Door opening in San Miguel de Salinas

San Miguel de Salinas: the viewpoint of the Vega Baja

San Miguel de Salinas (in Valencian Sant Miquel de les Salines) is a municipality in the province of Alicante, located in the south of the Comunidad Valenciana, in the Vega Baja del Segura district, very close to the Region of Murcia. Located betwein Torrevieja and Pilar de la Horadada, it has the privilege of being the highest village of the district, with splendid views over the plain and the 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), San Miguel de Salinas has a population of 6,976 inhabitants. The municipal area has a large surface of 54.90 km², which gives a population density of around 127 inhabitants per km², notably lower than the district average. It sits at about 75 metres of altitude, on a hill from which the terrain descends, between ravines, gullies and hills, down to the plain known as El Llano. It is connected by road with Orihuela, Torrevieja and the rest of the Vega Baja, and with the A-7 and AP-7 dual carriageways.

Demographics and nationalities

The split by sex is very balanced, with an approximate percentage of 50% men and 50% women. San Miguel de Salinas has a strong international character, with a large community of foreign residents drawn by the climate and the tranquillity. Among the most present nationalities, the following stand out:

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

This diversity coexists with a deeply rooted local community, typical of a village of agricultural tradition.

Economy

The economy of San Miguel de Salinas rests on several pillars:

• Agriculture: it is the main sector, with the crops of the El Llano area and the fields of the salt flats.
• Residential tourism and construction, boosted by the closeness to the coast and to Torrevieja.
• Local retail and services, which bring life to the municipality all year round.

Emergency and home security services

With nearly 7,000 inhabitants and a notable presence of foreign residents' homes and second homes, San Miguel de Salinas 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 San Miguel de Salinas 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, apartments, storerooms, lock changes and armoured doors, a service greatly valued by the large community of international residents.

Festivals and traditions

San Miguel de Salinas lives its festive calendar intensely. Among its most notable celebrations are:

• The patron saint festivals in honour of San Miguel Arcángel (29 September) and the Virgen del Rosario (7 October), from mid to late September, with the neighbourhood dinner, the parade of floats and fancy dress and the traditional night of the tortas.
• The Feria de Abril sanmiguelera, in the first week of August, which emulates the one in Seville and has established itself as a very popular event.
• Holy Week and other traditional celebrations.

Tourism: what to visit

San Miguel de Salinas offers quiet tourism, between the viewpoint and nature:

• The parish church, a building of architectural interest and the heart of the town centre.
• The panoramic views over the plain and the salt flats, thanks to its status as the highest village of the district.
• The archaeological remains of La Zahurda, evidence of the ancient settlement of the area.
• The natural setting of ravines, gullies and hills, ideal for hiking and cycle tourism, and its closeness to the La Mata-Torrevieja lagoons and to the beaches.

Gastronomy

The cuisine of San Miguel de Salinas 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 typical tortas, protagonists of its festivals.
• The vegetables and citrus fruit of the growing area, the basis of the local table.

Other points of interest

The origin of San Miguel de Salinas is tied to the Torrevieja salt flats, located at its feet, and to the agricultural colonisation of the campo de Orihuela. In its beginnings, the settlement was made up of simple huts of cane and wood and of caves carved into the rock, and it was not until around 1840 that its first Town Hall was built. Located up high, between the sea, the salt flats and the market garden, San Miguel de Salinas brings together the charm of a village with history, magnificent views 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.