With the first settlers arriving in the Neolithic era, Santa Pola is a town with a rich historical background. It is one of the towns that have managed to resist the negative effects of tourism and profit by the advantages that it provides.  It is part of the province of Alicante and is near the city of Torrevieja.

Santa Pola is an example of a Spanish town that has managed to create a harmony between its past and present. The small fishing village of the past may have transformed into a busy tourist spot, but it still retains much of what made it a typical Spanish town.

Although the history of Santa Pola begins way back in the Neolithic times, it was the Roman conquerors that gave it the shape of a town and turned it into an important port for their sea related tasks and businesses. The fishing business, which still thrives today, was begun by these Romans and attracted a number of settlers from different parts of the area. This was the time when Santa Pola’s population increased and it became a busy place. The scattered Iberian settlements were renovated and transformed into a more centered town. Much of the Roman trade and supply took place here as an important road, called the Via Augusta, passed through the town and it became a route taken by many traders across the empire.

The Romans took advantage of the various opportunities that Santa Pola presented for the fishing business. Firstly, the salt marshes of the area were used to provide salt for a new business of salting and preserving the fish caught by the ships. They constructed a factory for the purpose and the ruins of this can be seen today in the outskirts of the town.

Today, the town of Santa Pola is both a fishing and a tourist town. The nearness to the water and the age old ports have become an attraction for tourists. In addition, many locals visit the markets of Santa Pola for the excellent prices that the fish markets offer.

Due to the continuation of the fishing business in the present, Santa Pola is never short of fresh fish and variety. The Saturday markets combined with the daily-unloaded fish at the fishing port, ensure that the buyer has a wide range of choices available.