Malaga - Costa Del Sol

Transcription

TOURIST BOARD
& CONVENTION BUREAU
Malaga
Sun and Marinas
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 8
Available online:
www.visitcostadelsol.com
Spanish, English, French and German versions
Costa del Sol Tourist Board
index
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
Málaga, Sun and Marinas
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.
.
.
Benalmádena Marina (Benalmádena)
Estepona Marina (Estepona)
Fuengirola Marina (Fuengirola)
2
page 12
page 18
El Candado Yacht Club (Málaga)
page 24
Royal Mediterranean Club (Málaga)
page 26
. La Duquesa Marina (Manilva)
. La Bajadilla Marina (Marbella)
. Cabopino Port (Marbella)
. José Banús Marina (Marbella)
. Marbella Marina (Marbella)
. Caleta de Vélez Marina (Vélez-MMálaga)
Graphic design: Conmunica Mediatrader.
Editing: IT Department at the Tourist Board and
Conmunica Mediatrader.
page 4
page 40
page 46
page 48
page 50
page 52
page 60
COSTA DEL SOL TOURIST BOARD
Plaza del Siglo, 2
29015 Málaga
Telephone: (+34) 952 12 62 72
Website: www.visitcostadelsol.com
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
Benalmádena
ENALMÁDENA MARINA
USEFUL INFORMATION
Puerto Deportivo de Benalmádena
29630 Benalmádena Costa (Málaga)
Tel.: (+34) 952 577 022
Fax: (+34) 952 441 344
Website: www.puertobenalmadena.org
TECHNICAL DATA
SERVICES
OTHERS
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- Sports activities
- Boat rentals and excursions
- Shopping area
Benalmádena
Benalmádena
- Civil guard coastguard
- Full-time sailor services
- Diving services
- Crane
- Garbage collection
- Laundry facilities
- Fire-fighting services
- Dry dock (50-tonne travel lift)
.
- Harbourmaster's office (information, administrative area, sailor service, security patrol)
- Waiting dock
- Daily weather reports
- Telephone and fax
- Internet access
- Postal services
- E-mail services
- Public-address system
- Electric power and water supply in all berths
- Showers and toilets for members
- Fuel supply (petrol, gas oil, oil, etc.)
- Ice and provisions
- Security patrol (in coordination with the local
police and the Civil Guard)
- National police
163,686 m2
36º 36' N
4º 31' W
100 m
Sand
5 to 6 m
2 to 5 m
1,100
1,100
Max. 45 m
VHF channels 9 and 16
Benalmádena Marina
The Benalmádena Marina is the most astonishing port and residential complex in Europe. Its
architecture mixes Indian, Arabic and Andalusian
features, and its artificial islands lend it a special
charm that enables the complex to integrate perfectly into a setting that is harmonious in its own right. It
was twice awarded as the Best Marina in the World.
Total surface area
Latitude
Longitude
Width of entrance at mouth
Anchorage
Depth
Dock draft
Berths
Berths for rent
Length of berths
Radio
Index
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
ENALMÁDENA
USEFUL INFORMATION
Surface area: 26.6 km2
Population: around 43,000
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, BilBil Castle, Colomares Castle, Las Águilas
Garden, Buddhist Stupa, watchtowers
(Torrebermeja, Torrequebrada, Torremuelle),
Plaza de España, Benalmádena Pueblo's old
quarter, Benalmádena Costa's Roman ruins.
Benalmádena Pueblo 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.
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 offering all the
main "sun and sand" tourist attractions:
large hotels, a casino, marina and a wide
range of shops.
Due to its location, its excellent hotels and
whole host of leisure activities on offer (beaches, marina, hiking, cable car, theme parks
-Tivoli, 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.
The current name might derive from Ibn al-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.
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.
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.
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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 artefacts
were found on the coast as well. Later the
Romans settled here (salting factories in
Benal-Roma and remains in Torremuelle
and Capellanía). But it was the Arabs who
gave the district its name.
Benalmádena
Benalmádena
Tourist Information:
Tourist Office
C/ Antonio Machado, 10
Benalmádena Costa (29630)
Tel.: (+34) 952 442 494 / 952 441 295
Fax: (+34) 952 440 678
Website: www.benalmadena.com
T his town stretches from the
southern foothills of Sierra de Mijas range
down to the sea and has a population of
40,000. It 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.
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
ENALMÁDENA
HOW TO GET THERE
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 (Avenida Juan
Peralta, 43; Tel.: (+34) 95 2448 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 off 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 War 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.
La Paloma Park is the town's main green and
the only city park on the Costa del Sol,
covering an area of over 200,000m 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 the 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.
The Aula del Mar (Sea Centre) is an aquarium
featuring both Mediterranean marine wildlife
and educational activities.
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.
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Benalmádena
The Torrebermeja, Torrequebrada 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.
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 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 an
area of over 100 m2 and is 6 m high. Its walls
feature paintings by Himalayan artists
depicting the most significant moments in
Buddha's life. This type of Buddhist
monuments symbolise harmony, prosperity
and peace, and their origins go back 2500
years.
