Málaga, Sun and Sand - See guide

Transcription

Malaga
TOURIST BOARD
& CONVENTION BUREAU
Sun and Sand
COSTA DEL SOL TOURIST BOARD
Plaza del Siglo, 2
29015 MALAGA - SPAIN
Telephone: (+34) 952 12 62 72
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.visitcostadelsol.com
Tourist Guide 14
Available online:
www.visitcostadelsol.com
Spanish, English, French and German versions
Costa del Sol Tourist Board
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COSTA DEL SOL TOURIST BOARD
Plaza del Siglo, 2
29015 Málaga
Telephone: (+34) 952 12 62 72
Website: www.visitcostadelsol.com
Graphic design: Conmunica Mediatrader
Editing: IT Department at the Tourist Board and Conmunica Mediatrader
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scenery. This remarkable geography surrounds and
protects the Costa del Sol, making this stretch of
coastline a tourist destination all year round.
with fun and laughter: the gentle caress of the sea
breeze stays with our customers throughout the
year, like a memory that also entices them to
return the following summer . Even months after
the tan has worn off, the sun continues to nourish
you with its energy week after week, bringing the
strength needed to face the monotony of the daily
grind with the hope of returning to Estepona,
Mijas, or Torrox... Ah, the Costa del Sol, the
warmth of its people, the beauty of its coves!
Sun and Sand.
This term, which travel experts
use to refer to a specific travel market segment,
means more than just that. Sun and sand means
happiness, holidays, children playing… the whole
family enjoying their well-deserved rest after a
whole year of monotony and hard work. The sand
on our coastline bears witness to continuous joy
and leisure.
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Málaga, Sun and Sand
AEPLAYAS
Asociacion de Empresarios de Playas de la Provincia
de Málaga - Costa del Sol Beach Entrepreneurs
Association of the Province of Malaga - Costa del Sol
Address: Paseo Marítimo Ciudad de Melilla,
17 1 A. 29016 Málaga
Telephone: (+34) 952 61 47 25
Chairman: Miguel Arrabal Garcia
"Sun and Sand" destinations all over the world.
From Manilva to Nerja, a wide fan of beaches
opens up to make up
Andalusia's key tourist
attractions. For decades, the coastline of the
province of Málaga has been one of the most
popular destinations with Spanish and foreign
tourists, thanks to its climate, brilliant sunlight,
calm and warm waters, and beautiful landscapes,
with numerous beaches dotted between the
mountains and the sea.
On the other hand, the Costa del Sol also has
other beaches which are tucked away , far from
the crowds: quaint little coves, sweeping dunes,
nude beaches… visitors to the Costa del Sol are
seduced by the whole package, the quality of our
clean sand, our natural wonders and the
everinviting Mediterranean sea.
Norberto del Castillo
Chairman Faeplayas
The 160 km of coastline that make up the Costa
del Sol of fer numerous services. Its beaches,
warmed by Mediterranean climate with an
average temperature of 25ºC in summer , feature
an amazing range of dif ferent landscapes and
FAEPLAYAS
Federación Andaluza de Empresarios de Playas
Andalusian Federation of Beach Entrepreneurs
Address: Paseo Ciudad de Melilla, 17, 1 A
29016 Málaga
Telephone: (+34) 952 21 00 37
Chairman: Norberto del Castillo Rodríguez
Index
.
.
Year after year , Andalusian beaches have been
turned into areas for visitors to rest and enjoy:
peddle-boats, roller skates, jet-skis, beach chairs,
kiosks, beach restaurants which are synonym
Miguel Arrabal García
Chairman Aeplayas
The Costa del Sol is one of the most important
Faeplayas
Aeplayas
Since its establishment in 1977, the Asociación
Provincial de Empresarios de Playa de la
Provincia de Málaga- Costa del Sol, all our
members have been working to continue
improving the services of fered to all our visitors,
Spanish and foreign alike. The cleanliness and
beauty of our beaches have a great ally in our
associates: sunbathers' rest and satisfaction
depend on the hard work and dedication of staf f
and managers who are truly aware of how
important their work is.
In addition, there's the staf f and managers' ef fort
and dedication; they're committed to satisfying
your need for fun and relaxation, and
guaranteeing safety… a missing child, a lost bag,
a broken-down vehicle… the beach restaurants
and beach chair hire firms' staf f will always be
ready to help. It's a whole world designed for
pleasure and peace. We've been here for you for
years, and we will stay here for years to come
with the sole purpose of making all our visitors
have the idea that we have succeeded in our
mission: a tanned smile shaped by sun and salt.
Year after year , the beach services of fered have
been awarded the European Union Blue Flag for
its outstanding characteristics, beach restaurants,
which are ideal places to enjoy the local cuisine,
based around fresh fish caught at dawn and
cooked in a variety of styles. Our barbequed or
fried fish, for instance, are particularly delicious.
In addition, visitors can hire beach chairs, enjoy
bar service, use the showers, life guard service,
and facilities for water sports.
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
index.
. Algarrobo
. Benalmádena
. Casares
. Estepona
. Fuengirola
. Málaga
page 41
page 51
page 69
page 83
page 113
. Marbella
page 127
. Rincón de la Victoria
.Torremolinos
. Torrox
6
page 17
. Manilva
. Mijas
. Nerja
Data from 2012 provided by Blue Flag.
Blue Flag is an international exclusive voluntary eco-label for beaches and marinas.
page 9
. Vélez - Málaga
. Appendix: Blue Flag beaches and marinas
page 165
page 177
page 203
page 215
page 229
page 245
page 268
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
index. Algarrobo
This small town has a population of 5,000. It covers
an area of less than 10 km2 and stretches over a land
where the mountains of Axarquía gradually roll down to the
sea. The town centre of Algarrobo, with its Moorish layout, is 3 km
from the coast, and the beach area is currently being developed.
. Algarrobo
. Mezquitilla
Algarrobo
.
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a
LGARROBO BEACH
Facilities and services: beach chair and beach
umbrella hire, sports equipment hire, toilets,
showers, lifeguard station, rubbish bins, parking
area, cleaning service, public telephone, security
surveillance.
Width: 20 m
Length: 800 m
Surface material: sand, gravel
Description:
This wide beach is dotted with small beachfront
houses and numerous farms.
Type of beach: urban
Blue flag: no
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Level of occupancy: medium
2013
Closest marina: La Caleta de Vélez
District: Algarrobo
Town: Algarrobo
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
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District: Algarrobo
Town: Algarrobo
Facilities and services: beach chair and sports
equipment hire, lifeguard station, rubbish bins,
cleaning service, public telephone, security
surveillance.
Algarrobo
Algarrobo
Algarrobo
EZQUITILLA BEACH
Width: 20 m
Length: 650 m
Surface material: sand, gravel.
Blue flag: yes
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Level of occupancy: high
m
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Algarrobo
PÆgina 10
Mezquitilla Beach
Algarrobo Beach
Description:
The River Algarrobo separates Mezquitilla beach
and the swimming area of the same name on
Málaga's coast. 3.5 km from the town centre,
several rows of beachfront apartment blocks
have been built.
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Algarrobo
Index
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TOURIST BOARD &
This small district (less than 10 km
2
) spreads
across a region where the slopes of the
Axarquía mountains become gentler as they
reach the coast. The River Algarrobo-Sayalonga
flows southwards across a valley that was once
covered in olive trees, almond trees and
vineyards; however, the valley is currently going
through a substantial change as farming moves
towards vegetable crops and sub-tropical
produce, which is why the rolling hills are giving
way to terraces required for the new crops.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Algarrobo
The town centre of Algarrobo, with a Moorish
layout, is located some 3 km from the coast. To
distinguish the town from the beach area, which
is currently being developed, the latter is
referred to as Algarrobo-Costa, a term that has
been coined recently and is used in other towns
throughout the province of Málaga.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Algarrobo
.
Historic Downtown
.
Algarrobo
Index
.
12
Historic Downtown
After Vélez surrendered to the Christian troops
in 1487, Algarrobo, as did many other towns in
the region, sent representatives to hand over
control of the town to the Catholic Monarchs.
The vassal county was awarded to Don Pedro
Enríquez and later passed on to his widow
,
Doña Catalina de Rivera. In 1519, her heirs sold
it Marquis of Comares's brother
, Pedro
Fernández de Córdoba, and the situation
remained unchanged until 1811, when the Cádiz
national assembly abolished the county.
.
Surface area: 9.70 km .
Population: around 5,000.
Name given to the local people: algarrobeños.
Location: on the Axarquía coast, 32 km from
Málaga City. The town centre is 3 km from the
coast, 86 m above sea level.
Average annual
rainfall is 610 l/m², and average temperature is
around 18.5º C.
What to see: Parish Church of Santa
Ana,
Chapel of San Sebastián, watchtowers,
archaeological remains at
Trayamar
(Phoenician).
Tourist Information: Town Hall, C/ Antonio Ruiz
Rivas, 2 (29750).
Tel.: (+34) 952 552 430; fax: (+34) 952 552 423
Algarrobo
Historical evidence reveals that there were
human settlements in the district of Algarrobo in
the Bronze Age, as can be seen in the
archaeological finds at Morro de Mezquitilla, but
the most important find in
Algarrobo is the
Phoenician necropolis at Trayamar (seventh
century BC). The Romans also left their mark on
these lands, where, unlike the
Arabs, who
stayed here for a long time, the V isigoths were
unable to thrive.
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TOURIST BOARD &
You can get to
Algarrobo either via the
Mediterráneo motorway or the N-340, which
follows the coastline. Take the A-6203 exit, which
is well signposted.
WHAT TO SEE
.
Algarrobo's cuisine is famous for its cakes and
desserts: tortas de Algarrobo, cakes made with
olive oil, which are part of the
Arab legacy .
Typical local dishes include ajoblanco (chilled
white garlic soup), gazpacho, potaje
algarrobeño (stew), potaje de hinojos (fennel
stew) and choto en salsa (kid goat served in
sauce), all of which are representative of
culinary traditions in Algarrobo. And now you can
see the influence on local fare of some of the
sub-tropical produce grown around the town.
Our fascination with underground passages is
never-ending, and people are convinced that in
Algarrobo there is one tunnel linking the fortress
and Bentomiz Castle, built in case of a
prolonged siege, so that goods could be taken
from one place to the other without the carrier
having to go out in the open. To this day , the
mysterious hidden passage has yet to be found,
but the legend still lives on.
FIESTAS
On 20 January , the town celebrates its Patron
Saint (San Sebastian) festival. The image of the
Saint is carried along in a procession from the
chapel to the church, where Mass is offered in his
honour. The statue is then taken back to the
chapel in another procession. Almost all the local
residents participate in the processions, winding
their way through the town's streets to the
deafening accompaniment of the cohetá -dozens
upon dozens of fire crackers are let of
f at
the same time.
In the second half of August, the town celebrates
its annual feria or fair , which lasts for three days
and includes all kinds of events, with particular
emphasis on flamenco and traditional verdiales,
songs that are extremely popular here.
14
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.
Historic Downtown
There are a number of old watchtowers along
Málaga's coastline, two of which are in Algarrobo:
the Torre Ladeada (Leaning Tower) and the Torre
Nueva (New Tower). The former, also known as
daleá because of the way it is pronounced in the
local accent, is Arabic. Its distinct feature, as the
name suggests, is the way the structure leans.
The Torre Nueva dates back to the sixteenth
century. Both watchtowers were built to warn the
people of invasions, both from enemy armies and
pirates.
LEGENDS
.
Historic Downtown
The Chapel of San Sebastián is a modern replica
(1975) of the previous one, from the
seventeenthcentury, which was demolished due
to its bad condition. It is simple in design,
featuring a single nave, and a Latin-cross floor
plan, but it is well worth a visit since its
surroundings, which provide wonderful views,
have been turned into a recreational area dotted
with trees, gardens and fountains.
The jewellery found in the tombs is
on display at the Provincial
Archaeological
Museum, along with some Greek artifacts that
might have been brought by the Phoenicians, or
even by the Greeks themselves.
FOOD
Algarrobo
Algarrobo
The Parish Church of Santa Ana, in the town
centre, is the most important religious monument
in Algarrobo. Built in the seventeenth century ,
with a Latin-cross floor plan, it has three naves,
which are separated by rows of half-circle arches
resting on octagonal pillars. The cof fering is of
particular note, as is the eighteenth-century
lateral chapel. This quaint church is crowned with
a four-sided bell tower.
The Phoenician necropolis at Trayamar is the
most interesting historic site in Algarrobo, as well
as one of the most important in the W
estern
Mediterranean, as German archaeologists
Shubart and Niameyer claimed when they
excavated the site. It is a Paleo-Punic cemetery
belonging to a Phoenician city which might have
been set up around a trading post that was built
around the same time as Carthage (seventh
century BC).
CONVENTION BUREAU
HOW TO GET THERE THERE
Algarrobo
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
index. Benalmádena
This stretches from the southern foothills of Sierra de
Mijas range down to the sea and has a population of
60,000. It has three urban centres, which almost merge into
one another, but yet each is quite distinct: Benalmádena Pueblo,
Benalmádena Costa and Arroyo de la Miel.
.
.
Fuente de la Salud
Benalmádena
Malapesquera
. Santa Ana
. Bil - Bil
. Arroyo de la Miel - Los Melilleros
. Torre Vigía
. Las Yucas
. Las Viborillas
. Arroyo Hondo
. Torremuelle
. La Morera
. Tajo de la Soga
. Carvajal
.
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f
UENTE DE LA SALUD BEACH
Benalmádena
m
ALAPESQUERA BEACH
Description:
According to old local fishermen, the name of this
beach, which means "bad fishing" in Spanish,
derives from the scarce fish caught in this area.
Adjoining the marina, to the east, and Santa Ana,
to the west. Here you will find some of the town's
most emblematic hotels. Sporting and
entertainment events are held all year round. It
offers daily water sports activities in the summer
which are run by the local Sports Centre,
supported by the local Beach Authority.
Blue flag: no
Width: 80 m
Length: 200 m
Surface material: fine sand
Sand colour: dark
Swell: low
Benalmádena
Facilities and services: disabled access, beach
chair and beach umbrella hire, sports equipment
hire, showers, peddle-boats, lifeguard station,
rubbish bins, parking, promenade, cleaning
service, public telephone, security surveillance,
restaurants.
Blue flag: yes
.
.
Width: 50 m
Length: 700 m
Surface material: sand
Closest marina: Benalmádena
Nude beach: no
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Nude beach: no
District: Benalmádena
Town: Benalmádena
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Town: Benalmádena
Benalmádena
Benalmádena
PÆgina 18
Malapesquera Beach
Fuente de la Salud Beach
Description:
Urban beach, 200 m in length, offering all types of
services. Located halfway between Torremolinos
and Benalmádena Marina.
Facilities and services: disabled access, sports
(beach volley playa - football), security
surveillance, lifeguard station, water sports,
showers, beach chair and beach umbrella hire,
drinking water, toilets, cleaning service, parking,
restaurants, public phone.
8:05
Benalmádena
Index
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s
Benalmádena
ANTA ANA BEACH
Description:
Located close to the Marina, this beach,
belonging to the town of Benalmádena, runs
parallel to the oceanfront promenade.
chair and beach umbrella hire, sports equipment
restaurants.
Width: 40 m
Length: 500 m
IL - BIL BEACH
Benalmádena
Description:
This beach, located in the heart of Benalmádena,
is usually very crowded. It is located adjoining
Arroyo de la Miel beach, in a very busy area. It is
worth a visit because here stands one of the most
emblematic villas on the coastal area -Bil-Bil
Castle. It is council property and numerous
cultural events are held in it.
The beach is
included in the local accessibility plan and of fers
a wide range of services. It can be easily
accessed either on foot or by car. It has a car park
but does not of fer security surveillance. It also
has a tourist of fice and is just a stone's throw
from Benalmádena marina
Blue flag: yes
Nude beach: no
Facilities and services: security, easy access,
showers, public telephone, rubbish bins, cleaning
service, beach umbrella and beach chair hire,
boat hire, kiosk, restaurant.
Town: Benalmádena
Width: 20 m
Length: 400 m
Benalmádena
Benalmádena
Nude beach: no
Town: Benalmádena
b
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.
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
PÆgina 20
Bil - Bil Beach
Santa Ana Beach
Blue flag: yes
8:05
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Sand colour: dark
Swell: calm waters
Benalmádena
Index
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a
.
chair and beach umbrella hire, showers, lifeguard
station, rubbish bins, parking, promenade,
volleyball net, cleaning service, public telephone,
security surveillance, restaurant.
t
Description:
This calm beach has formed in a small nook in
Málaga's coastline, closed-in between two
apartment complexes with beach views. This has
allowed the sand to deposit naturally.
Blue flag: QR
Blue flag: QR
Width: 40 m
Length: 400 m
Width: 55 m
Length: 300 m
Surface material: gravel
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Level of occupancy: low
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
Town: Benalmádena
Benalmádena
umbrella hire, lifeguard station, rubbish bins,
parking, cleaning service, public telephone,
security surveillance, restaurant.
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Town: Benalmádena
Benalmádena
ORREVIGÍA BEACH
.
Benalmádena
Description:
It is 400 m long and has an average width of 40 m.
It stretches between the beaches of Santa Ana
and Arroyo de la Miel. It is divided in two by a
large rock.
Benalmádena
PÆgina 22
Torrevigía Beach
Arroyo de la Miel - Melilleros Beach
RROYO DE LA MIEL
LOS MELILLEROS BEACH
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Benalmádena
Index
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l
AS YUCAS BEACH
station, rubbish bins, parking, cleaning service,
public telephone, security surveillance, restaurant.
l
AS VIBORILLAS BEACH
Benalmádena
Description:
This small cove area, close to the motorway
,
offers peace and tranquillity . It is made up of a
group of small rugged coves. It is a very stable
area but not suitable for large crowds owing to its
size and shape. It is one of the best areas in
Benalmádena for scuba diving. Las Viborillas is a
nude beach and adjoins Las Yucas beach.
Type of beach: semi-urban
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: no
Width: 15 m
Length: 400 m
Width: 15 m
Length: 350 m
umbrella hire, showers, lifeguard station, parking,
rubbish bin, cleaning service, security
surveillance, restaurants.
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Town: Benalmádena
Nude beach: yes
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Nude beach: no
Town: Benalmádena
Benalmádena
Benalmádena
.
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Las Yucas Beach
Benalmádena
PÆgina 24
Las Viborillas Beach
Description:
It is divided into separate coves by rocky areas. It
is a stable beach in a non-city setting, which has
retained all the natural charm.
There is easy
access since the main road runs right alongside
the beach, even though you have to climb down a
way before you reach the waterfront. Parking is
easy since there are ample car parking facilities.
8:06
Benalmádena
Index
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a
.
Blue flag: no
umbrella hire, showers, rubbish bins, parking,
Benalmádena
Description:
This beach runs parallel to the motorway of fers
an isolated and peaceful spot.
Blue flag: no
Width: 15 m
Length: 1,000 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Town: Benalmádena
Nude beach: no
Facilities and services: beach chair hire,
parking, cleaning service, public telephone,
security surveillance, restaurants.
Town: Benalmádena
26
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Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Nude beach: no
ORREMUELLE BEACH
Benalmádena
Width: 20 m
Length: 400 m
t
.
Benalmádena
Description:
This beach juts up to hills blanketed with tightly
woven vegetation which makes a nice contrast to
the excessive urban sprawl of some parts of the
Costa del Sol. It is located between the beaches
of La Viborilla and Torremuelle and is named after
the stream that flows down onto the beach, one of
the main streams running through the town. It
includes an area popularly known as the Playa
del Hotel Costa Azul. It is easily accessible, since
the main road runs right alongside the beach, and
it has two clearly marked areas, one of which is
more rugged and another that has been
redeveloped.
Benalmádena
PÆgina 26
Torremuelle Beach
Arroyo Hondo Beach
RROYO HONDO BEACH
8:06
Benalmádena
Index
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l
.
Facilities and services: disabled access,
beach chair and beach umbrella hire, showers,
lifeguard station, rubbish bins, parking,
t
Description:
Is one of the wildest and most irregular beach of
this district. It is dotted with several and irregular
coves limited by rocky areas. Easy access as the
road runs parallel and there are parking spaces.
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: no
Width: 15 m
Length: 400 m
Surface material: sand/gravel
Width: 15 m
Length: 700 m
Surface material: sand/gravel
Sand colour: dark
Swell: none
Sand colour: dark
Swell: none
Town: Benalmádena
Nude beach: no
Facilities and services: showers, lifeguard
security surveillance.
28
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Town: Benalmádena
Benalmádena
Nude beach: no
Benalmádena
AJO DE LA SOGA BEACH
.
Benalmádena
Description:
Located between the Torremuelle and Tajo de
la Soga, La Morera is one of the most popular
beaches during the holiday season thanks to
its easy access. There are not many buildings
in the surrounding area, which makes it is not
much cared of. It has easy access since the
main road runs right alongside the beach and
there are ample parking facilities.
Benalmádena
PÆgina 28
Tajo de la Soga Beach
La Morera Beach
A MORERA BEACH
8:07
Benalmádena
Index
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c
ARVAJAL BEACH
8:07
PÆgina 30
Benalmádena
Description:
parking facilities (no security surveillance) and
offers good services. It can be easily reached on
foot.
Width: 50 m
Length: 600 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
Carvajal Beach
Blue flag: yes
Closest marina: Fuengirola
Facilities and services: security surveillance,
easy access, showers, public phone, rubbish
bins, cleaning service, beach chair and beach
umbrella hire, water sports and boat hire, kiosk,
restaurants.
.
Benalmádena
Nude beach: no
Town: Benalmádena
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Benalmádena
Index
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PÆgina 32
TOURIST BOARD &
This town stretches from the southern
foothills of Sierra de Mijas range down to the
sea and has a population of 60,000. Its major
singularity is that town has three urban
centres, which almost merge with one
another, but yet each is quite distinct:
Benalmádena Pueblo, Benalmádena Costa
and Arroyo de la Miel.
Benalmádena Costa is the oldest one, a typical
whitewashed Andalusian town with its labyrinth
of narrow streets, plazas to relax in, and great
views over the Costa del Sol, since it is 300 m
above sea level and close to the coast.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Benalmádena
.
Historic Downtown
The oldest human settlement dates back to the
Late Palaeolithic, as proven by the remains
found in the Toro Caves, Los Botijos and Las
Zorreras. The Phoenicians settled in this region
in the eighth and seventh centuries BC, and
Phoenician artifacts were found on the coast
as well. Later the Romans settled here (salting
factories in Benal-Roma and remains in
Benalmádena
Index
.
.
In the eighteenth century , several pulp mills set
up in the area. It was then that the area began to
regain a stable population, which kept growing
over the years with the vineyards gaining
importance.However, they disappeared at the
dawn of the twentieth century as a result of the
phylloxera plague. The tourist boom started in
Benalmádena in the 60's, which came as a great
boost to the area's economy.
Historic Downtown
Christian troops not only captured the town but
also destroyed it, along with its castle, where
residents put up strong resistance against the
Catholic Monarchs' army . At the end of the
sixteenth century , Old Christians took up
residence in the town, but they did not stay long,
mainly due to the constant threat of attacks from
the sea. The watchtowers that still stand along
the coastline date back to this period.
.
32
Due to its location, its excellent hotels and whole
host of leisure activities on of
fer (beaches,
marina, hiking, cable car , theme parks -T ivoli,
Selwo Marina, Sea Life, golf fields… in addition
to an intense cultural programme including art,
theatre and music), Benalmádena is one of the
top tourist destinations in the province of
Málaga.
.
Indeed, the current name might derive from Ibn
a-Madin, which means 'sons of the mine', a
reference to the region's ancient iron mines.This
is not the only hypothesis with regards the
town's name, but it is the most widely accepted
among experts and historians.
Benalmádena
Surface area: 26.60 km2.
Name given to the local people:
benalmadenses.
Location: in the western region of the Costa del
Sol, 20 km from Málaga city and about 280 m
above sea level. Its average annual rainfall is 610
l/m2 and the average temperature is 18º C.
What to see: Santo Domingo Church, El Muro
Gardens, Museum of Archaeology, Bil-Bil Castle,
Colomares Castle, Las Águilas Garden, Buddhist
Stupa, watchtowers (T
orrebermeja,
Torrequebrada, Torremuelle), Plaza de España,
Benalmádena Pueblo's old quarter
,
Benalmádena Costa's Roman ruins.
Tourist Information: Tourist Office, C/ Antonio
Machado, 10 (29630, Benalmádena-Costa).
Tel.: (+34) 952 442 494 / (+34) 952 441 295.
Fax: (+34) 952 440 678.
E-mail: [email protected].
Website: www.benalmadena.com.
Arroyo de la Miel is a suburb that grew around
the local train station. It is the financial centre of
the district, and the place where most population
lives in. Moreover, most municipal agencies are
located here. Benalmádena Costa, on the other
hand, is the most international area of fering all
the main "sun and sand" tourist attractions: large
hotels, a casino, marina and a wide range of
shops.
Torremuelle and Capellanía). But it was the
Arabs who gave the district its name
CONVENTION BUREAU
Benalmádena
33
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PÆgina 34
TOURIST BOARD &
The town can be easily accessed from every part
of the Costa del Sol by taking the Autopista del
Mediterráneo motorway (AP-7, N-340), by train
(local), or from the nearby cities of Fuengirola,
Torremolinos and Málaga.
WHAT TO SEE
In Benalmádena Pueblo, you will find the Santo
Domingo Church, which dates back to the
seventeenth century , but was later rebuilt so
thoroughly that nothing remained of the original
structure. Close to the church, there is also a
wonderful viewing point and, in the same area,
the Muro Gardens, designed by architect César
Manrique, affording panoramic views with the sea
as a backdrop.
The Museum of Archaeology (A venida Juan
Peralta, 43; tel.: 952 448 593) has the best
collection of Pre-Columbian art in Europe, along
with Neolithic and Roman artwork. The marble
floor comes from an eighteenth century vessel
that shipwrecked of f the coast of Benalmádena,
as does a sixteenth-century image of Diana the
Hunter, which is on display in one of the
museum's rooms.
Close to the beach stands the Bil-Bil castle: this is
an Arab-style building, with a red front and
decorated with tiling and reliefs that are an
exquisite example of Nasrid tradition. There are
Moorish fountains on either side of the castle,
from which visitors can enjoy great views over
Benalmádena's beaches. In this spot, the local
Council organises exhibitions, conferences,
concerts, various cultural activities and civil
wedding ceremonies (on Saturdays only).
The building was constructed in the 30's by León
and Fernanda Hermann. An architect from
Málaga, Enrique Atencia, was awarded the
construction project. The Hermanns never
actually lived in the castle, since, when the
Spanish Civil W ar broke out, in 1936, they
decided to sell it.
An American family , the
Schestroms, bought the villa and lived there until
the 80's. Eventually , the Benalmádena Council
acquired the property and began using it as
cultural centre.
The La Paloma Park is the town's main green
and the only city park on the Costa del Sol,
covering an area of over 200,000 m 2. It includes
an artificial lake with ducks, pelicans, turtles…
You can also catch a glimpse of other animals
such as parakeets, parrots, rabbits, goats,
sheep, etc…
Even more extravagant is Colomares Castle, a
tribute to the discovery of America built between
1987 and 1994 by Dr . Esteban Martín y Martín,
with the help of two builders.
Benalmádena
.
Benalmádena
Index
Historic Downtown
.
Benalmádena's calendar of fiestas is varied
enough to satisfy all tastes and interests,
offering so-called highbrow entertainment as
well as popular cultural events, sports, street
parties, religious festivals and entertainment.
The major holiday here is Corpus Christi, when
the streets are blanketed with flowers and
balconies are adorned with brightly-coloured
displays.
.
FIESTAS
Historic Downtown
34
The Cumbre del Calamorro recreational area
has an additional leisure area for people wishing
to take a cable car ride up the Calamorro peak
(770 m). The area has viewing points, pathways,
cafés, horse riding trails, dressage areas, and
also offers falconry shows.
.
The Estupa de la Iluminación is another of the
town's major attractions. Unveiled on 4 October
2003, this Buddhist stupa is the largest in the
Western world, standing 33 m high over a base
of 25 m. It is crowned with a gold cone which can
be seen from the coastline between Fuengirola
and Benalmádena. The meditation hall covers
2
and is 6 m high.
an area of over 100 m
The walls feature paintings by Himalayan artists
depicting the most significant moments in
The Aula del Mar (Sea Centre) is an aquarium
featuring both Mediterranean marine wildlife and
educational activities.
Benalmádena
This building features examples of every
architectural styles you could think of, combined
in almost dream-like fashion, making a strong
visual impact. Adjoining this architectural oddity,
there is the Las Águilas Garden, which of fers
falconry shows.
Buddha's life. This type of Buddhist monuments
symbolise harmony, prosperity and peace, and
their origins go back 2,500 years.
The T orrebermeja, T orrequebrada and
Torremuelle watchtowers were part of the
defensive line that former inhabitants used to
defend themselves from pirate attacks.
Torrebermeja and Torrequebrada erected under
Arab rule, and the latter was built a little later ,
after the Christian conquest, probably in the
sixteenth century. Its cone-shaped profile is one
of the most characteristic sights of the
Benalmádena coastline.
CONVENTION BUREAU
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TOURIST BOARD &
The Benalmádena Marina is one of the top
tourist attractions of this city and the whole
Costa del Sol as well. Apart from offering almost
1,000 mooring sites for all kinds of boats, a
diving centre and all the typical marina facilities
(jet skiing, sailing), the marina features popular
bars, restaurants and discos that attract millions
of people every year.
.
It’s dif ficult to name just one typical dish in an
area that has been receiving foreign influence for
decades and therefore of fers a wide range of
international food. However , given that this is a
coastal region, pescaíto frito or fried fish can be
savoured at any seaside restaurant and many
other restaurants in town; it is one of the most
traditional and typical dishes served here, along
with gazpacho (a chilled soup made with
vegetables).
Selwo Marina has various dif ferent eateries and
cafés where you can enjoy a refreshing ice
cream, a hamburger or larger meals, choosing
from a range of a carefully selected dishes
(Tel.: 902 190 482).
Historic Downtown
The festival of San Juan (June), celebrated in
Arroyo de la Miel, of fers a range of dif ferent
events and activities, and the Fiesta del Carmen
in mid-July pays tribute to the region's seafaring
tradition.
FOOD
The large children's area has slides, swings,
hanging bridges and climbing walls, which are
all interconnected. A "jungle" specifically
designed to keep the children amused.
.
The local fiesta in honour of the V
irgen
de la Cruz, the local Patron Virgin, in mid-August,
is also rooted in popular tradition.
.
.
Historic Downtown
Holy W eek is another important holiday here.
During Holy Week, processions wind through the
streets of Benalmádena and Arroyo de la Miel;
moreover on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday
there is also a re-enacting of Jesus' Passion
known as El Paso, in which around 200 locals
take part. It lasts for two hours and takes place on
a natural stage near the town.
Selwo Marina is a new kind of marine wildlife
park, at which visitors will enjoy a memorable
experience and will be able to see sea South
American aquatic mammals and birds. On this
unique expedition through the New W orld, you
can enjoy the first-ever Dolphin
Aquarium in
Andalusia and marvel at the clever bottle-nosed
dolphins. Selwo Marina also has the only
Visitors enter through the Placita de las
Américas, a square featuring colonial
architecture. The square is the starting point for
a tour across the dif ferent thematic areas of
Selwo Marina. The tour does not set any fixed
route -visitors can plan their own itinerary, taking
the various connected routes. One of the routes
takes you to the warm Caribbean waters where
dolphins live. The central route takes you to the
Amazon to see the exotic birds that live in these
faraway lands. The third route goes to the South
Pole to show you one of the area's most
emblematic species: penguins. On your
expedition to South America you will find plants
and trees native to this continent.
36
Benalmádena
Benalmádena
Within the marina area, you will find Sea Life
Benalmádena, an impressive aquarium with
specimens of the major life forms that inhabit the
Mediterranean Sea, tropical seas and oceans.
The shark and seahorse enclosures are
particularly outstanding (T el.: 952 560 150).
penguin ice enclosure in
Andalusia, which
reproduces the natural habitat of dif
ferent
penguin species.
CONVENTION BUREAU
LEISURE
Benalmádena
Index
37
Tivoli World, in Arroyo de la Miel, is the Costa del
Sol's theme park par excellence. With over 30
years' experience, this pioneering leisure park,
set among leafy gardens and beautiful
fountains, has moved with the times while
keeping its traditional flavour . There are
attractions for all ages, restaurants for all tastes
and open-air theatres featuring the most popular
artists.
13/11/2008
8:08
PÆgina 38
point sweep over the coastline and also take in
areas further inland. There is a bar-restaurant,
and donkey rides are available too
(Tel.: 952 575 038).
.
Historic Downtown
.
Benalmádena
At Tivoli's promenade is the entrance to the
cable car, which takes visitors to the Calamorro
Peak (724 m). The great views from this vantage
38
Benalmádena
Index
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
index. Casares
Just 14 km from the crowded and cosmopolitan Costa del
Sol, Casares displays clear examples of traditional mountain
village architecture. In 1978, it was declared a Historic-Artistic
Site. The district belongs to the Costa del Sol, but its borders stretch
to the Serranía de Ronda range and Campo de Gibraltar.
. Ancha
Casares
.
40
Index
41
13/11/2008
a
.
Ancha Beach
NCHA BEACH
Description:
- La Sal Beach, which stretches from the Torre de
la Sal to the end of a lush cliff top. It is 20 m wide.
- Chica Beach, which stretches from the N-340
access to the Parrilla Stream. Its width varies
between 20 m and 50 m.
