Frigiliana

La Axarquia

Nerja, known in times of arabics as Naricha (abundant flowing), its located in the most Eastern part of the province of Málaga, (50km from the city of Málaga), belonging to the Costa del Sol, limits with the province of Granada and it is located between the populations of Frigiliana and Torrox. Behind Nerja, is the Almijara mountains range. Protected by the sea and the mountains, Nerja has become one of the oases of Europe.

The village of Nerja appears as a turistic center of first order in which is mixed the traditional andalucian villa and the cosmopolitan style, where you will be able to enjoy ideal surroundings. Unlike the others areas of the Costa del Sol, here the mountain reach the edge of the sea creating impressive cliffs.

Among its cliffs, you can find beaches and coves of great attractive, with clear, clean and crystalline waters that invite you to bath and to practive water sports. Nerja's beaches, among which is the internationally well known beach of Burriana, awarded every year with the blue flag of UE, are equipped with the best services (beach restaurants, bas, souvenirs, supermarkets...).

The climate of Nerja, considered by many persons like the best climate of Europe, it is subtropical, with a annual average temperature of 19,5 ºC. For that reason, the unique climate and orography, turn to Nerja good surroundings for the relaxation and the benefit. The tourism is at the moment one of the fundamental pillars of the economy of Nerja, together with the agriculture and the fishing.

History

The history of Nerja is in big part the discovery of the Caves of Nerja. Due to the paintings found in the cave, they have found in it, examples of the first settlers that arrived in this town around the Paleolithic and Bronze eras. From those days until the tourism boom of today many episodes have occurred on this land.

There have been many discoverings belonging to the paleolithic, neolithic and bronze ages. But there are also many relative historic events of the Alqueria de Nachira, that mark the spot of the arab times, when Nerja still depended on Velez-Malaga, the capital of the province of Anarquia. After many years of being considered and arab town, the intense jasmine aroma and narrow streets as well as white homes still remain. Many battles and betrayals later came the end of the 16th century in which they built the hermitage of Our Lady of Anguish, the patron saint of this smal villa hat in 1655 reached a population of 400.

Years later, approxiamtely in 1662 they were ordered by the king to build a tower called "Torre del los Guardas", which today is called the Balcon de Europa or Europe´s Balcony. The history of Europe´s Balcony comes from the earthquake that flattened this area in the late 19th century and the visit of the King Alfonso the 12th who gave name to this tower.

Nerja kept growing and bettering it´s access, making it´s urban center more spacious. In 1959 the discovery of the Caves of Nerja changed it´s history. After this moment, Nerja begins to recieve a lot of tourism, therefore they began to build tourist infrastructures to satisfy the demand of the growing tourism rates. Today it is one of the most touristy cities in Spain.

The cave is 4,283m long, but only a third of it - specifically, the area called the Low Galleries - can be visited. The importance of this cave rests on the fact that his has almost all known types of natural formations. In addition, it is easy for visitors to get in because of the width and great height of its chambers. Outstanding among all the chambers is that of then Cataclysm, where you can see the mark of a seismic movement that took place about 800 thousand years ago. You can also contemplate cave paintings of animals in the Torca Chamber and symbolic and animal representations in the Chamber of Ghosts. In the first chamber, the Lobby, the visitor can see a display cabinet with human remains, ceramics and tools. In the Bethlehem Chamber is a burial from 6,300 BC. To see some fabulous views of stalactites and stalagmites in this cave, the best thing is to visit the viewpoint in the Chamber of the Elephant's Tusk.

Church of the Maravillas
Built in early seventeenth century and then reformed.

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Puente del Águila
El puente del Águila" is an aqueduct from XIX century constructed to pass the water to the mills of the old factory of San Joaquin de Maro. The aqueduct is located between Nerja and Maro and the eagle that gives the name conserves perfectly in the central part of the monument.

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Church od the Salvador
At the end of the "Balcon de Europa" is the parochial church of El Salvador, from the XVI century, with importats baroque reforms in century XVII. The tower displays clear Mudejar characteristics.

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Church of San Miguel
The Church of San Miguel is located at the another end of Nerja and it is belong to the XVII century with a clear baroque-mudejar style..