Index
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
ENALMÁDENA
FIESTAS
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 (Tel.: (+34) 95 256 01 50).
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, and religious festivals. The major
holiday here is Corpus Christi, when the
streets are blanketed with flowers and
balconies are adorned with brightly-coloured
displays.
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 World, you
can enjoy the first-ever Dolphin Aquarium in
Andalusia and marvel at the clever bottle-nosed
dolphins. Selwo Marina also has the only penguin
ice enclosure in Andalusia, which reproduces the
natural habitat of different penguin species.
Holy Week is another important holiday. 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.
The Festival of San Juan (June), celebrated
in Arroyo de la Miel, offers a range of different
events and activities, and the Fiesta del
Carmen in mid-July pays tribute to the region's
seafaring tradition. The local fiesta in honour
of the Virgen de la Cruz, the local Patron
Virgin, in mid-August, is also rooted in popular
tradition.
LEISURE
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.
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.
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.
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 point
sweep over the coastline and also take in areas
further inland. There is a bar-restaurant, and donkey rides are available too (Tel.: (+34) 95 257 50 38).
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It difficult to name just one typical dish in an area
that has been receiving foreign influence for
decades and therefore offers 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).
Visitors enter through the Placita de las Américas,
a square featuring colonial architecture. The
square is the starting point for a tour across the
different 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.
Benalmádena
Benalmádena
FOOD
Selwo Marina has various different 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.:
(+34) 902 190 482).
Index
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
Estepona
STEPONA MARINA
USEFUL INFORMATION
29680 Estepona (Málaga)
Tel.: (+34) 952 801 800
Fax: (+34) 952 794 417
Website: www.marinasmediterraneo.com
TECHNICAL DATA
The Estepona Marina is a nice place to walk
around, have a look at boats, or have something
to ear or drink. Integrated into local town life, it is
quite busy at night, especially in the summer.
SERVICES
36º 25' 5" N
5º 09' 72" W
150 m
No
5m
8
447
Max.15 m
Channel 9
.
.
Estepona
Estepona
.
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Estepona Marina
- For tourists: restaurants, bars, pubs, cof
fee
houses, disco-pubs, piano bar , boutiques,
newsstand, supermarket, etc.
- Fishing area: shipyards, ice making factory, and
fish market providing fresh fish to many areas
on the Costa del Sol
- Others: electric power, water and fuel supplies,
sewer system, sewage management for boats,
satellite and cable TV, telephone
- Control tower and heliport
- Sports area: gymnasium, tennis and paddle
tennis courts, sailing school
- Awarded the Blue Flag in 20 12
Latitude
Longitude
Anchorage
Depth
Docks
Berths
Length of berths
Radio
Index
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
STEPONA
USEFUL INFORMATION
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. Average annual rainfall is 900 l/m2
and 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, Castle Walls, Marqués de Mondéjar
Palace, Casa de la Borrega, watchtowers,
Ethnography Museum, Bullfighting Museum,
Palaeontology Museum, Archaeology
Museum.
the town to be granted the "Live in SpainCISA 2004" award.
Thus, the area is extraordinarily important in
environmental terms, with a spectacular
landscape and monumental peaks that offer
breathtaking views over the coast. From the
mountains, you can see as far as the Atlas
Mountains, in Africa.
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.
In the lowlands, 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.
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 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 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.
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 offer some open spaces. The
excellent urban development planning led
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Estepona
Estepona
Town Hall
Pza. de Blas Infante, 1
(29680)
Tel.: (+34) 952 801 100
Fax: (+34) 952 793 977
Tourist Office
Avda. de San Lorenzo, 1
Tel.: (+34) 952 802 002
Fax: (+34) 952 792 181
T he 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.
Index
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
STEPONA
HOW TO GET THERE
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
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.
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
Palaeontology 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
FIESTAS
Country life 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 Virgen 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 San
Juan, when the júas (Judas dolls) are burned in
several places.
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 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 different activities since it
was first opened.
The Estepona Marina offers the usual water
sports as well as a very lively late night scene,
with restaurants, bars and nightclubs.
FOOD
Traditional local cuisine has expanded as a result
of the huge influx of tourists into the area, so
much so that almost every restaurant now offers
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.
Selwo Aventura (Autovía Costa del Sol, Km.
162.5; Tel.: (+34) 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
one million m2. The park offers a tour by jeep
and there is also an ethnic village with huts
where you can spend the night.
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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.
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.
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.
Estepona
Estepona
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. 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.
LEISURE
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.
Index
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TOURIST BOARD
& CONVENTION BUREAU
Fuengirola
UENGIROLA MARINA
USEFUL INFORMATION
29640 Fuengirola (Málaga)
Tel.: (+34) 952 468 000
Fax: (+34) 952 469 989
TECHNICAL DATA
Located in the heart of Fuengirola, this
marina features pharmacies, supermarkets, post
offices, banks, hotels, taxi stands, and all kinds of
services. Just 22 kilometres away from Pablo
Ruiz Picasso Airport and very near Málaga City, it
can be reached by train or bus.
