Bella Lola stares sadly over the sea

The bronze statue of Bella Lola along the promenade in Torrevieja is a sought-after subject for photographers. The way she looks hopefully over the Mediterranean Sea appeals to the imagination of many. The story has it that Lola on a stone bench by the sea, waiting against her better judgment for the return of her lover. He left as a fisherman a long time ago and never returned from the sea.

The image of the lonely Lola probably appeals to people on different levels. Some will have been touched by her personal loss. Others will recognize in the image the personification of the hard life in Torrevieja long before the arrival of the tourists. That was the time when it was not uncommon for fishermen to find a sea grave in the waters of the Mediterranean.

Still others walk over the rocks and settle down next to Lola for a photo, or to stare at the Med for a moment lost in thought. Regardless of the appeal of the Bella Lola statue, it has struck a nerve with many in Torrevieja. And her name now lives on in the name of a local choir and a restaurant.