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This family beach is the most visited by tourists on the entire coast of Nerja. It is made up of coarse-grained black sand and gravel. Handicapped access.It is well equipped, having car parks, bus lines, recently-constructed hotels and a Red Cross post, danger signs, life guards, showers, telephones, beach umbrellas, hammocks, boat rentals, sea excursions, picnic areas, souvenir shops and restaurants

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A small urban beach, with a beachfront pedestrian promenade, much frequented by the public and with a high level of services and facilities: bus line, hotels, restaurants, telephones, showers, beach umbrellas, hammocks, boat rentals, beachfront promenade, picnic area.Handicapped access.You can ride bicycles on a road of cement over rocks. Many people take advantage of rocks on the beach for fishing, and you will find palm trees growing in the sand.

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This beach is located below Balcón de Europa, and you can reach it by coming down from the "Calahonda Gap" at the end of Puerta del Mar Street. Handicapped access. Its sand is black and medium-grained. It is very well supplied with restaurants, hotels, showers, beach umbrellas, hammocks, trashcans, telephones and boat rentals

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A small beach with cliffs and medium-grained black sand. It can be reached by way of the Balcón de Europa Hotel (privately-owned) or by way of the beach of Calahonda

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A very small inlet set among huge blocks of stone, with access on foot by a stairway. This small cove-shaped beach of medium-grained black sand offers great tranquillity. It is set among huge blocks of stone, and underwater sports can be practiced here

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A small beach with access by stairs or from the Burriana Beach. This is a small beach with black medium-grained sand. There are large rocks that are used in fishing and diving.

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This is a broad cove-shaped natural beach with huge rocks, located underneath an approximately five-metre-high cliff. The group of three coves is generically termed Los Chorrillos. It has good services and is accessible from the Balcón de Europa. This beach is recommended for people who do not like noise and tumult

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The westernmost beach in the municipality of Nerja, long and broad and not much visited since it is remote from the more urbanised area. It has a few services to offer. It is accessible by vehicle from the N-340 road at kilometre 289.5 or from the village itself by going down Antonio Ferrándiz Street to "I. E. S. El Chaparil", formerly the San Jose factory, where you must turn to the right on a small road that, after crossing the River Chillar, brings the beach into view. It is a perfect place for long walks

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A small urban beach located under a cliff, with a few palms. Good services. Its composition is medium-grained black sand.Access is by way of Plaza de la Iglesia, located at Balcón de Europa. It is accessible only by foot.Handicapped access.You can dive and fish here

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Many are the festivities marked in red on the calendar in Nerja. The celebration of San Anton, carnival, Easter, St. John´s night, and other important celebrations in this coastal area of southern Spain.

The festivities in Nerja are many, so chronologically we will offer you information on each one.

In January the celebration of San Anton falls on the 16,17th. This has been going on each year since the 17th century. This is in honor of the animals.
February is synomym with Carnival. They are usually celebrated in the end of this month or begining of March. The 28th of February is also a holiday in this locality as it Andalucia Day.

Easter in Nerja as in the rest of Andalusia is celebrated with a lot of anticipation and passion. It usually happens at the end of March or begining of April depending on the year. After Easter week come "Las Cruces de Mayo", which means the Crosses of May, which has been celebrate each year on the 3rd of May since the end of the 9th century.

In May they also honor Saint Isidor Labradore. This falls on the 15th of May, which makes way for the festivity of the Pilgrimage called La Romeria. This holiday is in honor of the field workers. Going on to the month of June, the celebration of Saint John is also lots of fun. It is on the night of the 23-24 of this month where they burn Juanillos which are paper mache dolls that represent certain political figures on the bonfires that are started on the beach. It is lots of fun to watch and participate.

In the summer one of the most important festivities in Nerja occurs. They are in honor of the Patron Saint for the fisherman, which is The Virgen of Carmen. It takes place on the 16h of july. In this same month even though sometimes it is moved into August, Nerja celebrates the Classical Music Concert in the Caves. Tchaikovski, Jose Carreras, Ainhoa Arteta, Monteserrat Caballe and even Queen Sofia of Spain have come to and/or particpated in this lovely event. The summer closes the festive calendar with a celebration of the Virgen of the Maravillas, this towns Patron Saint. They hold a fair where is celebrate on the second week of September. It is also called the festivity of the foreign resident. It is a festivity that has also moved into other localities such as Estepona, Marbella and Malaga, which the sole purpose of making the tourism feel welcome and right at home.