-Boat repair, dry dock and dry storage, 6-tonne
crane, 30-tonne travel lift and slipway
Tel.: (+34) 95 258 32 44
Radio
36º 32' 30" N
4º 37' W
60 m
No
4 to 5 m
3.5 m
226
8 x 3, 10 x 3.5,
12 x 4, 15 x 4.5,
20 x 5 m
VHF channel 9
(156.450 MHz)
-Yacht club and sailing school
Tel.: (+34) 95 247 04 06
Fuengirola Marina
SERVICES
Latitude
Longitude
Anchorage
Depth
Dock draft
Berths
Length of berths
.
- Harbourmaster's office
Tel.: (+34) 95 247 40 27
Fuengirola
Fuengirola
- Fuel station
Tel.: (+34) 95 247 90 58
OTHERS
18
.
.
-Restaurants and shops
Index
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
UENGIROLA
USEFUL INFORMATION
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 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 Office
Paseo Jesús Santos Rein, 6
29640
Tel.: (+34) 952 467 457
Fax: (+34) 952 465 100
Website: [email protected]
Given the size of its population and
its popularity with tourists, it is almost
paradoxical that Fuengirola only covers an
area of 10 km2, 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 government-imposed 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.
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.
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.
HOW TO GET THERE
The Autovía del Mediterráneo (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.
20
.
.
Fuengirola
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.
Fuengirola
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 Yusuf I, a
Nasrid ruler, signed a truce in 1340 that led to
a trade boom. The fortress has now been
restored and 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.
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21
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TOURIST BOARD &
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UENGIROLA
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. 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.
22
FIESTAS
In Fuengirola, the fiestas begin with Holy
Week, 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 dolls)
and on the day of the Virgen del Carmen in
July, the small neighbourhood of Los Boliches
commemorates its seafaring tradition by
carrying a statue of the Virgin in a procession,
first on fishing boats -a beautiful ritual
performed in all coastal villages in Málagaand then through the streets of the town.
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
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.
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.
The Palacio de la Paz is a recently constructed cultural complex that covers an area of
2,000 m2 and can hold up to 1,800 people. Its
facilities can host any kind of event or show,
even those that, due to their nature, cannot be
held on a conventional stage.
The Fuengirola Zoo (Tel.: (+34) 95 266 63
01), 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.
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.
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.
Index
LEISURE
.
.
In contrast with this modern tourism-related
infrastructure, the archaeological sites in the area
offer visitors the chance to discover Fuengirola's
ancient history. 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).
The City History Museum looks back at over
2600 years of local history in this beautiful
Mediterranean city.
musical shows to the Palacio de la Paz. In August
the Veladilla del Veraneante (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
Virgen del Rosario (Virgin of the Rosary).
Fuengirola
Fuengirola
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.
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 Venus 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.
23
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TOURIST BOARD &
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Málaga
L CANDADO YACHT CLUB
USEFUL INFORMATION
Playa de Almellones, s/n
29018 Málaga City (Málaga)
Tel.: (+34) 952 296 097 / 952 290 547
Fax: (+34) 952 295 804
Website: www.clubelcandado.com
TECHNICAL DATA
Located in the provincial capital city, this
265-berth yacht club is one of the major marinas
in the area.
SERVICES
36º 43' N
4º 20' 09" W
30 m
No
3m
3m
280
Max.15m
Channel 9
OTHERS
- Golf club
- Golf school
- Tennis school
- Social club
El Candado Yacht Club
- Sailing and canoeing schools
- Skipper and diving schools
- Boat repair and dry dock
- Restaurant and bar
Latitude
Longitude
Anchorage
Depth
Dock draft
Berths
Length of berths
Radio
.
.
Málaga
Málaga
.
24
Index
25
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TOURIST BOARD &
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OYAL MEDITERRANEAN CLUB
Málaga
USEFUL INFORMATION
Paseo de la Farola, 18
29016 Málaga City (Málaga)
Tel.: (+34) 952 213 690
952 228 528 (boat house)
Fax: (+34) 952 216 311
Website: www.realclubmediterraneo.com
TECHNICAL DATA
SERVICES
Depth at mouth
Dock draft
Berths
Length of berths
Radio
36º 48.2' N
4º 24.8' W
70 m
Sand, mud
and rock
8m
3 to 7 m
93
6 to 12 m
VHF channels 9
and 16
.
- Dry dock
- Berths
- 24-hour security patrol
- Showers and toilets
- Water supply
- Garbage and used oil collection
- Travel lift
- Sailing, rowing, canoeing, and swimming
schools
- Public telephones
Latitude
Longitude
Anchorage
Málaga
OTHERS
- Sports activities: rowing, canoeing, fishing,
swimming, water polo, tennis, sailing
.
.
Málaga
26
Royal Mediterranean Club
T he main goal of the Royal
Mediterranean Club of Málaga is to foster
water sports, by organising activities and
events to promote them. In 1998, when it
celebrated its 125th anniversary, the club was
granted the Golden Plate to Sport, the highest
award given to sports organisations in Spain
Index
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TOURIST BOARD &
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ÁLAGA
USEFUL INFORMATION
Surface area: 385,50 km2
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/m2 and
average annual temperature is 18.5º C.
