held among the white houses and narrow streets, where time it seems has stood still.