The major festivities in Nerja happen in the month of October, more precisely from the 8-12 of October in honor of the Virgen of the Angustias, or Saint Michael Archangel.

Leisure

At night time the more popular area are C/ Antonio Millón and Plaza Tutti Frutti, where there are many pubs and beer bars where you can enjoy the music and quite atmosphere. If you like flamenco, there are a few places in town where you can see the show and dance. We also have the local theatre (Casa de la Cultura), where you could enjoy differents activities as ballet, concerts, flamenco show and the last films.

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Estreet Market

• Every Tuesday and Sunday we have the local market where you can buy a large variety of goods and souvenirs.
• Every night in the summer time, in the centre of the town you will find handcraft kioks
  

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Activities

Nature activities

In the mountain range that surrounds Nerja there are valleys of rivers and rural ways where you can find beautifull views, rivers and routes where the time and the nature remain unalterable. Many rustic routes follow the bed of the rivers, some are rocky and high like the well-known route of Rio Chillar or Route of La Presa where you can find a place well-known like Los Cahorros that are some throats formed where the river get narrows. Others rustic routes are on level like the route of Fuente del Esparto that passes by a glorious valley densely planted with pines, elm trees, palms and others plants. The visitors and hikers can find in this last route, rest areas totally equipped with barbacues, toilets and places to camp.
In order to enjoy the nature that surrounds to Nerja, you can do it by your owns means and contract the services of companies like:

• Footpath ways and climbing
• Horse's tours
• Bicycle tours
• Excursions in Jeep Safari
• Motorbikes tours

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Water Activities

In summer time you can enjoy the wonderful beaches and the pretty and calm coves along the coastline with greater affluence of people like the beach of Burriana or the beach of el Playazo.
So if you prefer the sea you will be able to practice in our wonderful beaches activities like:

• Pirogue sport
• Free diving or guide diving
• Renting of water bikes
• Water skiing
• Tours on boat

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Others Activities

• Tennis
• Petanca
• Public swimming pools
• Bath and Spa
  

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Gastronomy

Nerja enjoys a typically Mediterranean gastronomy and plates like fresh fish of the zone, the omellets with codfish and sugarcane honey or the "migas". You will be able to find fish bars, bars of "tapas" and seafood restaurants where they offer a wide selection of fresh fish. We have too, the traditional grills restaurants with excellent meat. Also, you will find multitude of bars and restaurants of international food (italian, mexican, Indian,...)

Frigiliana

Just seven kilometres north of Nerja is the typical pueblo blanco of Frigiliana which sits high on a mountain ridge overlooking the sea with spectacular panoramic views.

Voted the 'prettiest village in Andalucía' by the Spanish tourism authority, Frigiliana is also important from an historical viewpoint. El Fuerte, the hill that climbs above the village, was the scene of the final bloody defeat of the Moors of La Axarquía in their 1569 rebellion. The hill is topped by scanty remains of a ruined fort from which some of the Moors reputedly threw themselves rather than be killed or captured by the Spanish. It is said that bones and rusted weapons dating from this encounter still lie among the scrub on El Fuerte.

The village is a tangle of narrow cobbled streets lined by whitewashed houses, their wrought-iron balconies filled with planters of brilliant red geraniums. Small plazas provide shady seating while the village bars are popular with visitors who come here to taste the locally produced wine. There are also several excellent shops selling pottery and ceramics, including decorative plates with their distinctive Arab design.

Frigiliana is best explored by foot. There are several buses a day that run from Nerja or, alternatively, leave your car at the car park at the bottom of the hill. Although the village is deservedly on the coach tour circuit, thankfully it hasn't yet succumbed to the demands of mass tourism with innumerable souvenir shops and overpriced bars.

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Ruins Castle of Lizar

Built in the late ninth century as a military fortress on the highest part of the village. It still preserves, after its destruction in 1569 after the Battle of Peñón de Frigiliana, several metres of masonry wall of medium-sized rocks and mortar, as well as the entrance ramp.

