Malaga - Costa del Sol - Spain

Mediterranean Sun

It is true that the great beaches of the Costa del Sol are what have made Malaga one of the most visited regions in Spain. However, this town has a lot more to offer than just the seaside and sunshine!

It was founded by the Phoenicians and was of great importance during the reign of the Moors. Highly interesting historical remains were found here as were other historical remains in many of the other Spanish provinces. Add to this the beautiful landscapes and picturesque villages and that is only a little something more of what there is on offer here...
 

Malaga's beautiful beaches, like the famous Marbella, and all Costa del Sol in general, have made this region a well known destination for visitors from all the world. Few places offer such a perfect combination of beautiful landscape, highly interesting monuments and modern structures of tourism like the beaches of Malaga.

The Western Coast

This is the perhaps best known part of Costa del Sol. Since the 1960s have been developed several modern centers of tourism, which contrast the original white villages of this region.

Torremolinos, 12 kilometers from Malaga, is an example for that. In its center of town, Carihuela, formerly a fishermen's district, you'll find today modern hotels, boutiques, pubs and discotheques for every taste. During the summer months life is really pulsating here ...

Benalmadena , 29 kilometers from Malaga and comparatively small, shows that still today there are romantic fishing villages. The large nearby amusement park anyhow attracts many visitors.
Fuengirola  has a wide and most beautiful beach to offer.
 

Puerto Banus is an exclusive seaside resort more like Marbella, with luxurious yachts, restaurants and shops.

In San Pedro de Alcantara there are very interesting rests of Roman and early Christian epochs.

Estepona, 15 kilometers from San Pedro, is another small fishing village that conserves the original character extraordinarily well in its center. Along the seaside there are modern hotels and tourism-installations.
As in all the region also here Romans and Moors have left their traces. Well worth a visit is also the church Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios with its rococo facade.

Typical Villages in the Interior

Leaving the seaside, the first place to visit is the typical white village of Mijas, a very popular excursion destination from Malaga. Moving on towards the mountains you arrive in Ojen, 65 kilometers from Malaga, and a romantic place that is almost untouched by tourism. The Mirador de Juanar has a fantastic viewing area offering a panoramic view of the area, including the orange woods of Valle de los Naranjos, truly picturesque.
 

At a distance of just 16 kilometers there is another almost unknown "pearl" of this region, Casares . This charming little village, located at the top of a pyramidal mountain, is surrounded by the mountain range Reales de Genalguacil, of blue volcanic rock. About half of the 4000 inhabitants are foreigners who came here to retire from this loud world. Through narrow streets inbetween picturesque white houses you arrive, at the top of the mountain, to the church with its high tower that was used formerly as a watch tower. From here one can overlook a large part of the old kingdom of Granada, until the rocks of Gibraltar.
 

The fantastic Ronda and the mountain ranges around without doubt need a chapter of their own.

Antequera and Torcal

Traveling away from Malaga in a northerly direction, you arrive in Antequera, especially well known for its remains from the Bronze Age. Dolmen de Antequera is a tomb of approximately 4500 years old. Just a few kilometres from the town there are three more prehistoric tombs: Cueva del Romeral, Cueva de Viera and Dolmeen de Menga. The town itself offers some very interesting monuments of more recent times, such as the Arabian Castle, the huge town gate Puerta del Arco de los Gigantes which was built in 1585 to replace the old Moorish door. Originally there was a colossal statue of Hercules at its top which is where its name comes from.
 

In the Museum you can see several interesting objects of the pre-historical Roman era. The Roman statue “Efebo de Bronce de Antequera” is of the 1st Century and is quite remarkable. In addition, you will find some interesting religious buildings such as the Colegiata de Santa Maria la Mayor, one of the most beautiful Renaissance buildings in all of Andalusia, and the churches Iglesia del Carmen and Iglesia de Belen. Nearby you can visit the largest nature preserve of Andalusia, Laguna Fuente de Piedra which hosts several very rare kinds of birds.

An extremely interesting place to visit is the mountain range Torcal de Antequera. Erosion has given bizarre forms to the rocks and it seems as if you are entering a dream world of saurians, giant turtles and similar beings. You may also want to visit Alora and the thermal space Carractraca.
 

The Eastern Coast

The first place to visit here is Rincon de la Victoria which is just 13 kms from Malaga. Here you can explore the Cueva del Tesoro, a pre-historical grotto with a lake in its interior.

In Velez, you will find a typical Mediterranean landscaped area, filled with olive and wine cultures and here you can visit the remains of an Arabian Fortress, The Palace of Marqueses de Ventel. The Mudejar styled church of Santa Maria la Mayor is another must see!

Nerja , 52 km from Malaga, is called "Balcón del Mediterraneo" ("Balcony of Mediterranean Sea"). Apart of the beautiful view its Cueva de Nerja, a 3000 years old cave with colossal stalactites, makes it worth a visit

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