What to see: Roman Theatre, Alcazaba,
Gibralfaro Castle, Cathedral, Sagrario Church,
Episcopal Palace, Picasso Museum, Santiago
Church, Plaza de la Merced, Picasso
Foundation, Custom House, Paseo del Parque,
Chancellor's Office of the University of Málaga
(former Post Office building), Bank of Spain, City
Hall, Puerta Oscura Gardens, Pedro Luis Alonso
Gardens, Tres Gracias Fountain, Bullring,
Courthouse (former Miramar Hotel), Marquis of
Larios Monument, Larios Street, Génova
Fountain, Pasaje de Chinitas, Sociedad
Económica de Amigos del País, Ateneo de
Málaga, Santo Cristo de la Salud Church,
Santos Mártires Church, Museum of Popular Art
and Culture, Puerta de Atarazanas, Virgen de la
Victoria Sanctuary, Finca de la Concepción,
Contemporary Art Center (CAC) and Heritage
Museum Municipal de Malaga.
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.
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
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 the Alcazaba
(fortress), which still remains today. As Roman
domination waned, the city passed onto the
hands of different Germanic peoples, such as
Vandals and Visigoths, and following the
Islamic invasion it belonged to the Emirate,
and subsequently the Caliphate, of Córdoba.
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. Following its
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 subsequent
28
.
.
Málaga
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.
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 War.
Málaga
Tourist Office:
Pza. 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 different 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 the Axarquía and
features the highest peaks, such as Santo
Pitar (1,020 m).
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TOURIST BOARD &
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ÁLAGA
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.
WHAT TO SEE
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
The Alcazaba or fortress 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.
HOW TO GET THERE
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) offers the best
views over the city.
30
.
.
From anywhere on the Costa del Sol, take the A7 (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.
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. 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).
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.
in the centre some of the streets were widened
and architecturally striking buildings were
erected.
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ÁLAGA
Immediately after the city was conquered by
Christian troops, the former mosque was
consecrated under the name of Virgen 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.
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-armed building).
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.
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 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.
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 a
pointed arch and the Almohad-style brick
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
32
.
.
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
The 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.
Málaga and dates back to 1520. Its austere
façade has some Plateresque features and the
lookout tower gives it a fortress-like
appearance.
Málaga
Málaga
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.
exquisite Dolorosa (Weeping Madonna) in Los
Caídos chapel, which is overlooked by a
Crucifix carved by his father, Alonso de Mena.
In the Virgen 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.
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ÁLAGA
Pablo Ruiz Picasso was born in 1881 on the
northern part of the square, in one of the so-called
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.
Next to the Custom House 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.
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, with the Palacio de la
Aduana (Custom House) 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 custom house in
Puerta del Mar, and was finally completed early in
the nineteenth century.
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 twentiethcentury buildings. The former Post Office, now
the Chancellor's Office of the University of
Málaga, has a peculiar Neo-Mudéjar 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 Salón de Los Espejos (Hall
of Mirrors).
The Puerta Oscura Gardens are behind the City
Hall, under the south wall of the Alcazaba, 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.
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 Miramar Hotel, which is now
the Palacio de Justicia (Courthouse). This is
another great building designed by Guerrero
Strachan in the 1920s.
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
34
.
.
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.
Its Neoclassical structure is based on 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 different 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.
Málaga
Málaga
tower. Its interior is profusely adorned with
stuccowork, especially the side chapels.
Index
35
m
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
ÁLAGA
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.
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 m2 building that in the
Christian period served as an arsenal which
collapsed after the explosion of several
gunpowder mills in the seventeenth century.
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 Virgen de la Victoria (Our
Lady of Victory 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.
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
36
.
.
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. 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 (on Compañía St.)
belonged to the Society of Jesus. The
seventeenth-century church has a circular floor
plan crowned with a large dome. It houses a
magnificent altarpiece dating from 1633 and the
tomb of Pedro de Mena.
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 Victoria,
a tavern built in the seventeenth century over a
former fifteenth-century mosque. Since the
1970s, it has been home to the Museum of
Popular Arts, Customs 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 well-preserved
collection of utensils, tools and furnishings.
Málaga
Málaga
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. 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.
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. Work
began on it in the sixteenth century but it was
remodelled in the eighteenth century, so the
decoration is late Baroque.
Index
37
m
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
ÁLAGA
FOOD
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.
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 Michelinstarred Café de Paris.
FIESTAS
Málaga has two major popular celebrations: Holy
Week 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
Virgen del Carmen celebration with its maritime
procession in mid-July, and the Fiesta Mayor de
Verdiales (traditional Andalusian music festival)
on 28 December at the Venta de San Cayetano in
the neighbourhood of Puerto de la Torre, where
you can enjoy the traditional verdiales competition while sampling the local wine and dry cured
pork. And, in addition, each neighbourhood also
organises its own fiestas.
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.
Other typical dishes are gazpacho and
ajoblanco (chilled garlic and almond soup),
gazpachuelo (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.
The 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.
Agricultural activity here began to decline in 1878, the
year the phylloxera plague affected 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 1933 onwards,
great efforts 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.
38
.
.
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 so-called
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.