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Counts of Frigiliana house

A building erected in the late sixteenth century as a manor house by the Manrique de Lara family, lords of Frigiliana from 1508. It is of Renaissance style and covers 2,000 square metres. In its façade the entrances of building stone that came, along with other materials, from the destroyed Arab castle are noteworthy, as are balconies, grillwork, and sundials as well as the beautiful sgraffito of its trappings and two image niches that were consecrated to San Raimundo and to the Virgin of El Carmen.At the present time it houses the only sugar cane syrup factory in all of Europe, as well as an olive oil mill that still operates virtually by hand

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Church the "Ecce Homo" (S.XVIII)

It dates from the eighteenth century. A small hermitage with a single nave covered with a simple wooden roof frame of ridgepoles. Placed in front of the nave is an atrium where the entrance door under a semicircular arch is located. It is know by the locals as the "Ermita de Santo Cristo de la Caña", although in another time there was an image of the "ECCO-HOMO" there

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Church of the San Antonio Abad

Built in the seventeenth century and modified a century later.It is almost all of Renaissance style and has a Latin cross floor plan divided into three naves separated by semicircular arches supported on rectangular pilasters. The transept is covered by a hemispherical dome on scallops and a notched ring ending in a lantern, with the arms and the presbytery being covered by barrel vaults with lunettes. Over the entrance portico is a choir room with a mixed-linear rococo cornice that meets the wooden balustrade of identical design. Below this is an interesting wooden chancel railing that was done by the Cordova native, Bartolomé de la Cruz Arjona, when he was only 23 and living in Frigiliana. The main façade opens onto an atrium with an iron railing. Over its entrance of a semicircular arch on pilasters you can see the coat of arms of the bishop Fray Alonso de Santo Tomás

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El Fuerte
Remains from the Roman era. It was the final stage of the bloody defeat of the Muslims at Los Páramos de La Axarquía during the rebellion of 1569, which culminated in the total expulsion of the Moorish Christians and the resettlement of the area with long-time Christians from the neighbouring provinces, mainly Granada and Valencia

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The Reales Pósitos
At present a private property it is occupied by residences, and preserves of its ancient structure only the arcades of its main façade

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Palacio of the Apero
This building, functionally linked to the sugar mill, was probably built in the early seventeenth century and was intended as a granary, horse stables, and storage place for farm tools. It has a rectangular foundation with an interior patio and is formed of adobe walls with horizontal stone bands. After its restoration, it will be used as a Cultural Centre

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Archeoligical Remains
The Fountain of La Fájara lies next to the cave that gives it its name and that is the site of the headwaters of the River Bermuza

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Tourist Routes

* Barranco y Hoces del Río Higuerón.

* Sierra de Enmedio

* Cerrillo de las Sombras

* Cerro Cruz del Pinto

* Menhir Argárico

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Gastronomy

If there is a dish that identifies Frigiliana, that is the goat’s kid, which is prepared in many different ways, although the most deliciuos one is with garlic sauce or with almond sauce. The stews, typical from Axarquian cuisine, have in Frigiliana a may  varieties that make them different from those of the rest of the region. Thus, superb stews and soups are made, such as fennel soup, sprout soup or the Easter broth, made with cod, egg omelettes and flour damped in cane honey, being the usual menu on Easter nigthts.  
The already classical “migas”, consisting of bread and corn flour, sided by fresh fish and vegetables, red sausage and black pudding for the bravest. When it comes to confectionery, the most typical ones are the “arropía” (milk caramel), “marcochas” (pop corn damped in cane honey), sweet potatoes in cane honey and many more.
We must not forget that all the ingredients used on the towns cooking are based almost exclusively the local produces, such as olive oil or cane honey. Wines, known in the whole region as “vinos del terreno” or terrain wines and equally produced locally are the perfect company for the delicious dishes.

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Purchases and Craft

As well as crafted products, such as “jarapas” (rugs) or tapestries, we must remark  ceramic objects and vegetable fibre derivatives, olive branch swords, tiles, painted glass, and many more, not forgetting the splendid local Muscatel wine.