- Ancha Beach is a long spacious beach that
opens out onto the sea between the Parilla
Stream and the River Manilva (on the border with
the district of Manilva), close to La Duquesa
Marina (Manilva) and the fishing port of
Sabinillas. It is dotted with residential complexes,
rows of little houses with gardens and swimming
pools.
8:08
PÆgina 42
Casares
Puerto Deportivo: La Duquesa
Nude beach: no
umbrella hire, parking area, showers, rubbish
bins, toilets, cleaning service, security
surveillance.
Blue flag: no
Sand colour: dark
Swell: calm
District: Casares
Town: Casares
.
Casares
Width: 30 m
Length: 1,300 m
Surface material: sand and gravel
42
Casares
Index
43
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PÆgina 44
TOURIST BOARD &
Just 14 km from the crowded and
cosmopolitan Costa del Sol, Casares displays
clear examples of traditional mountain village
architecture, having been completely bypassed
by more absurd and often misunderstood
modern designs. The old town has retained the
stillness of days gone by
, while the
infrastructures required by modern life have
been renovated within the bounds of good taste.
It is not an easy balance to strike, but Casares
has managed to achieve it, which is why it is
considered one of the most beautiful towns in
Spain, as demonstrated in 1978, when it was
declared a Historic-Artistic Site.
Casares
.
Historic Downtown
.
Tourist Office. Tel.: (+34) 952 895 521.
44
Casares
Index
.
The ancient history of Casares merges with
legend sometimes.
According to some
historians, the name Casares comes from the
Arabic word Caxara, meaning fort, while others
think it is a reference to Caesar , the Roman
military leader.
Historic Downtown
In the west end of the district, having gathered
water from the River Genal, the River Guadiario
opens up the valley to a series of orchards that
roll down towards the sea, through hills
blanketed with crops and farms, similar to the
Cádiz landscape further on.
.
Surface area: 162 km2.
Population: around 4,000 .
Name given to the local people: casareños.
Location: In the western area of the Costa del
Sol, close to the Serranía de Ronda range. The
town spreads out over two hills, at around 435 m
above sea level. It is 104 km from Málaga City .
2
and the
Average annual rainfall is 860 l/m
average temperature is 16.6º C.
What to see: Moorish fortress, old Iglesia de la
Encarnación (Church of the Incarnation), San
Sebastián Chapel, V irgen del Rosario Chapel,
Charles III Fountain, Torre de la Sal, Roman
ruins at Lacipo, Hedionda Baths, Ethnography
and History Museum, Casa Natal de Blas
Infante Museum.
Tourist Information: Town Hall, C/ Villa, 29
(29690).
Tel.: (+34) 952 894 126; fax: 952 894 017.
Casares
The town stretches over from the Costa del Sol
to the Serranía de Ronda range and Campo de
Gibraltar. This is why certain features of the
three regions can be found here; however , it
bears a greater similarity to the mountainous
area of the Serrania de Ronda. There are deep
gorges towards the Sierra de Bermeja range,
small pine forests stretching out in search of El
Pico de Los Reales (1,440 m) and high
limestone rocks in Crestellina, towards the
Genal valley pass, home to a majestic
population of griffon vultures, which are easy to
spot in the sky.
USEFUL INFORMATION
CONVENTION BUREAU
Casares
45
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PÆgina 46
TOURIST BOARD &
During the Middle Ages, Casares was one of the
most important enclaves in the area, providing
strategic access to the Serranía de Ronda
mountains, and because of its proximity to the
Strait of Gibraltar , a necessary passage for the
Arabs, who made this city a bastion of
Andalusian culture and one of the last Moorish
strongholds until the area was taken by the
Christians. It also played a decisive role in the
expansion of the Almoravids.
Casares
.
Historic Downtown
WHAT TO SEE
In the highest part of the town, in what is known
as Recinto del Castillo (Castle Grounds), which
was part of the old Moorish fortress erected in
the thirteenth century , you will find the former
Iglesia de la Encarnación (Church of the
Incarnation) next to the cemetery , built in the
sixteenth century on the site of a former
mosque. The church has three naves and a fine
Mudéjar bell tower. It is currently being restored
to be home to a cultural centre.
The current sixteenth-century Iglesia de la
Encarnación was originally a FranciscanCapuchin monastery. Its Latin cross floor plan
includes only one nave with a vault and dome
over the crossing. The church facade has three
Casares
Index
In the southern part of the district, almost on the
border with Manilva, there are the Hedionda
baths, Roman sulphuric-iron baths that were
later restored by the Arabs, under the Caliphate.
They are located on the right bank of the
Albarrán Stream, and legend has it that when
Julius Caesar was Praetor (first century BC), he
was cleared of scabies by the Albarrán waters
and ordered to built the bath on the site.
Casares also has two museums with very
interesting collections. The Ethnography and
History Museum (T el.: 952 895 148), located
next to the Moorish fortress, has a collection of
handicrafts, photographs and historical books
about the district, along with everyday objects
representing life in Casares, which allow us to
learn more about the district's history
. The
museum's visiting hours are Monday to Friday ,
11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
.
.
Take the AP-7 (N-340) motorway and turn of f at
the Manilva exit, onto the A-377. 10 km down the
road you will see the turning for Casares, and
the town is 3 km further on.
Historic Downtown
10 km far from the town centre and taking again
the A-337, you will reach the Lacipo ruins, an
ancient Iberian- Phoenician settlement (sixthfifth centuries BC) on the Cerro de
Alechipe,
which the Romans took over and turned into a
walled city . The settlement was declared a
Cultural Interest Site back in 1992 by Andalusia's
Regional Government.
.
46
Casares also has the honour of being the
birthplace of Blas Infante, a lawyer , politician
and writer, author of Ideal andaluz. An advocate
of Andalusian independence as well as the
creator of the regional anthem and flag, Blas
Infante was shot on 10
August 1936 at the
outbreak of the Spanish Civil War.
brick arches and a newly built tower . The San
Sebastian Chapel, located in the Plaza de
España, and the V irgen del Rosario (V irgin of
the Rosary) Chapel, next to the crossing of the
rivers Genal and Guadiaro, are also part of
Casares' artistic and religious heritage. In terms
of its architecture and ornamentation, the late
eighteenth-century Charles III fountain, in the
Plaza de España, is well worth a visit.Along the
coastline, you will find the Torre de la Sal, a
watchtower built in the sixteenth century in order
to defend the coast from enemies.
Casares
The town was founded by the Moors. Back then,
it was a walled town with two gates: one on V illa
Street, where you can still see some remains,
and the other on Arrabal Street. The Moorish
typical urban layout is present in the town's
labyrinthine streets, like Callejón del Rey , Calle
Villa and the passages leading of f Calle Arrabal,
and even in
Arab sounding names:
Benamorabe, Alquería, Cerro del Moro and
Almáchar. In 1361, troops sent by Peter the
Cruel and Mohamed V gathered in Casares to
help the latter conquer the Kingdom of Granada.
From then on, and up until the fifteenth century ,
the history of Casares and its fortifications
(which can still be seen today) were closely
linked to the defence of Al-Andalus until it was
conquered by the Catholic Monarchs.
At the end of the sixteenth century , following
Christian repopulation, the Moriscos rebelled,
and their leader , Al-Fair, died. Another historic
moment worth highlighting is the area's role
during the French occupation, when Casares'
militia harassed the invading army until the
French withdrawal in 1813, without ever
managing to conquer the town.
CONVENTION BUREAU
City's origins go back to prehistory
, as
revealed by the shelters and caves found in
Ferrete, Crestellina and Utrera. From a
defensive point of view , it is in a strategic
location, which has encouraged dif
ferent
peoples to settle here: Phoenicians, Iberians,
Romans and Arabs. The Phoenicians settled in
areas most suitable to maintain trading contacts
with the coast and towns further inland, such as
the Iberian settlement where the Roman town of
Lacipo (Cortijo de Alechipe) was later founded,
one of the most important cities on Málaga's
coastline, since it even had its own currency .
47
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TOURIST BOARD &
FIESTAS
FOOD
The local pilgrimage of the V irgen del Rosario
(Virgin of the Rosary) is one of the most popular
fiestas in Casares. It is held on the last Saturday
of May, when women accompany the statue of
the Virgin from the San Sebastián Church to the
chapel located between the rivers Genal and
Guadiaro, along 11 km.
Given its location, Casares of fers two types of
cuisine: mountain and coastal. Typical mountain
dishes include puchero con "pringá" (meat and
vegetable stew) and caldo con garbanzos, carne
de matanza y tocino (chickpea, meat and pork
rind soup). W e also recommend the fritá de
cabrito (fried goat). Goats roam around Casares
and are used to make morcilla (black pudding).
If you fancy a soup, try the local gazpacho and
then sample some of the typical homemade goat
cheeses from the Sierra Cretellina, and of
course the woodstove baked bread with dripping
(manteca colorá).
In the second half of July, the Feria or Fair takes
place at El Secadero, showing us the most
meaningful part of local folk tradition: fandango
flamenco, a dance that allows women to show
off their flair.
Casares
.
It is probably just an apocryphal story , or a
legend that people have sought to make more
plausible by basing it around a real person, but
legend has it that Julius Caesar and his troops
camped out near a spring here and saw a
mangy dog cured instantly. Julius Caesar and
his troops were also cured of scabies after
swimming in the sulphuric and alkaline waters
of the spring.
Historic Downtown
Historic Downtown
LEGENDS
.
Along the coast, the most popular dish is
pescaíto frito (small fried fish), accompanied
with a delicious bowl of gazpacho or a salad. For
the main course, why not try moruna de
sardinas, a sort of pickled sardine dish with
lemon and paprika. V isitors with a really sweet
tooth should also try tortas fritas, fritters that are
usually eaten in autumn, or Casares´ famous
sponge cakes topped with either honey or
chocolate.
Casares is the birthplace of the most important
figure in Andalusian history, Blas Infante Pérez
de Vargas (1885-1936), author of Ideal andaluz,
a book in which he brings forward his unique
view of the history and problems of Andalusia.
Having attended primary school here and
secondary school in Archidona, he went to
Granada to study Law
. He passed his
government notary exams and worked as a
notary in Cantillana (Seville), becoming close to
Seville's intellectuals. In 1931 he settled
permanently in Seville, where he worked to
spread the notion of the Andalusian ideal while
travelling around the region giving lectures. He
was killed on the Carmona-Seville road during
the Spanish Civil War.
.
.
48
Casares
The August Fair takes place in the first week of
August, from Thursday through Sunday . It
celebrates the town's resistance against the
French between 1810 and 1813. This fair also
gives you another chance to watch and admire
the local fandango dance. The Nuestra Señora
del Rosario del Campo fiesta is on the first
Saturday of September and celebrates the birth
of the V irgin. In mid-September , from Thursday
to Sunday, the Santo Cristo (Holy Christ) Fair
takes place, at the same time as the autumn
harvest.
CELEBRITIES
CONVENTION BUREAU
On Saturdays, it is open from 1
1:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. The Casa Natal de Blas Infante
Museum (Tel.: 952 895 521) is at 51, Carrera St.
The museum tells about the life and works of
Blas Infante and also houses temporary
exhibitions of work by various artists, both local
and regional. The visiting hours are the same as
for the Ethnography and History Museum.
The town has its own medieval market in midJuly, a highly original event on the Costa del Sol.
The town streets are the perfect stage to
recreate the atmosphere of this type of market,
where artisans of fer traditionally crafted tools
and foods. There is also a medieval tavern,
storytellers, and falconry shows like those in the
old days.
Casares
Index
49
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
index. Estepona
Estepona is almost entirely on the majestic Sierra
Bermeja mountain range, where you will find Los Reales de
Sierra Bermeja Natural Area (the highest peak reaches 1,449 m).
.
.
.
.
Arroyo de las Cañas - Velerín Beach
Arroyo Vaquero - Costa Natura - Guadalobón
Bahía Dorada
Casasola - Atalaya
.
El Cristo
.
El Saladillo
.
Playabella - Guadalmansa
.
La Galera
.
La Rada
Estepona
.
Punta de la Plata - Punta Pinillos
.
Padrón - Castor
.
50
Index
51
13/11/2008
a
Description:
This beach stretches from the River Velerín to the
Cañas Stream. It is a fairly calm beach that does
not get too crowded. It is 1,200 m long and 30 m
wide, easily accessed. It of fers different services
including showers and beach umbrella, beach
chair and boat hire.
There is no security
surveillance service for the car park.
Facilities and services: services: easy access,
showers, phone, rubbish bins, cleaning service,
beach umbrella and beach chair hire, boat hire,
kiosk, parking.
a
RROYO VAQUERO - COSTA NATURA
Estepona
GUADALOBÓN BEACH
Description:
It is a fairly long and calm beach, popular with the
owners of the beautiful villas dotted around the
area, and the rocky seabed makes it an
outstanding location forunderwater fishing.
Facilities and services: Facilities and services:
beach chair and beach umbrella hire, showers,
rubbish bins, parking, beach restaurant "Vaquero
Beach", cleaning service, disabled access.
Blue flag: no
Width: 30 m
Length: 2,500 m
Blue flag: no
Width: 30 m
Length: 1,200 m
.
.
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: calm
District: Estepona
Town: Estepona
Closest marina: Estepona
Nude beach: Only Costa Natura, 850m
Nude beach: no
Estepona
District: Estepona
Town: Estepona
52
.
.
Estepona
Estepona
PÆgina 52
Arroyo Vaquero - Costa Natura - Guadalobón Beach
Arroyo de Las Cañas - Vveelerín Beach
RROYO LAS CAÑAS - VELERÍN BEACH
8:09
Estepona
Index
53
13/11/2008
b
Description:
Bahía Dorada is in an outstanding location and
the sea is stunning, its colours ranging from dark
greens to light blues. The landscape is rocky ,
somewhat wild, but the beach is within an urban
area, close to the residential complex also named
Bahía Dorada. It is a calm and quiet beach that
can get fairly busy in the summer.
Estepona
Facilities and services: Facilities and services:
beach chair and beach umbrella hire, rubbish bins,
parking, cleaning service, fishing, scuba diving.
PÆgina 54
c
ASASOLA - ATALAYA BEACH
Description:
This long stretch of beach is excellent for
swimming, since it has magnificent water and
also a beautiful landscape surrounding it.
Estepona
Facilities and services: Beach chair and beach
surveillance, children's area and beach bars.
Blue flag: no
Width: 15 m
Length: 2,000 m
Surface material: gravel, sand
Width: 40 m
Length: 700 m
Surface material: pebble, gravel
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
.
Blue flag: no
Casasola - Atalaya Beach
Bahía Dorada Beach
AHÍA DORADA BEACH
8:10
District: Estepona
Town: Estepona
Nude beach: no
District: Estepona
Town: Estepona
54
.
.
Nude beach: no
Estepona
Estepona
Closest marina: La Duquesa
Estepona
Index
55
13/11/2008
e
Facilities and services: Disabled access, beach
chair hire, showers, peddle-boats, lifeguard
children's area, fishing, scuba diving, sailing.
Estepona
Description:
This is one of the longest beaches in the district,
almost 3 km, stretching as far as the mouth of the
River Guadalmina. Only parts of the beach have
rocks. The slate sand is fine and very clean.
There're no seaweeds or rocks in the sea.
Facilities and services: Disabled access, beach
chair and beach umbrella hire, showers, rubbish
bins, parking, cleaning service, public telephone,
security surveillance, children's area, beach bars.
Width: 40 m
Length: 3,000 m
Width: 25 m
Length: 600 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: none
District: Estepona
Town: Estepona
Nude beach: no
Estepona
District: Estepona
Town: Estepona
56
.
.
Estepona
L SALADILLO BEACH
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: yes
Nude beach: no
e
.
.
Description:
When wind blows from the East, which is fairly
common in the province, the people of Estepona
all crowd onto El Cristo beach, since it forms a
pretty cove that is sheltered from the wind. The
beach is ideal for children, with clean water which
is hardly ever cold, since it is sheltered. There are
no rocks or stones on the whole beach. There are
shady areas for those who wish to stay out of the sun.
Estepona
PÆgina 56
El Saladillo Beach
El Cristo Beach
L CRISTO BEACH
8:10
Estepona
Index
57
13/11/2008
p
Description:
On right bank of the River Guadalmansa, a broad
swathe of farmland stretches down to the beach
creating a beautiful mosaic pattern, with a small
residential area in the middle. The beach is quite
secluded and peaceful.
Facilities and services: Beach chair and beach
umbrella hire, rubbish bins, parking, cleaning
service, public telephone.
A GALERA BEACH
Estepona
Description:
La Galera also includes the beach area known as
Buenas Noches. This is a very peaceful beach,
with few buildings close by , a quite uncommon
landscape on the Mediterranean coast.
Width: 30 m
Length: 1000 m
Surface material: shingle, gravel
Width: 40 m
Length: 2000 m
.
.
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
District: Estepona
Town: Estepona
Nude beach: no
Facilities and services:
Rubbish bins, cleaning service.
58
.
.
District: Estepona
Town: Estepona
Estepona
Estepona
l
Type of beach: beach with rocky areas and cliffs
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: no
Nude beach: no
Estepona
PÆgina 58
La Galera Beach
Playabella - Guadalmansa Beach
LAYABELLA BEACH - GUADALMANSA
8:10
Estepona
Index
59
13/11/2008
l
Nude beach: no
chair hire, showers, peddle-boats, lifeguard
station, rubbish bins, parking, volleyball facilities,
cleaning service, children's area, beachfront
restaurants.
Estepona
Description:
Just before you get to Estepona, there are many
residential developments surrounded by thick
vegetation facing out onto this magnificent beach,
which is very popular with sunbathers. Punta de
la Plata also includes the beaches V
illas
Andaluzas and La Alcazaba.
Facilities and services: rubbish bins, parking,
surveillance..
Blue flag: no
.
District: Estepona
Town: Estepona
Width: 50 m
Length: 2,300 m
Nude beach: no
Estepona
District: Estepona
Town: Estepona
60
.
.
Estepona
UNTA DE LA PLATA BEACH
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Blue flag: yes
Sand colour: dark
Swell: none
p
Width: 30 m
Length: 4,000 m
.
Description:
This is one of the most popular beaches with
residents of Estepona, owing to its great location.
It is a stone's throw from the town's main streets,
making it very easy for visitors to pop to the town
centre afterwards.
The promenade runs
alongside the whole beach, stretching over 3 km,
and there is always something to see there in the
summertime. The promenade has underground
public car parks. Given its length, it is hardly ever
overcrowded. At the beachfront restaurants you
can enjoy espeto de sardinas (sardine kebabs) at
a reasonable price. On weekends, some of them
are open late at night. They hold parties and offer
live music shows.
Estepona
PÆgina 60
Punta de la Plata Beach
La Rada Beach
A RADA BEACH
8:11
Estepona
Index
61
13/11/2008
p
ADRÓN BEACH
.
Padrón Beach
Description:
The beach is 2 km away from the village. It's the
second busiest beach behind La Rada Beach.
The Hospiten health centre is just a few metres
away. There's a shopping centre open since
2006. There are also restaurants, snack bars and
shops in the area.
8:11
PÆgina 62
Estepona
Facilities and services: disabled access, 2
beach chair areas, beach bars on the sand,
restaurants, shopping centre, showers, lifeguard
station, modules of services, lockers, rubbish
bins, parking, cleaning services.
Blue flag: yes
Width: 30 m
Length: 4,000 m
Surface material: sand, pebbles
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Nude beach: no
District: Estepona
Town: Estepona
.
Estepona
62
Estepona
Index
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8:11
PÆgina 64
TOURIST BOARD &
USEFUL INFORMATION
Estepona
.
Historic Downtown
The town's origins are uncertain, but it seems
that the Phoenicians settled here and turned it
into a trade centre which they named Astapa.
Some historians link Estepona with the Iberian
settlement of Saldaba (whereas others believe it
Estepona
Index
Since it is on the western tip of the Costa del Sol,
Estepona can be easily reached from the AP-7
motorway or the N-340 coastal road: just follow
the signs.
WHAT TO SEE
Of particular note is the Virgen de los Remedios
Church, in the Plaza de San Francisco. Its large
tower has four levels and the uppermost is
crowned by a roof with ceramic tiles in two
different colours, which can be seen from
anywhere in the town. It was built in the
eighteenth century and initially was part of the
Franciscan monastery that was later
dismantled, like so many other religious
buildings in Spain after the anticlerical
measures applied in 1835.
.
.
However, the town has attempted to avoid falling
into the trap of creating a giant urban sprawl and
so there are still large green areas in between
heavily built-up areas, and even these of
fer
some open spaces.
The excellent urban
development planning led the town to be
granted the "Live in Spain-CISA 2004" award.
The town was subject to the jurisdiction of
Marbella until 1729, when Phillip V granted its
independence by means of a carta de villazgo
(town charter), which is kept in the town
archives.
Historic Downtown
In the lower parts, the water that flows down
through the mountains feeds into short rivers to
the east (Padrón, Castor and Velerín) on whose
banks there are orchards of citrus and other fruit
trees. To the west, there are some fruit trees,
cropland, low mountains and pasturelands, in
sharp contrast with the coastal strip, where, in
addition to the town, you will also find many
residential areas, since Estepona is a top tourist
destination.
However, it is known that the town was besieged
by Lucius Marcius because its residents had
remained loyal to the Carthaginians until it fell to
the Romans in 208 BC. Later, and after the usual
clashes between Muslims and Christians Alfonso XI won a historic battle near Estepona in
1342, crushing the resurgent Moors- the town
was conquered by Henry IV , under whose rule
the San Luis Castle was built. The ruins of this
castle can still be seen today in Castillo Street.
.
64
Thus, the area is extraordinarily important in
ecological terms, with a spectacular landscape
and monumental peaks that of fer breathtaking
views over the coast. From the mountains, you
can see as far as the Atlas Mountains, in Africa.
was in Marbella), and some even cite Cilciana
as the town's origin. Anyways, on El Torreón hill,
ruins were found that may well be part of this
ancient settlement.
Estepona
Name given to the local people: esteponeros.
Location: On the western part of the Costa del
Sol. The district borders the region of Ronda to
the north and the urban area is on the coast.
2
and the
Average annual rainfall is 900 l/m
average annual temperature is 17º C
What to see: Church of Nuestra Señora de los
Remedios (Our Lady of Good Remedy), Torre
del Reloj (clock tower), Calvario chapel, the
Castle walls, Marqués de Mondéjar Palace,
Casa de la Borrega, watchtowers, Ethnography
Museum, Bullfighting Museum, Palaontology
Museum, Archaeology Museum.
Tourist Information:
Town Hall, Plaza de Blas Infante, 1 (29680).
Tel.: 952 801 100; fax: 952 793 977.
Oficina de Turismo, avenida de San Lorenzo, 1.
Tel.: 952 802 002; fax: 952 792 181.
The district of Estepona is almost entirely in
the shadow of the majestic Sierra Bermeja, a
mountain range with huge volcanic rocks that
contain peridotite, a mineral rich in iron oxide
that tinges the land with a reddish hue. Here you
will find Los Reales de Sierra Bermeja Natural
Area, with the highest peak reaching 1,449 m
and the largest masses of peridotite in southern
Europe. This area, covering a surface area of
1,236 hectares, contains the only Spanish fir
forest that grows on this type of rock.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Estepona
65
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8:11
PÆgina 66
TOURIST BOARD &
.
LEISURE
The tourism boom that Estepona has
experienced in recent decades resulted in the
creation of a number of high quality leisure
centres that are top tourist attractions in the
area. Mention should be made of the Escuela de
Arte Ecuestre Costa del Sol (Costa del Sol
School of Equestrian Arts), which puts on nice
The local puerto deportivo (marina) of fers the
usual water sports as well as a very lively late
night scene, with restaurants, bars and
nightclubs.
Selwo Aventura (Autovía Costa del Sol, Km.
162.5; tel.: 902 190 482) is one of the largest
and most interesting parks of its kind in Europe.
Visitors can see over 2,000 animals from the five
continents, living in a semi-wild environment, in
an area that covers more than a million square
metres. The park offers a tour by jeep and there
is also an ethnic village with huts where you can
spend the night.
FIESTAS
The country is reflected in the festivities
honouring San Isidro Labrador (Saint Isidore the
Farmer, 15 May) when an image of the Saint is
carried through the town in a procession. The
major fiestas take place in the first week of July ,
and are now held at the fairground and in the
town centre. A few days later , on 16 July , the
locals show their devotion to the V
irgen del
Carmen in a moving procession that pays tribute
to the sea, a tradition seen all along the coast of
Málaga. Fire is at the centre of the fiesta held on
the night of St John, when the júas (figures of
Judas) are burned in several places around the
district.
.
.
Historic Downtown
,
Historic Downtown
On the way into and out of Estepona, along the
coast, you will see a series of watchtowers that
were built in the fifteenth and sixteenth
centuries, primarily for defence against Berber
pirate attacks, which were so frequent at that
time. There are a total of seven Muslim and
Castilian towers along 21 km of coastline.
Traditional local cuisine has been expanded on
as a result of the huge influx of tourists into the
area, so much so that almost every restaurant
now of fers international cuisine. However
Estepona's seafaring tradition has not only
survived but, precisely because of tourism, has
been given a boost, and the delicious pescaíto
frito (small fried fish) is one of the most typical
dishes here.
horse shows. The recently constructed Palacio
de Congresos y Exposiciones (Convention and
Exhibition Centre), which can hold up to 2,500
people, has hosted a wide range of dif
ferent
activities since it was first opened.
.
The walls of the fifteenth-century Castle and the
ruins of El Nicio Castle in the area of El Padrón
are more important for their historical rather than
their architectural value, since only some
remains have been preserved. Only part of the
walls and several towers are still standing today,
but this ninth-century fortress played an
important role in Omar Ben Hafsum's rebellion
against the Caliphate of Córdoba. There are also
several stately homes or palaces from the
eighteenth century , such as the palace of the
Marquis of Mondéjar and the Casa de la
Borrega.
The Antonio Ordóñez Bullfighting Museum, also
in the Bullring, has a collection of photographs,
posters and costumes that once belonged to
very famous bullfighters. The Paleontology
Museum has a collection of fossils from the
Pliocene epoch (some four million years ago)
that have been found in Estepona. It contains
more than 2,000 fossils representing 600
species. The Archaeology Museum has a
collection of objects from all archaeological sites
close by, from the Palaeolithic period up until the
fifteenth century. These two museums are also
housed within the Bull Ring.
FOOD
Estepona
Estepona
The Torre del Reloj (Clock Tower) was part of a
former parish church that was built in the last
third of the fifteenth century . It underwent
extensive restoration in the nineteenth century
following the Classical style and some of the
decorative features are even Baroque, a style
that has been popular in Andalusia since its
inception. El Calvario (Calvary) Chapel, like the
Virgen de los Remedios (Our Lady of Good
Remedy) Church, also dates back to the
eighteenth century. From an architectural point
of view, it is a very simple little building with a
square floor plan.
If visitors have enough time during their stay in
Estepona, they can explore the town's long
history and traditions by visiting the four
museums here. The Ethnography Museum at
the Bullring has an interesting collection of
utensils and tools used for fishing and farming,
activities that are still carried out in the town
today.
66
CONVENTION BUREAU
Its interior is divided into three vaulted naves
and a transept with a dome, and its façade has
a beautiful stone Rococo entrance incorporating
some features that recall late Latin American
Baroque style.
Estepona
Index
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10:30
PÆgina 68
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
index. Fuengirola
Given the size of its population and its popularity with
tourists, it is almost paradoxical that Fuengirola only
covers an area of 10 km2, and the beach is just 8 km long.
Since the town is already fully developed, it has had to grow out
towards Mijas.
.
.
El Ejido
Los Boliches
.
Las Gaviotas
.
Santa Amalia / El Castillo
.
San Francisco / Fuengirola
.
Torreblanca / Los Olimpos
Fuengirola
.
68
Index
69
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e
L EJIDO BEACH
Fuengirola
boat hire, kiosk, parking.
PÆgina 70
l
OS BOLICHES BEACH
Fuengirola
Description:
This is a large and very lively beach, especially in
summer. It has many services nearby and is right
on Fuengirola's promenade.
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: no
Width: 40 m
Length: 1,100 m
Width: 10 m
Length: 800 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Facilities and services: beach chairs, showers,
beach restaurants, lifeguard station, disabled
access, public parking, security surveillance,
children's area..
Nude beach: no
District: Fuengirola
Town: Fuengirola
70
.
.
Nude beach: no
Town: Fuengirola
Fuengirola
Fuengirola
.
.
Los Boliches Beach
El Ejido Beach
Description:
Located by the Sohail Castle, before crossing the
River Fuengirola, this beach is part of
Fuengirola's beach. It is located in an urban area
that can be easily reached on foot or by car. It has
parking facilities (no security surveillance) and
offers a wide range of services. It is 2 km from
Fuengirola's marina.
8:12
Fuengirola
Index
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L
AS GAVIOTAS BEACH
chair and beach umbrella hire, toilets, showers,
lifeguard station, rubbish bins, promenade,
surveillance.
s
ANTA AMALIA / EL CASTILLO BEACH
Description:
The city beaches of Santa Amalia and El Castillo
(an extension of the former) make up Fuengirola's
longest swimming area, stretching from the city's
marina to the farms and houses located beyond
the river mouth.
Fuengirola
chair hire, sports equipment hire, beach umbrella
and peddle-boat hire, toilets, showers, lifeguard
station, rubbish bins, parking, cleaning service.
Blue flag: no
Width: 40 m
Length: 1,200 m
Width: 20 m
Length: 1,400 m
Color de la sand: dark
Swell: none
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Nude beach: no
.
.
Las Gaviotas Beach
Blue flag: no
Fuengirola
PÆgina 72
Santa Amalia - El Castillo Beach
Description:
This is a long stretch of beach, made up of two
beaches, with piers dotted along the coast
making small arcs along the seashore.
8:12
Town: Fuengirola
Fuengirola
Fuengirola
Nude beach: no
72
.
.
Town: Fuengirola
Fuengirola
Index
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13/11/2008
s
.
boat hire, kiosk, parking.
t
ORREBLANCA / LOS OLIMPOS BEACH
Description:
This beach marks the border between
Benalmádena and Fuengirola. It has a long
swimming area and a zone in the shape of a
horseshoe entering the sea, thanks to the
breakwaters built here.
Width: 20 m
Length: 1,200 m
Width: 20 m
Length: 350 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: none
Sand colour: dark
Swell: calm
Town: Fuengirola
Nude beach: no
Fuengirola
Town: Fuengirola
74
.
.
Nude beach: no
chair hire, sports equipment hire, beach umbrella
children's area.
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: no
Fuengirola
.
Fuengirola
Description:
Located next to Fuengirola's port in a developed
area, this beach is included in the accessibility
plan. Set alongside the city's promenade, it is
often very crowded. The sea is calm and it of fers
a mooring area. It has a good range of services
and facilities, and there is also a tourist of
fice
nearby. It has parking (no surveillance) for 100
cars. It is easy to reach on foot, by car or by
catching a local bus from Fuengirola.
Fuengirola
PÆgina 74
Torreblanca / Los Olimpos Beach
San Francisco Beach
AN FRANCISCO BEACH
8:13
Fuengirola
Index
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8:13
PÆgina 76
TOURIST BOARD &
Given the size of its population and its
popularity with tourists, it is almost paradoxical
that Fuengirola only covers an area of 10 km 2,
when it also has an 8-km beach. The paradox
might be explained by the fact that when the
land was first divided up, no one could have
foreseen that the tourist boom of the twentieth
century would shatter not only the
governmentimposed boundaries, but even more
so, the nineteenth century notion of natural
urban development.
With its own boundaries overrun by a formidable
increase in tourism, the city has had to expand
towards the neighbouring town of Mijas, with the
curious result that half of a particular street
belongs to Fuengirola and the other half to
Mijas.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Index
Fuengirola
.
Historic Downtown
.
WHAT TO SEE
The Sohail Castle, which was destroyed and
rebuilt several times, is without any doubt the
most emblematic monument in Fuengirola, both
for its long and eventful history and its
unmistakable profile, which has become the
symbol of the city. The fortress is surrounded by
imposing square towers, and every part of it has
been meticulously restored to prevent
deterioration and turn it into a cultural and
tourism site.
.
Fuengirola
The Autopista del Mediterráneo motorway (A-7;
N-340) provides an excellent communication link
between Fuengirola and the rest of the Costa del
Sol. You can also get here by train (Route C-2
on the Cercanías or commuter line) from
Málaga, Torremolinos and Arroyo de la Miel
(Benalmádena) or from the airport.
Historic Downtown
.
76
There are hardly any records of the Visigoth era,
but we do know a lot about the Muslim period.
During the caliphate of Abd-ar-Rahman III, the
castle in the western part of the town was
enlarged. The castle nestles on a hill next to the
river also called Fuengirola. It was in this castle
that Henry II of Castile and the Yusuf I, a Nasrid
ruler, signed a truce in 1340 that led to a trade
boom. The fortress has now been restored and
Following the Catholic Monarchs' conquest in
1487, the castle was destroyed, but the frequent
pirate raids that plagued the Mediterranean
coast forced them restore it. Years later, during
the War of Independence, French, English and
Spaniards fought over the fortress due to its
status as a strategic defensive location.
The city's current name comes from the term
girolas, ships that Genovese sailors used to fish
for small fish or boliche, a word that was also
used for the previously separate township of
Santa Fe de los Boliches, which is now a part of
Fuengirola proper.
Fuengirola
Name given to the local people: fuengiroleños.
