Area Guide - Spain's costa Del Sol

Benaldamena

Benaldamena lies to the West of Malaga and Torremolinos. Although due to the expansion of both Benalmadena and Torremolinos there is little distinction in terms of distance between the two. Benalmadena's tourist explosion occurred later than Torremolinos' and it has managed to avoid some of the uglier large concrete developments of the 1970's. Make no mistake though, this is still the heart of tourist country with crowded beaches, an abundance of British bars and restaurants to cater for most tastes.

The new Puerto Marina is the place to go for young party goers. Popular with locals and tourists alike the place has a distinctly international feel to it. The area is crammed with a variety of nightclubs and bars playing the latest music and staying open until sunrise (or later). Prices are more expensive than those in Malaga city centre, however most visitors should find them in line with prices from their home countries or similar tourist resorts. The town also boasts a sea-life centre and the Tivoli theme park. Benalmadena Costa has aimed for a more family based clientele than the young, fun-in-the-sun image associated with Torremolinos. The Torrequebrada hotel to the west of the town is one of the finest in the area, with a golf course, casino, restaurants and an international show.

Estepona

With an overall population of 37,000, the 'old town', as it is known, is a bustling and atmospheric centre.

Estepona is one of the few coastal towns that has succeeded in maintaining its pueblo charm and character, despite the onslaught of tourism. Notwithstanding, all the tourist facilities are here, including hotels, restaurants, leisure and cultural activities, and shops.

The flip side is that the numerous street cafes and tapas bars still serve traditional Spanish delicacies and the steep, cobbled, narrow streets seem more suited to horses than cars. You'll also find unusual shops and bodegas in Estepona, where you'd least expect them, all very inviting, very friendly - and very cheap!

Main Sights - Estepona is essentially a small fishing village. People tend not to come here specifically to view the monuments, although they shouldn't be disregarded, as several have a fascinating history.

A suggested walk around the old town- Park the car in the underground car park under the seafront promenade and take a walk through the old town.
The Estepona Marina is situated at the west end of the seafront promenade. This is a very pleasant place for a stroll and there are some magnificent boats moored here. There are also a wide variety of excellent bars and restaurants, open both midday and in the evening while younger revellers can enjoy the late night disco bars. There is a popular tourist market here on a Sunday morning.

After midnight (especially in the summer season) the port comes alive. Numerous night clubs and discos seem to materialise from nowhere. Most of them cater for the young and energetic.

Visitors will be amazed to see the very young and the very old dancing the traditional Andalucian Sevillana well into the early (and not so early) hours of the morning. Renaldo's on the corner is a favourite meeting place, 'Chico Diez' is one of the livliest and 'Attico' the place to be at the moment.

Fuengirola

Fuengirola is said to resemble a small Torremolinos, however it has preserved much more of its original Andalusian village style. Lying to the east of Marbella it is a bustling little town during the height of the tourist season. The town is full of bars and nightclubs, offering something for most tastes.

The castle has become the towns symbol, situated outside the town on a hill it commands an impressive view over Fuengirola and the sea. The castle is most likely of Roman origin although it was restored in the Tenth Century by Abderrajman III under the Moorish reign of Andalusia.

Although the castle may be the town's symbol it is probably better known for its beaches. Seven kilometres of coast in all, the entire section is marked by the 'Paseo Marítimo' (beach front promenade). The paseo is a focal point with locals and tourists alike who use the area as a meeting point and to enjoy the sea air. Some of the beaches have been awarded the 'Blue Flag' by the European Community, signifying their cleanliness and the high standard of services provided. Along the beaches you will find 'Chiringuitos' - a mix between a beach bar and a seafood restaurant. On the menu you will find a host of different fish and seafood dishes, including many local specialities.
There are special areas designated for Windsurfing, beach volleyball and other water sports The Marina is home to some impressive yachts and leisure craft, while not of the same scale as Peurto Banus in Marbella, it is a relaxing stroll were you can enjoy seeing the fishing boats going out to sea.

Tuesday is market day (El Mercadillo), open in the morning, it is the biggest outdoor market on the coast and attracts visitors from nearby resorts as well as the locals. It is well worth going down to browse at the wide range of wares for sale, from fake designer clothes and watches to more traditional Andalusian produce.

The many complexes in the surrounding area of Mijas Costa are home to many of the areas ex-patriot population, composed mainly of British, Germans and Scandinavians. Everyday life continues on in Fuengirola and the fisherman still go out to sea, reminding one of the small fishing village it once was.

Granada was first settled by native tribes in the prehistoric period, and was known as Ilbyr.