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Festivals and Celebrations

The first one takes place on January 20th to honour the village saint patron, Saint Sebastian with a procession and fireworks.
During Easter, outstands the procesión of La Soledad and the Apostles feet washing, as well as a representation at the Church, and in which the characters use masks and costumes from the 18th century.
On May 3rd, the Fiesta de la Cruz de Mayo (Day of the Cross of May), indeed the most colourful of all and that honours the flower season. Residents and visitors are smothered with cold metas, omelettes, arropías, marcochas, migas and other delicacies, always washed down with the splendid local wine. In the afternoon, the Town Music Band, a group of verdiales singers and the Town’s Choir and Dances Group visit in turns each one and every cross, paying homage to the neighbours’ efforts and, once they finish, the kermesse starts at the Plaza de la Iglesia to go on until late at night.
On June 13th, the San Antonio de Padua’s romary takes place. San Antonio is co-patron saint of Frigiliana, and with the thundering noise of the fireworks, the five-day celebration starts presenting all kinds of amenities.
Saint John is celebrated on 24th June, keeping the tradition of “sanjuaneo”, that is, going to the countryside and eating the deliciuos “hornazo” (a kind of pie). Other festivities that take place in Frigiliana are the  Dance Festival, the Summer Concert and the Three Cultures Festival. Finally, on 7th September, Candlemas is celebrated on the countryside, closing thus Frigiliana’s festivities.

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Costa del Sol is known also as the coast of the Golf, in reference to the quantity and quality of its Golf courses, approximately 40, what it has.

Besides this, the climate, the hotel infrastructure, the good communications and the treatment deal, they are the premises on which thousands of golfers have been based to be decanted by Costa del Sol as ideal place for the practice of this sport.

Later we relate related Golf courses in Costa del Sol, with its numbers of holes and its tour

Rincón de la Victoria

Añoreta...... 18 holes, 5.976 m.

Málaga

El Candado....... 9 holes, 2338m.
Guadalhorce....... 8+9 holes. 6.178 m.
Real Club de Campo........18 holes, 6.204 m.

Benalmádena

Torrequebrada....... 18 holes

Mijas

La Siesta...... 9 holes, 2.920 m.
La Cala. 18+9 holes....... Más de 12.000 m.
Los Lagos........ 18 holes, 6.348 m.
Los Olivos....... 18 holes, 5.896 m.
Miraflores........ 18 holes, 5.615 m.

Marbella

Aloha. ........18+9 holes, 6.246 m.
La Quinta...... 18+9 holes. Más de 8.000 m.
Las Brisa........ 18 holes, 6.094 m.
Artola........ 8 holes, 695 m.
Santa María...... 9 holes, 2.896 m.
Río Real......... 18 holes, 6.130 m.
La Dama de Noche......... 15 holes, 2.728 m.
Club de Golf de Marbella........ 18 holes, 6.518 m.
Los Naranjos............ 18 holes, 6.457 m
Guadalmina Norte..... 18 holes, 5.825 m.
Guadalmina Sur........18 holes, 6065 m.

Estepona

El Paraiso. ........18 holes, 6.116 m.
Estepona Golf. ..........18 holes, 6.000 m.
Atalaya Park............ 18 holes, 6.118 m.
Atalaya Rosner.........18 holes, 5.283 m.
Coto La Serena.............. 9 holes, 963 m.

Alharurín

Lauro Golf....... 18 holes, 5.977 m.
Alhaurín Golf............ 18 holes, 6.249 m.

Benhavis

La Zagaleta. ..........18 holes, 6.039 m.
Monte Mayor............ 18 holes, 5.593 m.
Los Arqueros........ 18 holes, 6.048 m.

Manilva

La Duquesa......... 18 holes

The variety of holes and the unsurpassable views both to the Mediterranean sea and the mountains contribute to make you enjoy and share an unforgettable day at BAVIERA GOLF

How to get there

The Axarquía region is located at the far eastern end of the province of Málaga, adjoining the province of Granada, in southern Spain.

Access from the Axarquía Costa del Sol to the main cities of Andalusia, Spain and the rest of the world is best accomplished by way of the capital city of Málaga.

The capital, Málaga, has a full communications network by highway and railway, airport and seaport, from which the Axarquía Costa del Sol greatly benefits.

Another access route by highway is going to Vélez-Málaga and there connecting with the autonomous community road system, first to the vicinity of Casabermeja by the autonomous system and from there by the highway that gives access to Granada and Seville.

The principal road artery of the eastern coast is the National 340 that travels the coastline from the city of Málaga to the Granada provincial border. A twisting network of local and regional roads forks off from this main route and connects all the villages of the Axarquía, both interior and coastal. Furthermore, a vast complex of lanes and roads must be added that are more or less passable by vehicle.

The recent opening of the expressway connection of the Rincón de la Victoria-Nerja-Motril stretch and of the Vélez-Marbella loop means that Costa del Sol is brought closer to the provincial capital and to the rest of the province.