Location: On the western tip of the Costa del
Sol, bordering the towns of Mijas and
Benalmádena. The city is 27 km from Málaga
and 8 km from Mijas. Average annual rainfall is
570 l/m2 and the average annual temperature is
18º C.
What to see: Sohail Castle, archaeological site
at Suel, Finca de
Acevedo and Finca de
Secretario, City History Museum.
Tourist Information: Tourist Office, Avenida
Jesús Santos Rein, 6 (29640).
Tel.: (+34) 952 467 457; fax: (+34) 952 465 100.
Historical records show that Phoenician
settlers founded Fuengirola, although it seems
probable that several Iberian tribes had also
been present in this enclave, which sits halfway
between Cádiz and Málaga. The Phoenicians
set up a salted fish trading post at a place they
called Suel, and from there they traded with
other Mediterranean cities. The Romans made
Suel a federated town, which was assigned by
Augustus to the conventus of Gades (Cádiz). It
is believed that in those times there was a very
powerful oligarchy in place here and that the
inhabitants worshipped Neptune.
converted into an open-air auditorium.
The
Arabs changed the name from Suel to Sohail,
this being the name of a star in the
Argos
constellation that, the story goes, could only be
seen from the castle itself.
CONVENTION BUREAU
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PÆgina 78
TOURIST BOARD &
Due to the profound and rapid changes that have
taken place in the city over the last three
decades, hardly any traces remain of the former
fishermen's neighbourhood, and even less of the
market gardens that used to stretch right down to
the sea. This area is completely taken up with a
magnificent seafront promenade -one of the
longest on the Spanish coast- where locals and
visitors alike gaze out to sea.
Bars, large terraces, shops, restaurants and
landscaped areas line the 8 km of promenade,
which also includes a bustling marina and beach
restaurants where you can sample the local
seafood.
In contrast with this modern tourism-related
infrastructure, the archaeological sites in the area
offer visitors the chance to discover Fuengirola's
ancient history.
Fuengirola
.
The City History Museum looks back at over
2,600 years of local history in this beautiful
Mediterranean city.
In the evening, there's special excitement both
at the fairground -a model that has been
exported to other parts of Andalusia- and inside
the numerous tents. But horses take centre
stage at the fair , stamping the most famous
image of this celebration on the entire town.
FIESTAS
In Fuengirola, the fiestas begin with Holy W eek,
a period that combines magnificent processions
with the start of the 'beach season', since the
region's mild climate permits sunbathing this
early in the year , except on the rare occasions
that it rains. On the eve of San Juan (23 June),
Fuengiroleños also burn the "júas" (Judas) and
on the day of the V irgen del Carmen in July, the
small neighbourhood of Los Boliches
commemorates its seafaring tradition by
carrying a statue of the V irgin in a procession,
first on fishing boats -a beautiful ritual performed
in all coastal villages in Málaga- and then
through the streets of the town.
The Rosario fiestas are among the most popular
in Andalusia, and are internationally renowned
for their equestrian shows. There are bullfights,
horse and carriage exhibitions, dressage and
riding shows, all combined with the best
flamenco performances.
The Feria Internacional de los Pueblos
(International Towns' Exhibition) takes place
over four days in late March or early April, giving
visitors the chance to find out about typical food
and folklore from over 30 countries and Spanish
regions.
.
Fuengirola
Index
.
.
Historic Downtown
Over the summer , the town really comes alive
with festivities. In July, the Fuengirola Music and
Dance Festival is held at the Sohail Castle,
featuring leading artists and famous orchestras.
The Musical Theatre Festival has recently been
added to the festive calendar , bringing the best
musical shows to the Palacio de la Paz. In
August the V
eladilla del V
eraneante
Historic Downtown
78
(Holidaymaker Day), which marks the end of the
summer festival season, serves as the prelude
to the great Feria de Octubre (October Fair) in
honour of the V irgen del Rosario (Lady of the
Rosary).
Fuengirola
In Suel, by the mouth of the River Fuengirola,
remains have been unearthed of an aqueduct,
mosaics, epigraphs and parts of ancient
dwellings, as well as several burial sites south of
the castle. All of this was linked to the salted fish
industry, in particular the production of garum (a
kind of fish sauce).
On the left bank of the river there is a cemetery ,
and Finca de Acevedo still has traces of a salted
fish trading post with dwellings and a late
Roman necropolis, while at Finca del Secretario,
by the Pajares Stream, salting troughs have
been found in addition to bathhouses, ovens,
dwellings and a sculpture of V enus from the
second century AD Likewise, in Torreblanca del
Sol, near Las Presas Stream, some bathhouses
have been found that had been converted into a
salted factory, as well as a cistern and a Visigoth
necropolis.
CONVENTION BUREAU
It is now home to a remarkable open-air
auditorium and inside there is a small museum
with models that describe the monument's
history.
79
FOOD
The highly cosmopolitan nature of the town led
its cuisine to adapt to modern times, so it is not
easy to talk about typical local cuisine except,
of course, for the fish caught off its coast, which
are generally served fried. Pescado a la sal or
pescado al horno (fish baked in salt) is also a
traditional dish, as is of course rice with
seafood.
LEISURE
8:13
PÆgina 80
even those that, due to their nature, cannot be
held on a conventional stage.
Fuengirola Zoo (Tel.: 952 666 301), located
in the heart of the city , was designed so that
the animals could enjoy the greatest possible
freedom, and great care has been taken to
recreate the natural habitat of the many
species that live here. Animals from all five
continents are separated from one another by
spacious green areas, playgrounds and water
attractions that draw the visitor into an
astonishing landscape.
.
Historic Downtown
.
Fuengirola
The Palacio de la Paz is a recently constructed
cultural complex that covers an area of
2,000m2 and can hold up to 1,800 people. Its
facilities can host any kind of event or show ,
13/11/2008
80
Fuengirola
Index
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10:31
PÆgina 82
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
index. Málaga
The district of Málaga is the third largest in the province
after Antequera and Ronda, and contains at least two very
different kinds of landscape. To the north lies the Sierra de
Málaga range, a heavily wooded and mountainous area, valuable
in terms of ecology and landscape and declared a Natural Park by
the Andalusian Regional Government. Towards the east, the landscape
is similar to La Axarquía; here you will find the highest peaks, such as
Santo Pitar (1,020 m).
. Baños del Carmen
. Campo de Golf / San Julián
. El Candado
. El Chanquete
. El Palo
. Fábrica de cemento
. Guadalhorce
. Guadalmar / San Julián
.
.
Huelín
La Araña
. La Caleta
. La Malagueta
. La Misericordia
. Pedregalejo / Las Acacias
. Peñón del Cuervo
. San Andrés
Málaga
.
82
Index
83
13/11/2008
b
AÑOS DEL CARMEN BEACH
Baños del Carmen Beach
promenade, cleaning service, security
surveillance.
Blue flag: no
Width: 5 m
Length: 550 m
AMPO DE GOLF / SAN JULIÁN BEACH
Description:
This beach is located close to the Parador de Golf
and the airport. It is 1,800 m long and 50 m wide.
It can get fairly busy and a section of the beach is
frequented by Nude beach bathers. It has dark
sand and vegetation, and the swell is usually
moderate. It of fers some services and can be
accessed by car.
Málaga
Facilities and services: cleaning service,
security surveillance, showers, beach chair hire,
boat hire, kiosk.
Type of beach: isolated beach
Blue flag: no
Width: 50 m
Length: 1,850 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Closest marina: El Candado
Nude beach: no
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
Nude beach: yes
84
.
.
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
Málaga
Málaga
c
.
.
Málaga
PÆgina 84
Campo de Golf / San Julián Beach
Description:
Alongside the capital's promenade and next to a
leafy grove, you will find this charming little
beach, a haven of tranquillity that never gets too
crowded.
8:14
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Index
85
13/11/2008
e
L CANDADO BEACH
Málaga
Description:
A small beach next to El Candado marina.
e
L CHANQUETE BEACH
Málaga
Width: 30 m
Length: 200 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
security surveillance, showers, public telephone,
rubbish bins, cleaning service, beach chair and
beach umbrella hire, boat hire, kiosk,
parking.
Blue flag: no
2013
.
showers, rubbish bins, parking, cleaning service.
.
Width: 25 m
Length: 550 m
Nude beach: no
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Málaga
Nude beach: no
86
.
.
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
El Chanquete Beach
El Candado Beach
PÆgina 86
Description:
This beach, located in the area of El Palo, is
included in the accessibility plan. It features a
friendly atmosphere, of fers good services and
can get fairly crowded. It is close to El Candado
Yacht Club. The sand is dark and the swell,
moderate. This is a city beach with a promenade
and many beach restaurants. It can be reached
on foot or by car , and the access is well
signposted.
Blue flag: no
Málaga
8:14
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Index
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13/11/2008
e
L PALO BEACH
Málaga
promenade, cleaning service, public telephone,
El Palo Beach
ÁBRICA DE CEMENTO BEACH
Description:
This is a small beach next to a concrete factory .
Although it offers few facilities it often gets very
crowded. It has dark sand and a moderate swell.
Width: 15 m
Length: 300 m
2013
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
Málaga
Málaga
Málaga
.
.
f
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: no
Width: 25 m
Length: 1,200 m
PÆgina 88
Fábrica de Cemento Beach
Description:
This beach is one of many in the city of Málaga,
whose coastline has been completely
reconditioned. The construction of breakwaters
along the coast has created various nooks for
bathers to enjoy the sun and sea.
8:14
88
.
.
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
Málaga
Index
89
13/11/2008
g
Description:
The sediments deposited by the River
Guadalhorce on the right bank of the river mouth
have given shape to this beach, which is not very
popular with bathers. It is close to the golf course
and the Guadalmar residential complex, near to
the city of Málaga.
Málaga
Facilities and services: showers, parking,
promenade, cleaning service, public telephone.
Width: 30 m
Length: 400 m
Width: 60 m
Length: 950 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
Nude beach: no
Málaga
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
90
.
.
Málaga
UADALMAR / SAN JULIÁN BEACH
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: no
Closest marina: Benalmadena
Nude beach: no
g
.
.
Description:
This beach is in a sheltered spot by the mouth of
the River Guadalhorce. It is often practically
deserted because it is completely isolated. It has
a moderate swell and dark sand. It is in a
sheltered area with vegetation. It can be reached
by car , but has no parking facilities. It has
practically no facilities or services.
Málaga
PÆgina 90
Guadalmar / San Julián Beach
Guadalhorce Beach
UADALHORCE BEACH
8:15
Málaga
Index
91
13/11/2008
h
UELÍN BEACH
Málaga
Description:
This beach is near the port of Málaga. It is a thin
strip of dark sand next to the sea promenade.
Huelín Beach
l
A ARAÑA BEACH
Málaga
Blue flag: no
Width: 15 m
Length: 700 m
Width: 25 m
Length: 400 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
La Araña Beach
Sand colour: golden
Swell: moderate
Closest marina: Mediterráneo Sports Club
.
.
PÆgina 92
Description:
This is a charming little cove, with very modest
urban development and a watchtower, from which
you can enjoy beautiful sea views.
Blue flag: no
Nude beach: no
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
Nude beach: no
Facilities and services: showers, cleaning
service, kiosk.
92
.
.
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
umbrella hire, rubbish bins, parking, cleaning
service.
Málaga
Málaga
8:15
Málaga
Index
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13/11/2008
l
A CALETA BEACH
Description:
The high-rise buildings that line this section of
Málaga's promenade run parallel to La Caleta
beach.
Málaga
peddle boats, lifeguard station, rubbish bins,
parking, promenade, kiosk-bar , restaurant,
cleaning service, hazard signs, public telephone,
Width: 20 m
Length: 1,000 m
l
A MALAGUETA BEACH
Málaga
Description:
This city beach is very spacious and runs along
the Levante breakwater of the port of Málaga,
which has traditionally been a meeting point for
local fisherman bringing up their nets.
Blue flag: no
lifeguard station, rubbish bins, parking,
promenade, kiosk-bar , restaurant, cleaning
service, hazard signs, public telephone, security
surveillance, children's area.
Width: 45 m
Length: 1,200 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
.
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Closest marina: Mediterráneo Yacht Club
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
Málaga
Málaga
PÆgina 94
La Malagueta Beach
La Caleta Beach
Blue flag: no
8:15
94
.
.
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
Málaga
Index
95
13/11/2008
l
A MISERICORDIA BEACH
Facilities and services: sports equipment hire,
showers, lifeguard station, rubbish bins, parking,
surveillance.
p
EDREGALEJO-LLAS ACACIAS BEACH
Description:
A sandy beach parallel to Málaga's promenade. It
has been reconditioned, which has allowed for
the creation of artificial reefs along the coastline.
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: no
Width: 30 m
Length: 1,200 m
Width: 20 m
Length: 1,200 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
2013
Closest marina: El Candado Yacht Club
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
chair and beach umbrella hire, artificial
breakwater, showers, lifeguard station, rubbish
bins, parking, promenade, cleaning service,
hazard warning, public telephone, security
2013
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
Málaga
Málaga
Málaga
.
.
La Misericordia Beach
Málaga
PÆgina 96
.
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
.
96
Pedregalejo - Las Acacias Beach
Description:
After leaving San Andrés beach, you will come
across this strip of coastline that juts up to broad
swathes of farmland.
8:16
Málaga
Index
97
13/11/2008
p
AN ANDRÉS BEACH
Málaga
Description:
Some of the recently constructed residential
complexes and industrial buildings in southern
Málaga lie along San Andrés beach.
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: no
Width: 50 m
Length: 1,950 m
Width: 25 m
Length: 350 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Swell: moderate
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
98
.
.
District: Málaga
Town: Málaga
chair hire, showers, rubbish bins, parking,
cleaning service.
Málaga
Málaga
s
.
.
Description:
This cove takes its name from the large rock
(peñón) found on its shoreline, which divides the
beach into two swimming areas. Even though it is
small and too close to a motorway , it is very
popular with tourists in summer.
Málaga
PÆgina 98
San Andrés Beach
Peñón del Cuervo Beach
EÑÓN DEL CUERVO BEACH
8:16
Málaga
Index
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13/11/2008
8:16
PÆgina 100
TOURIST BOARD &
USEFUL INFORMATION
.
Málaga
.
Historic Downtown
.
Faced with Assyrian expansion and the
progressive desertification of their lands,
Phoenicians from Tyre reached the Andalusian
coast in around 800 BC and founded Malaka. At
first, it wasn't so much a city as a trading post
around the port. Some time later the Greeks
founded the neighbouring site of Mainake, which
was destroyed by the Carthaginians, who in turn
were defeated by the mighty Romans in the late
third century BC in the Second Punic W ar.
Christianisation, the city underwent a process of
radical change. It started to spread beyond the
old city walls and the Church quickly began to
build its own places for worshipping and
monasteries. The Moorish rebellions of the
sixteenth century -which ended with their
expulsion in 1614- and the consequent
shortages, were followed by the flooding of the
River Guadalmedina and epidemics that spread
throughout the city in the seventeenth century ,
as well as pirate and Berber incursions and
attacks by French and British fleets. The local
population limped towards the end of the
seventeenth century in a state of utter
exhaustion.
Historic Downtown
The urban layout of the city stretches from east
to west for some 12 km and the old town nestles
in a huge semicircular area right in the middle.
Practically all Málaga's monuments and tourist
attractions are situated here save for the historic
gardens, which are on the outskirts.
Later on, the city fell under the control of Berber
tribes, followed by the Almoravids, the Almohads
and the Nasrids. Despite these constant
changes, the city retained its trading activity ,
owing largely to the protection of its strong walls
and the lookout post provided by the Gibralfaro
Castle. Christian troops besieged the city of
Málaga for a century, until 1487, when the Moors
finally surrendered. The unconditional surrender
entailed slavery or exile for a large number of
Málaga's residents.
.
100
The landscape levels out to the west, shaping
what is known as Hoya de Málaga, which is the
lowland formed where the Guadalmedina and
Guadalhorce river valleys merge, before they
flow out into the Mediterranean Sea. In this area,
the seaward-facing part of the city
, which
stretches out to the west, blends with the
sugarcane fields, orchards and market gardens
that form the last redoubt of an agricultural
tradition that is steadily being absorbed by
industrial parks and the airport.
Export activity boomed under Roman rule,
based mainly around garum (fish sauce or
paste), wine and olive oil. By end of the first
century AD, the city was already a federated
town with important buildings, including the
theatre on the slopes of La Alcazaba, which still
remains today . As Roman domination waned,
the city passed onto the hands of dif
ferent
Germanic peoples, such as V
andals and
Visigoths, and following the Islamic invasion it
belonged to the Emirate, and subsequently the
Caliphate, of Córdoba.
Málaga
Population: 700,000.
Name given to the local people: malagueños.
Location: On the southern Mediterranean
coast, 50 nautical miles from the Strait of
Gibraltar and 520 km from Spain's capital city ,
Madrid. Average annual rainfall is 470 l/m 2 and
the average annual temperature is 18.5º C.
What to see: Roman Theatre, Alcazaba (Arab
Fortress), Gibralfaro Castle, Cathedral, Church
of El Sagrario (The Sanctuary), Episcopal
Palace, Picasso Museum, Church of Santiago
(St James), Plaza de la Merced, Picasso
Foundation, Customs Hall, Paseo del Parque,
Vice-Chancellor's Of fice of the University of
Málaga (former Post Of fice), Bank of Spain,
Town Hall, Gardens of Puerta Oscura, Gardens
of Pedro Luis Alonso, Fountain of Tres Gracias
(the Three Graces), Bullring, Miramar Palace
(formerly the Courthouse), Monument to the
Marquis of Larios, Larios Street, Génova
Fountain, Pasaje de Chinitas, Economic Society
of Friends of the Country , Málaga Athenaeum,
Church of Santo Cristo de la Salud (Holy Christ
of Health), Church of Santos Mártires (Holy
Martyrs), Museum of Popular
Arts and
Traditions, Puerta de Atarazanas (Archway),
Sanctuary of V irgen de la V ictoria (V irgin of
Victory), Finca de la Concepción, Contemporary
Art Centre (CAC), Málaga Art Heritage Museum
Tourist Information:
Tourist Office, Plaza de la Marina, 11.
Tel.: (+34) 952 122 020; fax: (+34) 952 122 023.
Málaga is the third largest district in the
province after Antequera and Ronda. It
combines at least two very dif ferent kinds of
landscape. To the north lies the Sierra de
Málaga, a heavily wooded and mountainous
area, very valuable in terms of ecology and
landscape, so much so that it has been declared
a Nature Park by the
Andalusian Regional
Government. Towards the east, the country
resembles that of La Axarquía and features the
highest peaks, such as Santo Pitar (1,020 m).
CONVENTION BUREAU
Málaga
Málaga
Index
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13/11/2008
8:17
PÆgina 102
TOURIST BOARD &
From anywhere on the Costa del Sol, take theA7 (N-340) motorway; exits for Málaga are well
signposted. If you're coming from inland
Andalusia, first follow the signs to Antequera,
and then get onto the A-45 (N-331) motorway ,
which leads to Málaga.
WHAT TO SEE
Málaga
Index
.
Historic Downtown
.
.
The fortress was abandoned during the
eighteenth century and in the mid-nineteenth
century it was turned into a neighbourhood
where poor people dwelled. It was declared a
National Monument in 1931, and its restoration
and reconstruction began at that time under the
Immediately after the city was conquered by
Christian troops, the former mosque was
consecrated under the name of V irgen de la
Encarnación (Our Lady of the Incarnation), and
30 years later construction work began for the
Cathedral on the site of the former mosque.
Historic Downtown
102
However, a new economic crisis was looming.
The flourishing industry began to falter and the
phylloxera plague destroyed most vines, which
had traditionally been one of the mainstays of
the province's economy . Málaga's economy
had many ups and downs, and did not really
take off until the 1960s, when the Costa del Sol
became a standard in international mass
tourism.
The Alcazaba dates back to the dawn of the
eleventh century, but some decades later King
Badis of the Granada taifa turned it into one of
the most important Muslim fortresses of that
time by providing it with a triple fortified complex
with several towers. Inside the fortress, there
was a palace for the Muslim high authorities and
quarters for their servants. After the Christian
conquest it became a royal residence for the
Catholic Monarchs and Phillip IV.
Construction began on this strategic fortress in
the late eighth century under the rule of Emir
Abd-ar-Rahman I. Apparently, there had been a
lighthouse on the summit, at least according to a
seventh-century document, which refers to the
mountain as Gebel Faruk (lighthouse mountain).
When the city fell to the Catholic Monarchs, the
fortress was used as a military garrison, and in
the eighteenth century a magazine was built
inside it, which has now been converted into a
visitors' centre. The castle was partially
destroyed during the Napoleonic invasion and
later rebuilt, but it retains some parts of the
earlier structure. It should be noted that in
addition to its extraordinary historical value, the
complex (with car access) of fers the best views
over the city.
.
In the nineteenth century , the city not only
suffered as a result of the Napoleonic invasion
but also from the conflicts between Liberals
and Absolutists that led to the execution of
General Torrijos and his companions by a firing
squad on San Andrés beach in 1831, during
the reign of Ferdinand VII. Towards the middle
of this century , Málaga started a period of
industrialisation based around textiles and
steel, making it the second most important
area in Spain in these industries.
The Larios and Heredia families were the driving
force behind this thriving economic activity , and
the city showed them its gratitude by erecting
statues and naming some of its main streets
after them. It was in the nineteenth century that
Málaga focused on its urban layout: the working
class neighbourhoods and factories were
located in the western districts, and in the east
were the large mansions of the new bourgeoisie,
while in the centre some of the streets were
widened and architecturally striking buildings
were erected.
The Gibralfaro Castle, which sits on the crest of
the mountain that bears the same name, is
connected to the Alcazaba by a corridor
(coracha) that runs between two walls.
Málaga
Málaga
During the next century, Málaga entered an era
of greater stability in every sense of the word
and, most importantly , the economy began to
strengthen, mainly due to farming products'
exports. The end of the monopoly on trading
with the Indies had a direct influence on the
extension of port activity.
Except for the Phoenician remains found on the
site of the Picasso Museum, the city's most
ancient monument is the Roman theatre (first
century AD) located at the foot of the Alcazaba.
Its structure is similar to the Acinipo theatre in
Ronda. Parts of its proscenium, an entrance
gallery, traces of the orchestra pit and a large
part of the cavea (16 m high, and a radius of 31
m) have been preserved. Its stone was used for
the construction of the Alcazaba and for the
foundations of the Casa de la Cultura (Cultural
Centre), a building that was pulled down in 1995
to restore the ancient monument.
CONVENTION BUREAU
direction of local historian Juan Temboury and
architect Guerrero Strachan.
The most
interesting features are the Arco del Cristo (Arch
of Christ), the Plaza de Armas (Parade Ground),
the Torre del Homenaje (Keep) and the Cuartos
de Granada (palace chambers). Today the site
can be accessed by lift.
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8:17
PÆgina 104
TOURIST BOARD &
The magnificent stonework, culminating in the
main façade, features some of the most
remarkable details and artistry ever to be seen
in the city. One example is the seating area for
the choir, carved by Pedro de Mena and other
artists. De Mena is responsible for 42 figures
and the ends of the choir . There are also two
grandiose eighteenth-century organs located
on either side.
In the V irgen del Rosario chapel, there is an
impressive painting Alonso Cano: the best
painting in Málaga Cathedral.
The two
seventeenth-century pulpits made with pink
stone are also remarkable.
The Iglesia del Sagrario (Sagrario Church) that is
attached to the Cathedral on the north side is
notable for its sixteenth-century flamboyant
Gothic façade. Inside there is a single barrel
vaulted nave with a magnificent Plateresque
altarpiece that was brought from a village in
Palencia.
Fine Art, was meticulously renovated and then
adapted to its new role as a museum, following
the guidelines of modernity and respect for the
original sixteenth-century structure at the same
time. The transformation of the premises has
been praised as exemplary by international
experts.
In the Plaza del Obispo, to the left of the
Cathedral's main façade, stands the Palacio
Episcopal (Episcopal Palace), a group of
buildings from the sixteenth, seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries. The most remarkable thing
about the splendid Baroque façade, divided by
pilasters into five vertical panels, three storeys
high, and crowned with a pinnacled balustrade,
is the white, pink and grey marble work with a
niche at the top that houses a statue of the
Virgen de las Angustias (Our Lady of Sorrows).
An artistic stairway with a decorated vault starts
in the inner courtyard, which has elegant Tuscan
columns. The main floor of the palace is
currently used for exhibitions.
The permanent collection, made up of over 200
works by the genius from Málaga, is displayed in
several rooms that have retained the palace's
magnificent Mudéjar coffered ceilings. Paintings,
sculptures, prints and ceramics represent the
different creative periods of this artist, who finally
returned to his home town under the best
possible condition in terms of exhibition venues.
The Picasso Museum opens onto the pedestrian
area of Granada St, and is just a stone's throw
from the Santiago Church, where Picasso was
christened. The church was modified in the
eighteenth century but two important features of
the original Mudéjar construction remain: the
brick façade with an pointed arch and the
Almohadstyle brick tower. Its interior is profusely
adorned with stuccowork, especially the side
chapels.
Málaga
Index
Málaga
.
Historic Downtown
.
.
Historic Downtown
Since October 2003, this beautiful palace has
been home to the Picasso Museum.
The
museum owns the private collection of Christine
Picasso, which she kindly donated to the city that
was the birthplace of the most emblematic artist
in twentieth-century Spain. The former mansion,
which also houses the Provincial Museum of
A few metres further along is the Plaza de la
Merced, a typical example of nineteenth-century
town planning. The convents of La Paz and La
Merced and the Santa Ana hospital once stood
here, but no trace of them remains.
The
monument to General Torrijos was erected in the
centre of the square in 1842, eleven years after
he was executed by a firing squad on San
Andrés beach for his Liberal ideas.
The
monument is by Rafael Mitjana, who designed a
slender obelisk crowned with a wreath of laurel.
.
The Cathedral's Puerta de los Naranjos
(Naranjos Gate) opens out onto San Agustín St.
This is for sure one of the most traditional streets
in Málaga, where the Palacio de los Condes de
Buenavista (Counts of Buenavista's Palace) is
located. This is one of the few secular
Renaissance structures in Málaga and dates
back to 1520. Its austere façade has some
Plateresque features and the lookout tower
gives it a fortress-like appearance.
Málaga
104
The Cathedral has 15 chapels and 25 altars.
La Encarnación chapel is in the centre of the
ambulatory. It has a lavish Neoclassical
marble altarpiece. The Santa Bárbara chapel
has a Gothic altarpiece that belonged to the
former mosque-cathedral, although the main
image is by Fernando Ortiz (1765).The Virgen
de los Reyes chapel contains a Gothic figure
of the Virgin that was donated by Isabella the
Catholic and two sculptures representing
Ferdinand and Isabella in prayer , also carved
by Pedro de Mena, who also sculpted the
exquisite Dolorosa (Weeping Madonna) in Los
Caídos chapel, which is overlooked by a
Crucifix carved by his father, Alonso de Mena.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The new church was designed in flamboyant
style, but when Diego de Siloé took charge of
the project he decided to go for a
Renaissance style. However, it took over two
centuries to build it, so successive
architectural styles were incorporated,
particularly Baroque with some Neoclassical
features. The southern tower was never
completed, so Málaga's Cathedral is known
as La Manquita (one-arm).
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TOURIST BOARD &
The Neoclassical structure is based around a
square floor plan and has an austere dressed
stone façade. The interior is arranged around
a courtyard and has a double portico crowned
with a balustrade featuring Roman sculptures.
It was used for a whole host of dif
ferent
functions -even a tobacco factory- before
being eventually turned into local government
offices, but in a few years' time, it will be
converted into the Museum of Fine
Art and
Archaeology, whose items are stored due to
the lack of a suitable space to display them. In
the meantime, some of the best works from
the Fine Art Museum are on display on the
ground floor.
The eastern end of the Paseo del Parque runs
into the Plaza del General Torrijos, in the centre
of which is a nineteenth-century fountain named
Las Tres Gracias, which previously stood in the
Plaza de la Constitución. If you continue along
the Paseo de Reding you will see the Plaza de
Toros (a nineteenth-century Neo-Mudéjar
bullring) and on the right, around 100 m further
along, the former Hotel Miramar , which is now
the Palacio de Justicia (Courthouse). This is
another great building designed by Guerrero
Strachan in the 1920s.
There are several Romantic arbours along the
promenade, featuring busts of the poets
Salvador Rueda and Rubén Darío and a
sculpture by Jaime Pimentel of a traditional
vendor of biznagas (a local flowering plant). The
Cervantes Ave. runs parallel to the Paseo del
Parque and here there are three remarkable
early twentieth-century buildings. The former
Post Of fice, now the Chancellor's Of fice of the
University of Málaga, has a peculiar NeoMudéjar design and the Bank of Spain building
features an elegant Neoclassical style. Málaga's
City Hall was built in a quite simple Baroque
style and was designed by Guerrero Strachan
and Rivera Vera. Of particular note are the main
staircase, the assembly hall and the Sala de Los
Espejos (Hall of Mirrors).
Back in the city centre, you will find the Plaza de
la Marina, between the port and Málaga's two
main streets, Larios and La
Alameda. This
square has been remodelled many times, and
on the last occasion, sections of the Nasrid walls
and the seventeenth-century port walls were
uncovered and are now preserved in the
underground car park. The monument to the
Marquis of Larios, by Mariano Benlliure,
overlooks the Plaza. The Marquis of Larios was
the driving force behind Málaga's new aspect
and this was why Larios St. was named after
him. It links the port district directly to the Plaza
de la Constitución. Larios St., the street for
shopping in Málaga's, was designed by Eduardo
Strachan in late nineteenth century according to
the Chicago School standards. It was recently
remodelled and is now the best kept part of the
city.
.
Historic Downtown
.
Málaga
Index
.
106
Larios St. leads into the Plaza de la
Constitución, a former Muslim market square
that was turned into the city's main square after
the Christian conquest. It was remodelled at the
same time as Larios St. and here they placed
the Renaissance (sixteenth century) Fuente de
Génova (Genoa Fountain), which previously
stood on one of the arbours dotted along the
Paseo del Parque.
Historic Downtown
The Puerta Oscura Gardens are behind the City
Hall, under the south wall of theAlcazaba, on the
site of an ancient Roman villa. The gardens are
organised into terraces and zigzag paths in
order to take advantage of the mountain slope.
Opposite the eastern wall of the City Hall are the
Pedro Luis
Alonso Gardens, where
nineteenthcentury landscaping blends with
Spanish-Muslim features such as a pool with
water jets and rows of orange trees.
.
Next to the Customhouse is the Paseo del
Parque, a promenade that stretches between
the port, Cortina del Muelle and the slopes of the
Alcazaba. This green space, which is
approximately 800 m long and sits on land
reclaimed from the sea in the late nineteenth
century, is less a park in the usual sense than a
botanical garden. Numerous tropical and
subtropical tree species, including one or two
that are unique on our continent, have adapted
well to this location, and therefore catches
visitors' attention.
Málaga
Málaga
The Plaza de María Guerrero adjoins the
Plaza de la Merced and the
Alcazabilla St.
begins there. On this street, you will see the
back of the Picasso Museum, the Roman
theatre and the entrance to the
Alcazaba
fortress, with the Palacio de la
Aduana
(Customhouse) opposite. This is one of the
most emblematic buildings in Málaga. It was
planned and begun in the late eighteenth
century to take the place of the old
customhouse in Puerta del Mar , and was
finally completed early in the nineteenth
century.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Pablo Ruiz Picasso was born in 1881 on the
northern part of the square, in one of the
Casas de Campos. The building where he was
born has housed the Picasso Foundation
since 1988 and is considered to have one of
the most comprehensive archives of
documents relating to this artist in the whole
world. It also has a museum section exhibiting
a choice selection of prints, photographs, and
ceramics and even a recreation of what the
house belonging to the Picasso family looked
in the late nineteenth century.
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TOURIST BOARD &
On the northern side of the square, you will
find the former Consulate, now the central
offices of the Sociedad Económica de Amigos
del País (Economic Society of Friends of the
Country). It has an artistic façade and a
beautiful eighteenth-century style courtyard.
circular floor plan crowned with a large dome.
It houses a magnificent altarpiece dating from
1633 and the tomb of Pedro de Mena.
If you continue along Compañía St. to Los
Mártires Alley, you end up at the square and
church of the same name: the Iglesia de los
Santos Mártires (Church of the Holy Martyrs),
commissioned by the Catholic Monarchs. W ork
began on it in the sixteenth century but it was
remodelled in the eighteenth century , so the
decoration is late Baroque.
The adjacent building, the Ateneo de Málaga
(Málaga Athenaeum), was formerly a School
of Arts and Trades, where Picasso attended
his first art lessons. These two buildings and
the Santo Cristo de la Salud Church (in
Compañía St.) belonged to the Society of
Jesus. The seventeenth-century church has a
Back on Compañía St. and heading west
towards the River Guadalmedina, take the
Pasillo de Santa Isabel, which runs parallel to
the river. At number 10 you will find the Mesón
de la V ictoria, a tavern built in the seventeenth
century over a former fifteenth-century
mosque.
As you leave Pasillo de Santa Isabel, you will
come across Plaza de Arriola and the Central
Market, where the Puerta de las Atarazanas,
the gateway to the former Medieval shipyards,
still stands. Although it has been considerably
restored, this gate still features a large pointed
horseshoe arch, the only element remaining
from a large 5,000 m 2 building that in the
Christian period served as an arsenal which
collapsed after the explosion of several
gunpowder mills in the seventeenth century .
Index
Málaga
.
Historic Downtown
.