When the Romans colonised southern Spain, they built their own city here and called it Illibris. The Arabs, invading the peninsula in the 8th century, gave it its current name of Granada. It was the last Muslim city to fall to the Christians in 1492, at the hands of Queen Isabel of Castile and her husband Ferdinand of Aragon.

One of the most brilliant jewels of universal architecture is the Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th C.

This mighty compound of buildings including the summer palace called Generalife, with its fountains and gardens - stands at the foot of Spain's highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, and overlooks the city below and the fertile plain of Granada.

At the centre of the Alhambra stands the massive Palace of Charles V, an outstanding example of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Other major Christian monuments found in the city are the Cathedral, including the Royal Chapel where Isabel and Ferdinand lie buried, the Monastery of La Cartuja and many churches built by Moorish craftsmen after the Reconquest, in Granada's unique "mudéjar" style.

The hill facing the Alhambra is the old Moorish casbah or "medina", called the Albaicin, a fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and whitewashed houses with secluded inner gardens, known as "cármenes". The Plaza de San Nicolas, at the highest point of the Albaicin, is famous for its magnificent view of the Moorish palace.
The Sacromonte hill, which overlooks the city from the North, is famous for its cave dwellings, once the home of Granada's large gypsy community.

The name Granada is ancient and mysterious. It may mean "great castle", for the Roman fortress which once stood on the Albaicin Hill. When the Moors came here, the town was largely inhabited by Jews, for which they called it Garnat-al-Yahud - Granada of the Jews. The Jews are said to have been one of the first peoples to settle in Spain, even before the Romans.

Marbella

Marbella is the choice of the rich and famous. The resort is large and stylish, with around 28km of beaches. While the main towns sea-front promenade offers little from the other Costa del Sol resorts the famous Puerto Banús is high-class and high-price-tag. This is where the elite classes and would-be famous are to be found. The area is lined with designer boutiques and elegant restaurants - not to mention where some of the world's most expensive yachts are moored. Local celebrities include King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, Sean Connery, who lives in the town most of the year, and Melanie Griffith & Antonio Banderas (who originally came from Malaga) have a villa here. The town's local mayor is also a celebrity for his infamy. His ongoing battle with the law over embezzlement, property fraud and a whole host of other charges has become part of everyday Marbella life. Whatever your opinions of him and his politics, the tourists have returned to Marbella and the emphasis is on providing high quality service and a chic cosmopolitan resort.

The old town of Marbella is still characterized by small winding streets and you can enjoy strolling around the café lined Plaza de los Naranjos and forget the hustle and bustle of the main town with its hotels, marinas and busy roads.

Climate and much more

With 325 days of sunshine per year and an average temperature over 20oC, there is no surprise that the fabled weather of Southern Spain has traditionally been the primary attraction for most visitors. However in recent years, more discerning and sophisticated tastes have meant that home buyers are looking for much more than warm weather and a plate of paella on the beach.

The best in health and education

Some parts of Spain may be quaint romantic and pretty, but what if you get ill or want to raise a family? The very best in modern medical services are close at hand with recently built international hospital just 4 km from central Marbella. A wide choice of International schools are also available, offering educational standards comparable with any major city.

A place to live and work

Originally a picturesque fishing village, Marbella has blossomed into a modern vibrant and cosmopolitan metropolis offering one of the world's most desirable lifestyles. Not only a place to live and work all year round, Marbella has become one of the most happening and dynamic areas in Europe. Whilst still retaining its traditional Andalucian charm, Marbella offers all the services and amenities you would find in any of the world's capital cities.

Careful town planning and control Strict controls on building and careful town planning have prohibited over-construction and high rise developments. Trees and parks abound, and beaches are kept clean and free from over-commercialisation. Ringed to the north by scenic mountains, Marbella forms an undulating horseshoe of picturesque village style developments, luxurious villas, pine forests, and championship golf courses all served by a modern road system and infrastructure. On the beachside, sleek marble fronted, low rise apartment complexes are in, high rise blocks are out.

Mijas

Mijas and Mijas Costa are actually separate entities. While Mijas Costa refers to an area of the coast, incorporating many of the coastal towns around Fuengirola, Mijas itself is a small village in the hills over looking Fuengirola. One of the finest examples of the "white villages" it is still has much of its charm with its little whitewashed houses perched on the hillside. Its narrow streets are restricted to pedestrians and donkeys (who act as taxis).

There are many small craft shops selling leather work, pottery and other traditional wares. Mijas has the country's only square bullring (it's also small) and some interesting churches & other monuments giving insight to its past: Roman, Moorish and Spanish. The journey along the old road between Mijas and Benalmadena, among the pines and little chalets that mark the route, is like a continuous balcony which overlooks the sea.