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Villages of the Axarquia

- On the Coast (Algarrobo - Nerja - Rincón de la Victoria - Torrox y Velez Málaga)

- Of thel interior (Alcaucín - Alfarnate - Alfarnatejo - Almáchar - Árchez - Arenas - Benamargosa - Benamocarra - Canillas de Aceituno - Canillas de Albaida - Colmenar - Comares - Cómpeta  - Cútar - El Borge - Frigiliana - Iznate - La Viñuela - Macharaviaya - Moclinejo - Periana - Riogordo - Salares - Sayalonga - Sedella - Totalán

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Sierra Tejada-Almijara

This mountain complex forms part of the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park, which stretches through the provinces of Málaga and Granada.
It is made up mainly of limestone-dolomite marbles and displays a topography of steep ridges, deep ravines and high peaks.
The easternmost sector, within the municipalities of Frigiliana and Nerja, is the one of the greatest topographic complexity since it is divided into prominent peaks: Cisne (1,486 metres), Las Cruces (1,212 metres), Monederos (937 metres), El Fuerte (976 metres), Cerro Verde (915 metres), the Sierra de Enmedio and the Cerro del Pico Cielo, the anteroom of the almost vertical wall that serves as the border of the province of Granada. In this area Pico Lucero, at 1,779 metres, is outstanding for its altitude and profile.

The highest places in the mountains are covered by yew, hawthorn, and cedars, as befits the upper Mediterranean climate.
The zone between 1,000 and 1,700 metres hosts hard-leafed forests of live oaks, other oaks, etc. with plantations of roderno and negral pines and albar oak.

At less than 1,000 metres the vegetation is made up of large areas of second-growth carrasco pine, underbrush of juniper, thyme, rosemary… and riverfront vegetation.
It should also be noted that the Almijaro-Cazulensa complex, to which this area belongs, has a large number of endemic botanical species.
As to the fauna, the starring roles go to the mountain goat, the common chameleon and the mountain birds (royal eagle, hawk, peregrine falcon…). The existence of an important population of mountain goats has caused this area to be declared a National Big Game Reserve.

The spectacular nature of the topography is, as we said, the most important element. These high summits also display an additional seasonal feature due to the presence of snow at the highest elevations. The scenic prominence of this area is very great since it is the backcountry of most of the Axarquía region and, being a mountain wall, acts as a backdrop for the landscape of the region.
The area is served by numerous lanes, forest paths, and improved trails for visiting and hiking.

Within this area two of the enclaves most visited by excursionists are the narrows of the River Chillar and of the River Higuerón.
In the municipality of Nerja, near Fuente del Esparto, is a recreational and camping area called "El Pinarillo" (Environmental Agency). In the interior municipalities that are located on the slopes of the Sierra Tejeda and Sierra de Almijara there are several recreational and camping areas, which of course are closer to untouched nature.
Visitors to the Eastern Coast can thus enjoy interior tourism in the high mountains by just travelling a few kilometres into the interior of the region

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Inside

In the mountains, the Axarquía is a maze of olive and almond trees, grapevines and most of all of villages and farm houses that dot the landscape, filling it with life. Life that grows in fields set in narrow valleys, climbs up the slopes and suns itself on the raisin dryers.

The Axarquía valleys are a meadow of fruit trees and vegetable gardens that follows the River Vélez upstream with lemon trees and orange groves through El Benamargosa and Guaro, all the way to the small valleys that lie at the foot of the sierra.

The mountain cornice juts into the sea among Mudéjar and Mediterranean villages that sprawl over the slopes or huddle in secluded valleys, with the mountains at their backs and on the distant horizon glimpses of the Mediterranean. It is also a mountain mass that is rich in springs that slake the thirst of its people, feed streams and irrigate cultivated plots

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Tourist Routes

Route of the Sun and the Wine

White villages, communities clinging to the mountain cap rock of the Costa del Sol, centres of great tourist appeal and above all a distinctive wine, made completely by hand, are the principal selling points that you will find along the 55 kilometres of this route.

Along the coast and extending all the way to the border of the province of Granada lie the municipalities of Algarrobo, Sayalonga, Cómpeta, Canillas de Albaida, Torrox, Nerja and Frigiliana.