FIESTAS
Málaga has two major popular celebrations:
Holy W eek and the August Fair . There are,
however, other festivities that are deeply
ingrained in popular tradition, such as Carnival
in late February , Corpus Christi in late May or
early June, the V irgen del Carmen celebration
with its maritime procession in mid-July, and the
Fiesta Mayor de V
erdiales (traditional
Andalusian music festival) on 28 December at
the V enta de San Cayetano in the
neighbourhood of Puerto de la Torre, where you
can enjoy the traditional verdiales competition
.
Málaga
A little further along (3 km on the Coín road
after it splits off from the N-340) is the Hacienda
de El Retiro (El Retiro Estate), built by Bishop
Alonso de Tomás in the seventeenth century .
The original garden and orchard were
converted into a landscaped garden and patio
in the following century by the Counts of
Buenavista, and later the Count of V illalcázar
built court gardens with beautiful fountains,
sculptures and ornamental water features.
Historic Downtown
Leaving Málaga by the Autovía de Las Pedrizas
(A-4; N-331) you will see a sign indicating the
exit for Finca de la Concepción, one of the best
tropical gardens in Europe. It was built in the
nineteenth century by the Marquises of Casa
Loring, who erected a Classical-style palace on
the site. The estate has an unusual display of
forests with bridges, small waterfalls and a
graceful Doric bandstand. Countless motion
pictures have been shot here, it was declared a
Historic-Artistic Garden in 1943 and acquired
by the City Council.
.
After its reconstruction, it was turned into a
hospital, and in the nineteenth century it was
used as a college to train surgeons and even as
an artillery garrison, until the decision was
made in 1868 to demolish all of it, except for the
southern gate, in order to build the market.
The Santuario de la V irgen de la V ictoria (Our
Lady of V ictory Sanctuary) is outside the old
quarter but still in the city centre. It was
originally a chapel built on the site where
Ferdinand the Catholic set up camp as he
prepared to take Málaga. In the seventeenth
century, the chapel was replaced with a
Baroque church, whose construction was
funded by the Count of Buenavista.
Inside the church, of particular note are the
Lady Chapel, which has exuberant Rococo
artwork intermingled with angels, plant motifs
and Marian symbols, as well as the crypt
belonging to the Counts of Buenavista.
The
latter is morbidly dramatic, with white
plasterwork ornaments against black
backgrounds, which gives it a macabre
dramatic character.
Málaga
108
Since the 1970s, it has been home to the
Museum of Popular Art and Traditions, offering
a glimpse of what life in Málaga was like in
centuries gone by , its rural, mining, industrial
and bourgeois past, along with a wellpreserved
collection of utensils, tools and
furnishings.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The eastern side of this square leads onto a
little lane known as Pasaje de Chinitas, with its
typical echoes of García Lorca's bulls,
flamenco dancing and singing.
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TOURIST BOARD &
.
Montes de Málaga Natural Park breathes
fresh air into the city . It covers an area of
4,800 ha and is dotted with canyons and
ravines. Its current aspect is the result of its
use in the past as a grape-growing area,
leading to the establishment of wineries
throughout the mountain range.
This
transformed considerably the native flora,
which had been characterised by vast areas
of forest and Mediterranean scrubland, of
which there are still a few remnants.
However, visitors generally prefer to try local
specialties, and there is no doubt that pescaíto
frito (small fried fish) is the local dish par
excellence. Pescaíto frito can cover a range of
different types of fish and seafood, but you will
mainly find boquerón (anchovies), jurel (horse
mackerel), salmonetes (red mullet), calamares
(squid), and pijotas (baby hake). You could also
try the espetos de sardinas (grilled sardine
skewers), almejas (clams) and coquinas (type of
clams). The list goes on, but this is the most
common combination. Pescaíto frito is served in
most restaurants around the city but it is
especially traditional in beachfront restaurants.
Agricultural activity here began to decline in
1878, the year the phylloxera plague af fected
the vines. Since the area had been
practically stripped of all its forests, flash
floods were frequent, and the city of Málaga
was in a permanent state of alert. From
Other typical dishes are gazpacho and
ajoblanco (chilled garlic and almond soup),
gazpachuelo (a fish soup) and ensalada
malagueña (a salad of boiled potatoes, cod,
oranges, hard-boiled eggs, olives, onions and
olive oil). Plato de los Montes is typically served
in the taverns that surround the city and is a dish
of fried potatoes, pork loin in lard, chorizo
sausage, fried peppers and fried eggs.
Historic Downtown
.
.
Historic Downtown
Málaga is an open tourist town and you can
sample almost any type of food at its many
restaurants, be it local, regional or international.
There are restaurants to suit all tastes and
budgets, from more modest and affordable sites
to more exclusive restaurants, including the
Michelin-starred Café de Paris.
1933 onwards, great ef forts were made to
reforest the Guadalmedina river basin. In
the end, the project was only half
completed, accounting for the 5,000 or so
hectares that now make up the natural park.
The Mediterranean vegetation of this region
has been partially replaced with conifers,
which live alongside olive, cork and carob
trees and, to a lesser extent, other species.
As many as 230 botanical and 160
vertebrate species have been catalogued in
this area.
.
The official programme for these dates is full of
events and there is something to meet all tastes.
There is special emphasis, however , on local
folklore and flamenco and on contemporary
music, especially for young people, who can
attend performances by famous groups and
singers in the Real's auditorium. Bullfighting fans
also await for the fair to start because the best
bullfights take place in La Malagueta on these
days.
NATURE
Málaga
Málaga
The August Fair commemorates the taking of
Málaga by the Catholic Monarchs and lasts for
nine days full of fun and revelry . Over the last
few decades, Málaga's fair has been held in two
different places: the historic district hosts the
socalled Feria de Día (Day Fair) and the Cortijo
de Torres, outside the city, is the site of the Real
de la Feria, where the activity continues on
through the night. In the city centre, traditional
bars get crowded, whereas at the Real de la
Feria there are public and private marquees that
draw in the crowds.
FOOD
110
CONVENTION BUREAU
while sampling the local wine and dry cured
pork. And, in addition, each neighbourhood also
organises its own fiestas. During Holy W eek,
Málaga becomes a gigantic stage where the
cofradías or fraternities re-enact the Passion of
Christ in the street, amid tumultuous popular
fervour that goes through the whole range of
human emotions. Grandeur , devotion, luxury ,
sobriety, joy , the singing of saetas, silence,
cheers and applause... all forming a whole that
is hard to explain but quickly embraced by
anyone willing to experience it.
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
index. Manilva
This area contains five urban areas between the
River Manilva and the border with Cádiz, all of which were
founded at different times, and where most of the local
population lives: Manilva, Sabinillas, El Castillo, Hondacavada
and Puerto de la Duquesa, along with various residential
developments which are growing in a constant and systematic way.
. Chullera
. El Negro
. La Duquesa / El Castillo
. Las Arenas / El Gobernador
. Sabinillas
.
Manilva
. Los Toros
Colonia
.
112
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c
HULLERA BEACH
Manilva
Description:
This long and spacious beach curves along the
Punta Chullera coastline. It is the gateway to the
province of Cádiz.
e
L NEGRO BEACH
Manilva
Blue flag: no
Width: 6 m
Length: 700 m
Surface material: rocks
Width: 20 m
Length: 1,300 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
El Negro Beach
.
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
Chullera Beach
PÆgina 114
Description:
This beach stretches from Cala de la Sardina to
Alcorrín Stream. It is a very popular spot with tuna
fishermen since some of the most beautiful
specimens have been caught here.
Blue flag: no
District: Manilva
Town: Manilva
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
Facilities and services: rubbish bins, cleaning
service.
service.
114
.
.
District: Manilva
Town: Manilva
Manilva
Manilva
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l
Description:
Located next to La Duquesa marina, this beach
has various reconditioned swimming areas
defined by the various breakwaters.
AS ARENAS / EL GOBERNADOR BEACH
Manilva
Blue flag: no
Width: 30 m
Length: 1,600 m
Width: 20 m
Length: 1,000 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
.
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
District: Manilva
Town: Manilva
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
showers, lifeguard station, rubbish bins, parking,
cleaning service.
116
.
.
District: Manilva
Town: Manilva
Manilva
Manilva
l
Description:
Calm waters and a stretch of sandy beach set
against a rocky backdrop. On this beach you will
find the small cove known as Cala de las
Sardinas.
Blue flag: no
showers, rubbish bins, parking, volleyball
facilities, cleaning service, children's area.
Manilva
PÆgina 116
Las Arenas / El Gobernador Beach
La Duquesa / El Castillo Beach
A DUQUESA / EL CASTILLO BEACH
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s
ABINILLAS BEACH
restaurant (open all year round), showers,
lifeguard station, rubbish bins, volleyball net,
cleaning service, children's area.
OS TOROS BEACH
Manilva
Description:
The name of this beach comes from the nearby
Cañada Real de Los Barrios, where livestock
used to roam. It is just the right size for long walks
along the seashore.
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: yes
Width: 50 m
Length: 1,300 m
Width: 50 m
Length: 1,100 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: none
District: Manilva
Town: Manilva
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
station, rubbish bins, volleyball net, cleaning
service.
118
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.
District: Manilva
Town: Manilva
Manilva
Manilva
l
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Manilva
PÆgina 118
Los Toros Beach
Sabinillas Beach
Description:
The mouth of the River Manilva marks the
beginning of this beach, where many blocks of
flats have been built, creating a true tourist
neighbourhood. However, you can still enjoy this
long stretch of rugged beach.
8:19
Manilva
Index
119
c
Description:
Colonia beach stretches from La Peñuela Brook
passing through Unicaja Children Camp to the
Maicandil Brook. The area came under constant
attacks by Christian forces and by the Moors
later. W ritten records of Berber invasions have
remained. Throughout the seventeenth century
and part of the following century , this beach
enjoyed the benefits of wine trade and fishing in
the area. The beach is 28 km from San Roque
and 12.5 km from Estepona.
8:19
PÆgina 120
Manilva
Facilities and services: surveillance service,
drinking water , toilets, showers, passageways,
cleaning service, parking, beach bar, beach chair
and beach umbrella hire, public phone.
Blue flag: no
Width: 50 m
Length: 550 m
Surface material: silicon-slate fine, sand,
rectilinear
Sand colour: dark
Swell: none
Nude beach: no
.
Manilva
.
Colonia Beach
OLONIA BEACH
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PÆgina 122
TOURIST BOARD &
This area contains five urban areas between
the River Manilva and the border with the
province of Cádiz, all of which were founded at
different times, and where most of the local
population lives: Manilva, Sabinillas, El
Castillo, Hondacavada and Puerto de la
Duquesa, along with various residential
developments which are growing in a constant
and systematic way.
The landscape, a far cry from the more rugged
inland areas of the province, is similar to that of
nearby Campo de Gibraltar , with a succession
of low hills and short streams that flow directly
into the sea (such as
Alcorrín, Martagina,
Indiano, Estanquillo…) Manilva sits on one of
these hills, Los Mártires, less than 3 km from
the coast.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Manilva
.
Historic Downtown
From anywhere on the Costa del Sol, take the
Autopista del Mediterráneo motorway (AP-7)
towards Cádiz. If you are setting of
f from
Estepona, there are two options: either
continue on the AP-7 motorway , or else take
the old N-340. In either case, Manilva is well
signposted, but you must take the A-377. The
town is very close to the coast and halfway
between the two routes mentioned above.
But here again it was the Romans who left
more tangible traces of their culture, such as
the Roman villa at Sabinillas, the ruins of what
was apparently a tower on the Cerro del Hacho
hill, and pottery at Haza del Casareño. Traces
Manilva
Index
.
.
Historic Downtown
In 1528, Charles V ordered the construction of
a tower at El Salto de la Mora, and shortly
afterwards around fifty people from Casares
moved to Los Mártires hillock. They were the
first settlers of the original Manilva, which
would continue to depend on Casares until
1796, when it was granted independence.
.
122
Manilva is very close to the Strait of Gibraltar ,
so practically every culture that passed through
the Iberian Peninsula also passed through this
area. Human beings have lived here
continuously since the Neolithic period. There
are late Neolithic remains in some caves in the
Sierra de Utrera mountains, and Bronze
Age
remains have been found at the Cerro del
Castillo archaeological site.
From the sixteenth century onwards, the
history of Manilva parallels that of Casares, the
county to which it used to belong. The lack of
security in this part of the Mediterranean during
the sixteenth century posed a threat to many
communities, and Málaga, Gibraltar and
Ronda requested that Charles V should urge
the Duke of Arcos to provide more protection
and to set up a town on the coast.
Manilva
Name given to the local people: manilveños.
Location: this is the westernmost town of the
Costa del Sol, bordering the province of Cádiz. It
is 97 km from the city of Málaga and 35 km from
Gibraltar. Its average annual rainfall is 750 l/m 2
and the average annual temperature is 17º C.
What to see: Duquesa Castle or Sabinillas Fort,
Santa Ana Church, Chullera towers.
Tourist Information: Town Hall, C/ Mar, 34
(29691).
Tel.: (+34) 952 890 065; fax: (+34) 952 890 066.
Tourist Office, Sabinillas-Manilva road, Km. 0.50.
Tel.: (+34) 952 890 845; fax: (+34) 952 890 845.
This region has been blanketed with vineyards
since at least the sixteenth century , but now the
vineyards share the land with cereal fields,
vegetable gardens, fruit trees and pastureland,
which is more abundant the closer one gets to
the River Guadiaro, bordering the province of
Cádiz.
of the Muslim period are found farther inland,
away from the coast.
CONVENTION BUREAU
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PÆgina 124
TOURIST BOARD &
This town's most notable historic and artistic
monument is the Castillo de la Duquesa
(Castle of the Duchess), also known as Fortín
de Sabinillas (Sabinillas Fort). It was built on
the same site as the Roman villa must have
been. The location provides sweeping views
along the coast, which is why it was built on
this site back in 1767, to defend the area from
constant pirate attacks. Francisco Paulino,
from Seville, funded the construction, and the
King compensated him by placing him in
command of a cavalry company . The engineer
Miguel del Castillo was in charge of the project
design and development.
The Santa Ana Church was built in the eighteenth
century on top of an earlier and smaller
latesixteenth century church, of which almost no
records have survived. The present building is 36
m long by 20 m wide. It was renovated in the
midnineteenth century . The Torres de Chullera
watchtowers served to keep a lookout over the
coastal area. One of them is from the Nasrid
period and the other is more modern. Both have
been used for various different purposes over the
course of their history.
FIESTAS
During the town's Carnival in late February
,
many locals take part in chirigotas and
comparsas, parades whose humorous songs
generally put an ironic spin on local affairs. As in
other Andalusian villages, Holy W eek has a
special religious meaning in Manilva that is not
incompatible with other more entertaining
customs.
On the eve of San Juan, the age-old "night of
fire", the Manilveños proceed to burn the "júas"
(Judas) and to splash seawater on their faces as
a way of warding of f evil. On 27 July the village
overflows with the crowded V irgen de Fátima
pilgrimage that is held at the San Adolfo Chapel
close to the Hedionda Baths.
Each year , on 16 July
, the seafaring
communities of San Luis de Sabinillas and El
Castillo de la Duquesa stage a procession for
the V irgen del Carmen (the Patron V irgin of
seafarers). The image of the V irgin is taken out
to sea followed by a line of decorated boats that
sound their horns in her honour.
Historic Downtown
Manilva
.
Historic Downtown
In a fishing community such as this, fish and
seafood are usually chosen over land produce,
although in this case second choice is by no
means second-rate. Besugo (sea bream),
salmonete (red mullet), mero (sea bass) and
bonito (white tuna), prepared in many dif ferent
ways, are the most common dishes to be found
here, but sardinas al horno (baked sardines)
really take the top prize. Other typical dishes
from this area include: sopa de espárragos and
sopa de tomate (asparagus soup and tomato
soup, respectively) and, needless to say , sopa
de almejas (clam chowder), potaje de jibia
(cuttlefish stew, once again the sea in a stewing
pot), and potaje de calabaza, potaje de
espinacas, potaje de acelgas (respectively ,
pumpkin, spinach and chard stew) and
salmorejo de pulpo (an octopus dish). And you
simply can't leave without sampling the local
muscatel grapes and juice.
.
.
One of the most important fiestas in Manilva is
La Vendimia (grape harvest) in the first week of
September, coinciding with the end of the grape
harvest. The village pays tribute to the product
Manilva
Index
.
124
FOOD
Manilva
On 26 July, the day of the town's Patron Saint,
Saint Anne, villagers and tourists alike take part
in the events organised by the Town Council,
including a float parade, street parties and other
shows that neighbourhood of Sabinillas also
pays tribute to its own Patron Saint, San Luis de
Sabinillas, with the August Fair, which uses the
sea as an attraction to draw in huge crowds of
visitors. As part of the festivities, there are lively
sporting competitions, music and dance.
that, for so many years has been, and still is, the
mainstay of its economy . One of the most
traditional events is the crushing of the grapes,
which produces the first grape juice (mosto) and
everyone there gets a taste.
CONVENTION BUREAU
WHAT TO SEE
125
13/11/2008
10:31
PÆgina 126
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
index. Marbella
The unmistakable profile of the Sierra Blanca range,
visible from anywhere in the city, is the defining
geographical feature of the region. Its northern reaches are
especially mountainous -with some peaks exceeding 1,000
mand criss-crossed by innumerable valleys which continue to instil
the area with a natural beauty despite the rampant spread of luxury
housing developments erected over the last years.
.
. Linda Vista
. Los Monteros
. Nagüeles
. Nueva Andalucía / El Duque
. Pinomar
. Puerto Banús
. Real de Zaragoza
. Realejo
. Río Real
. Río Verde
. San Pedro Alcántara
.
126
. La Venus
. La Víbora
Marbella
Artola / Cabopino
Cortijo Blanco
. Costa Bella
. El Alicate
. El Ancón
. El Cable
. El Faro
. El Pinillo
. Fontanilla
. Guadalmina
. La Adelfa
. La Bajadilla
. Las Cañas
. Las Chapas
.
Index
127
13/11/2008
a
RTOLA - CABOPINO BEACH
umbrella hire, toilets, beach bar (open all year
round), showers, peddle boats, lifeguard station,
rubbish bins, parking lot, restaurant, cleaning
service, hazard warnings, public telephone,
ORTIJO BLANCO BEACH
Marbella
Description:
This is a wonderful beach in an exceptional
location -an extensive stretch of sand far
removed from apartment buildings- and
surrounded by the beautiful natural backdrop of
the high peaks of the Sierra Bermeja.
umbrella hire, showers, rubbish bins, cleaning
children's area.
Blue flag: no
Width: 30 m
Length: 1,200 m
Width: 25 m
Length: 600 m
Surface material: pebbles
Sand colour: golden
Swell: oderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Closest marina: Cabopino
District: Marbella
Town: San Pedro Alcántara - Marbella
Closest marina: Puerto Banús
Nude beach: yes
Nude beach: no
Marbella
Marbella
c
.
.
Type of beach: isolated
Blue flag: yes
Marbella
PÆgina 128
Cortijo Blanco Beach
Artola - Cabopino Beach
Description:
Set among the Artola dunes, a protected natural
area, this extensive sandy beach borders the
Cabopino marina. Some stretches can be
considered as nude beaches.
8:20
128
.
.
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Marbella
Index
129
13/11/2008
c
OSTA BELLA BEACH
.
showers, rubbish bins, cleaning service, beach
umbrella and beach chair hire, kiosk.
e
L ALICATE BEACH
Marbella
Description:
A magnificent beach with housing developments
scattered amongst its abundant pines.
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: no
Width: 25 m
Length: 850 m
Width: 15 m
Length: 570 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: golden
Swell: moderate
Closest marina: Marbella
umbrella hire, beach bar (open all year round),
showers, rubbish bins, parking lot, cleaning
service, public telephone, security surveillance.
.
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
130
.
.
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Marbella
Marbella
Marbella
PÆgina 130
El Alicate Beach
Costa Bella Beach
Description:
Together with El Alicate and Pinomar, Costa Bella
makes up a beach are nearly 2 km in length,
which tends to be fairly busy . It features golden
sand and moderate swells. Although it does not
have a parking lot, access is usually by car and
entrances to the beach are well signposted.
8:20
Marbella
Index
131
13/11/2008
e
L ANCÓN BEACH
Marbella
Description:
This is a fairly long beach located in one of
Marbella's most exclusive neighbourhoods and is
highly popular with tourists in summer.
L CABLE BEACH
Marbella
Width: 50 m
Length: 400 m
Sand colour: golden
Swell: moderate
El Cable Beach
.
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
El Ancón Beach
e
Blue flag: yes
Width: 15 m
Length: 1,200 m
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
showers, rubbish bins, kiosk, security
surveillance.
132
.
.
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Marbella
Marbella
PÆgina 132
Description:
El Cable Beach is located between the fishing
port and the mouth of the Real River. Almost all of
the services and beach bars lie near the port,
which is also where most swimmers go.
Blue flag: no
umbrella hire, showers, lifeguard station, rubbish
bins, cleaning service, public telephone, security
surveillance..
8:21
Marbella
Index
133
13/11/2008
e
L FARO BEACH
Description:
El Faro Beach is one of the most crowded on the
Marbella coast due to its location right in front of
the city centre. The great lighthouse presiding
over it lends the beach its name: Faro ("faro"
means lighthouse in Spanish).
Marbella
chair hire, showers, lifeguard station, rubbish
bins, restaurant, security surveillance, children's
area.
e
L PINILLO BEACH
Marbella
Description:
This beach is the natural continuation of Los
Monteros Beach. It features an extensive stretch
of beach and green areas.
Width: 15 m
Length: 1,650 m
Width: 30 m
Length: 200 m
El Pinillo Beach
El Faro Beach
PÆgina 134
Blue flag: yHs
Blue flag: \HV
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: golden
Swell: none
.
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
umbrella hire, showers, peddle boats, rubbish
bins, parking lot, cleaning service, public
telephone, security surveillance.
134
.
.
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Marbella
Marbella
.
8:21
Marbella
Index
135
13/11/2008
f
ONTANILLA BEACH
Description:
This urban beach is located opposite the
beachfront promenade and the Marbella marina.
The construction of several breakwaters on the
shorefront has improved the swimming area.
Marbella
umbrella hire, toilets, showers, lifeguard station,
rubbish bins, promenade, cleaning service, public
Fontanilla Beach
Width: 30 m
Length: 1,000 m
PÆgina 136
g
UADALMINA BEACH
Marbella
Description:
Guadalmina beach belongs to the adjacent
towns of San Pedro Alcántara (Marbella) an d
Estepona. Its exceptional surroundings include
the third-century AD Roman ruins known as Las
Bóvedas, which are located within a protected
archaeological site. This beach has been
blueflagged since 1992 thanks to its excellent
water quality.
chair and beach umbrella hire, sport equipment
hire, showers, peddle boats, lifeguard station,
rubbish bins, parking lot, cleaning service, hazard
warnings, security surveillance, children's area.
Guadalmina Beach
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: yes
Sand colour: golden
Swell: moderate
Width: 10 m
Length: 1,700 m
Sand colour: golden
Swell: moderate
Nude beach: no
.
.
8:21
District: Marbella
Town: San Pedro Alcántara-Marbella
Marbella
Marbella
Nude beach: no
136
.
.
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Marbella
Index
137
13/11/2008
l
A ADELFA BEACH
Facilities and services: security surveillance,
easy access, showers, rubbish bins, cleaning
kiosk, parking lot.
Width: 40 m
Length: 650 m
Marbella
Description:
Situated next to the fishing port of Marbella, right
in front of the city centre, this beach is known for
being one of the most crowded and popular with
tourists. The nearest marina is La Bajadilla.
.
Sand colour: golden
Swell: none
Sand colour: golden
Swell: moderate
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Nude beach: no
chair hire, showers, lifeguard station, kiosk,
restaurant, security surveillance, children's area.
138
.
.
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Marbella
Marbella
A BAJADILLA BEACH
Width: 40 m
Length: 850 m
Surface material: and
Blue flag: no
Nude beach: no
l
Blue flag: \HV
.
La Adelfa Beach
Marbella
PÆgina 138
La Bajadilla Beach
Description:
This is the third of the Monteros beaches. About
600 meters long and 40 meters wide, it features
golden sand and a moderate swell. The beach is
well signposted and of fers a wide array of basic
services such as beach umbrella and beach chair
hire, and a parking lot with capacity of 100. It is
situated about 4 km from the Marbella marina.
8:21
Marbella
Index
139
13/11/2008
l
AS CAÑAS BEACH
Description:
Groups of small white houses are scattered
amongst the thick vegetation that runs down to
the seaside, where this large beach bends and
twists along the coastline.
Marbella
showers, lifeguard station, rubbish bins, parking
lot, cleaning service, public telephone, security
surveillance.
PÆgina 140
l
AS CHAPAS BEACH
Description:
This beach is another link in the long chain of
great swimming areas that join together all the
cities of the Costa del Sol.
Blue flag: no
showers, peddle boats, lifeguard station, rubbish
Width: 25 m
Length: 750 m
Width: 10 m
Length: 1,000 m
Surface material: sand, rock
Sand colour: golden
Swell: moderate
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
.
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Marbella
Marbella
Marbella
Las Chapas Beach
Las Cañas Beach
Blue flag: no
.
8:22
140
.
.
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Marbella
Index
141
13/11/2008
l
A VENUS BEACH
Description:
This small beach is located right in the city centre
and is bordered on one end by Marbella's fishing
port and on the other by its marina.
Marbella
round), showers, peddle boat, rubbish bins,
security surveillance, children's area.
PÆgina 142
l
A VÍBORA BEACH
Marbella
Description:
Located near La Víbora Stream, from which it
takes its name, this beach is an especially good
place for catching shellfish.
Blue flag: no
Width: 30 m
Length: 850 m
Sand colour: golden
Swell: none
Sand colour: golden
Swell: moderate
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
showers, lifeguard station, restaurant, cleaning
service.
142
.
.
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Marbella
Marbella
.
.
Width: 50 m
Length: 400 m
La Víbora Beach
La Venus Beach
Blue flag: yes
8:22
Marbella
Index
143
l
INDA VISTA BEACH
Marbella
Facilities and services: beach chair hire, toilets,
showers, lifeguard station, kiosk, security
surveillance.
OS MONTEROS BEACH
Marbella
Description:
This beach is in a neighbourhood consisting of
small houses with swimming pools. Located
between the mouths of the Real River and the
Siete Revueltas River , it features a splendid
green area that stretches right down to the sand.
Width: 10 m
Length: 450 m
Width: 30 m
Length: 650 m
Sand colour: golden
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
Marbella
.
District: Marbella
Town: Urbanización Linda Vista,
San Pedro Alcántara - Marbella
.
Marbella
l
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: no
144
PÆgina 144
.
.
8:23
Los Monteros Beach
Linda Vista Beach
Description:
Linda V ista Beach is located near the V ega del
Mar Paleo-Christian Basilica, an extraordinary
archaeological site open to tourists. Linda Vista is
an easily accessible beach located in the
neighbourhood of the same name. The best way
to get there is by car.
13/11/2008
Marbella
Index
145
13/11/2008
n
AGÜELLES BEACH
Marbella
Nagüelles Beach
UEVA ANDALUCÍA - EL DUQUE BEACH
Marbella
umbrella hire, sport equipment hire, toilets, beach
bar (open all year round), showers, peddle boat,
lifeguard station, rubbish bins, parking lot,
Blue flag: no
Width: 40 m
Length: 1,600 m
Width: 30 m
Length: 1,050 m
Sand colour: golden
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
.
n
Description:
This beach, situated next to Puerto Banús, is set
against an impressive mountainous backdrop and
boasts an excellent swimming area thanks to the
breakwaters that were constructed to allow for the
accumulation of sand.
Blue flag: no
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
Marbella
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
146
.
.
Marbella
PÆgina 146
Nueva Andalucía - El Duque Beach
Description:
Located in front of the Marbella Club luxury hotel,
this beach is surrounded by a magnificent
backdrop of high mountains, and of fers all types
of services.
bins, parking lot, promenade, cleaning service,
public telephone, security surveillance.
8:23
Marbella
Index
147
13/11/2008
p
umbrella and beach chair hire, sports equipment
hire, kiosk.
Description:
This beach - an extension of Río V erde Beach consists of a small swimming area which has
formed behind the marina and has become quite
popular with tourists.
Sand colour: golden
Swell: moderate
round), showers, peddle boat, lifeguard station,
rubbish bins, sea promenade, cleaning service,
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Sand colour: golden
Swell: moderate
Nude beach: no
Marbella
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
148
.
.
Marbella
Marbella
Width: 40 m
Length: 1,500 m
Width: 25 m
Length: 350 m
Nude beach: no
UERTO BANÚS BEACH
Blue flag: yes
Blue flag: no
p
.
.
Description:
This beach is a part of the group of beaches
mentioned above, with which it shares virtually all
their characteristics, including golden sand and a
moderate swell, along with a tendency to get fairly
crowded in summer . It is easily accessible and
can be reached on foot or by car, although it does
not have designated parking areas. Pinomar
offers basically the same array of services as
Costa Bella, but, in addition, it has a tourist office.
Marbella
PÆgina 148
Puerto Banús Beach
Pinomar Beach
INOMAR BEACH
8:23
Marbella
Index
149
13/11/2008
r
EAL DE ZARAGOZA BEACH
bins, parking lot, cleaning service, hazard
warnings, public telephone, security surveillance.
Blue flag: no
Width: 30 m
Length: 1,700 m
EALEJO BEACH
Marbella
Description:
Realejo is part of Los Monteros group of beaches
mentioned above. It is located near the Marbella
Marina and is only accessible by car , although it
lacks a designated parking lot. It features golden
sand, shoreline vegetation and a moderate swell.
This beach is normally not overly crowded and
doesn't of fer many services, but there are
showers and beach chairs and beach umbrellas
for hire.
umbrella and beach chair hire.
Blue flag: no
Sand colour: golden
Swell: moderate
Width: 40 m
Length: 800 m
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Sand colour: golden
Swell: moderate
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
150
.
.
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Marbella
Marbella
r
.
.
Marbella
PÆgina 150
Realejo Beach
Real de Zaragoza Beach
Description:
This lengthy beach benefits greatly from its
situation as part of a housing development
containing a splendid grove of pines, a swimming
pool and a wide array of services.
8:24
Marbella
Index
151
13/11/2008
r
.
umbrella and beach chair hire, nautical sports
equipment hire, kiosk, parking lot.
r
ÍO VERDE BEACH
Description:
The Río V erde beach is located in the housing
development that bears the same name. Close to
the beach, you can find the archaeological
remains of a Hispanic-Roman villa, Roman villa of
Río Verde, from the first century.
Width: 30 m
Length: 1,200 m
Surface material: coarse sand
Width: 30 m
Length: 400 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
Nude beach: no
Marbella
District: Marbella
Town: Marbella
152
.
.
Nude beach: no
Facilities and services: showers, toilets, rubbish
bins, beach chair and beach umbrella hire, first
aid and lifeguard services, beach bar-restaurants,
water sports at the beach clubs: jet skiing, pedal
boating, windsurfing, etc., security surveillance
during the summer.
Blue flag: yes
Blue flag: \HV
Marbella
.
Marbella
Description:
Although Río Real proper is only about 400 m
long, this stretch of beach belongs to Los
Monteros group of beaches, whose total length is
2 km. This beach is normally quite crowded and is
well equipped with services. It can be accessed
by car only and there is a parking lot (without
security surveillance) with a capacity of 50. The
beach is located about 3 km from the Marbella
Marina.
Marbella
PÆgina 152
Río Verde Beach
Río Real Beach
ÍO REAL BEACH
8:24
Marbella
Index
153
s
.
San Pedroe Alcántara Beach
AN PEDRO ALCÁNTARA BEACH
Description:
This is an exceptional beach adjoining the urban
area of the same name. Due to its excellent water
and sand quality it has been a blue-flag beach
since 1992.
13/11/2008
8:25
PÆgina 154
Marbella
telephone, security surveillance, children's area.
Blue flag: yes
Width: 35 m
Length: 1,400 m
Surface material: sand, gravel
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Marbella
Nude beach: no
.
District: Marbella
Town: San Pedro Alcántara - Marbella
154
Marbella
Index
155
13/11/2008
8:25
PÆgina 156
TOURIST BOARD &
USEFUL INFORMATION
Marbella
Index
Marbella
.
Historic Downtown
.
.
The Romans left their mark on the region, as
seen in the Río V
erde villa, the baths at
Guadalmina and other findings in the old
quarter. Some scholars have even entertained
With the Moorish invasion, the city fell under the
control of various dynasties until the BanuMarins (Berbers) took power in 1274. Later it
became part of the Kingdom of Granada -as did
the rest of the region- until it was conquered by
Ferdinand and Isabella in 1485. In the sixteenth
century, the city began to undergo a process of
extensive renovation, which started with the
demolition of part of the medina or old quarter to
create a central plaza, the present-day Plaza de
los Naranjos. A street was also built to connect
this new urban area with the sea. The name of
the city changed from Barbesula, in the Roman
period, to Barbella under the Moors, and finally
became Marbella - a derivation of the
Arab
name- with the arrival of the Christians.
Historic Downtown
The second most-populated town within the
province of Málaga, Marbella, was home to
Palaeolithic settlers -its first inhabitants,
centuries ago- as evidenced by weapons and
tools found at Coto Correa, in the Las Chapas
area, and in the Pecho Redondo Cave (in this
case, Neolithic) in the southern foothills of the
Sierra Blanca. There are no traces of other
civilizations here until the end of the
Carthaginian period, from which there are
remains that suggest the Carthaginians might
have built a factory in Río V
erde, about 5 km
from Marbella.
