Andalusian town of Rota an oasis of calm

By Horst Heinz Grimm Oct 25, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Rota, Spain - Much of Spain's coastline is overrun by tourists in high season. But the small Andalusian town of Rota, on the Costa de la Luz, offers beautiful beaches, numerous hiking trails and superb golf courses without the milling crowds.

High-rise apartment blocks don't blight the coastal promenade, while overflowing nightclubs and super-pubs are also conspicuous by their absence.

Instead, Rota offers a one-kilometre-long sandy beach with clean water, a handsome promenade and pine forests with walking trails. Active holidaymakers, meanwhile, can chose from a host of sporting facilities and a good golfing infrastructure.

'Rota has a population of nearly 30,000 but that number triples during the summer,' says Pilar Ruiz Rodriguez-Rubio from the town's tourist office.

This small paradise on the Atlantic coast in south-western Andalusia is still firmly in the grip of the Spanish, but the number of foreign guests is increasing year on year - with foreigners currently make up almost a quarter of the population.

Holidaymaker Angel Escudero has done his research on Rota's colourful history and is more than happy to share his knowledge.

'The city was occupied by the Moors until the middle of the 13th century when it was retaken by the Spanish. The fortress built by the Moors was taken over by their conquerors, who used it as a seat of power. Today it is occupied by the town council,' he explains.

The 16th century Nuestra Seeora de la O church is situated opposite the fortress and worth a visit to see its typically Spanish late Gothic and early Renaissance style.

The square in front of the church is considered by many visitors to be the most beautiful location in Rota, which probably has something to do with a traditional bar that serves up mostly seafood tapas and sherry in front of a medieval backdrop. The tapas ingredients come fresh from the Atlantic.

'One of our specialities is called Urta a la rotena, a seabream and vegetable dish cooked in the oven,' explains Rodriguez-Rubio. Another local culinary delight worth tasting is Arranque roteno, made from soft white bread, chopped tomatoes, chili peppers, garlic, salt and pepper. 'It tastes like Gazpacho but without the water and onions,' he says.

Many tourists are drawn to Rota because of its golf courses. The 27-hole Costa Ballena golf club close to the coast and designed by Jose Maria Olazabal is considered one of the best in Europe. The course encompasses a 400-hectare complex built to the highest environmental standards. None of the buildings are higher than three stories and development is limited to a quarter of the size of the total surface area.

Cycling, horse-riding and walking routes criss-cross the countryside around Rota, while the unspoiled coastal park at the end of the beach promenade is home to protected chameleons.

Part of Rota is out of bounds to tourists as the town is home to a large military base shared by Spain and the United States, which is also an important revenue source for the council.

However, the huge military ships, including the Spanish aircraft carrier Principe de Asturias, are also a constant source of interest to visitors.

Rota is particularly popular with Northern Europeans in spring and autumn, when the beaches are less crowded. The coastline gets around 3,200 hours of sunshine a year and during high season the town is popular with Spanish tourists, many of whom have bought holiday homes in the area.