Door opening in Los Montesinos

Los Montesinos: a young municipality in the south of the Vega Baja

Los Montesinos is a municipality in the province of Alicante, located at the southern end of the Comunidad Valenciana, in the Vega Baja del Segura district. Set in the lands of the traditional «campo or dry farmland», somewhat away from the irrigated market garden, it is a quiet locality of international character, very close to Torrevieja and its famous salt flats. In this guide we go over its most relevant facts: population, economy, festivals, tourism and gastronomy.

General information

According to the official figures of the INE (register as of 1 January 2024), Los Montesinos has a population of 5,682 inhabitants. The municipal area has a surface of 15.05 km², which gives a population density of around 378 inhabitants per km². It sits at about 7 metres of altitude and belongs to the judicial district of Torrevieja, with good road connections towards the A-7 and the airports of Alicante and Murcia.

Demographics and nationalities

The split by sex is very balanced, with an approximate percentage of 50% men and 50% women. Los Montesinos has undergone notable growth and has a strong international component, with a large community of foreign residents coexisting with the local population. Among the most present nationalities, the following stand out:

• Britons, one of the largest groups.
• Residents from other European countries (Belgians, Dutch, Scandinavians).
• Population from Eastern Europe and of Latin American origin.

Economy

The economy of Los Montesinos rests on several pillars:

• Agriculture: traditionally tied to dry farming and, after the arrival of irrigation, to the crops of the Vega Baja.
• Residential tourism and construction, boosted by the arrival of European residents.
• Local retail and services, which bring life to the municipality all year round.

Emergency and home security services

With nearly 5,700 inhabitants and a notable presence of residents' homes and second homes, Los Montesinos is a municipality where reliable locksmith services are especially necessary. Having 24-hour locksmiths is essential to resolve everyday mishaps such as leaving the keys inside the house, suffering the breakage of a cylinder or finding the door jammed on returning from a trip.

Our emergency door opening service provides coverage to Los Montesinos and to the whole Vega Baja district, with on-call locksmiths available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. By day or in the early hours, at the weekend or on a public holiday, there is always a professional ready to act quickly on openings of homes, lock changes and armoured doors, a service greatly valued by the large community of foreign residents.

Festivals and traditions

Los Montesinos lives its festive calendar intensely. Among its most notable celebrations are:

• The patron saint festivals in honour of the Virgen del Pilar, from 12 October, with the pilgrimage to la Marquesa, the flower offering and the popular Carrozas (floats), in which much of the village dresses up and parades through the streets.
• The Anniversary of the separation, every 30 July, which commemorates the constitution of the municipality.
• Holy Week and other traditional celebrations of the district.

Tourism: what to visit

Los Montesinos offers quiet tourism, between the countryside and the coast:

• The town centre, modern and well-kept, with its town hall and its squares.
• The agricultural landscapes of the surroundings, ideal for walks and cycle tourism.
• The closeness to the salt flats and lagoons of Torrevieja and La Mata, a protected natural area and a refuge for flamingos.
• Its proximity to the beaches of Torrevieja and Guardamar, a few minutes away by car.

Gastronomy

The cuisine of Los Montesinos is a faithful reflection of the gastronomy of the Vega Baja, based on market-garden produce and on rice dishes. Among its typical dishes and products, the following stand out:

• Arroz con costra, an emblematic dish of the district.
• Cocido con pelotas and the traditional stews.
• The vegetables and citrus fruit of the market garden, protagonists of the table.
• Seasonal artisan pastries.

Other points of interest

One of the great peculiarities of Los Montesinos is its youth as a municipality: for centuries it formed part of Almoradí and did not achieve municipal independence until 1990, by decree of the Generalitat Valenciana, which makes it one of the youngest municipalities in the province. Its origin is tied to the bringing into irrigation of the old dry farmland. Modern, welcoming and in a privileged enclave between the countryside, the salt flats and the coast, Los Montesinos brings together the charm of a village with a life of its own and all the comforts of the district. A place where having trustworthy 24-hour locksmiths brings the peace of mind that residents and businesses deserve all year round.