Although the surviving remnants of the castle's
towers and walls date back to the Moorish
period, the lowest part of the construction is
certainly Roman, as are the foundations of some
of the buildings in the Plaza de los Naranjos, in
the heart of Marbella. Therefore, we could say
that the town was quite important in Roman
times. The V ega del Mar Paleo-Christian
Basilica, located near San Pedro
Alcántara,
dates back to the V isigothic period and stands
out as one of the most remarkable constructions
built during that period in Spain.
.
156
In spite of the extensive housing complexes that
have even reached areas far from the coastal
strip and despite the dubious taste of certain
buildings which don't match with the surrounding
landscape, old cork oaks, large pine woods and
some olive groves can still be found in the
region. These, along with the newly created
private gardens and the carefully kept golf
courses (of which there are fourteen in the
district), make greenery one of the basic
elements of Marbella's landscape and a key
attraction for the highly af fluent tourists who
frequent the area.
the possibility that the site of present-day
Marbella was founded by the Romans, and
some go on to suggest that it could have been
the famous Iberian enclave of Salduba
mentioned by Pliny and Ptolemy . In any case,
the perimeter of the ancient town, which was
undoubtedly fortified, must have coincided with
what is now the old quarter.
Marbella
Name given to the local people: marbellíes.
Location: it is situated in the centre of the
Western Costa del Sol, between the foot of the
Sierra Blanca mountain range and the coast.
The city is 56 km from Málaga. Its average
annual rainfall is 630 l/m 2 and the average
temperature is around 18º C.
What to see: Río Verde Roman villa, V ega del
Mar Paleo-Christian Basilica, Roman baths at
Guadalmina, La Encarnación Church,
Arab
fortress, San Juan de Dios Hospital, Bazán
Hospital, Casa del Corregidor, Santo Cristo de la
Vera Cruz Chapel, Santo Cristo Church, Cortijo
Miraflores Museum, Museum of Mechanical Art,
Bonsai Museum, Museum of Contemporary
Spanish Prints.
Tourist Information: Tourist Office, Glorieta de
la Fontanilla, s/n (29600).
Tel: (+34) 952 774 693; fax: (+34) 952 774 693.
The singular silhouette of the Sierra Blanca
range, visible from anywhere in the district, is the
defining geographical feature of the region. Its
northern reaches are mountainous -with some
peaks exceeding 1,000 m- and criss-crossed by
innumerable streams which continue to instil the
area with a natural beauty despite the rampant
spread of luxury housing developments carried
out over the past decades.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Marbella
157
13/11/2008
8:25
PÆgina 158
TOURIST BOARD &
By car, on the AP-7 toll motorway or the N-340
highway. Both routes are well signposted..
WHAT TO SEE
Marbella boasts the highest concentration of golf
courses in Spain -and even much of
Europealong with marinas, restaurants, a
casino, luxury hotels and very elegant shops,
The V ega del Mar Paleo-Christian Basilica,
discovered in 1915, is in the town of Linda Vista,
next to San Pedro Alcántara. A necropolis
with more than 180 burial sites was also
uncovered during its excavation.
The basilica has been roughly dated to between
the fourth and sixth centuries, with arguments
supporting its origins in one century or the other.
It has a rectangular floor-plan and three naves.
It is also known that one of the two sacristies
was converted into a baptistery in the sixth
century (under Byzantine domination), for which
a 1.1 meter-deep baptismal font was installed.
Jewels, pottery , coins and inscriptions
corresponding to various funerary offerings have
all been found at this site.
Marbella
Index
Marbella
.
Historic Downtown
.
The Casa del Corregidor (House of the Chief
Magistrate) dates back to 1552. A balcony with
triple arches juts out from its noble stone façade
which once again incorporates the predominant
styles of the times -Renaissance, Gothic and
Mudéjar- along with some coats of arms. This
building is part of the unique architectural
grouping at the Plaza de los Naranjos, in the
heart of the old quarter.
.
The Bazán Hospital, also from the sixteenth
century, is a peculiar building. It was constructed
on top of three old Arab houses, giving its rooms
a strange asymmetry. Just as with the San Juan
de Dios Hospital, the remains of this building
feature Renaissance, Gothic and Mudéjar
elements. It was formerly the residence of
Alonso de Bazán, the city's alderman.
Historic Downtown
The Church of the Encarnación, erected in 1618,
features a magnificent Baroque red-stone
façade. The central nave (it has three) ends in a
semicircular apse crowned by a vault. The main
altarpiece, also Baroque, is adorned with an
image of St Barnabas, the city's Patron Saint.
Parts of the old Arab fortress, some sections of
Renaissance, Gothic and Mudéjar styles are
present in equal measure in the San Juan de
Dios Hospital, built in the sixteenth century . The
lower part of the stone façade contrasts with the
bell tower , which is whitewashed, after the
popular tradition painting everything over in
white. The main entranceway is made of stone,
and the royal coat of arms, as well as that of the
Order of San Juan de Dios, is carved into its
wooden door . A Mudéjar ceiling has been
preserved in the chapel.
.
Next to the entrance archway of San Pedro
Alcántara lie the Guadalmina Roman baths.
Dating from between the second and third
centuries AD, the complex was constructed
around an octagonal courtyard with a pool at its
centre. Seven interconnected octagonal
chambers surround the courtyard. The upper
area is situated at a height of nearly 5 m and is
crowned by a central dome that let natural light
in to illuminate the pool. The remains of clay
pipes found here seem to indicate that hot water
or hot air was piped into the baths.
the walls and a tower are very well preserved.
Roman materials were used in its construction
(ninth to tenth century), including the stone
blocks in the lower part of the walls as well as
three Ionic capitals that serve here as support
stones.
Marbella
158
The Roman villa of Río V erde, discovered in
1961, was built between the first and second
centuries AD. It is located about 5 km from the
city centre. Apparently, it belonged to a village
which covered 6 ha, which could have been
Cilniana. The sort of remains discovered (hooks
and needles for sewing nets) point to the fact
that the aristocratic villa once lodged a fishing
industry. The highlights of the site are the
mosaics, of great artistic quality . They depict
culinary motifs, whose structuring is considered
by some experts to be very similar to the art of
the twentieth century.
The central figure of the Medusa head is
surrounded by birds, ducks, urns and plant
motifs in a variety of colours.
CONVENTION BUREAU
In light of the city's present-day aspect, it's
difficult to imagine that nineteenth-century
Marbella was once a leader of the Spanish
mining industry and saw the installation of blast
furnaces to process iron extracted from the
Sierra Blanca mines. Within the span of a single
century, the city witnessed its own
transformation from an industrial centre to a
world-class tourist destination.
not to mention its excellent beaches covering
more than 20 km of coastline. But this is not all,
for the city also of fers a historical-artistic
heritage of great interest, and its historic centre
has admirably withstood the "latest craze",
which has changed Marbella in so many ways.
159
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8:25
PÆgina 160
TOURIST BOARD &
The cosmopolitan nature of Marbella has
not taken anything away from its festive
traditions, actually quite the contrary
. Its
festival calendar has, however
, become
more diversified to accommodate an ever
more heterogeneous population. The Fair of
San Bernabé, in the first week of June, is
the celebration most deeply rooted in
popular tradition of all Marbella's fiestas.
The fair takes place in the historic centre by
day and, at sunset, moves over to the
fairgrounds. Regardless of the venue, a
noticeable Andalusian air predominates,
truly enjoyed by foreign visitors.
.
Historic Downtown
.
It is during Holy W
eek, however , that
Marbella's Andalusian character really
comes to the fore. This celebration not only
coexists perfectly with the customs and
traditions of the thousands of foreign
Marbella
Index
.
Inaugurated in 1992, the Museo del Grabado
Español Contemporáneo (Museum of
Contemporary Spanish Prints, C/ Hospital
Bazán, s/n. Tel.: 952 765 741) stands out
among Spanish museums. Almost all the famed
Spanish engravers have one or more works on
display in the museum halls, including Antonio
López, Picasso, Dalí, Tàpies, Clavé, Equipo
Crónica, Genovés, Sempere, Palazuelo,
Chillida, Barceló, Sicilia…
Temporary
exhibitions and conference series are also
organised here.
As in most of the mountain towns in the
region, Marbella celebrates the traditional
tostón (chestnut roast) on 1 November
, at
the time of the
All Saints' Day festivities.
Groups of young people spend the day in
the countryside collecting chestnuts, which
are then roasted and eaten, local brandy
being the perfect accompaniment to them.
Historic Downtown
The peculiar Museo de Arte Mecánico (Museum
of Mechanical Art, C/ EI Ingenio de la Morena,
s/n. Tel.: 952 786 968) exhibits machines made
The Museo del Bonsai (Avda. Dr Maiz, s/n. Tel.:
952 862 926) is considered as one of the best
of its kind in all of Europe. Its collection of wild
olive trees is impressive, as well as tiny Spanish
firs, a native species in danger of extinction.
The pilgrimage to the Cruz de Juanar
,a
symbolic place located in the mountain range of
the same name, takes place in May . Marbella's
second city centre, San Pedro
Alcántara,
celebrates four days in honour of its Patron Saint
around 19 October. The municipal pavilion is the
site of the most acclaimed performances and is
the centrepiece of the fair, which also includes a
procession of the Saint through the main
streets of the city.
.
160
Marbella's museums are housed in five different
buildings and cover a variety of topics.
The
Museo Cortijo de Miraflores (C/ Luis Morales
and Marín, s/n. Tel.: 952 902 714) is located in
an early-eighteenth-century building. It
underwent an extensive refurbishing to
accommodate several temporary exhibition
halls as well as its hallmark permanent exhibit:
an old olive oil mill and all the equipment used
for producing olive oil.
out of scrap metal, while the Museo del Ralli (C/
Urbanización Coral Beach, 5. Tel.: 952 857 923)
houses a collection of works, most of them
contemporary, by Latin American artists.
Marbella
Marbella
The Santo Cristo Church, built between the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, is one of the
oldest buildings in Marbella. The Santo Cristo
de la V era Cruz Chapel was built in the
sixteenth century and subsequently restored in
the eighteenth century. These two buildings are
interesting examples of the city's religious
architecture.
residents, but has actually been
strengthened over the past decades by the
creation of new cofradías (fraternities).
The first documents that mention this
religious celebration in Marbella date back
to the sixteenth century and attest to the
existence of the Misericordia and the V
era
Cruz fraternities. Only scanty historical data
point to the keeping of this tradition
throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries, and it wasn't until the 1960s that
it began to see renewed popularity
. There
are nine cofradías in Marbella, San Pedro
Alcántara and Nueva
Andalusia, where
they feature a live re-enactment of Jesus'
entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday
.
The walls of the old Arab castle provide an
impressive historical backdrop for the
portrayal of the entrance of Jesus into
Jerusalem together with Our Lady of Peace
on Palm Sunday . One of the most spectacular
and moving moments of Marbella's Holy W eek
celebrations occurs when the Maria
Santísima del Calvario's (Our Lady of
Calvary) float is carried down from its chapel
on Holy Thursday.
CONVENTION BUREAU
FIESTAS
161
FOOD
Pescaíto frito (small fried fish), popular in all
the coastal communities of Málaga, is
certainly the most requested of the typical
dishes. Other specialties include paella,
gazpacho (chilled vegetable soup) and
ajoblanco (chilled garlic and almond soup).
However, Marbella's culinary tradition is much
more varied than that, and it's not at all
surprising that the cuisine here enjoys merited
renown. Several of the most acclaimed
restaurants on the Costa del Sol are located in
Marbella.
NAUTICAL ACTIVITIES
8:25
PÆgina 162
services, but true centres of leisure and
recreation with lots of commercial and social
activity.
It could be said that it isn't that frequent for a
single community to have three marinas as
does Marbella. Here, visitors can choose
between the Marbella, Cabopino and Puerto
Banús marina, without a doubt the most
famous, not only because of the large luxury
yachts usually moored here, but also
because of the number and quality of the
leisure facilities, shops and restaurants
located nearby . It has got to the point where
a stay in Marbella isn't complete without a
visit to Puerto Banús.
The three marinas
offer a total of about 1,800 moorings, more
than half of which are located in Puerto
Banús.
.
Historic Downtown
.
Marbella
One of the features contributing to Marbella's
pre-eminent position as a tourist destination
is the quality of its marinas. They are not just
run-of-the-mill marinas with all the usual
13/11/2008
162
Marbella
Index
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10:31
PÆgina 164
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
index. Mijas
Many districts of the province of Málaga are made up of
several towns or villages, and Mijas is no exception with its
three distinct ones: Mijas Pueblo, Las Lagunas and Cala de
Mijas. Mijas Pueblo is a typical, whitewashed, Andalusian village of
Moorish origins. It houses most of the town's monuments as well as its
administrative centre. The majority of the municipal services and some
residential areas can be found in Las Lagunas, while Cala de Mijas,
situated right on the coast, is entirely residential and dedicated to "sun and
sand" and residential tourism.
. Butibamba / La Cala
. Calahonda
. El Bombo
. El Chaparral
Mijas
.
164
Index
165
13/11/2008
l
ALAHONDA BEACH
Topología: semi-urban
Blue flag: QR
Width: 20 m
Length: 1,300 m
Width: 20 m
Length: 4,400 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: calm
Sand colour: dark
Swell: none
District: Mijas
Town: Mijas
Nude beach: no
166
.
.
District: Mijas
Town: Mijas
service, beach bar , beach umbrella and beach
chair hire, showers.
Mijas
Nude beach: no
Mijas
Description:
This beach is found across from the residential
area of Calahonda and of fers a variety of
services. Along its more developed stretches,
there are some houses and beach bars, while
other areas are almost pristine, boasting
abundant vegetation. The wooden jetty can be
used for fishing and diving. The narrow beach
features many small, irregular spits and inlets, all
facing south.
Blue flag: QR
Mijas
nautical sports equipment hire, kiosk, parking lot.
c
.
.
Description:
This is a long and narrow beach -scarcely 20 m
wide and about 1,300 long- situated near the Cala
del Moral Stream in an area of intensive urban
development. The water here is usually calm and
the beach is normally quite busy . It is readily
accessible on foot and of fers a number of
services such as beach chair , beach umbrella
and nautical sports equipment hire, as well as a
parking lot (no security surveillance).
Mijas
PÆgina 166
Calahonda Beach
La Butibamba - La Caja Beach
A BUTIBAMBA - LA CALA BEACH
8:26
Mijas
Index
167
13/11/2008
e
L BOMBO BEACH
e
L CHAPARRAL BEACH
Mijas
Description:
This is a rocky, dark-sand beach with a moderate
swell comprised of a narrow strip along the N-340
highway. It is more than 4,000 m long and 12 m
wide, and can be accessed, albeit with some
difficulty, on foot. It of fers a parking lot with
security surveillance for approximately 100
vehicles and an array of services.
Blue flag: QR
Blue flag: no
Width: 20 m
Length: 1,100 m
Width: 12 m
Length: 4,400 m
Surface material: pebbles
Sand colour: ark
Swell: calm
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Facilities and services: security, showers,
rubbish bins, cleaning service, beach umbrella
and beach chair hire, nautical sports equipment
hire, kiosk, parking lot.
.
.
El Bombo Beach
Mijas
PÆgina 168
El Chaparral Beach
Description:
This is a narrow , busy beach running along a
stretch of the N-340 highway in an area of heavy
development. It features abundant vegetation and
the water is generally calm and great for
swimming. It of fers a lot of services and has a
parking lot (without security surveillance) for
about 100 cars.
8:26
Nude beach: no
168
.
.
District: Mijas
Town: Mijas
Mijas
Mijas
Nude beach: no
District: Mijas
Town: Mijas
Mijas
Index
169
13/11/2008
8:27
PÆgina 170
TOURIST BOARD &
USEFUL INFORMATION
Mijas
Index
Mijas
.
Historic Downtown
.
Mijas resisted Christian's harassment until the
fall of Málaga, in 1487. Upon hearing of the city's
conquest, the inhabitants of Mijas believed an
unconditional surrender would be the most
advantageous. They sent a delegation to
Málaga to agree on the terms of the surrender ,
but they were imprisoned and some were even
sold as slaves.
.
Archaeological evidence points to Mijas as
belonging to the Turdetan culture, and other
remains attest the fact that the Phoenicians and
the Greeks settled in the area, trading the
The good relations between Muslims and
Mozarabs were strengthened under the
leadership of Omar Ben Hafsun, with a cordial
relationship developing out of the two sides'
mutual need for one another. Upon the death of
Omar Ben Hafsun,
Abd-ar-Rahman III
reconquered the area.
Historic Downtown
This district, like many others in the province of
Málaga, consists of several towns including
Mijas Pueblo, Las Lagunas and Cala de Mijas.
Mijas Pueblo is a typical, whitewashed,
Andalusian village of Moorish layout. It houses
most of the town's monuments and its
administrative centre. The majority of the
municipal services and some residential areas
can be found in Las Lagunas, while Cala de
Mijas, situated right on the coast, is entirely
residential and dedicated to "sun and sand"
tourism.
The Moors took control of the village shortly after
landing on the Iberian Peninsula. By 714 they
were already governing it while allowing the
inhabitants to keep their possessions, religion
and customs in exchange for a certain
percentage of their livestock and agricultural
production.
.
170
Even so, a certain general respect for the
surroundings, along with the powerful
landscape, has prevented golf courses and
construction projects from hiding the natural
beauty of the region. The mountains and the
people themselves continue to be the defining
features of the district. The coastline, on the
other hand, has been almost entirely developed
between Fuengirola and Marbella with the
exception of a few rocky stretches.
mineral resources of the region.
The first
historical reference to the town comes from
Ptolemy, a geographer at the School of
Alexandria during the second century AD. He
most likely visited the area at the time or had
received information from those who knew it
well, given the accuracy of his descriptions.
In Roman times, the area was called Tamisa,
and it seems likely that economic activity was
thriving here given the town's proximity to the
Appian Way, a Roman road connecting the cities
of Cádiz and Málaga. The Arabs called the town
Mixa, from which the Christians then derived the
present-day name: Mijas.
Mijas
Surface area: 147 km 2.
Population: about 53,000.
Name given to the local people: mijeños.
Location: in the W estern Costa del Sol, the
town is situated approximately 430 m above sea
level, 30 km from the provincial capital and 8 km
from neighbouring Fuengirola. Average annual
rainfall is 660 l/m 2 and the average temperature
is around 17º C.
What to see: Virgen de la Peña Chapel,
Inmaculada Concepción Church, Bullring,
Carromato de Max, Casa Museo (House
Museum), Museo de las Torres Vigías
(Watchtower Museum).
Tourist Information: Tourist Office, Virgen de la
Peña Plaza (29650).
Tel.: (+34) 952 485 820; fax:(+34) 952 486 694.
Mijas
The district of Mijas is tucked between the
sea and its namesake mountain range.
The
proximity of the highest peak (1,130 m) to the
coast at times makes for rather abrupt contrasts
in elevation. The many steep valleys, mountain
crests and rolling hills are still home to areas of
native vegetation, despite the spectacular
encroachment of housing developments
introduced into the area in recent years, which
has made it increasingly more dif
ficult to
maintain the small pastures and olive groves
that provide such a scanty economic return
these days.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Mijas
171
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8:27
PÆgina 172
TOURIST BOARD &
Some days later, on 11 December, the General
and his men were executed by firing squad on
San Adnrés beach, in Málaga for their opposition
to Ferdinand VII's absolutism.
Mijas
.
Although the Virgen de la Peña Chapel does not
stand out for its artistic value, it is the place
where the community's Patron V
irgin is
honoured; it is the true centre of religious
devotion. It was carved out of the rock by monks
during the second half of the seventeenth
century. Legend has it that the image of the
Virgin was found in the walls of the old castle
during the last third of the sixteenth century, in a
place where it had been hidden eight centuries
earlier to prevent its being taken by the Muslims.
The grounds of the chapel are lined with
carefully tended gardens that lead to a viewpoint
where an incredible vista, not just of Mijas and
Fuengirola, but also of a good stretch of the
Costa del Sol can be enjoyed.
El Museo de las Torres V igías (W atchtower
Museum), in Cala de Mijas (T el.: 952 590 380)
houses an interpretation centre for watchtowers
found in the Mijas district (T orre de Calaburras,
Torre V ieja, Torre Nueva and
Torre de
Calahonda), and also features a detailed
account of Torrijos's landing on the Mijas coast,
as well as a display of the various local fishing
methods and their tools.
.
.
172
Historic Downtown
The Church of the Inmaculada Concepción,
dating back to the sixteenth century
, was
constructed on the crown of a hill where a castle,
and later a mosque, once stood. The church's
interior is divided into three naves with the
central one conserving its Mudéjar cof
fered
ceiling. The tower was built on a square
floorplan, and some experts believe it may have
belonged to the old fortress.
The Carromato de Max (Del Compás Ave.) is
considered to be the world's first museum of
miniatures. Some of its most impressive pieces
include the "Our Father" prayer written on the
edge of a business card and a portrait of
Abraham Lincoln on the head of a pin.
Open to the public since 1995, the Casa Museo
(House Museum, Plaza de la Libertad.T el.: 952
590 380) displays traditional farming equipment
and tools that allow visitors to get a
feel for the rural lifestyle prevalent in the region
until but a short time ago. The first floor of the
building is dedicated to temporary arts
exhibitions.
.
Historic Downtown
Upon arriving at Mijas Pueblo, visitors will
immediately notice the ambience of an Oriental
bazaar in the numerous shops in the old quarter.
This is not so much due to the kinds of goods
being sold -although this could almost be the
case- but because of the way in which small
shops line the narrow village streets. Alongside
this multicoloured hotchpotch, the alleyways and
busy plazas play host to the constant coming
and going of the famous donkey taxis, one of
Mijas's best-known and unique tourist
attractions.
The original Bullring, located in La Muralla and
built in 1900,, breaks all the architectural rules
usually seen in such buildings. Built on rock, it
features an oval inner ring set into a square
exterior. Ceramic tiles lining the walls recall the
great moments of the best bullfighters to have
graced the bullring over the years: Paquirri,
Palomo Linares, Niño de la Capea and Angel
Teruel.
Mijas
From the Costa del Sol, take
Autovía del
Mediterráneo (AP-7; N-340). When heading
from Málaga to Cádiz, once you pass
Benalmádena, take the Mijas exit and then
follow the A-368. When coming from Fuengirola
towards Málaga, follow the
Autovía del
Mediterráneo, and then the A-387 motorway. In
both cases the routes are clearly indicated by
signs.
WHAT TO SEE
CONVENTION BUREAU
The distribution of the town's lands among Old
Christians took place in 1494 and, in 1521, the
community was granted the title of "village" as a
reward for its fidelity to Charles I during the
Commoners' Rebellion. In addition, Joanna the
Mad declared the village exempt from having to
pay the alcabalas -a tribute on all goods traded.
Centuries later , on 2 December , 1831, Mijas
played witness to an important historic event as
General Torrijos landed on the beach of El
Charcón with fifty two of his companions. They
crossed the district of Mijas towards the
mountains and then travelled down to Alhaurín
de la Torre, finally taking refuge in a big
farmhouse belonging to the Count of Mollina.
Mijas
Index
173
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8:27
PÆgina 174
TOURIST BOARD &
Each of the three population centres celebrates
its own fair. Las Lagunas launches its fireworks
first with its fair getting underway in the first two
weeks of June. The festival is celebrated at the
fairgrounds but kicks of f with a grand parade
through the main streets. The municipal pavilion
and the youth pavilion are generally the two
liveliest locations thanks to the musical
performances held there. The celebrations also
feature equestrian exhibitions, fishing and
radioham competitions. A fireworks grand finale
brings the festivities to a close.
.
The Mijas W ater Park has contributed to an
increase in family tourism in the area, of fering
practically every sort of aquatic attraction you
can imagine (kamikaze, wave pool, labyrinth
of waterslides, soft slides, adventure river
,
and water world for children). It also features
a large picnic area, beach volleyball courts,
mini golf and several game rooms.
FOOD
The large foreign population in the town has
exposed Mijas's food tradition to countless new
international recipes that were virtually
unknown in the region until recently . However,
the town does still keep its own cooking
traditions, featuring specialties like salmorejo (a
soup made with tomato and garlic) as well as
other types of soups including maimones
(made with egg and Spanish ham),
cachorreñas, garlic, and gazpachuelo (chilled
vegetable soup). Buñuelos (fritters) and
hornazos (sweet bread) are the town's most
popular baked goods.
Historic Downtown
Historic Downtown
One of Mijas's most interesting contributions
to leisure and sports is the Costa del Sol
Racetrack, inaugurated just a few years ago
and already considered as one of the best in
Spain. In addition to the horse races, its
fairgrounds welcome live music
performances and house several restaurants.
Races take place on Sunday mornings during
the winter and on Saturday nights during the
summer.
.
The fiestas in honour of the V irgen de la Peña
are held in Mijas Pueblo during the second week
of September . A spectacular cabezudos and
giants' parade makes its way through the town's
main streets on the opening day to the beat of
music played by bands. On the day of the Patron
Virgin, 8 September, the image of the V irgen de
la Peña is carried from the parish church to its
chapel, after being honoured with a floral
offering.
The V irgen de la Peña Plaza has played host
to the Día Internacional de los Pueblos
(International Peoples' Day) for the past years.
The festivities feature a multicultural parade,
folklore and ethnic performances, as well as
jazz and Celt music concerts.
Visitors cannot miss the opportunity to taste
food and drink specialties from all over the
world without stepping outside the fairgrounds,
while exhibitors take part in a competition
where prizes are awarded in a variety of
categories.
LEISURE
Mijas
Mijas
Cala de Mijas waits for the second two weeks of
July to start celebrating. Festivities start of f with
parade featuring cabezudos (large-head figures)
and giants accompanied by musical bands,
majorettes and the Queen of the Fair with her
ladies-in-waiting. (page 148) Concerts are held
all day long in the of ficial municipal pavilions,
while costume, flamenco singing, sand-castle
building and fishing competitions add to the fun.
Various sports competitions, including golf,
discus, indoor football and tennis, round out the
festivities. An impressive fireworks grand finale
tops it all off.
There are many musical performances every
day, and a wide variety of competitions and
activities for children and adults alike. In the
Bullring there are horse-taming exhibitions,
horse races, and the "crazy rally". Both
villagers and visitors are careful not to miss the
giant paella cook-of f or the popular dance
competition. A fireworks display finally marks
the end of the celebrations, which have to wait
until the following year to come back.
.
.
174
CONVENTION BUREAU
FIESTAS
Mijas
Index
175
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PÆgina 176
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
index. Nerja
The eastern edge of the province of Málaga
adjoins the province of Granada right where Nerja lies.
Not only is Nerja the most important tourist destination on
the Eastern Costa del Sol, but it also offers the most spectacular
coastal landscape on the entire coast of Málaga. This stretch of
coastline has been declared a Natural Site (Paraje Natural de los
Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo) to protect the many small, pristine
coves found here.
. Burriana
. Cala del Cañuelo
.
176
Nerja
. Cala del Pino
. Calahonda
. Carabeillo Chico
. El Carabeo
. El Chorillo
. El Playazo
. El Salón
. Las Alberquillas
. La Caleta
. La Caletilla
. La Torrecilla
. Maro
. Molino de Papel
Index
177
13/11/2008
b
URRIANA BEACH
Burriana Beach
chair and beach umbrella hire, sport equipment
hire, beach bar (open in winter), showers, peddle
boats, lifeguard station, rubbish bins, parking lot,
promenade, beach volleyball court, restaurant,
surveillance.
c
ALA EL CAÑUELO BEACH
Description:
This spacious beach is surrounded by hills and its
greatest features are its charming location and
superb climate.
Blue flag: no
Width: 10 m
Length: 350 m
Width: 40 m
Length: 800 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
2013
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
District: Nerja
Town: Nerja
Nude beach no
Nude beach: no
station, rubbish bins, parking lot, cleaning
service, security surveillance.
178
.
.
Nerja
District: Nerja
Town: Nerja
Nerja
Nerja
.
.
Blue flag: yes
Nerja
PÆgina 178
Cala El Cañuelo Beach
Description:
This is certainly the most famed and popular with
tourists of all Nerja's beaches. A very large beach,
it is surrounded by residential developments
consisting of small garden houses built upon the
steep rocky cliffs.
8:28
Nerja
Index
179
13/11/2008
c
.
c
ALAHONDA BEACH
Nerja
Description:
This small, dif ficult-to-access cove is tucked
between the mountains in a broken landscape of
pines and prickly pear cactus.
Topless is
accepted here.
Description:
This beach is surrounded by imposing, sea-worn
rocks. The best view of the town can be had
looking towards Calahonda Beach from the
Balcón de Europa.
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: no
Width: 10 m
Length: 350 m
Surface material gravel
Width: 20 m
Length: 120 m
Color: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: none
Nude beach no
Nude beach: no
umbrella hire, beach bar, showers, rubbish bins,
promenade, restaurant, cleaning service, public
180
.
.
District: Nerja
Town: Maro
District: Nerja
Town: Nerja
Nerja
Facilities and services: beach bar (open all year
round), lifeguard station, rubbish bins, parking lot,
cleaning service, security surveillance.
.
Nerja
Nerja
PÆgina 180
Calahonda Beach
Cala del Pino Beach
ALA DEL PINO BEACH
8:28
Nerja
Index
181
13/11/2008
c
Facilities and services: lifeguard station,
rubbish bins, parking lot, cleaning service,
L CARABEO BEACH
Nerja
Description:
This is one of the more popular coves located
between Burriana and the Balcón de Europa.
Surrounded by huge rocks, it is a charming,
somewhat pristine beach.
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: no
Width: 15 m
Length: 120 m
Width: 10 m
Length: 70 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
District: Nerja
Town: Nerja
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
rubbish bins, cleaning service, security
surveillance.
182
.
.
Nerja
District: Nerja
Town: Nerja
Nerja
e
.
.
Description:
Natural continuation of Burriana Beach,
Carabeíllo Chico features a contrast between the
exuberance of nature and the massive amount of
housing development in the area. It is one of the
most beautiful spots in Nerja.
Nerja
PÆgina 182
El Carabeo Beach
Carabeillo Chico Beach
ARABEILLO CHICO BEACH
8:28
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Index
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e
Description:
This small cove, surrounded by enormous rocky
crags and located at the foot of the
Almijara
mountain range, is another of Nerja's spectacular
beaches. It is accessed by crossing Calahonda
Beach, which is reached by means of a stairway
of twenty-five cement steps leading down from
the famous Balcón de Europa.
Nerja
L PLAYAZO BEACH
Nerja
Description:
This large beach is open to the sea, stretching
along fertile agricultural fields and tropical fruit
plantations. Some hotels and blocks of flats are
scattered along this section of the coast.
showers, peddle boats, rubbish bins, parking lot,
kiosk, cleaning service, public telephone, security
Width: 30 m
Length: 1,700 m
Width: 20 m
Length: 60 m
.
.
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
District: Nerja
Town: Nerja
Nude beach: no
District: Nerja
Town: Nerja
184
.
.
Nerja
Nerja
e
Blue flag: QR
Blue flag: no
Nude beach: no
PÆgina 184
El Playazo Beach
El Chorrillo Beach
L CHORRILLO BEACH
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13/11/2008
e
L SALÓN BEACH
Nerja
Description:
This is a large beach located to the west of La
Caletilla and surrounded by jutting clif fs topped
with blocks of flats.
l
AS ALBERQUILLAS BEACH
Width: 20 m
Length: 200 m
Nerja
Las Alberquilllas Beach
Blue flag: no
Sand colour: dark
Swell: none
.
Width: 20 m
Length: 400 m
.
El Salón Beach
PÆgina 186
Description:
This beach is located at the foot of the high
mountains situated on the far eastern end of the
Málaga coast. It is surrounded by steep natural
terrain of stunning beauty. Access is by way of a
poorly marked right-hand turn-of f, about 200 m
past Km. 299 on the N-340 highway . There is a
road in good condition leading right down to the
beach.
Blue flag: no
District: Nerja
Town: Nerja
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Nude beach: no
Facilities and services: showers, rubbish bins,
Nude beach: no
186
.
.
Nerja
District: Nerja
Town: Nerja
Nerja
8:29
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13/11/2008
l
A CALETA BEACH
Nerja
Description:
La Caleta de Maro beach is tucked in between
the clif fs and the meadows of Maro. Its rocky
terrain and dif ficult access give it a certain wild
charm.
La Caleta Beach
l
A CALETILLA BEACH
Nerja
Blue flag: no
Width: 15 m
Length: 400 m
La Caletilla Beach
Width: 15 m
Length: 50 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
.
PÆgina 188
Description:
A dense layer of climbing vegetation covers the
steep clif fs that surround this beautiful cove,
located to the west of the Balcón de Europa.
Several nearby apartment buildings are a
reminder of the beach's tourist appeal.
Blue flag: no
District: Nerja
Town: Nerja
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
Facilities and services: none
bins, cleaning service, security surveillance.
188
.
.
Nerja
District: Nerja
Town: Nerja
Nerja
8:29
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l
A TORRECILLA BEACH
Nerja
ARO BEACH
Nerja
fs, this beach
A medieval
Blue flag: QR
Blue flag: yes
Width: 20 m
Length: 500 m
Surface material: sand, pebbles
Width: 40 m
Length: 300 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
2013
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
.
m
Description:
Situated at the foot of steep clif
mixes dark sand and pebbles.
watchtower is also found here.
District: Nerja
Town: Maro - Nerja
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
Facilities and services: showers, rubbish bins,
District: Nerja
Town: Nerja
190
.
.