As well as a beautiful seacoast of sandy beaches with scattered cliffs and coves there are hills covered with vineyards, farmsteads and rural houses where a sweet wine is produced that has been famous since the Roman occupation, and a sugar cane syrup that is made only in Frigiliana. In Nerja, the epicentre of tourism, the famous "Palaeolithic Cathedral" caves offer a unique spectacle and deserve special mention

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Route of the Raisin

For 62 kilometres of hills and gorges muscatel grapes ripen in the sun of this special land with its legends of bandits, splendid vistas and villages filled with enchantment, where the raisins that have been considered the world's best since Arabic times are still produced.

The municipalities of Moclinejo, Almáchar, El Borge, Cútar, Comares and Totalánmake up this route in which the climatological conditions permit flourishing vineyards whose fruit is converted into raisins on the raisin dryers that are scattered over the hills, an ancestral art whose master is the sun

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Route of the Olive and the Mountains

Spectacular changes in scenery, a mountain-encircled lake and beautiful mountain villages hanging over the Mediterranean.
In the midst of all this, olive oil mills hide that produce, in a totally natural manner, an especially sweet oil. This is what the route has to offer along its 67 kilometres.
Amid the exuberant beauty of the sierras that crown the Axarquía, the villages of Viñuela, Alcaucín, Periana, Alfarnate, Alfarnatejo, Riogordo, and Colmenar form an extremely distinctive route.
The olive trees of the "verdial" variety produce one of the best oils in the world. The peaches of Periana are also famous.
In this area, interior tourism is the most important factor, with Natural Areas, sports, scenic trails, rural lodgings, villages and native cuisine

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Route of the Sun and the Avocado

From the beaches of Rincón de la Victoria, the western port of the Axarquía, to the fields of subtropical crops of Benamargosa, this 75-kilometre route invites the tourist. The sunlight of a magical region of fertile land that offers its most delicious products to the traveller.
The coastal zone, the beach, the sun and the fertile fields of the interior are the star attractions of this route.
This route, made up of the municipalities of Rincón de la Victoria, Macharaviaya, Vélez-Málaga, Benamocarra, Iznate and Benamargosa, is the closest to the capital of Málaga.

The locale of Rincón de la Victoria contains one of the most famous prehistoric caves of the province of Málaga: the Treasure or Higuerón Cave.
This route was named for the plantations and tropical fruit trees that surround Macharaviaya, Benamocarra, Iznate and Benamargosa

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Route of the Mudejar

Route Mudejar Small communities that still preserve mazes of alleys and interior patios, arcades, minarets and ancient castles. The Arabic roots of this region are plain for the traveller to see who travels the 40 kilometres of this true journey into the past.

Towards the interior the villages of Arenas, Árchez, Salares, Sedella and Canillas de Aceituno take us back into a past rich in architectural treasures, such as the minarets and other monuments.

Here are villages with authentic Mudéjar street plans that, along with the Bentomiz Castle, leave with whomever visits them the sensation of having crossed the barriers of time

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The city of Malaga is located in a privileged enclave. The municipality extends over an area of 398.25 square kilometres and its "de facto" urban population reaches the million inhabitants mark.

The main environmental and geographical factors that have intervened in the city's evolution and development have been maritime influences, its location in two river valleys (the Guadalhorce and the Guadalmina), its relief and its climat

Surface area: 7,276 Sqkm.
Population: 1,517,523 inhabitants (2007)

Municipality of Malaga: Surface Area: 398.25 SqKm. Population: 561,250 inhabitants (2007)

Whilst the Mediterranean Sea bathes the Malaga coastline, the Malaga Mountains close ranks behind to form a barrier of peaks that protects the city from the cold, whilst the regulating effect of the sea ensures the area its characteristic mild temperatures. The hottest months are July and August and the coldest are usually December and February, when the average temperatures vary between a maximum of 22.8ºC and a minimum of 13ºC. Rainfall in Malaga follows the seasons, with the most abundant rains occurring in autumn and winter.

At the mouth of the River Guadalhorce, river sediments have formed the area known as the "Guadalhorce Mudflats". Declared a Protected Natural Space in 1989, they currently occupy an area of 60 hectares. The other river that has played a decisive role in the history of Malaga is the Guadalmedina, which in Arabic means "the river of the city". It is 47 kilometres long and is fed mostly by the waters that run down from the Malaga Mountains.