NATURE
Málaga
Málaga
During Holy Week, 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.
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.
Index
39
L
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
Manilva
A DUQUESA MARINA
USEFUL INFORMATION
Control Tower - Apto 9
29692 Manilva (Málaga)
Tel.: (+34) 952 890 201
Fax: (+34) 952 890 101
Website: www.marinasmediterraneo.com
TECHNICAL DATA
La Duquesa is a magnificent marina
located on the Strait of Gibraltar, near Estepona
(Málaga) and Sotogrande (Cádiz). Easy access
and quality services make it one of the best
marinas in the province
SERVICES
Index
Manilva
.
- Tourist attractions in the area
- Sports activities
.
OTHERS
Manilva
.
40
Radio
5º 14' W
36º 21' 30" N
80 m
No
2.70 m
6
328
8, 10, 12, 15,
20 m
Channel 9
La Duquesa Marina
- Berths for boats up to 20 m long
- Town centre a few minutes' walk
- Shops, restaurants, car rentals and travel
agencies
- Special activities for members
- Metered electric power and water supply
- Fuel supply (gas oil and petrol)
- Free satellite TV
- Card access to jetties and showers
- Free emergency medical insurance
- Telephone and fax at office
- 70-tonne crane
- Wireless Internet access
- PCs and Internet for members
- Wet dock maintenance services
- Dry dock boat repair
(engine, fibreglass, paint, osmosis, etc.)
Latitude
Longitude
Anchorage
Depth
Docks
Berths
Length of berths
41
m
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
ANILVA
USEFUL INFORMATION
Name given to the local people: Manilveños
Location: The westernmost town of the
Costa del Sol, Bordering the province of
Cádiz, 97 km from Málaga City. Average
annual rainfall is 750 l/m2 and average annual
temperature is 17º C.
What to see: Duquesa Castle or Sabinillas
Fort, Santa Ana Church, Chullera towers.
Town Hall
C/ Mar, 34
(29691)
Tel.: (+34) 952 890 065
Fax: (+34) (+34) 952 890 066
Tourist Office
Ctra. Sabinillas-Manilva, Km. 0.5
Tel.: (+34) (+34) 952 890 065 - 952 897 434
Fax: (+34) (+34) 952 890 845
T his town 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.
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.
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.
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.
HOW TO GET THERE
From anywhere on the Costa del Sol, take the
Autovía del Mediterráneo (AP-7) towards
Cádiz. If you are setting off 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.
42
.
.
Manilva
Manilva
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.
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
of the Muslim period are found farther inland,
away from the coast.
Index
43
m
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
ANILVA
FIESTAS
The Santa Ana Church was built in the
eighteenth century on top of an earlier and
smaller late-sixteenth 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 mid-nineteenth 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.
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's design and development.
On 26 July, the day of the town's Patron Saint,
Santa Ana, villagers and tourists alike take part in
the events organised by the Town Council,
including a float parade, street parties and other
shows that go on into the night. The
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.
harvest. The village pays tribute to the product
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.
FOOD
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 different
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), 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.
Manilva
Index
.
One of the most important fiestas in Manilva is the
Vendimia (grape harvest) in the first week of
September, coinciding with the end of the grape
.
Manilva
On the Eve of San Juan, the age-old "night of
fire", the Manilveños proceed to burn the júas
(Judas dolls) and to splash seawater on their
faces as a way of warding off evil. On 27 July the
village overflows with the crowded Virgen 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 Virgen del
Carmen (the Patron Virgin of seafarers). The
image of the Virgin is taken out to sea followed by
a line of decorated boats that sound their horns in
her honour.
WHAT TO SEE
44
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 Week has a special religious
meaning in Manilva that is not incompatible with
other more entertaining customs.
45
L
TOURIST BOARD
& CONVENTION BUREAU
Marbella
A BAJADILLA MARINA
USEFUL INFORMATION
Puerto pesquero, s/n (Fishing Port area)
29603 Marbella (Málaga)
Tel.: (+34) 952 858 401
Fax: (+34) 952 858 426
Website: www.eppa.es
TECHNICAL DATA
Located at the entrance of Marbella, La
Bajadilla Marina was inaugurated in the summer
of 2000, after the renovation of the old fishing
port. It was awarded the Blue Flag in 20 12.
.
Index
.
(*) Services provided by licensed companies.
Availability and rates not regulated by Ports of
Andalusia.
Marbella
Marbella
- Waiting dock
- Information centre
- Fuel supply
- Electric power and water supply
- Weather reports
- Public telephones
- Ice
- Taxis and car rentals
- Car park
- Credit cards accepted
- Boat repair and dry dock (*)
- Travel lift (*)
.
46
36º 30' 25.1" N
4º 52' 33.2" W
3m
260
Max. 15 m
Channel 9
(156.450 MHz)
La Bajadilla Marina
SERVICES
Latitude
Longitude
Max. dock draft
Berths
Length of berths
Radio
47
c
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
Marbella
ABOPINO PORT
USEFUL INFORMATION
Ctra. A-7, Km. 195
Tel.: (+34) 952 831 975 / 952 832 975
Fax: (+34) 952 830 237
TECHNICAL DATA
This is a small port located in an exclusive
urban development, 10 km away from downtown
Marbella.