Nerja
Nerja
PÆgina 190
Maro Beach
La Torrecilla Beach
Description:
La Torrecilla is one of most popular tourist
beaches in the area. Of fering a wide range of
services and having been awarded the blue flag,
this beach attracts many swimmers.
chair hire, showers, peddle boats, rubbish bins,
promenade, restaurant, cleaning service, security
surveillance.
8:29
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m
OLINO DE PAPEL BEACH
8:30
PÆgina 192
Nerja
Blue flag: no
Width: 15 m
Length: 400 m
Surface material: rocky
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
Molino de Papel Beach
Description:
Located in a virtually wild location, this beach is
surrounded by cliffs with agricultural fields at their
foot.
District: Nerja
Town: Maro - Nerja
.
Nerja
Nude beach: no
192
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Index
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PÆgina 194
TOURIST BOARD &
USEFUL INFORMATION
Nerja
.
At the end of the sixteenth century , the first
sugar manufacturing facilities were established
in Nerja, and by the end of the eighteenth
century, there was a pulp mill, which drew water
from the River de la Miel, and was operative until
the beginning of the twentieth century . During
the War of Independence, the English destroyed
not only the fortress on the present-day site of
the Balcón de Europa but also the seaport.
The name given by the Arabs to the town was
Narixa, Naricha or Narija, which were apparently
derived from a pre-Roman name.
The
translation remains unclear , though some
believe it means "large spring", and indeed there
is abundant supply of water in the area.
Historic Downtown
Traces of the first human settlements in the area
were found in the famous Nerja Cave, dating
back to the Upper Palaeolithic Aurignacian. Little
is known about the presence of other
civilizations in the area until Roman times, when
apparently a small town (Detunda) was settled
at the site of present-day Maro -the village
where the cliffs and the Nerja Cave are located.
The first historic records about Nerja appear in a
text written by the poet Ibn Said
Al-Maghribi,
under Abd-ar-Rahman III's rule (tenth century
AD). He refers to the town as a farmstead as
large as a city, where silk was skilfully produced.
After the surrender of Vélez in 1487, Nerja sent
representatives to the town to make peace with
the Christian Monarchs and thereby avoid any
further bloodshed. After their visit, Pedro de
Córdoba took possession of the village on behalf
of Ferdinand and Isabella. Under Christian rule,
the town's population dropped and, in order to
stop the abandonment of the area, Joanna the
Mad ordered the repopulation of Nerja with Old
Christians from V izcaya, Valencia, Galicia and
from Málaga itself.
.
.
194
.
Historic Downtown
While Nerja gets away from the sea, it climbs the
Sierra de Almijara range, forming a geographic
continuum with Tejeda. The terrain consists of
deep ravines, sheer clif fs and mountain peaks
furrowed by a multitude of streambeds, making
for a landscape with extraordinary topographic
diversity. The areas closest to the town have
recently seen a rampant expansion of housing
developments, which for the time being coexist
with agricultural lands with many types of
vegetables and subtropical fruits.
The old town of Narixa nestled next to a fortress,
the remains of which can still be seen in the
Castillo Alto area by the old turn-of f towards
Frigiliana.
Nerja
Name given to the local people: nerjeños.
Nickname: morralleros.
Location: Nerja is located in the foothills of the
Sierra de Almijara at the eastern-most end of the
region of Axarquía. The town is 30 m above sea
level and 45 km from Málaga. Its average annual
rainfall is 460 l/m 2, and the annual average
What to see: old quarters of Nerja and Maro,
the Balcón de Europa (Balcony of Europe), El
Salvador Church, Las Angustias Chapel,
Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas Church
(Maro), Del Águila Aqueduct, Nerja Cave, "La
Dorada" or Chanquete's boat, Maro-Cerro
Gordo Cliffs Natural Site.
Tourist Information: Tourist Office, C/ Puerta
del Mar, 2. Tel.: (+34) 952 521 531.
The eastern side of the province of Málaga is
connected to the province of Granada via the
town of Nerja, which not only is the most
important tourist centre on the Eastern Costa del
Sol, but also boasts the most beautiful coastal
landscape on the entire coast of Málaga. Here,
the foot of the Sierra de
Almijara range juts
abruptly out into the sea forming an extremely
rugged coastline, unusual in this area of the
Mediterranean Sea. This stretch of coast has
been declared a Natural Site -Paraje Natural de
los Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo- to protect
the many small, pristine coves along it. These
are generally dif ficult to access but well worth
having a look at.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Nerja
Nerja
Index
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TOURIST BOARD &
Nerja is located on the Costa del Sol, so it is
easily accessible from the
Autovía del
Mediterráneo (A-7; N-340), and can be reached
from any point along the coast of Málaga by
following the directions towards Motril-Almería.
WHAT TO SEE
Nerja looks out over the Mediterranean Sea in
an almost defiant manner , with its main street
running down from the old quarter to stop at a
metal guardrail -the only thing dividing the town
from the sea. This certainly makes for an
exceptional viewpoint, but visitors should first
take a stroll through the old part of the village,
whose original urban layout dates back to 1487.
Despite the pressure from international tourism,
the old houses here still show their typical
whitewash finish. Some areas, however have
begun to abandon the traditional features in
favour of comfort and functionality.
Nerja
Index
Nerja
.
Historic Downtown
.
.
In the Cataclysm Chamber stands the largest
natural column in the world, 18 m thick and 49 m
high, which is listed in the Guinness Book of
Records. Among the more remarkable cave
paintings are the ones depicting the red deer
roaring, the Spanish ibex, and the pregnant
mare, as well as the one entitled "Santuario de
los Defines" (The Dolphin Sanctuary). Based on
the number of annual visitors (more than
500,000), the Nerja Cave ranks as the number
one tourist monument in the province of Málaga.
(Tel.: 952 529 520).
Historic Downtown
196
The Águila
Aqueduct dates from the
midnineteenth century. Built over the Maro River
by Francisco Cantarero to supply water to the
sugar factory at San Joaquín, its thirty-seven
round arches are stacked in four levels.
The
centre bears a small shrine with the inscription
"Pura y limpia concepción" ("Pure and clean
conception"). Along with the Nerja Cave and the
Balcón de Europa, the aqueduct (some visitors
believe it is a Roman aqueduct) is one of the
symbols of Nerja. The fact that many people
believe it is Roman can be explained by the fact
The Nerja Cave, first discovered in 1959 at the
foot of the Sierra de Almijara, is the region's
major natural cavern, not only because of its
size, but also because of its beautiful stalactite
and stalagmite formations and its archaeological
value, which led it to be declared a National
Historic-Artistic Monument. The cave features
four chambers open to the public: the Belén
Chamber, where the pottery and Cro-Magnon
museums are located; the Chamber of the
Ghosts, with phantasmagorical shapes of
stalactite formations; the Ballet Chamber, where
music and dance festivals are celebrated; and
the Cataclysm Chamber , which is named this
way because it is thought that an earthquake
could have broken one of the columns and left
its remains scattered across the ground.
.
The story goes that it was King Alfonso XII who,
while visiting the area after the earthquake that
shook the Axarquía in 1884, dubbed the site with
its name known worldwide. W e do not know if
this is true, but it was indeed about that time that
the old Paseo de la Batería (Battery Promenade,
a name which referred to the cannons in the
fortress) started to be called the Balcón de
Europa.
The Nuestra Señora de las Angustias Chapel
(from the first decades of the eighteenth century)
has a single nave supporting a barrel vault, and
the main chapel features a dome with paintings
from the eighteenth-century School of Granada.
The Church of Nuestra Señora de las Maravillas
is located in nearby Maro. Finished in the
seventeenth century, it consists of a single nave
sheathed in wood, which underwent restoration
in the nineteenth century . The highlight of its
plain exterior is the tower, which is topped with a
belfry and a pyramidal spire.
that when you see it from the N-340 road, you
can notice its shape but not the bricks, which the
Romans did not use in their aqueducts.
Nerja
Nerja's highlight is the Balcón de Europa
(Balcony of Europe), a tree-lkined promenade
with magnificent views, on a promontory where
a fortress once rose (it was destroyed in 1812
during the W ar of Independence), just of f the
central square.
The construction of the Church of El Salvador
was ordered by Joanna the Mad in 1505, but it
was not until 1697 that the main part of the
building was finished, and it was refurbished in
the eighteenth century . The church consists of
three naves; the central one still showing its
Mudéjar coffered ceiling, while the lateral ones
are covered with half-barrel vaults. The transept
is crowned with a semicircular dome. The two
lateral chapels on the Gospel nave are
decorated with eighteenth-century frescos from
the School of Granada. Also of note is the mural
depicting "The Annunciation", a work by the
Vélez-born painter Francisco Hernández. The
sober façade is capped by a bell tower in three
sections.
CONVENTION BUREAU
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TOURIST BOARD &
But the Nerja Cave is not the only one in the
district -although they are often overshadowed
by the most famous one-, for instance, the
Caves of La Civila and Sima Zárate, which are
1,505 m above sea level on the Alto del Cielo,
the Cueva del Muro (Cave of the W all), Sima
Espartal, Sima de la Cuesta and the Cueva
Pintada (Painted Cave), where Prehistoric
pottery objects were found.
Nerja
.
Historic Downtown
.
Las Cruces de Mayo (May Crosses), held at the
beginning of the month, is a long-standing
tradition in Nerja, although it has changed with
the passage of time. What started out as a
courtship ritual performed by young people has
become a celebration in which colourful floral
altars are erected in the streets. Singing,
raditional dancing and, of course, eating are all
a big part of the festivities. Approximately thirty
crosses are set up and some are so popular that
traffic has to be stopped in the streets due to the
Nerja
Index
Nerja reaf firms its close ties to the sea on the
day of the V irgen del Carmen (16 July).
Festivities begin with a huge parade and in the
evening, after the Mass, the V irgen del Carmen
sails across the water in a procession,
accompanied by numerous vessels. As daylight
fades, a castle of fireworks is set of f on one of
the boats.
The "sanjuaneo" (Eve of St John, on 24 June) is
also closely linked to the sea, since the burning
of the "júas", the dances, and the ritual of going
under nine waves after jumping over the fire all
take place on the following beaches: Burriana,
La Torrecilla and El Playazo.
.
The V irgen de las Maravillas (Our Lady of
Marvels) Fair is celebrated in Maro around 8
September, when the V irgin is carried in
procession through the streets of the town
accompanied by a coheteá (a deafening thunder
of fireworks), the cost of which are shared
among residents according to what each one
can contribute. Popular music and dance are the
highlights of this celebration, whose origins date
back to the sixteenth century.
The Pilgrimage of San Isidro, on 15 May , has
become a busy celebration, as not only do the
people of Nerja take part but also a great many
foreigners living in the area. The festivities start
with a Mass at the Church of El Salvador during
which of ferings from the vegetable gardens of
Nerja are made to the Saint. Afterwards, the
floats set out from the Balcón de Europa and
head towards the Saint's chapel in La Mina, near
the Nerja Cave. Here the fiesta is celebrated
with singing, dancing and, of course, plenty of
food.
Historic Downtown
198
Festivals honouring the town's patrons (8-12
October) -St Michael Archangel and the V irgen
de las Angustias (Our Lady of Sorrow) - were
celebrated for the first time in 1804. Many
people from nearby towns come to Nerja to
partake in the fun and relaxed atmosphere that
prevails during the popular celebration.
Following the procession of the Patron Saints
held in the evening, a wide variety of activities
are held ranging from a flamenco singing
festival, to sports competitions, outdoor concerts
and musical performances of every genre.
The celebration of San Antón day is held in Maro
on 16 and 17 January . As in times gone by ,
numerous bonfires are lit on the first day to
invoke protection for livestock against diseases.
The following day there is a Mass followed by a
lively evening festival.
.
Another sight that may be of interest to some
visitors is Chanquete's boat, "La Dorada". It was
used in the filming of the Spanish National TV
series "V erano Azul", a programme that made
the location well known throughout Spain. The
boat can be found in the V erano Azul Park,
preserved as a tribute to the television series.
FIESTAS
throngs of people straining to have a look at
them.
Nerja
With such interesting sights in the mountains,
visitors must remember that Nerja has a 16km
long coastline featuring twelve different beaches
and coves. The most well-known beaches are
Burriana (the longest), Playazo, Torrecilla and
Calahonda. All are very well equipped and they
offer a variety of services, except for the coves
of Maro, where beach bars and other facilities
are not allowed.
The old quarter of the neighbouring village of
Maro, which still features the traditional
architecture of the region, also merits a thorough
visit.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The Cueva de Nerja Festival (end of July-early
August) is the oldest festival on the Costa del
Sol, having been celebrated annually for over
thirty years now . It enjoys international renown
both for its incredible location (the Ballet
Chamber in the cave) as well as for its
prestigious performers. The Queen of Spain
herself has attended the Cueva de Nerja
Festival to listen to Rostropovich. José Carreras,
Montserrat Caballé, Alfredo Kraus and Kiri Te
Kanawa, to name just a few , are among the
great performers who have participated in the
festival.
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
Holy W eek holds a special significance for the
people of both Nerja and Maro, as shown by the
austerity and respect with which they view the
passing processions. Some cofradías
(fraternities) enjoy a large devotional following
among the townspeople, a fact which the public
doesn't hesitate to express as the processions
pass by.
Carnival celebrations have always been quite
popular in Nerja, but over the last few years the
festival has become so popular that it has
surprised even its organisers, since practically
the entire town now participates.
The fancy
dresses are truly amazing, and they reach their
climax on the days when King Momo and the
Nymphs are chosen.
The "Entierro del
Chanquete" (Burial of the Sardine) consists of a
much bewailed and somewhat irreverent funeral
procession.
FOOD
Nerja
Index
Nerja
.
Historic Downtown
.
.
In the area of the clif fs, there are numerous
coves of great natural beauty including the large
and oft-visited Cañuelo, which is accessed by a
short (less than 1 km) road that leaves the N-340
highway 400 metres past kilometre 302. The El
In the westernmost part of the park are the
easily-accessible Maro beaches, along with La
Caleta, tucked in between the clif fs and the
lowlands. The Department for the Environment
has started an all-terrain transport service to
facilitate access to these coves.
Historic Downtown
The Maro-Cerro Gordo Clif fs Natural Sites
begins where the foot of Sierra deAlmijara drops
off into the Mediterranean. It was declared a
Natural Site by the Environmental Agency in
1989. Covering an area of 375 ha and reaching
one kilometre out to sea, it is an area of great
ecological significance, as much for the diversity
of species as for the variety of substrates and
unique pattern of ocean currents, which allow for
a rich marine flora and fauna.
Pino coves are sandy and located quite near to
one another, being separated by some immense
rocks. One of the largest coves is Alberquillas; it
is joined to Molino de Papel Beach by the
remains of an ancient watchtower . It can be
accessed by a road that turns of f at Km. 299 of
the N-340.
.
200
NATURE
Nerja
The local cuisine is rich and varied, resulting
from an optimal combination of ingredients from
the sea and the fields of the region. The great
influx of tourists to the town has also brought
about the establishment of high-class hotels,
making it possible to savour excellent
international food here as well. Local specialties
include fish and clams with paprika, fish and
noodle casserole, ajoblanco (garlic and almond
soup) with grapes, ajo colorao (a dish made with
potatoes, red pepper, garlic, etc.), Burriana (one
of Nerja's beaches)grilled sea bream, berzas (a
sort of vegetable stew), fried pumpkins with
sardines, kid in almond sauce and, of course,
pescaíto frito (small fried fish), a staple in any
Costa del Sol community.
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TOURIST BOARD &
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index. Rincón de la Victoria
Rincón de la Victoria is made up of the villages of
Benagalbón, La Cala, Torre de Benagalbón, Aguirre, Los
Millares and a few smaller ones. Nearly all of them -especially
Rincón de la Victoria and La Cala- have undergone spectacular
growth over the past twenty years, mainly due to their proximity to the
capital of the province of Málaga and to roadway improvements.
. Cala del Moral
. Los Rubios
. Rincón de la Victoria
. Torre de Benagalbón
Rincón de la Victoria
.
202
Index
203
c
ALA DEL MORAL BEACH
13/11/2008
.
l
OS RUBIOS BEACH
Description:
Los Rubios features a swimming area
demarcated with buoys, and its close proximity to
the city centre makes it very attractive for tourists.
Although the closest marina is El Candado, in
Málaga, this beach is often used for a variety of
water sports.
Blue flag:\HV
Blue flag: no
Width: 40 m
Length: 1,300 m
Width: 20 m
Length: 1,100 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Swell: moderate
District: Rincón de la Victoria
Town: Rincón de la Victoria
Nude beach: no
showers, peddle boats, rubbish bins, cleaning
service, children's area.
204
.
.
Nude beach: no
.
PÆgina 204
Los Rubios Beach
Cala del Moral Beach
Description:
This spacious cove in the town of Rincón de la
Victoria is situated next to the beachfront
promenade and is scattered with green areas and
quaint housing developments.
Facilities and services: beach chair hire, beach
bar (open all year round), dike, showers, peddle
boats, lifeguard station, rubbish bins, cleaning
8:31
Index
205
r
INCÓN DE LA VICTORIA BEACH
13/11/2008
b
ENAGALBÓN BEACH
Description:
This beach is especially appropriate for doing
water sports, and golf can be played on the
nearby Añoreta golf course. Here you can also
enjoy a stroll along the beachfront promenade
that joins La Cala del Moral with Rincón de la
Victoria.
Blue flag: no
Width: 30 m
Length: 3,600 m
chair hire, beach bar (open all year round),
showers, peddle boats, rubbish bins, cleaning
Blue flag: no
Width: 25 m
Length: 700 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: none
.
Nude beach: no
206
.
.
RIncón de la Victoria
Nude beach: no
.
Swell: moderate
PÆgina 206
Benagalbón Beach
Rincón de la Victoria Beach
Description:
This is a very long beach located right in Rincón
de la Victoria. It is known for its high tourist draw
and its excellent facilities.
chair hire, beach bar (open all year round),
bins, cleaning service, children's area.
8:32
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PÆgina 208
TOURIST BOARD &
USEFUL INFORMATION
Index
.
Historic Downtown
.
.
According to the information currently available,
this region was one of the first in Málaga to be
settled by humans. It features one of the best
documented Prehistoric settlements in the
Axarquía region thanks to the Cueva del Tesoro
(cave). Here, Palaeolithic paintings and stone
fragments were found. Just as interesting are
the remains found in the nearby Cueva de la
Victoria, which date from the Bronze
Age.
Some chroniclers tell us that the Moors left the
area before the arrival of the Christian troops
because when the latter reached Málaga on
their way from Vélez-Málaga, they found the
village deserted. About 120 people came to the
area in late fifteenth and early sixteenth century
to repopulate it; however , even before the
Moorish rebellion (1569), the new residents also
left the area, possibly due to the outbreak of an
epidemic disease. There was also constant
unrest among the area's Moorish population due
to their harsh subjugation by the Christians and
the endless sea
Historic Downtown
Furthermore, Rincón de la V ictoria is not just a
continuation of Málaga - although it has
benefited from its proximity to the capital- but
has its own way of life, as well as a great deal of
tourist and commercial activity.
According to an eleventh-century description by
El Idrissi, the old Bezmiliana (Bizilyana), of
which virtually nothing remains today, boasted a
fishing port, a medina or citadel, a mosque and
a protective wall, the scanty remains of which
are still visible in the area of El Castellón, on the
road to Benagalbón.
.
208
There are several built-up centres in the district,
including Benagalbón (located 5 km inland), La
Cala, Torre de Benagalbón, Aguirre, Los Millares
and a few less populated ones. Nearly all of
them -especially Rincón de la V ictoria and La
Cala- have undergone spectacular growth over
the past twenty years, mainly due to their
proximity to the capital of the province of Málaga
and to roadway improvements. As a result, what
was formerly a second home for many
Málagaborn people, has today become their
place of permanent residence.
It is also known that around 550 BC, a PunicPhoenician town was founded near the
Benagalbón Hill and that, later , the Romans
settled in the area, as evidenced by the remains
of mosaics and Roman baths found nearby. The
archaeological evidence corroborates Pliny's
first-century description, in which he mentions a
fortress built as a defence against invasions
coming from the sea. It is quite possible that the
Moors established the town that was later
named Rincón de la Victoria around this ancient
fortress, calling it Bezmiliana - probably a
derivation of an earlier Roman name for the
town.
Population: 31,000.
Name given to the local people: rinconeros.
Location: The town is 12 km from Málaga City ,
in the southwestern part of the Axarquía region,
on the Eastern Costa del Sol. It has an average
rainfall of 480 l/m 2, and the average
What to see: Bezmiliana Fortress, Nuestra
Señora del Carmen Church, Nuestra Señora de
la Candelaria Church (Benagalbón),
watchtowers at El Cantal and Benagalbón,
Cueva del Tesoro (cave), Cueva de la V ictoria
(cave)
Tourist Information: Town Hall, Plaza AlAndalus, 1 (29730).
Tel.: (+34) 952 402 300; fax: (+34) 952 402 900.
The district of Rincón de la V ictoria is
bounded by the bed of the Totalán stream to the
west and the San Millán stream to the east. In
addition, the Granadillas and Benagalbón
streams also run across the district, but they
only carry water on a seasonal basis.
As it
climbs from the coastal strip towards the inlands,
the terrain becomes hilly and is covered with
vineyards or olive groves, almond, and carob
trees, making up the typical
Axarquía's
landscape. Despite the hills, the region is rather
low in general, with the Salazar Hill, its highest
peak, only reaching 512 m.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Rincón de la
Victoria
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TOURIST BOARD &
.
Historic Downtown
Index
The Cueva de la V ictoria, not so widely known
as the Cueva del Tesoro, was discovered in
1939 and, according to studies, held remarkable
archaeological artefacts dating from the Upper
Palaeolithic to the Bronze
Age. The find,
however, was unfortunately destroyed when
farmers entered in search of bat guano for use
as fertiliser . V isits from some "amateur"
archaeologists and curious tourists haven't
helped with the conservation of the site either .
.
Although the town's seafaring tradition is far
from lost, the old fishing houses erected
helterskelter between the beach and the main
road have become trapped -those that have
been kept- among modern buildings. In spite of
this, the town still maintains the unmistakable air
of an Axarquía's coastal village, having achieved
a rare balance between the eclectic housing
developments of recent years and the traditional
popular architecture.
Historic Downtown
Because of its location right on the coast, the
only way to arrive at Rincón de la V ictoria is via
the Autovía del Mediterráneo (A-7; N-340),
The Church of Nuestra Señora del Carmen, the
Patron V irgin of sailors par excellence, was
constructed in 1892. A very simple structure -in
keeping with the popular architectural style of
the time-, it consists of three naves, with a bell
tower adjoining the Gospels nave. Nuestra
Señora de la Candelaria Church, in Benagalbón,
was erected in the sixteenth century but today
only the walls remain from the original structure.
Its interior features murals by the internationally
renown painter from Vélez, Francisco
Hernández. These include "The Ascension", in
the central section of the church, "The Nativity"
and "Jesus Appearing at the Temple" on the
sides. The military watchtowers at El Cantal and
Benagalbón -both quite well preservedbelonged
to a defence system which, towards
the end of the Middle Ages and beginning of the
WHAT TO SEE
The path through the cavern, with a total surface
area of approximately 3,000 m 2, is about 500 m
long. The cave is divided into four chambers: the
Chamber of Noctiluca (the Phoenician fertility
goddess), the Chamber of the V
irgin, the
Chamber of Marcus Crassus (it is said that this
Roman politician, who was a member of the First
Triumvirate along with Pompey and Julius
Caesar, hid in this cave while fleeing after his
father's assassination), and the Chamber of the
Lakes.
.
.
which forks upon entering the town, although
both routes lead to the city centre.
Take the
direction Motril-Almería when coming from the
Western Costa del Sol and the direction towards
Málaga-Cádiz when coming from the Eastern
Costa del Sol.
The Cueva del Tesoro (T reasure Cave), also
known as the Higuerón or Swiss Cave, is
located on the hill of El Cantal, between Rincón
de la V ictoria and La Cala. The existence of the
cavern has been known since the seventeenth
century. Cave paintings (heads of goats), pottery
fragments (earthen bowls and pots, spherical
and oval cups), stone fragments and bones
ranging in from the Palaeolithic to the Bronze
Age have all been found within the cave.
210
In 1776, construction of the Bezmiliana Fortress
began near the Bezmiliana ruins, aimed at
defending the entire coastal zone against the
English. Under the protection of the fortress,
small communities began to spring up and they
quickly blossomed into towns whose inhabitants
devoted to fishing. Soon the region became an
annex of Benagalbón, a town that was the main
centre of the district until 1906. By that time, the
number of residents in Rincón de la V ictoria had
greatly exceeded that of Benagalbón. Even so, it
wasn't until 1950 that the Town Hall was officially
relocated to Rincón de la V ictoria, a name that
originates from the fact that the town is situated
on land once belonging to the Convent of La
Victoria.
The Bezmiliana fortress, also referred to as the
Bezmiliana stronghold or castle, is Rincón de la
Victoria's foremost monument. It was built in
1766 according to the plans by José de la Crane
to defend this area of the Málaga coast when
Gibraltar was taken by the English. Constructed
on a square floor plan with cylindrical towers on
two of its corners, its austere architectural lines
leave no room for doubt as to the purpose it was
built to serve -quite dif ferent from the one it
currently fulfils since being restored in 1992. The
fortress now houses a prestigious exhibition hall
along with other areas dedicated to cultural
activities.
Modern Age, protected the entire Málaga coast
against the constant sea invasions that
threatened the area's inhabitants over the
course of several centuries.
CONVENTION BUREAU
A magnificent view of the entire Málaga Bay can
be enjoyed from the broad beachfront
promenade, where the lion's share of the hotels
and restaurants are located. Near the housing
developments that have recently spread towards
the inlands, new recreational facilities have been
established, including an eighteen-hole golf
course in Añoreta.
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TOURIST BOARD &
Rincón de la Victoria's seafaring tradition is best
represented by the celebrations on 16 July
,
Virgen del Carmen Day. The image of the Virgin
is taken in procession from its sanctuary to the
seashore in the accompaniment of the most
fervent outpouring of devotion that the town
people can muster . Once on the beach, the
image is placed on a boat that carries it on its
sea procession. This is a tradition cherished in
nearly all the coastal villages in Andalusia but it
is of special significance here, in Rincón de la
Victoria.
.
Historic Downtown
.
Index
.
212
The undisputed king of the table in Rincón de
la Victoria is the pescaíto frito (small fried fish).
This is an umbrella name that includes a
variety of dishes: small sardine skewers and
the famous Vitorianos anchovies (Victoria-style
anchovies, the local accent makes the "c"
disappear). In the category of "dishes you eat
with a spoon", specialties include cascote
soup, made with chickpeas and rice, ajoblanco
(garlic and almond soup), noodle casserole,
and rape fish soup, for which only the head of
the fish is used.
There are several legends told about the Cueva
del Tesoro, and two of them have to do with a
supposed hidden treasure that has, of course,
never been found. One of these legends is
recounted in detail by Manuel Laza Palacio in
his aforementioned book, El tesoro de cinco
reyes (The Treasure of Five Kings). In the book,
he describes how five Muslim kings buried a
fabulous treasure somewhere in the cave before
fleeing the area. It is interesting to note that in
the late 1950s, while a study of the cave was
being conducted by Laza Palacio, he found six
gold dinar coins dating back to the twelfth
century there. A second version suggests that
the treasure was sent from Oran by Caliph
Texufin Ben Ali, belonging to the Almoravids,
who arrived on the coast of Málaga after fleeing
a revolt at which he would surely have perished.
Historic Downtown
The fair in La Cala, adjoining Rincón de la
Victoria, takes place the first weekend of July. It
features all sorts of festive activities for young
and old alike but the jábegas boat races and
the impromptu flamenco performances are the
highlights.
FOOD
LEGENDS
.
The festival of Las Cruces, in May, has grown in
popularity in recent years and, as in decades
gone-by, altars adorned with flowers, Manila
shawls, fans typical of the old days, beautiful
bedspreads, flowerpots and other valuable
domestic items can again be seen lining the
streets of the town. Corpus Christi is also
celebrated with a similar show of town
decoration.
Torre de Benagalbón centres its festive days
around San Juan Day (24 June), on the eve of
which the júas (Judas' images) are burned and
gatherings are organised on the beach.
Participants jump over bonfires with the most
resolute then bathing in the sea to fulfil the
ritual of purification by water and fire.
Flamenco performances, a Mass dedicated to
the V irgen del Rocío, sports competitions,
outdoor concerts in the evening and a variety
of other activities round out the celebrations.
Although he was born in Málaga, Manuel Laza
Palacio (1909-1988) can truly be considered a
son of Rincón de la V ictoria, since he devoted a
good part of his life (thirty-eight years) to study
the Cueva del Tesoro. After the Spanish Civil
War, he was jailed for having worked in the
Institute for Agrarian Reform during the Second
Republic. In prison he studied Classical
Philology and, once released, he worked as a
teacher until he was called before the
Tribunal
for the Repression of Masonry . He is the author
of Gárgoris y Habidis, a text on which Sánchez
Dragó based years later to write his book of the
same name, El tesoro de cinco reyes, and
Escritos malagueños, among other texts.
The town fair also coincides with this
celebration, so dear to the hearts of the
townspeople. It features a flamenco singing
contest, an antique car show , the jábegas boat
race (an ancient type of Mediterranean boat that
has kept the same structure throughout the
centuries), evening concerts, sports
competitions, parades, musical performances
and fireworks, to name just a few of the activities
organised on these days.
CELEBRITIES
CONVENTION BUREAU
FIESTAS
The weekend closest to 2 February
sees the community of Benagalbón celebrate
the festivals in honour of its Patron V
irgin,
Virgen de la Candelaria. V erdiales (a special
type of flamenco singing) groups form an
integral part of the festivities, giving
performances over the course of the
celebrations. But the culmination of these grand
fiestas is the procession of the V irgin through
the streets, where, in keeping with tradition,
sugared almonds and hazelnuts are thrown on
the image's cape. This generates an uproar of
the little ones, determined not to leave even a
single candy on the pavement as the sweets fall
to the ground.
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PÆgina 214
index. Torremolinos
The district of Torremolinos is halfway between the Mijas
mountain range and the coast, in a land of gently rolling hills
that slope gradually down to the sea. A former neighbourhood of
Málaga City, Torremolinos has been an independent district since
1988, and has four very distinct population centres including El
Calvario, El Bajondillo, La Carihuela, and the traditional city centre,
with its maze of winding streets
. El Bajondillo
. La Carihuela
. Los Álamos / El Cañuelo
. Playamar / Retiro
Torremolinos
.
214
Index
215
13/11/2008
e
L BAJONDILLO BEACH
.
chair and beach umbrella hire, beach bar (open
all year round), showers, peddle boats, lifeguard
station, rubbish bins, parking lot, promenade,
beach volleyball court, cleaning service, public
Blue flag: no
l
A CARIHUELA BEACH
Torremolinos
Description:
This beach stretches between the imposing rock
wall of Bajondillo Beach and the Marina. It has a
well-marked swimming zone, and many activities
are organised here during the summer . On 16
July, during the Carmen Fair , this beach plays
host to a procession of the V irgin by boat to the
accompaniment of fireworks.
chair and beach umbrella hire, toilets, beach bar
(open all year round), showers, peddle boats,
Blue flag: no
Width: 40 m
Length: 1,100 m
Width: 40 m
Length: 2,100 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
216
.
.
District: Torremolinos
Town: Torremolinos
Town: Torremolinos
Torremolinos
Torremolinos
Torremolinos
PÆgina 216
La Carihuela Beach
El Bajondillo Beach
Description:
Bajondillo, Los Álamos and Playamar together
make up one very long beach, abruptly
interrupted by an enormous rock that serves as
the foundation for several rows of apartment
buildings.
8:33
Torremolinos
Index
217
13/11/2008
l
Description:
Several apartment complexes border this
extensive beach and its promenade. Swimming
areas are well marked here and the sandy strip
has a place for beaching small boats. In
September, in addition to some concerts and
promotional events, "T ourist Day" is celebrated
here with an Andalusian horse-taming exhibition.
In early 2004, a new 1,447 meter-long beachfront
promenade was inaugurated. It features street
furniture, trees, bushes, public parking lots, as
well as sanitation and transportation systems.
Nude beach: no
station, rubbish bins, parking lot, beach volleyball
courts, cleaning service, public telephone,
LAYAMAR - EL RETIRO BEACH
Description:
This beach is characterised by the numerous
apartment buildings lining the beachfront. It offers
a wide variety of facilities and is very well marked
with buoys. A variety of shows and performances
are organised here during the summer.
Torremolinos
beach volleyball court, cleaning service, public
Blue flag: no
.
.
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Width: 60 m
Length: 1,500 m
District:Torremolinos
Town: Torremolinos
Nude beach: no
Torremolinos
Town: Torremolinos
218
.
.
Torremolinos
p
Width: 50 m
Length: 1,000 m
Blue flag: no
Sand colour: golden
Swell: moderate
Torremolinos
PÆgina 218
Playamar - El Retiro Beach
Los Álamos - El Cañuelo Beach
OS ÁLAMOS - EL CAÑUELO BEACH
8:34
Torremolinos
Index
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PÆgina 220
TOURIST BOARD &
USEFUL INFORMATION
Torremolinos
.