The Malaga Mountains were declared a National Park in 1989. This gave greater protection to an area of 4,762 hectares, of which 97% is located within the municipality of Malaga. Its relief is steep and rugged, with summits that reach an average altitude of 500 metres. Its tree cover originates from the hydrological-forestry reforestations carried from the end of the 30s and the area contains over 230 different varieties of vegetation and more than 160 species of vertebrates.

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Castillo de Gibralfaro

El topónimo proviene de un vocablo árabe, Yabal (Monte) y otro derivado del griego Faruh (Faro), que nos sugiere un posible uso desde época fenicio-púnica como atalaya costera. Se construyó en tiempos de Yusuf I (S XIV). El interior del Castillo alberga un Centro de Interpretación
y desde sus almenas se disfrutan las mejores vistas de Málaga capital y su bahía

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Alcazaba
Este impresionante recinto, construido en su mayor parte en el siglo XI, fue el palacio-fortaleza de los gobernantes musulmanes de la ciudad. Se eleva sobre un cerro adaptándose a su topografía y está formado por dos recintos amurallados. En su interior, los patios, las fuentes, el artesonado y el aroma arábigo lo envuelve todo. Dispone de ascensor por el que se puede acceder a ella desde la calle Guillén Sotelo, situada detrás del Ayuntamiento.

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Teatro Romano

Se encuentra ubicado al pie de la Alcazaba. Fue descubierto en 1951 cuando se estaba llevando a cabo un jardín frente a la Casa de la Cultura que se pensaba construir. El teatro se creó en la época de Augusto (siglo I a.c.) y fue utilizado hasta el S.III. Después los árabes lo usaron como cantera de piedra para la Alcazaba, pudiéndose encontrar dentro de ésta capiteles y fustes de columnas romanas.

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Cathedral de Málaga

La Catedral de la Encarnación se levanta en el lugar que ocupara la mezquita mayor de la ciudad. Iniciada su construcción en la primera mitad del siglo XVI (1528), y continuada a lo largo del XVII y XVIII, es una obra inacabada a la que falta el remate de la fachada principal y completar la torre sur. Este hecho ha venido, con el tiempo, a dotar al templo de un aspecto singular que lo caracteriza y es el origen de su nombre popular, ‘La Manquita’. De su interior cabe destacar la obra escultórica del coro y los dos órganos, raros ejemplares del siglo XVIII. Alberga también el Museo Catedralicio.

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Palacio Episcopal

Obra maestra de la arquitectura civil, comprende una gran manzana compuesta de dos unidades del siglo XVI, mas una tercera destinada a la residencia del prelado, de fines del siglo XVIII. Destaca su escalera de tipo imperial, el jardín privado, el salón del trono y la fachada principal.

Plaza de la Merced

En ella destacan el obelisco a Torrijos y la Casa Natal de Picasso. Se llamó en otros tiempos Plaza del Mercado, así como Plaza de Riego, en memoria del general liberal del siglo XIX. Está rodeado de magníficos edificios decimonónicos.

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Palacio de Buenavista - Museo Picasso

Sede del Museo Picasso Málaga, es un valiosísimo edificio renacentista del siglo XVI, el más importante ejemplo de arquitectura señorial de laépoca. En su interior también pueden visitarse restos fenicios hallados durante la reforma del palacio.

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Palacio de la Aduana

Proyectada en 1788 para sustituir a la antigua aduana stablecida en Puerta del Mar. De este palacio de estilo neoclásico, destaca su patio interior y sus recias escaleras con balaustrada de mármol. Se edificó a la manera de los palacios renacentistas italianos.

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Iglesia de Santiago

Situada en la calle Granada, se construyó sobre el solar de una antigua mezquita. Es la iglesia más antigua de Málaga pues data de 1490. De la primitiva fachada sólo se conserva, tapiada, la puerta mudéjar. La bella torre es también del mismo estilo. El interior del templo, gótico-mudéjar, presenta tres naves, aunque en sus orígenes tuvo sólo una. En esta iglesia fue bautizado Picasso en 1881.

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Casa Consistorial

En 1919 el Exmo. Ayuntamiento tomó posesión de la que sería su sede hasta nuestros días. El edificio se proyectó no sólo como consistorio, sino también como sede de la Audiencia Provincial y de los Juzgados de Instrucción. La Casona del Parque, como popularmente se la llama, es un monumento caracterizado por la decoración de su fachada y de los salones que acoge en su interior.

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