SERVICES
Radio
36º 29' 2" N
4º 44' 04" W
64 m
No
2.5 m
22,438 m2
169
8, 10, 12, 13,
15, 16 m
Channel 9
OTHERS
48
.
.
Marbella
Marbella
.
- Sports facilities
- Shopping centre in the area (1 km away)
- Nearby golf courses
Cabopino Port
- 20-tonne travel lift
- 3-tonne crane
- Toilets
- Boat warehouse
- Fuel station
- Boat repair
Latitude
Longitude
Anchorage
Depth
Dock surface area
Berths
Length of berths
Index
49
j
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
Marbella
OSÉ BANÚS MARINA
USEFUL INFORMATION
Nueva Andalucía
Tel.: (+34) 952 909 800
Fax: (+34) 952 810 899
Website: www.puertobanus.com
TECHNICAL DATA
I naugurated in May 1970, this marina has
become the focus of the National Tourist Interest
on the Costa del Sol. It is a meeting point for
many public figures, and more than 4 million visitors come over every year.
SERVICES
Marbella
.
Customer services:
- Fire engine
- Fuel station at waiting dock
- Dry dock and wet dock boat maintenance
and cleaning
Index
.
Dry dock services:
- Surface areas for boats
- 50-tonne travel lift (14 m length x 5 m beam)
- 5-tonne mobile crane
- Cargo vehicles
- Water jet machines
- Sandblasting machines
Marbella
50
- Portable bilge pumps
- Vessel assist boats
- Slipway
.
Wet dock services:
- Crane (interior and exterior docks)
- Raft rentals
- Diving services
- Bilge pumping services
36º 29' N
4º 57' 04" W
80 m
Sand
7.5 m
3 to 7 m
915
8 to 50 m
VHF channels 9
and 16
José Banús Marina
Berth services:
- Electric power supply in all jetties and docks
- Metered electric power and water supply
- Power supply (metered)
- Telephone (switchboard)
- Satellite TV (on request)
- Fire and anti-theft alarm services (on request)
- Fuel station (gas oil at the Benabola dock)
- Daily garbage collection
- Dry dock showers for members (hot and cold water
from 8 am to 10 pm in summer, and from 8 am to 6
pm in winter)
- Weather reports
Latitude
Longitude
Anchorage
Depth at mouth
Dock draft
Berths
Length of berths
Radio
51
m
TOURIST BOARD
& CONVENTION BUREAU
Marbella
ARBELLA MARINA
USEFUL INFORMATION
Avda. Duque de Ahumada
Tel.: (+34) 952 775 524
Fax: (+34) 952 900 174
TECHNICAL DATA
The Marbella Marina is surrounded by the
best central beaches in Marbella. Yachts and
small boats can be seen in the marina, in an area
gathering a lot of young people who like to spend
their leisure time in bustling pubs and nightclubs.
SERVICES
Radio
36º 30' N
4º 53' W
20 m
Sand
3.5 m
2m
377
6 x 2, 8 x 3,
12 x 4, 15 x 4.5,
20 x 5
Channel 9
Marbella Marina
- Engine and mast transfers
- Boat towing
- Boat repair, maintenance, cleaning and painting
- Bilge pumping services
- Water jet machines
- Towing and bed areas
Latitude
Longitude
Anchorage
Depth
Dock draft
Berths
Length of berths
.
.
Marbella
Marbella
.
52
Index
53
m
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
ARBELLA
USEFUL INFORMATION
Name given to the local people: Marbellíes
Location: Situated in the centre of the
Western Costa del Sol, between the foot of
the Sierra Blanca mountain range and the
coast, 56 km from Málaga. Average annual
rainfall is 630 l/m2 and average annual temperature is around 18º C.
What to see: Río Verde Roman Villa, Vega del
Mar Paleo-Christian Basilica, Guadalmina
Roman Baths, 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.
Marbella
.
The second most populated town in 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 Verde, about 5
km away.
The Romans left their mark on the region, as
seen in the Río Verde villa, the baths at
Guadalmina and other findings in the old
quarter. Some scholars have even entertained
Index
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 Vega del Mar Paleo-Christian
Basilica, located near San Pedro de Alcántara,
dates back to the Visigothic period and stands
out as one of the most remarkable constructions
built during this period in Spain.
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.
.
54
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
affluent 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
Tourist Office
Glorieta de la Fontanilla, s/n
(29600)
Tel.: (+34) 952 774 693; Fax: (+34) 952 774
693
City Tourist Office
Ctra. N-340, Km. 182
(20600)
Tel.: (+34) 952 822 818; Fax: (+34) 952 822
944
City Tourist Office
Main A West Access to Puerto Banús (29660)
Tel.: (+34) 952 818 57
Fax: (+34) 952 818 5 70
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 crisscrossed 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.
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In the 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.
HOW TO GET THERE
By car, take the AP-7 motorway or the N-340
highway. Both routes are well signposted.
WHAT TO SEE
56
Next to the entrance archway of San Pedro de
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 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.
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.
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.