Historic Downtown
In Roman times, Torremolinos was very well
connected with Málaga and Cádiz by means of
a road which the Romans had constructed to
unite the cities. And it was probably thanks to the
good road system that three fish salting factories
were established here (mainly specialising in the
production of garum, a sort of sauce derived
from fish that was essential in Roman cuisine),
although only scanty remains of one of them
have been conserved in the area of the
Campamento Benítez. Also dating from the
Roman era is a small necropolis discovered
Torremolinos
Index
The first resident of Torremolinos whose name
appears in an of ficial document was a man
named Alonso Martín. He was hired as a tower
guard whose mission was warning the town of
impending sea attacks, one of which took place
in 1503, as shown in a document found in the
Málaga Cathedral Archives. Martín was paid 25
maravedies (old Spanish currency) a day , but,
since his duty was to keep a careful watch over
the coast, he was not allowed to have a dog or a
fishing pole, nor was he allowed to play games.
In the event that he did not fulfil these
requirements, he could have been sanctioned
with two months without pay or even be
dismissed.
.
.
Shortly after the conquest of Málaga, Ferdinand
and Isabella granted Torremolinos's springs to
the capital city, a decision that was supported by
Joanna the Mad again in 151 1. As a result, the
watermills constructed by the Moors slowly
ceased to function over the course of the years
due to water shortage.
Historic Downtown
The first humans settled in the area around
150,000 years ago. Nine Prehistoric human
skulls were found in the caves that once existed
at Tesoro, Tejones, Encanto and Tapada, in
Punta de Torremolinos, in the present-day Santa
Clara Castle, which is now situated on the site,
where clay vessels, axe heads, necklaces,
bracelets, and rings were also found, together
with Neolithic remains (ca. 5000 BC). These,
according to historian Juan Temboury, belonged
to a people from Mesopotamia who settled in the
area - an area where they found an excellent
climate, abundance of water , game and fish, as
well as natural shelters.
The Arabs, with their eternal reverence of water,
did not hesitate to take advantage of the stream
that flowed down from the springs area to the
beach. They built several watermills along its
course. Around 1300 AD, at the height of the
Nasrid period, the construction of a defensive
tower began at the end of what is now San
Miguel St. to try and deter invasions from the
sea. The city's name came about as a reference
to this tower (torre) and the mills (molinos) built
there.
.
220
while construction was taking place in the
Cantabria Square.
Torremolinos
Name given to the local people:
torremolinenses.
Location: Torremolinos is located in the
Western Costa del Sol region. Its main centre is
situated 50 m above sea level, 12 km from the
capital of the Málaga province and 5 km from
Pablo Ruiz Picasso International
Airport.
Average rainfall in the area is 500 l/m 2 and the
annual average temperature is approximately
18º C.
What to see: San Miguel St., Pimentel Tower,
Casa de los Navajas, Molino de Inca,
Torremolinos Sports Centre, La Carihuela,
Palacio de Congresos (Conference Hall),
Príncipe de Asturias Auditorium.
Tourist Information: Town Hall, Department for
Tourism, Plaza Blas Infante, 1 (29620).
Tel.: (+34) 952 379 511; fax: (+34) 952 379 551.
Tourist Office, Plaza de la Independencia, s/n.
Tel.: (+34) 952 374 231.
The district of Torremolinos is located
between the Sierra de Mijas mountain range and
the coast, in a land of gently rolling hills that
slope gradually down to the sea.
A former
neighbourhood of Málaga City, Torremolinos has
been an independent district since 1988. The
extensive green areas that descend to the foot
of the mountains run right into the multi-coloured
and labyrinthine urban sprawl of the town, giving
the locality a rather unique appearance (it has
four very distinct population centres: El Calvario,
El Bajondillo, La Carihuela, and the most
traditional part of the town, with its maze of
winding streets).
CONVENTION BUREAU
Torremolinos
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PÆgina 222
TOURIST BOARD &
In 1923, two projects were implemented to route
water from Torremolinos to Málaga, given the
population increase in the capital of the
province, which only had limited water resources
at that time. This initiative brought about the
conversion of the town of Torremolinos into a
neighbourhood of Málaga.
Torremolinos
.
Historic Downtown
.
Due to its proximity to Málaga and its having
been just a "suburb" of the province's capital for
so many years, Torremolinos doesn't have many
notable old monuments, with the exception of
the Torre Pimentel (Pimentel Tower). It does,
however, of fer some of the most complete
leisure services on the entire Costa del Sol, with
excellent sports and cultural opportunities,
charming neighbourhoods, a wonderful
beachfront promenade and, of course, the
beaches, whose quality has kept the town a
leader in tourism year after year.
Before the unstoppable "tourist boom" took
place at the end of the 1950s, San Miguel St.
was already the heart of Torremolinos. What at
first glance may appear to be just another
crowded pedestrian zone like that of many other
coastal towns turns out to be a street with its
Torremolinos
Index
.
WHAT TO SEE
The Casa de los Navajas (C/ Las Mercedes, s/n)
is a beautiful extravagance of a Churriana
resident who, in 1925, decided to build a
mansion in Neomudéjar style. This architectural
style unabashedly set out to imitate the buildings
designed by the Muslims who continued to live
in Spain after the Reconquest in the fourteenth
to sixteenth centuries. The Neomudéjar style
became widely popular after the IberianAmerican Exhibition, held in Seville in 1929.
El Molino de Inca, located in the Los
Manantiales area, is the oldest of all the
watermills that once existed in the district (in
1923 there were 19) and the first to receive
water from the mountains. The watermill, once
used to mill grain, has now been renovated, and
a 40,000m 2 botanical garden has been built on
its grounds. The garden features more than 150
palm trees of fifty dif ferent varieties,300 trees of
60 dif ferent species, and 400 shrubs coming
from several parts of the world. Four viewpoints
have been strategically built to allow the mill and
gardens to be admired.
Historic Downtown
222
Directly from the airport or from anywhere else
on the Costa del Sol just follow the signs to
Torremolinos; you can't miss it. The Autovía del
Mediterráneo and the old N-340, whose stretch
across the city centre has been converted into a
boulevard, are the access routes for this major
tourist destination.
On a stroll down this street towards the sea,
you'll find the Torre Pimentel, which people used
to call Torre de los Molinos, Torre Molinos or
Torre de Molinos. Much historical information
exists about this monument, dating back as far
as 1490. Its name, the repair work done on it, the
people who worked in it and other minutiae are
painstakingly detailed in a number of historical
documents. Juan Temboury believes the tower
was erected in the fourteenth century; he
describes it as "a rectangular prism with a base
measuring 7.2 x 6.1 m, a top measuring 6.63 x
5.05 m and a height of about 12 m."
.
It was the first tourist property not
only in Torremolinos, but practically on the entire
Costa del Sol. Shortly thereafter
, Carlota
Alessandri turned "Cucazorra", her rural house,
into the Parador de Montenar . The following
decade the La Roca Hotel opened its doors and,
at the end of the 1940s, El Remos Restaurant
and Ball Room in Carihuela began operating.
The rest is well-known history!
own unique character
, a boisterous
cosmopolitan atmosphere and other hardtodefine nuances that make it really one-of-akind.
Torremolinos
Sir George Langworthy, a peculiar British citizen
who settled in Torremolinos at the end of the
nineteenth century, bought the Castle of Santa
Clara and, in 1930, turned it into a hotel
residence.
Since the inauguration of the Los Nidos Hotel
and the Pez Espada (the first luxury hotel in the
area) in the 1950s, the name Torremolinos has
been inevitably associated with tourism. Now ,
over fifty years later , the peaceful town, which
arose under the protection of its watchtower and
with the help of watermills that took advantage of
the abundant water supply from its springs, is
known all over the world and a leader in the
international travel industry.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The harassment of the Málaga coast by
privateers was incessant, so in order to defend
the coastline of Torremolinos, Antonio Jiménez
Mesa, a Royal Army engineer, suggested that a
castle or a cannon battery should be built. The
project started in 1770 on the site where the
Santa Clara Hotel stands today . The fortress
housed quarters for cavalry and infantry
,a
chapel, residences and warehouses. It was
equipped with a battery of six twenty-four-pound
cannons with a range of approximately 6 km.
The enclosure was a military base up until 1830,
when it was adapted as headquarters for police
officers. Years later it came into private hands
and some remains of the fortress still survive
today in the area known as La Batería.
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PÆgina 224
TOURIST BOARD &
.
Historic Downtown
.
The Príncipe de Asturias Municipal Auditorium is
one of the town's most important cultural facilities.
2
The building covers 6,500m
and can
accommodate 1,790 people seated and another
5,500 standing. Built for virtually any type of event,
The V erdiales Day , a celebration dedicated to
the native folklore of Málaga, is held near the
San Miguel Chapel in the pine grove of Los
Manantiales between the beginning of March
and the beginning of
April. It features
Torremolinos
Index
The Carmen Fair attracts thousands of people to
La Carihuela in mid July , especially on the day
when the image of the Virgin is placed on a boat
to complete a maritime procession around the
district. The heart of the celebration is the El
Remo Plaza, where a wide variety of music and
dance performances are held.
By the end of September
, Torremolinos
celebrates the pilgrimage of its Patron Saint, St
Michael, in the nearby pine forest of Los
Manantiales. Based on the number of people
that participate every year (more than 200,000),
it ranks as the second largest pilgrimage in
Andalusia, after that of El Rocío.
.
The Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de
Torremolinos (T orremolinos Conference and
Exhibition Hall) is situated very close to the city
centre on a small hill that af
fords an excellent
panoramic view of the coast. It features twenty two
halls with a capacity for between 12 and 900 people.It
has also one exhibition hall with capacity for 180
stands. Its architecture, pioneer in shape, keeps
standing out because its soundness and functionality.
Carnival (the first two weeks of March) takes on
a special significance in Torremolinos due to the
large popular participation in the fiesta and
because of the quality of the groups participating
in the competitions of chirigotas, murgas and
comparsas (humorous songs and popular
performances), which take place in the
Municipal Auditorium. There is also a costume
ball and a colourful Carnival parade on the
promenade in La Carihuela along with
competitions to choose King Momo, the Nymph,
and the best costumes.
The celebration of La Noche de San Juan (The
Eve of St. John), on 23 June, is a longstanding
tradition throughout the area. But the grand
festivities organised by the Hermandad de
Marineros de la V irgen del Carmen (V irgen del
Carmen Sailors' Fraternity), and those that take
place in the suburbs of San Juan and
Cantarranas enjoy the greatest degree of
popularity. In keeping with the tradition, bonfires
are lit in dif ferent places and young people
participate in the most dangerous jumps. The
procession of the Saint takes place on 24 June
after a Mass sung by the choir named Coro
Rociero de San Juan.
Historic Downtown
As a first-class tourist destination, Torremolinos
offers a never-ending festival calendar. The first
engagement is the Retro Dance Competition,
held at the Príncipe de Asturias Auditorium the
last week of February . Couples over 50 come
from all over Europe to participate in this
unusual competition that draws large crowds of
spectators to the auditorium every day . Tango,
waltz, paso doble, salsa, rock & roll or twist are
the styles of choice in this competition that also
sees dances that aren't part of the of
ficial
contest taking place in other parts of the city .
The competition begins with a special parade
through the main streets of the town.
Two
records have been broken in this parade: the
largest gypsy dress and the largest wedding
dress in the world.
.
224
FIESTAS
performances in three distinct flamenco styles:
Comares, Almogía and Montes. The singing and
dancing is also complemented by a cooking
demonstration. Clubs, associations, fraternities,
and other social groups all play a very active part
in the Cruces de Mayo (Crosses of May)
celebration. Traditional ceramic and copper
pottery, fancy Manila shawls, and many beautiful
plants and flowers are used to decorate the
altars, always worthy of the praise they receive
from the many onlookers.
Torremolinos
Torremolinos
La Carihuela district, to the west of the town, is a
paradise for lovers of the famous pescaíto frito
(small fried fish) and without a doubt one of the
Costa del Sol's most famous restaurant areas.
Despite the throngs of tourists coming to the
district, it has been able to keep its traditional
charm with narrow streets, small tranquil plazas
dotted with plants and flowers and, above all, a
unique maritime character . The beachfront
promenade connects the area with Bajondillo and
Playamar, where, just as in La Carihuela, the
beaches and the food live up to their fame.
it often houses musical performances (opera
and zarzuela), theatre plays, and dance shows,
and less frequently, multitudinous banquets.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The Torremolinos City Sport Complex, located in
the extended area of Torremolinos, between the
city centre and Los Manantiales, offers numerous
facilities such as El Pozuelo grass football field,
the Palacio San Miguel multi-sport centre, the
Virgen del Carmen Olympic-sized swimming
pool, athletic tracks, dirt football fields, and tennis
and paddle-tennis courts. It is one of the most
fully equipped sports complexes of its kind in
Andalusia, and many international teams use it as
a training facility , especially in winter , when the
weather in their countries is so inhospitable that
outdoor sports cannot be practised.
225
13/11/2008
8:35
PÆgina 226
TOURIST BOARD &
The pilgrims camp next to San Miguel Chapel,
which is then completely overrun by the number
of people trying to hear the Mass inside the shrine.
Once the religious ceremony is over , the party
begins and goes on until the sun goes down.
Singing, dancing and excellent food are the key
features of this popular fiesta.
A few days later, the San Miguel Fair begins and,
as in other towns in Málaga, celebrations take
place in the city centre during the day and then
move to the fairgrounds in the evening. Here,
practically all of the clubs and associations in
Torremolinos set up their own stand, and there
are many private ones as well. Despite the
throngs of tourists who come for the festivities,
the Fair has managed to keep its undeniable
Andalusian character; even more so in recent
years due to the firm decision and ef forts made
not to lose local traditions.
The town also gets turned upside down on the
first Thursday of September , Tourist Day .
Starting several years ago as way of thanking
visitors who choose Torremolinos as their
vacation spot, it features traditional
performances, food tasting, and the selection of
the "Tourist of Honour".
Torremolinos knows that pescaíto frito (small
fried fish) is one of the town's major attractions
when it comes to promoting tourism. This is why
the first Thursday of October is celebrated as
"Pescaíto Day", on which local restaurant
owners hand out free rations of pescaíto to
residents and tourists alike.
Holy Week was not celebrated in Torremolinos
until rather late, as compared to other towns in
the province. In 1924, the first fraternity was
established, Nuestro Padre Jesus and María
Santísima de los Dolores, headquartered in the
Parish Church of Madre del Buen Consejo. The
fraternity sets out in a procession on Good
Friday.
FOOD
The recently inaugurated Parque Cocodrilos (C/
Cuba, 14. Tel.: 639 169 347) covers 16,000 m 2.
It features a bamboo forest, whose specimens
were brought from Malaysia and Borneo, a large
6,000 m 2 lake with five small crocodile islands,
a monkey shelter, a museum, a film screen, and
a viewpoint area. Visitors can see more than 300
different crocodiles, South American caimans
and American alligators.
.
.
Torremolinos
The Aquapark water park (C/ Cuba, 10. Tel.:
902 114 996) is an excellent complement to the
beach for many visitors. Every water park
attraction you can imagine can be found within
its 70,000 m 2 of recreational space, including
everything from the 24m high "kamikaze"
waterslide, to the pirate boat, the castle, the
water dart, or waterfalls, rapids, Jacuzzis,
minigolf and extensive gardens of trees and
vegetation where a pleasant day can be enjoyed
by adults and children alike.
Torremolinos
Pescaíto both from La Carihuela and
Bajondillo-Playamar is star dish in the district.
Its quality is based on the way in which the
fish is fried. However , it has managed to
cross borders and has become
Torremolinos's most sought-after and wellknown
culinary treat. In addition to this
specialty, the town of fers an extremely varied
selection of local and international cuisine in
its over 250 restaurants, with a wide variety
of prices.
LEISURE
Historic Downtown
Historic Downtown
.
.
226
CONVENTION BUREAU
The procession, which includes many
extravagantly adorned carriages and an even
greater number of horseback riders, leaves from
the centre of town and heads towards Los
Manantiales amidst cheerful exclamations by
tourists, who don't hesitate to ask about
just what it is that they are witnessing.
Torremolinos
Index
227
13/11/2008
10:33
PÆgina 228
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
index. Torrox
Torrox is located in the south of the Axarquía region,
at the foot of the Tejeda and Almijara mountain ranges.
The district features 9 km of sandy beaches next to Torrox
Costa and El Morche.
. Calaceite
. El Cenicero
. El Morche
. El Peñoncillo
. Ferrara / Los Lindes
. Mazagarrobo
. Wilches
Torrox
.
228
Index
229
13/11/2008
c
ALACEITE BEACH
Torrox
Description:
This quiet beach, which runs along the national
highway, doesn't have apartment buildings and is
protected by a massif of rolling mountains.
Calaceite Beach
L CENICERO BEACH
Torrox
Facilities and services: security, toilets,
nautical equipment hire, kiosk, parking lot.
Blue flag: no
Width: 40 m
Length: 1,200 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
.
e
El Cenicero Beach
Width: 30 m
Length: 400 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Nude beach: no
District: Torrox
Town: Torrox
Nude beach: no
230
.
.
District: Torrox
Town: Torrox
Torrox
Torrox
PÆgina 230
Description:
El Cenicero beach is located near Morche. About
1,200 m long and 40 m wide, it has some green
areas and a moderate swell. It offers a number of
services and features walkways for easy access.
The beach can get fairly busy at times. It features
a parking lot (without security surveillance) for
about 50 cars.
Blue flag: no
Facilities and services: rubbish bins, parking
lot, cleaning service, security surveillance.
8:35
Torrox
Index
231
13/11/2008
e
L MORCHE BEACH
e
L PEÑONCILLO BEACH
Description:
This very long beach is found right next to Torrox.
The main attraction here is the lack of apartment
buildings and low occupancy level throughout the
summer.
Torrox
all year round), showers, rubbish bins, parking lot,
surveillance.
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: no
Width: 30 m
Length: 1,400 m
Width: 40 m
Length: 1,200 m
Sand colour: oscura
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
.
Torrox
PÆgina 232
El Peñoncillo Beach
El Morche Beach
Description:
A large area full of greenhouses parallels this
beach, which is more than 1 km long and quite
wide. The high quality of its sand and waters has
earned the beach the blue flag and has
contributed to the spread of residential
developments nearby..
8:36
District: Torrox
Town: Torrox
Nude beach: no
Torrox
Nude beach: no
232
.
.
Torrox
District: Torrox
Town: Torrox
Torrox
Index
233
13/11/2008
f
.
security surveillance, toilets, showers, public
telephone, rubbish bins, cleaning service, beach
umbrella and beach chair hire, nautical
equipment hire, kiosk, parking lot..
m
AZAGARROBO BEACH
Description:
This is a narrow beach -less than 20 m wide-,
next to the N-340 highway , is connected with
Peñoncillo Beach. It is a dark-sand beach
featuring areas with vegetation, and generally
has moderate swell and is not crowded. Although
it doesn't stand out for its array of services, it has
rubbish bins and offers cleaning service. There is
also parking (without security surveillance)
available.
Blue flag: yes
Blue flag: no
Width: 30 m
Length: 1,200 m
Width: 20 m
Length: 1,200 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
District: Torrox
Town: Torrox
Nude beach: no
234
.
.
District: Torrox
Town: Torrox
service, parking lot.
Torrox
Nude beach: no
Torrox
.
Torrox
Description:
This long beach of fers a wide variety of services
and has been included in the accessibility plan. It
is usually quite busy , families being the more
frequent users. Located in an area of intensive
development, it also features a beachfront
promenade, and access to the beach is very well
marked. A parking lot (without security
surveillance) for approximately 100 cars is also
available here.
Torrox
PÆgina 234
Mazagarrobo Beach
Ferrara - Los Lindes Beach
ERRARA - LOS LINDES BEACH
8:36
Torrox
Index
235
13/11/2008
w
ILCHES BEACH
.
Wilches Beach
Description:
This is a small and quite isolated beach located
next to road N-340. There are very few people
here, in spite of the fact that it does provide basic
services like showers, beach umbrella and beach
chair hire. It is easily accessible on foot but also
features a parking area..
8:36
PÆgina 236
Torrox
Facilities and services: easy access, showers,
public telephone, rubbish bins, cleaning service,
beach umbrella and beach chair hire, kiosk,
parking lot.
Blue flag: no
Width: 20 m
Length: 150 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Torrox
Nude beach: no
.
District: Torrox
Town: Torrox
236
Torrox
Index
237
13/11/2008
8:37
PÆgina 238
TOURIST BOARD &
USEFUL INFORMATION
Torrox
.
Historic Downtown
Without any doubt, though, there is evidence of
Roman presence. In the area known as Faro
(Lighthouse) or Punta de Torrox, remains have
been found from the ancient city of Caviclum,
believed to have been established in the first
century and to have remained active until at
Torrox
Index
In 1488, however , the Moorish leader El Zagal,
recaptured the village for the Muslim cause,
though he only held it for a few months before it
once again fell to the Christians.
When a Moorish rebellion took place in 1568,
about half of the population was made up of Old
Christians and the rest, of Moors, many of whom
took part in the insurrection at Peñón de
Frigiliana. Through 1571, at least twenty two
Moors who were dwelling in Torrox were tried by
the Tribunal of the Holy Of fice in Granada, and
documents relate how members of the Quilat
family were burned at the stake, accused of
continuing to follow the principles of the Islamic
faith. The enthusiastic participation of the local
Moors in the uprising led to a brutal repression
by the Christian rulers, followed by the Moors'
abandonment of the eight Arab towns within the
.
.
In Los Casarones, about 2 km north of the town,
a Neolithic polished axe was found, attesting to
the presence of human settlers in the area back
in that period. Later , the Carthaginians or
Phoenicians probably settled in the area, an
assumption based on the fact that the
archaeological sites of
Trayamar and
Mezquitilla, in Algarrobo Costa, are located near
Los Casarones, but this is only a hypothesis,
since no other remains have yet been
discovered in the district.
The conquest of Vélez by Christian troops in
1487 dealt such a blow to the region that many
towns gave themselves over without resistance
to avoid further bloodshed. Torrox surrendered
on 29 April, 1487, just two days after Vélez was
recaptured by the Christians.
Historic Downtown
Cultivation fields dominate the countryside,
whose slopes made it necessary to set terraces
so as to extend the surface area of arable land.
These terraces have become a defining feature
of the landscape in the area and are ideal for the
cultivation of subtropical fruit.
.
238
The Torrox Stream, also called the Patalamara,
De la Plata or Argentino by the local people,
flows southwards across the district.
The
stream's water is put to maximum use for
irrigation purposes before it empties into the sea
at Punta de Torrox. The district boasts 9 km of
sandy beaches next to Torrox Costa and El
Morche.
least the eighth century . And it was in this
century that the Umayyad
Abd-ar-Rahman
settled in Torrox, after having landed at
Almuñécar. Some time later, he was to establish
an independent Caliphate in Córdoba.
Some historians have identified Torrox as Hisn
Turrus, the place where
Abd-ar-Rahman III
defeated Umar Ibn Hafsun -who had become
the leader of the rebels in the provinces to the
south and west of the Caliphate of Córdoba- in
914. Then, Torrox became a jurisdiction under
Frigiliana's domination. During the long period of
Muslim rule, the village was an important
producer of silk and white mulberry trees were
grown in its fertile meadows.
Torrox
Name given to the local people: torroxeños.
Nickname: hocicones.
Location: Torrox is located in the southern part
of the Axarquía region, at the foot of the Tejeda
and Almijara mountain ranges. The town is 145
m above sea level, 40 km from Málaga City and
20 km from Vélez-Málaga. Average rainfall in the
region is 530 l/m 2 and the average annual
temperature is about 19º C.
What to see: The T orrox Lighthouse Roman
Archaeological Site (Roman villa, baths,
necropolis, etc.), Parish Church of Nuestra
Señora de la Encarnación (Our Lady of the
Incarnation), Chapel and Convent of Nuestra
Señora de las Nieves (Our Lady of the Snows),
Church of San Roque, Casa de la Moneda.
Tourist Information: Town Hall, Plaza de la
Constitución, 1 (29770).
Tel.: (+34) 952 538 200; fax: (+34) 952 538 100.
Tourist Office: Centro Internacional, Block 769,
ground floor (29793).
Tel.: (+34)952 532 155; fax: (+34) 953 530 225.
Torrox
The rugged landscape of the area seems to
be in open opposition to uniformity , greeting
visitors with an endless succession of gullies
and hills. Since it is near the sea, the terrain
doesn't reach high elevations, and Cocoja Hill
and the Rábita de Torrox -its highest peaks, 700
m high- are blanketed with lowland vegetation.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Torrox
239
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8:37
PÆgina 240
TOURIST BOARD &
On the Autovía del Mediterráneo (A-7; N-340), in
the section between Vélez-Málaga and Nerja,
the exit to Torrox is clearly indicated; no further
turn-offs are necessary.
WHAT TO SEE
Torrox
Index
.
Historic Downtown
.
The October Fair (from 4 to 8 October) kicks of f
with a parade by the students at the Municipal
Academy of Music, who are followed by a
procession of cabezudos (a kind of Carnival
figures with a large head) and giants. In the
evening, the lights are turned on at the
fairgrounds. The public can enjoy musical
performances and participate in sports activities,
but the emotional highlight of the celebrations
occurs when the images of the town's Patrons,
Nuestra Señora de las Nieves and San Roque,
are carried from the Parish Church to the Saint's
.
FIESTAS
Historic Downtown
240
At the dawn of the nineteenth century , in 1804,
an epidemic of yellow fever decimated Torrox
population. A few years later, Napoleon's troops
occupied the town, and in 1812 they took their
leave of Torrox by blowing up the village castle.
Some decades later, however, the region saw an
unexpected economic boom. Records indicate
that at that time the town boasted two olive oil
mills, two pottery factories, three flour mills, and
a brandy distillery, as well as the sugar refinery
belonging to the Larios family.
The town houses other interesting historic
buildings, such as the Palacio de la
Aduana
(Customs Hall), also known as Casa de la
Moneda. Situated on Baja St., it dates from the
eighteenth century and later it was converted
into a private residence. The nineteenth-century
palace that today houses the Cultural Centre
(Casa de la Hoya) lodged Alfonso XII when he
came to the town in 1885.
.
district: Alhandiga, Almeida, Arcos Benamayor,
Cajauja, Lautín, Lugarejo and Periana (not the
present-day Periana). During the eighteenth
century, the town's economy was based on
sugar cane production and more than eighty
percent of the arable land in the region was used
to growing it, and there were two sugar
refineries. The ruins of the Torrox lighthouse
were discovered in 1773, a time when the town
had a population of about 3,000.
One of the highlights within Torrox is the Church
of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación (Our Lady
of the Incarnation), whose original building was
erected in the seventeenth century on top of an
old mosque. The church, which underwent
reconstruction in 1889, has a floor-plan in the
shape of a Latin cross composed of three naves.
The main chapel is covered by a barrel vault,
while the side vaults are oval. Rising above the
exterior is a square tower divided into three
sections, the last of which is capped with a
pyramidal spire. In the sixteenth century
,
Franciscan monks founded the Chapel and
Convent of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves (Our
Lady of the Snows). The church is laid-out in the
form of a Latin cross with naves and side
The Church of San Roque, not presently used
for religious celebrations, was built in
Neomudéjar style on top of a building originally
constructed in the sixteenth century . It consists
of a single nave with the main chapel topped by
a semicircular vault. Its brick exterior , painted in
a rather inappropriate red, features an airy
belfry.
Torrox
Torrox
Set on a hilltop, Torrox had to adapt to the
uneven terrain in an almost whimsical fashion.
The uniform whitewash of the houses is
highlighted by the splashes of colour of fered by
their flowerpots, and the hidden nooks and
crannies of the old quarter can take visitors back
to the time when the Moors used to live here.
The historical importance of the Roman
archaeological site at the Faro de Torrox (Torrox
Lighthouse) makes it a must see. Several
historians agree that this was the site of the city
of Mansio Caviclum cited in
Antonine's
"Itinerary". It is a big settlement which was active
from the first through the fourth century. A villa, a
fish salting factory , baths, an oven and a
necropolis have been found.
chapels, a presbytery , a choir , and a belfry . It
also features an exceptional Mudéjar cof fered
ceiling. The convent, adjoining the chapel,
consists of two levels. It has a cloister, an interior
courtyard and stables. The cloister rooms were
used in the nineteenth century as storage space
for fruit, and later served as barracks for the Civil
Guard, a function they held until the 1970s.
CONVENTION BUREAU
241
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PÆgina 242
TOURIST BOARD &
El Morche celebrates its big day, on 15 August,
as a tribute to V
irgen del Carmen.
The
celebration was moved back from 16 July to
August because during the latter more tourists
are likely to come. Fishing contests, musical
performances and, of course, a sea procession
of the V irgin are all part of the festivities.
As to the Carnival celebration, it has become
quite popular in the town, and today is one of the
festivals that draw the highest numbers of
participants. The amusing and fiercely-contested
street musician and parade competitions are
followed with great interest by the local people,
who also take part in the street parades .
Torrox
.
Historic Downtown
.
CELEBRITIES
Al-Mansur or Almanzor, whose full name was
Muhammad ibn Abu 'Amir al-Mansur , was born
in Torrox in 939, according to some historians,
right in the town castle. Serving as Regent of
Seville and Chief of the Armies, he conquered
Zamora and León and on, 3 July , 997, Santiago
de Compostela -a city in which he showed
respect only for the tomb of the apostle, to which
Torrox
Index
he assigned a special guard. Using captive
Christians to transport them, he sent the bells of
the cathedral and the gates of the city to
Córdoba, where they were placed in the mosque
as trophies. This would all prove to be a work in
vain, as, years later , Ferdinand III, the Saint,
returned the objects to their rightful owner
,
Santiago, and he used captive Muslims to
transport them! According to some chroniclers,
Almanzor became overly proud and he was
defeated by Christian troops in the Battle of
Calatañazor in 998. He died in Medinaceli in
1002.
.
Migas are, of course, the town's most popular
and traditional dish, whose list of ingredients is
surprisingly short and simple: flour , garlic, olive
oil, pork scratchings, bacon, and know-how on
the part of the cook! Despite the simplicity of the
recipe, the resulting dish is exquisite and is often
accompanied by an equally famous salad made
with bacalao (codfish), olives, chives, orange
and olive oil. The star dish at Christmastime is
the traditional Christmas vegetable soup, while
garlic and bread soups and pumpkin stews are
popular throughout the year . In summer ,
gazpacho and ajoblanco (both are chilled
vegetable soups) are commonly eaten, and in
coastal areas fish brochettes are very popular .
With respect to sweets, special mention must be
made of the arropia, a candy whose recipe was
passed down by the Arabs, made with honey .
Hornazos (rolls) on St John's Day , and roscos
(rolls), at Christmastime, round out the typical
Torrox pastries menu.
Historic Downtown
242
FOOD
.
On the Sunday before Christmas Day , Torrox is
literally invaded by thousands of out-of-town
visitors who come to celebrate the Migas Day
(migas is a typical dish made with
breadcrumbs), without a doubt the town's most
outstanding celebration. Parades, folk music,
fandangos and other traditional performances
serve as a backdrop to the frantic activity that
takes place when the people of the town start
preparing their famous specialty: migas. Migas
are then eaten with true delight by the thousands
in attendance at this grand festival, in which the
locals show their kind hospitality.
Torrox
In May, the "Cruces" (Crosses) are celebrated.
The crosses here are adorned with flowerpots
and not just flowers, a peculiarity of this festival
in Torrox. An amazing variety of decorations are
placed on the main stepped altar , though the
most impressive are the embroidered shawls
and lace doilies. The altars are normally placed
in the courtyards and the festivities, during which
traditional food is served, are organised around
them.
St. John's Eve (23 June) is of special
significance in Torrox. The traditional burning of
the júas, the bonfire jumping, and a series of
other rituals all come together with water playing
a central role. The rituals are almost always
aimed at discovering whether amorous
relationships will have a happy ending or not.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Chapel, a journey that takes place to the
accompaniment of a prolonged fireworks display.
243
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10:33
PÆgina 244
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
index. Vélez-M
Málaga
The district of Vélez-Málaga is the largest and most
populated in the Axarquía region, with the River Vélez
basin -formed by the Benamargosa and Guaro
watershedsmaking up most of its land area. The district consists
of several urban areas, including Torre del Mar (the most developed
and popular with tourists), Benajarafe, Triana, Trapiche, Almayate
(Bajo and Alto), Cajiz and Chilches, among others. There are also
numerous holiday developments along the coast and scattered
farmhouses in the interior part of the region.
Vélez-M
Málaga
. Almayate
. Bajamar
. Benajarafe
. Chilches
. La Caleta
. Las Arenas
. Pijil / Lagos
. Torre del Mar
. Valle Niza
.
244
Index
245
a
LMAYATE BEACH
Blue flag: no
PÆgina 246
b
AJAMAR BEACH
Vélez-M
Málaga
Description:
This beach is about 800 m long but is rather
narrow, its average width being only 25 m. It
offers few services and is only accessible by car .
The swell here is usually moderate and the beach
has vegetation. There is a parking lot (without
security surveillance).
Blue flag: no
Width: 30 m
Length: 2,800 m
Width: 25 m
Length: 800 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
.
Vélez-M
Málaga
District: Vélez-Málaga
Town: Vélez-Málaga
Nude beach: no
Vélez-M
Málaga
Nude beach: no
Town: Almayate Bajo - Vélez-Málaga
parking lot.
246
.
.
Vélez-M
Málaga
8:38
Bajamar Beach
Almayate Beach
Description:
Almayate doesn't feature apartment buildings and
is set against a beautiful backdrop of fertile
farmlands that stretch right up to the sand. It is
located very close to Torre del Mar and Almayate
Bajo.
13/11/2008
Vélez-Málaga
Index
247
13/11/2008
b
ENAJARAFE BEACH
Description:
Benajarafe beach is surrounded by residential
areas made up of charming little garden houses,
with a backdrop featuring a juxtaposition of steep
and level terrain.