During high season the village can be crowded with tourists visiting from along the coast. Higher in the town the streets turn into flights of steps and the higher you climb the quieter it becomes and the cheaper the cafés, restaurants and bars are.

The many complexes in Mijas Costa are home to many of the areas ex-patriot population, composed mainly of British, Germans and Scandinavians. The area is marked by lots of pretty coves and beaches with housing complexes (urbanizations) behind. Most of the complexes are carefully designed to incorporate Spanish influence and care has been taken not to produce concrete monstrosities. Mijas Costa also boasts some of the coasts more famous golf courses and the luxurious Byblos Hotel which caters for the rich and famous, including guests such as the Rolling Stones.

Nerja

Once a small fishing village Nerja is now the biggest resort to the east of Malaga, it has managed to avoid the worst effects of unrestrained expansion and high rise hotels. There are still plenty of bars and nightclubs for those wanting to party the night away, however the old centre of the town has retained some of its original charm. The Balcón de Europa is a cliff that juts out to sea and is enclosed by two sheltered beaches, it is a favourite spot of many visitors with a beautiful view of the Mediterranean.

Nerja is probably most famous for its caves which lie some 6km inland. Discovered in 1959 by some boys chasing bats they discovered the entrance to a huge system of limestone caverns. The caves are protected and have been well preserved with many parts still closed to the public including areas with prehistoric paintings of animals & humans figures. It is estimated that the caves were inhabited between 20,000 BC and 1,800 BC. Visitors are treated to a series of well lit chambers & displays of archeological finds. Of interest are the Hall of Bethlehem which is full of stalactites and stalagmites. The Hall of the Waterfall, which is the scene for the Festival of the Caves held in July. And the Hall of the Cataclysm, whose fallen rocks indicate an earthquake long ago, the centre piece in the Hall of Cataclysm is the central column, formed when a stalactite and stalagmite met and joined after thousands of years of growth. It is the tallest of its kind in the world at some 32 metres.

Ronda's monuments and points of interest

"El Tajo" - The Cliff - and "Puente Nuevo" New Bridge

Ronda stands on a mighty promontory, or outcropping, which made it impregnable to the Christian armies until the very last years of the Reconquest. This plateau is slashed into two main quarters by a deep cleft in the rock, spanned by the 18th century Puente Nuevo or "New Bridge", which is the chief landmark for all itineraries. Modern (largely built in the 18th century) Ronda is the quarter to the North of the gorge, called El Mercadillo, with the Plaza de España, the site of Ronda's recently built Parador, the spectacular walkway along the river gorge with superb views of the countryside below.

This walkway leads to Ronda's lovely "Mirador", with colourful flower beds and a railing for sightseers to lean against as they gaze into the distance. Just behind the charming "Mirador" is Ronda's famous bullring, one of the most beautiful and ancient arenas in Spain, made famous in the 18th century by a local bullfighter, the legendary Pedro Romero, who killed over 5,000 bulls during his career. You can visit the arena and its fascinating bullfighting museum.

You can walk from the Plaza de España and the bullring up the Calle Nueva, Ronda's pedestrian shopping district, where some of the shops still retain their traditional appearance and style.

Sotogrande

Sotogrande is the luxury resort estate on the Mediterranean coast 20 minutes from Gibraltar and an hour and a half from Malaga. Except Easter , July and August the estate is a very quiet and peaceful place to relax. At these times many Seville and Madrid families visit the estate relishing in its equipped beach restaurants, comfortable accommodation and privacy. The estate has a 24-hour security service.There are local supermarkets, the nearest town is Estepona to the east and La Linea to the west. A car is essential.


Accommodation available ranges from luxury hotels, through villas in their own grounds with their own swimming pools, to country and beach apartments with communal pools. From some of the beach apartments there are breathtaking views of the Straits of Gibraltar, particularly beautiful at sunset in winter months.

Sotogrande is roughly 5,000 acres in size and has three golf courses, Sotogrande and Valderrama. There are facilities for horse riding, polo, tennis, fronton, paddle tennis and sailing. The Marinas is the first important leisure harbour on entering the Mediterranean.

Europe where the sport is played throughout the year. Throughout the summer months there are tournaments, mostly at weekends. Spectators are welcome and anyone requiring more Sotogrande is one of the top venues in the world for polo.

Within Sotogrande lies the Guadiaro Estuary protected natural area of 27ha of marshland on the west bank of the estuary at the mouth of the River Guadiaro. It is of particular interest to birdwatchers but anybody can enjoy a stroll along the wooden walkways.