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 Santo Cristo Church, built between the
fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, is one of the
oldest buildings in Marbella. The Santo Cristo de
la Vera 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.
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.: (+34) 95 290 27 14) 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.
.
.
The Roman villa of Río Verde, 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
The Vega del Mar Palaeo-Christian Basilica,
discovered in 1915, is in the town of Linda Vista,
next to San Pedro de 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.
Parts of the old Arab Fortress, some sections
of 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
Marbella
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, not to mention its
excellent beaches covering more than 20 km of
coastline. But this is not all, for the city also offers
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.
very similar to the art of the twentieth century. The
central figure of the Medusa head is surrounded
by birds, ducks, urns and plants in a variety of
colours.
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The peculiar Museum of Mechanical Arts (C/ EI
Ingenio de la Morena, s/n. Tel.: (+34) 95 278 69
68) exhibits machines made out of scrap metal,
while the Museo del Ralli (C/ Urbanización Coral
Beach, 5. Tel.: (+34) 95 285 79 23) houses a
collection of works, most of them contemporary,
by Latin American artists.
The Bonsai Museum (Avda. Dr Maiz, s/n.
Tel.: (+34) 95 286 29 26) 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.
Inaugurated in 1992, the Museum of
Contemporary Spanish Prints (C/ Hospital
Bazán, s/n. Tel.: (+34) 95 276 57 41) 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 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.
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 Week
celebrations occurs when the Maria Santísima
del Calvario's (Our Lady of Calvary) float is
carried down from its chapel on Holy Thursday.
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, where
international haute cuisine combining tradition
and innovation has found a home.
NAUTICAL ACTIVITIES
One of the features contributing to Marbella's preeminent position as a tourist destination is the
quality of its marinas. They are not just run-of-themill marinas with all the usual 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 Marina, Cabopino Port and Puerto
Banús, 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.
It is during Holy Week, however, that
Marbella's Andalusian character really comes
to the fore. This celebration not only coexists
with the customs and traditions of the
thousands of foreign 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 Vera Cruz fraternities. Only
scanty historical data point to the keeping of this
58
.
.
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
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 de
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.
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 de
Alcántara and Nueva Andalusia, where they
feature a live re-enactment of Jesus' entrance
into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
Marbella
Marbella
FIESTAS
over to the fairgrounds. Regardless of the
venue, a noticeable Andalusian air
predominates, truly enjoyed by foreign visitors.
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ALETA DE VÉLEZ MARINA
Vélez-M
Málaga
USEFUL INFORMATION
Caleta de Vélez
29751 Vélez-Málaga (Málaga)
Tel.: (+34) 952 511 390
Fax: (+34) 952 550 526
Website: www.eppa.es
TECHNICAL DATA
SERVICES
- Dry dock
- Boat repair (engine and electricity)
- 150-tonne travel lift
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Vélez-M
Málaga
Vélez-M
Málaga
36º 44' 52.3" N
4º 04' 10.6" W
35 m
4m
292
Max. 25 m
Channel 9
(156.450 MHz)
.
- Information centre
- Fuel supply
- Weather reports
- Public telephones
- Ice
- Taxis and car rentals
- Car park
- Shops
- Laundry facilities
- Credit cards accepted
Latitude
Longitude
Max. dock draft
Berths
Length of berths
Radio
Caleta de Vélez Marina
At the Caleta de Vélez Marina, visitors
will have lots of recreational options. Located
just 500 m away from the Torre del Mar district,
this marina has nice beaches to offer, and it
could be the gate to enter the Axarquía's
attractive inlands.
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USEFUL INFORMATION
Surface area: 156 km2
Population: over 60,000
Name given to the local people: Veleños
Location: Vélez-Málaga is the capital of the
Axarquía. The town is 60 m above sea level
and about 28 km from Málaga City. Its average rainfall is 470 l/m2, and the average annual
temperature is approximately 18º C.
What to see: Real Convento de Santiago o 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 (Our Lady of Grace)
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, Alcazaba,
San Juan de Dios or San Marcos Hospital, Cruz
del Cordero (Cross of the Lamb).
Vélez-M
Málaga
.
This chief district of the Axarquía -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 Vélezaround 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 was
relatively easy.
Index
Remains of smelting furnaces and metal
shavings have been found in the nearby Peñón
Mount, 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.
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 wasn't founded until
the tenth century AD, when the Muslims settled
around the fortress. Later, the town spread
quickly over towards the La Villa district, the heart
of the old Arab medina. 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.
.
62
Due to its large size (it covers one-seventh of
the Axarquía) and to the fact that it contains
the most fertile lands in the region, the district
of Vélez-Málaga 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.
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
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.
Vélez-M
Málaga
Town Hall
Pza. de las Carmelitas, s/n (29700)
Tel.: (+34) 952 559 100
Fax: (+34) 952 504 616
Tourist Office
Paseo de Larios s/n. 29740. Torre del Mar
Tel.: (+34) 952 541 104
Vélez-Málaga is the largest and
most populated district of the Axarquía. The
River Vélez River -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, with
much of its terrain situated at moderate
elevations (the highest point is Veas, on the
eastern slope, 703 m above sea level).