Vélez-M
Málaga
service, public telephone.
Benajarafe Beach
HILCHES BEACH
Vélez-M
Málaga
Description:
Surrounded by hills, the great charm of this
extensive beach is its cosy location and perfect
climate..
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
Town: Chilches - Vélez-Málaga
umbrella hire, toilets, showers, lifeguard station,
rubbish bins, cleaning service, public telephone,
248
.
.
Vélez-M
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Town: Benajarafe - Vélez-Málaga
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
2013
Chilches Beach
.
c
Width: 25 m
Length: 2,500 m
Width: 30 m
Length: 1,600 m
Vélez-M
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PÆgina 248
Blue flag: no
Blue flag: yes
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
8:38
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l
A CALETA BEACH
Vélez-M
Málaga
nautical sports equipment hire, kiosk, parking lot,
yacht club.
Blue flag: no
AS ARENAS BEACH
Vélez-M
Málaga
Description:
Las Arenas, which comprises part of Torre del
Mar beach at its eastern end, can get fairly busy
and the swell level here is generally moderate. It
features dark sand and of fers a wide range of
services including a tourist office and a parking lot
(without security surveillance). Although it is
included in the plan for improved access, it does
not have boardwalks to the beach.
security, toilets, showers, public telephone,
rubbish bins, cleaning service, beach umbrella
and beach chair hire, nautical sports equipment
hire, parking lot.
.
.
Width: 30 m
Length: 1,300 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Vélez-M
Málaga
Nude beach: no
250
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.
Vélez-M
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l
Blue flag: no
Width: 30 m
Length: 1,000 m
Nude beach: no
PÆgina 250
Las Arenas Beach
Caleta Beach
Description:
This beach, included in the accessibility plan, is
located next to the port of La Caleta de Vélez. It
is about 1 km long and tends to be very crowded.
A wide range of services is of fered here and the
beach is disabled accessible, though it lacks
boardwalks on the beach. There is also a parking
lot (without security surveillance).
8:39
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p
IJIL-LLAGOS BEACH
Vélez-M
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.
t
ORRE DEL MAR BEACH
Vélez-M
Málaga
Description:
This is a very long beach located in Torre del Mar.
Many apartment buildings stand alongside the
beachfront promenade. The farmland situated
right next to the sea of fers a natural counterpoint
to the high buildings..
Blue flag: yes
Blue flag: no
Width: 40 m
Length: 2,000 m
Width: 5 m
Length: 1,000 m
Surface material: gravel, sand.
2013
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
.
Town: Torre del Mar- Vélez-Málaga
Nude beach: no
Nude beach: no
Vélez-M
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252
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Vélez-M
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PÆgina 252
Torre del Mar Beach
Pijil - Lagos Beach
Description:
This 1-km-long beach is located in Lagos.
Consisting of a narrow sandy stretch, it of fers
practically no services, but it can get fairly busy at
times. Not very well signposted, it is only
accessible by car . It has a parking lot (without
security surveillance).
Facilities and services: parking lot.
8:39
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v
Description:
This is a dark-sand beach located next to
Benajarafe Beach, along with which it forms an
extensive stretch of beach. It is only accessible by
car and has some areas with vegetation.
The
swell level is generally moderate. Although there
are beach umbrellas and beach chairs for hire,
Valle Niza Beach does not of
fer many other
services.
PÆgina 254
Vélez-M
Málaga
Facilities and services: security, cleaning
Blue flag: no
Width: 25 m
Length: 2,400 m
Sand colour: dark
Swell: moderate
Nude beach: no
.
Vélez-M
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.
Valle Niza Beach
ALLE NIZA BEACH
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254
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PÆgina 256
TOURIST BOARD &
USEFUL INFORMATION
Index
Vélez-M
Málaga
.
Historic Downtown
.
.
Vélez-Málaga
Between the eighth and fifteenth centuries, this
medina was one of the most important in the
Nasrid Kingdom. It was not a very big city but it
was very well fortified and defended by a solid
set of walls. As the number of inhabitants
increased, the walls were no longer able to
accommodate the entire population and some
neighbourhoods were set up on the outskirts, on
what today are the district of
Arroyo de San
Sebastián and the San Francisco and
Constitución Plazas.
Historic Downtown
At the foot of the Toscanos hill, right next to the
former inlet (nowadays covered by mud), a
storehouse was found containing Phoenician,
Greek and Etruscan pottery , an evidence of the
trading activity of the enclave at
Toscanos. A
At Cerro del Mar -the ancient maritime city of
Maenoba, located opposite Toscanos- research
has confirmed the existence of an industrial fish
salting factory which was used predominately for
the production of garum, a kind of sauce
originally introduced by the Phoenicians that
enjoyed great popularity among the Romans.
Yet, the city of Vélez-Málaga proper wasn't
founded until the tenth century
AD, when the
Muslims settled around the fortress. Later , the
town spread quickly over towards the La V
illa
district, the heart of the old Arab medina.
.
256
This chief district of the Axarquía region -a name
derived from the Arabian word "as-Sarqiyya"
meaning Orient or the eastern side)- has a long
and eventful history that begins with the first
Phoenician settlements on the Toscanos hill -on
the right bank of the River Vélez- around the eighth
century BC. In ancient times, the mouth of the
River Vélez formed an inlet between the Peñón
and the Mar hills, which served as an anchoring
spot for ships. From there, transportation via the
Boquete de Zafarraya into the interior of the
Axarquía region was relatively easy.
population of about 1,500 has been estimated,
quite large for that period. Some historians
believe that this settlement could have been the
ancient city of Mainake, founded by the Greeks.
Remains of smelting furnaces and metal
shavings have been found in the nearby Peñón
hill, confirming the existence of industrial activity
in the area. A little further to the north, at the
Alarcón hill, a rectangular building has been
discovered that might very well have been a
fortress, while at Cerro del Mar , more than 30
graves dating from the seventh century BC have
also been excavated. In addition, the Jardin
Necropolis, with more than 100 tombs dating
from the sixth to the fourth centuries BC is
located just to the north of Toscanos.
Vélez-M
Málaga
Population: over 60,000.
Name given to the local people: veleños.
Location: The town is 60 m above sea
level and about 28 km from Málaga City . The
average rainfall is 470 l/m 2, and the average
annual temperature is approximately 18º C.
What to see: Real Convento de Santiago or
San Francisco (Royal Convent of St James or St
Francis), Palacio de Beniel (Beniel Palace),
Casa de Cervantes (House of Cervantes),
Nuestra Señora de los Remedios (Our Lady of
Good Remedy) Chapel, Cruz del Arrabal (El
Arrabal Cross), San Sebastián Chapel, Church
of San Juan Bautista (St John the Baptist), the
old granary, Fountain of Ferdinand VI, Virgen de
la Piedad (Our Lady of Mercy) Chapel, Nuestra
Señora de Gracia Monastery; Monastery of
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, medieval walls, Puerta
Real de la Villa (Royal Gate), Santa María de la
Encarnación (Our Lady of the Incarnation)
Church, Fortress (Alcazaba), San Juan de Dios
or San Marcos Hospital, Cruz del Cordero
(Cross of the Lamb).
Tourist Information: Information: T own Hall,
Plaza de las Carmelitas, s/n (29700).
Tel.: (+34) 952 559 100; fax: (+34) 952 504 616.
Tourist Of fice: Avenida de Andalusia (Torre del
Mar). Tel.: (+34) 952 451 104.
Vélez-Málaga is the largest and most
populated district of the Axarquía region. The
River Vélez -formed by the Benamargosa
and Guaro watersheds- makes up most of its
land area. These watercourses irrigate an
extensive, fertile lowland though, on the whole,
the region displays the typical more arid
landscape features of the Axarquía region, with
much of its terrain situated at moderate
elevations (the highest point is V
eas, on the
eastern slope, 703 m above sea level). Due to its
large size (it covers one-seventh of the region of
Axarquía) and to the fact that it contains the most
fertile lands in the region, the district of VélezMálaga includes several populated areas,
including Torre del Mar (the most highly
developed and popular with tourists), Benajarafe,
Triana, Trapiche, Almayate (Bajo and Alto), Cajiz
and Chilches, among others. There are also
numerous holiday apartment buildings on the
coast and scattered farmhouses in the interior . In
fact, the city of Vélez-Málaga only makes up half
of the district's total population.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Vélez-M
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TOURIST BOARD &
The importance of Vélez-Málaga between the
twelfth and sixteenth centuries is reflected in
the accounts by El Idrisi, Abulfida, Ibn Batuta
and Abd al-Basit, an Egyptian historian who, in
the middle of the fifteenth century
, made
reference to the trading activity at the port of
Mariyya Ballis (Torre del Mar).
Vélez-Málaga's fortunes changed when
Ferdinand the Catholic left Córdoba in
April
1487, heading towards the
Axarquía to
recapture its capital city . Many townspeople
and nobles joined his entourage along the way
and, by the time he was approaching VélezMálaga, he had an army of about 50,000 men
on foot and 12,000 on horseback, according to
the accounts of Hernando del Pulgar , who
chronicled the Conquest of Granada.
Meanwhile, the fortress at Bentomiz, practically
the only place from which Vélez-Málaga could
expect any help, surrendered to the Christian
troops. In spite of El Zagal's attempts, setting
out from Granada to aid the town, VélezMálaga had no other option but to give up.
Eventually, on 26 April, 1487, the city's last
Muslim Mayor, Abul Cacim V enegas, sent an
envoy to agree to the conditions of surrender ,
and on the following day
, Vélez-Málaga
capitulated. The Muslims were even forced to
prepare the city for the arrival of Ferdinand and
Isabella, which took place on 3 May.
Vélez-M
Málaga
.
This historic event took place on 23
August,
1704, when the French-Spanish fleet, which lost
1,500 men in the battle, confronted the AngloDutch fleet, which lost 3,000. A total of 146
ships, 3,577 cannons and more than 46,000
men took part in the fighting. Historians tend to
believe the outcome of the battle didn't really
favour either side, although some studies
suggest it was favourable to the French-Spanish
coalition to some extent.
The Autovía del Mediterráneo (A-7; N-340) must
be taken in the direction of Málaga when
travelling from Nerja or Torrox, or in the direction
of Motril-Almería from anywhere else on the
Costa del Sol. The old N-340 highway passes
through the centre of Torre del Mar and from
there, on to Vélez-Málaga, a 4km stretch that is
very well signposted. The signs for the VélezMálaga highway exit of f the Autovía del
Mediterráneo are also very clear.
.
The eighteenth century was especially positive
for the city, which grew in almost every aspect:
churches and public buildings were constructed
or repaired, city infrastructure was improved and
access ways were embellished. The ideas of the
Enlightenment even began to arrive, mainly
brought by the Sociedad Económica de Amigos
del País (Economic Society of Friends of the
Country), established in 1783.
Historic Downtown
Historic Downtown
Meanwhile, the port of Torre del Mar enjoyed
such a trading boom that its expansion was
proposed in the eighteenth century to improve
grape and citrus exports to the north of Europe.
During the W ar of the Spanish Succession,
Vélez-Málaga supported the Bourbon dynasty
and the naval battle, called by some the Battle of
Málaga, and by others, the Battle of VélezMálaga, took place just off the coast of the city.
The following century began with a bad omen
though: a bubonic plague outbreak in 1804
decimated the population (it claimed the lives of
more than fifty percent of the town's inhabitants).
The town council also suf
fered the
consequences of the epidemic and a military
man had to take the local government into his
hands. Following the invasion of Napoleon's
forces, a government sympathetic to the French
principles came to power , which divided the
population into the two sides that would fight
over the government of the town throughout the
nineteenth century . Several epidemics of
cholera followed, the phylloxera infection
destroyed the vineyards, and an earthquake in
1884 capped of f a disastrous century . The only
positive factor was the expansion of sugar cane
cultivation fields fostered by the Larios family .
.
.
258
Vélez-M
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The town's new governors wanted to make
Vélez-Málaga distinct from what it had
looked like under Muslim rule. With this aim
in mind, they began an architectural
renovation that included a new arrangement
of public spaces and the construction of civil
and religious buildings. Their plan was
hindered by the uneven terrain, so the
effects of the urban renovation were only
seen in a few public spaces (Plaza de la
Constitución and the San Francisco district),
some mansions belonging to noblemen, and
some churches and convents. This is why
the sixteenth century would be remembered
for the construction of new religious
buildings.
A similar urban planning policy was followed in
the seventeenth century , and more churches
and convents were erected. So much so, that
some have called Vélez-Málaga "the City of
Convents." This phenomenon wasn't exclusive
to Vélez-Málaga though; it was also witnessed
by many Andalusian towns, and the largest
public plazas came to serve as celebration
areas for important religious manifestations like
Holy Week or Corpus Christi.
CONVENTION BUREAU
There is evidence that several rural
settlements -whose inhabitants engaged in
farming activities- existed in the area as early
as the thirteenth century , including those at
Almayate, Benamocarra, Benajarafe, Iznate
and Cajiz, to name just a few . These would
eventually go on to become the towns bearing
the same name.
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TOURIST BOARD &
.
Historic Downtown
.
From the Cruz del Arrabal or from the House of
Cervantes, you can head to the Plaza de la
Constitución, known as the Plaza de San Juan,
where the Church of San Juan Bautista (St
John the Baptist) lies. The Church of San Juan
Bautista was founded by the Catholic
Monarchs and subsequently enlarged in 1499
and in 1564. It features a basilica plan,
consisting of three naves with transepts;
however, only its imposing bell tower and part
of the exterior still remain from the first GothicMudéjar construction. The church underwent a
thorough renovation in 1853, which resulted in
much of the intricate cof fered ceiling being
covered with false vaults and the Gothic arches
Vélez-Málaga
Index
The tour continues along De las Tiendas St.,
where the perimeter of the old city walls can be
observed. All that remains of them now are a
few fortified towers. Further ahead is the
Fuente de Fernando VI (Ferdinand VI
Fountain), which was formerly located in the
Plaza de San Juan. Built of marble, it has four
spouts of water spilling from the faces of
mythological animals. The fountain bears an
inscription that reads: "Reinando la católica
magestad del señor don Fernando el
Sexto…1758." ("Reigning is his Catholic
Majesty the lord Don Ferdinand the Sixth…
1758."). But there is one curious detail that
throws doubts on the fountain's date -one of the
coats of arms belongs to Philip II. This, along
with its classical structure and certain
decorative elements, points to the fact that it
was designed in the sixteenth century rather
than in the eighteenth century, during which the
above mentioned inscription might have been
added.
.
The Beniel Palace is located quite close to the
Franciscan convent. It is without a doubt the
town's most outstanding civil building. Its
construction was ordered in the early
seventeenth century by Don Alonso de Molina y
All that remains of the chapel's original structure
is a pointed arch set on top of massive pillars in
what was once the main chapel.
Located near the Church of San Juan is the
building known as the pósito, an old structure
where they used to store grain, mainly wheat.
The pósito was erected in the middle of the
eighteenth century, and consists of two stories:
the upper one was used as a granary and the
lower one, as a marketplace. Attached columns
divide the façade into several sections. After a
period in which it wasn't used, the building was
converted into several houses by walling over
the arches. At present, it is unoccupied and
awaiting renovation.
Historic Downtown
The chapel is actually like a small
church within the main one, since it has a nave,
a choir , a presbytery and a cupola. It is
extravagantly adorned with Baroque elements
including garlands and fruits, mirrors, paintings
and golden plasterwork. Only one of the original
two cloisters remains, noteworthy for its arcades
and Mudéjar pillars.
From Cruz del Arrabal, Arroyo San Sebastián
St. leads to the Chapel of San Sebastián,
established in 1487 by Ferdinand and Isabella
as a tribute to the royal stableman, Sebastián
Fernández. The story goes that the man saved
Ferdinand's life in a battle against the Muslims
while the King's attempted to capture the city .
Whether the story is true or not, the VélezMálaga emblem portrays the scene, with the
story's protagonist appearing on the ground
while the King is defending him from atop his
horse.
transformed into round ones.
The church's
dimensions are truly monumental and,
although some of its chapels are Baroque, its
overall structure is quite classical. Noteworthy
are the paintings by the Vélez-born painter
Francisco Hernández.
.
260
Actually, the building we can see today has
resulted from renovations made in the eighteenth
century. The highlight of the interior is the Buen
Pastor Chapel, currently occupied by the
Cofradía de la Caridad (Fraternity of Charity).
From San Francisco Plaza, walking along San
Francisco St., you will arrive at the House of
Cervantes, a traditional mansion with a lintel
above its entranceway and an inner courtyard
featuring a gallery of triple pointed semicircular
arches on top of brick columns. Tradition holds
that Miguel de Cervantes stayed in this house in
1591 when he came to Vélez-Málaga as a tax
collector. Fray Alonso de Santo Tomás, who is
believed to be an illegitimate child of Philip IV
and who later was Bishop of Málaga, was born
in this house in the seventeenth century. On the
south-western side of the Beniel Palace the
Plaza de la Gloria opens up, from which the San
Cristóbal hill can be accessed. The Chapel of
the Virgen de los Remedios (Our Lady of Good
Remedy), the local Patron Virgin, nestles on the
hill, which af fords beautiful views of the
countryside. The chapel was built in the middle
of the seventeenth century and was renovated
later. Its floor-plan is laid out in the shape of a
Latin cross and its has barrel vaulted naves.
The chapel of the V irgin -whose floor is square
and whose walls and ceiling are richly
ornamented with Rococo work- houses murals
depicting, among others, Philip V and MarieLouise of Savoy.
Returning to the House of Cervantes once
again, you can then go down Cilla St., which
leads to the Cruz del Arrabal (El Arrabal Cross),
a votive chapel dedicated to the Holy Cross and
commemorating Ferdinand the Catholic's
entrance into the city on 3 May , 1487. It is a
small shrine, about 8 m tall, whose front opens
in a round arch. The interior , crowned by a
cupola, contains only a cross.
Vélez-M
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Vélez-M
Málaga
It is advisable to begin with a tour of the city's
monuments. The old quarter was declared a
Historic-Artistic Site in 1970. The area around
the San Francisco Plaza, which features a maze of
streets and alleyways inherited from the Arabs,
makes a good starting point. This district is also
where the first examples of Vélez civil architecture
stand, although the building around which this
quarter was shaped is the Real Convento de
Santiago (Royal Convent of St James).
In 1498, the Real Convento de Santiago,
sometimes called "Convento de San Francisco",
was established in a mosque that Ferdinand and
Isabella consecrated as a Parish Church. During
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, it
underwent such thorough refurbishing that
nowadays the cof fered ceilings in the cupola of
the main chapel are the only remains of the
original Mudéjar church.
Medrano, who died before the work was
completed. His nephews inherited the building
and, after being used for a variety of dif ferent
purposes, the Town Hall, for instance, for years
now it has been home to the María Zambrano
Foundation. The building's architecture is a
hotchpotch of Mudéjar and Mannerist styles with
some Renaissance elements. Its interior is laid
out around an elegant patio with arches resting
atop Tuscan columns, while the exterior
features a marble façade with the Molina
Medrano family coats of arms, cast iron
balconies, and an upper gallery that originally
featured two towers.
CONVENTION BUREAU
WHAT TO SEE
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PÆgina 262
TOURIST BOARD &
Vélez-Málaga
Index
Vélez-M
Málaga
.
Historic Downtown
.
.
Near this church, at the town's highest point
(137 m) stands the Fortress or Alcazaba, now
surrounded by the V illa and Arroyo San
Sebastián neighbourhoods. Archaeological
evidence confirms that construction of the
Granada St. leads down to the San Juan de
Dios Hospital, also known as San Marcos. It
was founded by Ferdinand and Isabella and
ceded to the Order of St John of God in the
seventeenth century . The church has two
naves; one of them features a vault and a
small, eighteenth-century chapel. Despite
having been restored on numerous occasions,
the beautiful, brick Mudéjar courtyard still
survives with its low gallery of round arches.
The building presently serves as a residence
for the elderly.
Historic Downtown
Returning again to the Plaza de la
Constitución, you can continue past the Puerta
Real de la V illa and arrive at the neighbourhood
that bears the same name. From here, you can
walk by the medieval walls.
In the eighteenth century , the building was
unoccupied, remaining so until the time of the
French invasion, when the Napoleonic troops
used and left it in very bad condition. At the
beginning of the twentieth century
, the
Fortress, by then virtually neglected, served as
a kind of quarry to supply materials for other
buildings until the 1960s, when the
Town
Council initiated a timid attempt at renovation,
reconstructing the Torre del Homenaje (Keep)
and some stretches of wall. Still awaiting a
deep renovation project, the Fortress currently
offers a pseudo-romantic vision of its glorious
past, in ruins, and of course, the best views in
the city.
.
The interior is very simple, consisting of a single
nave with a niche at its front, where the image of
the Virgen del Carmen sits. It is also here in the
niche where the decorative elements become
more intricate and extravagant, in typical Baroque
style. Other highlights are the frescoes from the
eighteenth-century School of Granada.
The
convent also houses a very odd relic: a small
wooden skull carved by Saint John of The The
Cross.
Also known as Santa María la Mayor (St Mary
the Elder), the Church of Santa María de la
Encarnación was built on top of an old mosque
between the end of the fifteenth century and
the beginning of the sixteenth century . The
church boasts three naves separated by
rectangular pillars that support round arches.
The naves are covered with Mudéjar-style
coffering. The Renaissance altarpiece of the
main altar is the most outstanding feature of
the church's interior and the Cristo de los
Vigías (Holy Christ of Lookouts) is found here.
The square tower is detached from the church
the same way as minarets were built separate
from mosques. A gallery of columns and
horseshoe arches -af fording magnificent
panoramic views of the city- can be accessed
from the nave of the Epistle.
fortress began in the tenth century. However, it
was only in the thirteenth century that it started
to take on considerable significance (it is
mentioned in the treaty signed by the Nasrid
King Al Hamar and Ferdinand III), and, during
the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries, it played
an even more important role.
After being
conquered by the Catholic Monarchs, the
fortress was used successively as the Royal
House, military headquarters, prison and the
Town Hall.
Vélez-M
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262
Continuing down De las Tiendas St., you end
up at the small plaza where you'll find the
Chapel of the V irgen de la Piedad (Our Lady of
Mercy). Built in the middle of the eighteenth
century, the chapel is framed by a huge round
arch, flanked by Corinthian pilasters that
support a curved pediment.
The façade is
surrounded by a gallery , which appears to have
been used in religious processions.
The
building is crowned by a small cupola, and the
images of Nuestro Padre Jesús El Rico and
Nuestra Señora de la Piedad have been added
recently. From De las Tiendas St., you can take
De las Monjas St., which leads to the Convent
of Nuestra Señora de Gracia (Our Lady of
Grace), better known as Las Clarisas. It was
founded in 1503 in a building that obviously
was not big enough, since the religious
community later moved to its present building in
1555. The new premises were renovated after
the Lisbon earthquake in 1755, and the
Andalusia earthquake in 1884, which seriously
damaged the building.
Moving on to Plaza de las Carmelitas, one
encounters the Convent of Jesús, María y José,
also called the Convent of the Carmelites since
the nuns living there belong to the Order of Our
Lady of Mt. Carmel.
The convent building
comprises two parts: the church and the
convent proper . In its interior are two dif ferent
courtyards: the Patio de las Flores and the
Patio Principal. The church was built between
1738 and 1745 and its façade is Mannerist,
despite the fact that this style had fallen out of
use in the early seventeenth century.
Only a few sections of the walls still remain,
not all of which feature their original building
materials because dif ferent restorations have
been done to prevent their being lost
completely. The walls, which originally
surrounded the whole Moorish medina, were
equipped with towers, evenly spaced along
their length. They had four gates, of which only
one has survived: the Puerta Real de la V illa
(Royal Gate of the Town). It was given this
name after Ferdinand and Isabella entered
Vélez-Málaga through it in 1487. It consists of
a rectangular brick tower accessed through
round arches. After zigzagging north through
this quarter -which was the former town centreyou'll find the Church of Santa María de la
Encarnación (Our Lady of the Incarnation).
CONVENTION BUREAU
The cloister and the church are the most
interesting from an artistic perspective.
The
former, dating from the sixteenth century , was
built on a square floor , surrounded by a twolevel
gallery with round arches resting atop a
series of columns. It is, however , of f-limits to
visitors, as its residents belong to a cloistered
religious order . The church, erected during the
second half of the eighteenth century
, is
Baroque and, despite a simple architectural
layout, its walls are adorned with a profusion of
different decorative elements.
263
13/11/2008
10:48
PÆgina 264
TOURIST BOARD &
.
Historic Downtown
The big day in Torre del Mar is the St John's Eve
(23 June). Júas (Judas' figures) competitions,
popular nighttime parties and performances are
held here around this date, which sees residents
carrying out the ritual of washing their faces with
sea water or going under nine waves, following
Cofradías (fraternities) established long ago
compete in splendour with others created later
over the course of a few days in which the city
lives almost exclusively for its processions. The
popular fervour unleashed with the passing of
some cofradías is so contagious that even the
most sceptical of onlookers often end up
participating with true enthusiasm. It is not
worth highlighting individual cofradías because
all of them, with their ornamental magnificence
Vélez-Málaga
Index
Since the district boasts coastal and inland
areas, it naturally of fers a wide range of
dishes. In the coastal villages, the most
traditional speciality is, of course, pescaíto frito
(small fried fish) in all its varieties. This doesn't
mean that the cooking traditions along the
coast are dedicated exclusively to seafood. In
any of coastal towns, it is very common to find
recipes based on ingredients from the
upcountry and, similarly , inland towns normally
serve excellent fish.
The most traditional local recipes here include
berzas (green beans, potatoes, chick-peas,
eggplant, pumpkin and meat), ajoblanco (garlic
and almond soup), ajobacalao (garlic and
codfish) and ajoporro (leek), as well as soups
such as maimones (made with egg and Spanish
ham), gazpacho (chilled vegetable soup) and
chambao (chopped tomato, peppers, onion and
cucumber with a dash of olive oil).
The
mostachones (sweet buns) and oil cakes are
the speciality pastries. The district of VélezMálaga is also one of the great tropical fruit
producers in Spain and mangos, custard
apples, papayas, and avocados are all worth
tasting.
CELEBRITIES
Among the many important people born in Vélez
Málaga, the most well-known internationally is
Maria Zambrano (1904-1991), considered as
Spain's greatest philosopher and thinker of the
last decades. A follower of Ortega y Gasset,
Maria Zambrano became a relevant scholar
.
Around 15 May, the pilgrimage of the V irgen de
los Remedios (Our Lady of Good Remedy)
takes place. It begins with a Mass offered in the
Cerro Chapel and then proceeds to an olive
grove on the Camino de Torrox, where pilgrims
and carriages gather . The pilgrimage is
becoming increasingly crowded every year as
Given its many urban centres, the festival
calendar in the district of Vélez-Málaga can be
crammed with events. In Cajiz and Triana, the
Day of St Joseph of Nazareth is celebrated on
19 March. After the Mass and the procession of
the Saint, there are various performances in the
pavilions.
Not only the residents of Vélez-Málaga, but also
many from all over the Axarquía region and
elsewhere come to participate in the Holy Week
celebrations in Vélez, considered as one of the
best in Andalusia. The city's time-honoured
religious tradition, marked by the construction of
numerous convents and churches since the end
of the fifteenth century , naturally led to the
creation of some outdoor rituals best
exemplified by the Holy Week.
FOOD
Historic Downtown
.
The Día de la Cruz (Cross Day , on 3 May)
attaches a special significance to the
neighbourhood of Pilar . Residents decorate the
streets with altars and crosses, and organise a
popular evening festival near the Cruz del
Cordero, which is always very lively.
Coinciding with the Days of Santiago and Santa
Ana (St James and St Anne) (25 and 26 July),
Torre del Mar celebrates its five-day summer
fair. Highlights include (page 230)the Virgen del
Carmen procession, which takes place both
through the town's streets and in the waters
along its beach. The festivities are rounded out
with modern and traditional music
performances in the pavilions lining the
fairground, as well as a variety of competitions
and the celebration of the Day Fair on the
beachfront promenade.
and their many devotees, contribute to making
Holy W eek in Vélez-Málaga a truly
unforgettable experience.
.
264
Vélez-Málaga's Royal Fair of San Miguel (St
Michael), which takes place around 29
September, has its origins -like many others of
its kind- in a livestock fair starting to be held back
in 1842. By 1915, the festivity had become an
evening outdoor festival and, today , it is one of
the Axarquía region's most important
celebrations. By day, the fair takes place in the
streets of the historic centre and features
performances by flamenco and choir groups,
sports competitions, food tasting and practically
every other fun activity one might expect from a
fiesta like this. The Axarquía Food and Drink Fair
(Agroalimar) is held at the same time. It was
inaugurated in 2004 with the backing of the
Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry of the
Government of Andalusia.
On 16 July , the city organises the V eladilla del
Carmen, which has become Vélez-Málaga's
premiere summer fair. It features an international
chess tournament as well as flamenco and
contemporary music shows. The third Sunday of
October sees the image of the town's Patron
Virgin, the V irgen de los Remedios Coronada,
carried in a procession from the Cerro Chapel to
the Church of San Juan, where it remains until
the second Sunday of November , when it is
returned again in procession to its sanctuary .
Carnival has always been one of the city's most
popular celebrations, as attested to in the
agreement issued by the
Town Hall on 4
February, 1877. The document refers to the
celebration as "the popular custom of the
masks," and warns that "the authorities will keep
watch to ensure no abuses are committed."
Nowadays, competitions of street musicians and
costume groups take place at the
Teatro del
Carmen (Del Carmen Theatre).
in the tradition. On the second Sunday of June,
this populous urban centre of Vélez-Málaga
celebrates the pilgrimage of the V
irgen del
Carmen. Pilgrims follow the route of Las V iñas
where, after the Mass, there is a series of
traditional performances topped of f with an
evening festival.
Vélez-M
Málaga
Vélez-M
Málaga
FIESTAS
pilgrims' communities from other villages have
begun participating in the celebration. On the
day of the pilgrimage, food and drinks are
handed out and there are horse-taming
competitions.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Leaving the old hospital, the tour can be
continued along Tenerías and Cruz del Cordero
Streets -the old road to Granada that leads
towards the Cruz del Cordero (Cross of the
Lamb) Chapel, a commemorative shrine like
that Cruz del Arrabal. It is a very simple brick
building, which houses a plain wooden cross.
265
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PÆgina 266
TOURIST BOARD &
In Spain, she used to meet some of the most
important poets of the time, including Jorge
Guillén, Emilio Prados, and Miguel Hernández.
Once in exile she used to visit Albert Camus, in
Paris, and Octavio Paz and León Felipe, in
Mexico. Among her most important works are
Pensamiento y filosofía en la vida española
(Thought and Philosophy in Spanish Life),
Filosofía y poesía (Philosophy and Poetry), El
hombre y lo divino (Man and the Divine), Los
sueños y el tiempo (Dreams and
Time) and
Persona y democracia (Person and
Democracy).
She returned to Spain in 1984, and was
awarded the Príncipe de Asturias Prize and the
Cervantes Prize, among others. Her legacy is
kept in the María Zambrano Foundation, whose
headquarters are located in the Palacio del
Marqués de Beniel, in her hometown.
headquarters between the first and third
centuries (during the heyday of Roman rule).
The story goes that St Epeteno, a disciple of St
Peter's, was tormented on Los Remedios hill,
where the Patron V irgin's chapel currently
stands.
The origins of the Patron also have their own
story. It is said that a shepherd found the image
of the Virgin on the hill, but he thought the image
was only a doll so he decided to take it home for
his daughter. On his way home, he lost the doll,
but found it again several days later in the same
place where he had first seen it. Several times
the man tried to take the doll home and the same
thing always happened: the doll reappeared
once and again in the same place.
The
shepherd finally decided that something
supernatural was going on and construction of
the chapel soon began in the place that the
image so determinedly refused to leave.
Vélez-M
Málaga
LEGENDS
Vélez-M
Málaga
Historic Downtown
Historic Downtown
.
There are several legends about city's
foundation. One of them tells that the original
village was located at the mouth of the River
Vélez as was, in fact, the case. It then explains
why the city was moved inland: on 31 July , 365,
a huge earthquake followed by gigantic tidal
waves destroyed the city . Before setting about
with the enormous task of rebuilding the town, its
residents decided to move the village to a safer
location, namely the hillock on which the
Fortress was later constructed.
.
.
Another legend has it that St Peter the apostle
was the founder of the town's old chapel,
Santa Maria -which served as the Episcopal
.
266
CONVENTION BUREAU
early in her career , but was forced to abandon
her University position because she had to live
in exile during the Civil War.
Vélez-Málaga
Index
267
BLUE FLAG BEACHES 2013
Algarrobo:
Algarrobo costa
Benalmádena:
Malapesquera-Santa Ana
Torrevigía
Estepona:
El Cristo
El Padrón
La Rada
Manilva:
Sabinillas
Marbella:
Artola (Cabo Pino)
Faro
Guadalmina-San Pedro
Río Verde
El Cable-Pinillo
Puerto Banús
Venus Bajadilla
BLUE FLAG MARINAS 2013
Estepona:
Estepona Marina
Manilva:
La Duquesa Marina
Marbella:
La Bajadilla Marina
Puerto Deportivo De Marbella
Velez-Málaga:
Caleta de Vélez
Rincón de la Victoria:
Cala del Moral
Nerja:
Torrecilla
Burriana
Vélez-Málaga:
Benajarafe
Torre del mar
.
Appendix
Torrox:
Ferrara
268
Index
269
270

Málaga, Sun and Sand - See guide

Transcription

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