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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.
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-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 Vélez-Málaga, 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, Vélez-Málaga had
no other option but to give up.
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.
During the War 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.
This historic event took place on 23 August,
1704, when the French-Spanish fleet, which
lost 1,500 men in the battle, confronted the
Anglo-Dutch 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 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
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 suffered
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 off a disastrous
century. The only positive factor was the
expansion of sugar cane cultivation fields
fostered by the Larios family.
HOW TO GET THERE
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 off the Autovía del
Mediterráneo are also very clear.
64
.
.
Eventually, on 26 April, 1487, the city's last Muslim
Mayor, Abul Cacim Venegas, sent an envoy to
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.
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.
Vélez-M
Málaga
Vélez-M
Málaga
There is evidence that several rural settlements whose inhabitants engaged in farming activitiesexisted 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. 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).
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 VélezMálaga "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.
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WHAT TO SEE
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).
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). 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.
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 affords 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
Virgin -whose floor is square and whose walls and
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.
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
Vélez-Málaga emblem portrays the scene, with the
story's protagonist appearing on the ground while the
King is defending him from atop his horse. 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.
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,
Located near the Church of San Juan is the
building known as el 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.
The tour continues along 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
66
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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
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.
ceiling are richly ornamented with Rococo workhouses murals depicting, among others, Philip V
and Marie-Louise of Savoy.
where the Parish Church of San Juan Bautista (St
John the Baptist) lies. The Parish 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 Gothic-Mudéjar construction.
The church underwent a thorough renovation in
1853, which resulted in much of the intricate
coffered ceiling being covered with false vaults
and the Gothic arches 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.
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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 coffered ceilings
in the cupola of the main chapel are the only
remains of the original Mudéjar church.
seventeenth century by Don Alonso de Molina y
Medrano, who died before the work was
completed. His nephews inherited the building
and, after being used for a variety of different
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.
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católica magestad del señor don Fernando el
Sexto…1758." ("During the rule of His Catholic
Majesty 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.
From Las Tiendas St., you can take 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.
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 Cross.
Returning again to the Plaza de la Constitución,
you can continue past the Puerta Real de la Villa
and arrive at the neighbourhood that bears the
same name. From here, you can walk by the
medieval walls. Only a few sections of the walls
still remain, not all of which feature their original
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 affording magnificent panoramic views of the city
- can be accessed from the Epistle nave.
Near this church, at the town's highest point (137
m) stands the Alcazaba or fortress, now
surrounded by the Villa and Arroyo San
Sebastián neighbourhoods. Archaeological
evidence confirms that construction of the
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 royal house, military
headquarters, prison and town hall.
In the eighteenth century, the building was
unoccupied, remaining so until the time of the
French invasion, when the Napoleonic troops
used it 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
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The cloister and the church are the most
interesting from an artistic perspective. The
former, dating from the sixteenth century, was
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 different 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.
building materials because different 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, only one of which
has survived: the Puerta Real de la Villa (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 centre- you'll find the Church of
Santa María de la Encarnación (Our Lady of the
Incarnation).
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Continuing down Las Tiendas St., you end up at
the small plaza where you'll find the Chapel of
the Virgen 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.
built on a square floor plan, surrounded by a twolevel gallery with round arches resting atop a
series of columns. It is, however, off-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.
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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.
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.
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.
FIESTAS
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'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.
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.
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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 San José de Nazaret is celebrated on
19 March. After the Mass and the procession
of the Saint, there are various performances in
the pavilions.
The big day in Torre del Mar is the Eve of San
Juan (23 June). Júas (Judas dolls) 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 in
the tradition. On the second Sunday of June, this
populous urban centre of Vélez-Málaga
celebrates the pilgrimage of the Virgen del
Carmen. Pilgrims follow the route of Las Viñas
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 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.
Not only the residents of Vélez-Málaga, but also
many people from all over the Axarquía 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.
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 and their many devotees,
contribute to making Holy Week in Vélez-Málaga a
truly unforgettable experience.
70
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On 16 July, the city organises the Veladilla del
Carmen, which has become Vélez-Málaga's
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).
where, after the Mass, there is a series of
traditional performances topped off with an
evening festival.
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Around 15 May, the pilgrimage of the Virgen 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 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 dressage competitions.
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 Virgen de los Remedios Coronada,
carried in a procession from the Cerro Chapel to
the Church of San Juan, where She remains until
the second Sunday of November, when She is
returned again in procession to Her sanctuary.
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FOOD
LEGENDS
Since the district boasts coastal and inland areas,
it naturally offers 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.
IMPORTANT FIGURES
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.
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 early
in her career, but was forced to abandon her
University position because she had to live in
exile during the Civil War.
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
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 Virgin's chapel currently stands.
.
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 Beniel Palace, in
her hometown.
The origins of the Patron Virgin 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.
.
72
In Spain, she came in contact with 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).
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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 tortas de aceite
(oil cakes) are the speciality pastries. The
district of Vélez-Málaga is also one of the great
tropical fruit producers in Spain and mangos,
custard apples, papayas, and avocados are all
worth tasting.
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Malaga - Costa Del Sol

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