Nearby Places of Interest
Marbella; Malaga; Mijas; Granada; Cordoba; Ronda.

Marbella Marbella has been a world famous travel destination since the 1960's; & is often seen as southern Spain's answer to St. Tropez. Marbella's origins are that of a fishing village; still boasting a picture postcard old quarter with narrow winding streets & traditional town squares. Today it is a fusion of old & new, now a vibrant & cosmopolitan town with access to some of the best sports & leisure facilities around, especially for golfers. There has also been a great deal of public & private investment in infrastructure, & overall appearance. Nature has played its part here also, from the picturesque mountains that provide the town's backdrop, to the 26 kilometres of sandy beaches stretching from Guadalmina to Cabo Pino. Once just a summer holiday destination, the town now attracts people all year round, fast becoming one of the most happening places in Europe
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Malaga Malaga is Spain's 5th most important city, much of it built with the income from the tourist industry. Home to some 600,000 inhabitants it still performs a mixed role as a busy port & industrial centre, as well as the gateway to one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world. Part of Malaga's attraction is its intriguing layout, making it particularly appealing to explore. It is a maze of narrow streets, historic buildings & landmarks, quaint old fashioned shops, stately gardens, & bustling squares. Its people are welcoming & hospitable, & its atmosphere vibrant. If you are visiting Malaga for the purpose of shopping, eating or for an evening drink the places to head for are the entwined Marques de Larios, Plaza de la Constitucion & Calle de Granada. These three streets form the backbone of the shopping district & the cities thriving nightlife. Most of the narrow side streets in the area are filled with tapas bars & bodegas (old fashioned wine shops). Malaga is an ancient city; founded by Phoenician traders some 3000 years ago, & having experienced Carthaginian, Roman & Moorish rule. This has left an indelible mark on its people, culture & tradition, as well as a physical one in the form of countless architectural treasures. Most of the main sights are to be found (as is usually the case) around the town centre & port .Picasso is of course Malaga's most famous son; the house where he was born (in the Plaza de Mercad) is open to the public, hosting an archive of his life & work.
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Mijas Mijas Pueblo (Mijas village) is very typical of the region. From its vantage point perched high above Fuengirola & Mijas Costa it boasts unparalleled views of the coastline, & is surrounded by heavily wooded mountains. The town has done much to retain its individuality & charm. You will not find any major thoroughfares or busy shopping centres here; instead the town is a maze of narrow cobbled streets & arches, with picture postcard houses & traditional wrought iron balconies. Old customs are still practiced; the most bizarre of which are possibly the donkey-taxi's that line the central square/plaza. Mijas Costa is also known as La Cala de Mijas or just as La Cala; its spot was once occupied by a small fishing village. Today it is transformed into a modern beach resort with an array of amenities There has also been a great deal of public & private investment in infrastructure, & overall appearance. Nature has contributed to its appeal also, from the picturesque mountains that provide the backdrop, to its long stretch of blue flag rated sandy beaches.
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Granada Granada is located next to the Sierra Nevada mountains about 70km from the coast. Being in this position means that it is possible to go skiing and sunbath on the beach in the same day. From the time historical records begin Granada was ruled by many Caliphas, Arabic sultans and dynasties. The Arabic/Muslim empire once stretched right up into the north of Spain. The various Christian groups settled their differences, joined together and steadily drove the Arabs out of Spain. Granada was the last stronghold and finally succumbed to Isabel and Ferdinand (the catholic monarchs) in 1492. The Muslims and the Jews were forced to leave the country or convert to Christianity. At the same time Christopher Columbus came to Granada to ask Isabel and Ferdinand for a grant to build ships so that he could conquer the Americas and they gave him the money.
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Cordoba Cordoba is of ancient origin. It stands on the site of an Iberian settlement, but it was not until Roman times that it began to play a major role in Spanish history. The city is believed to have been founded by Claudius Marcellus. During this period, it was the capital of the lower region of the Roman Spain. Cordoba’s greatest glories came during the Muslim occupation, the city being both an independent Caliphate and the capital of Al Andalus with one million inhabitants. The city was reconquered by Ferdinand III in 1236. Cordoba is the home of many churches including St. Nicholas' Church, St. Michael's Church, and monuments such as the statue of El Gran Capitán who fought with the Catholic Monarchs. Cordoba is also famed for its pretty little patios decorated with plants and overflowing pots of flowers. The Jewish Quarter, just to the left of the mosque, is a maze of narrow streets that looks exactly the same as it did in the days of the Moors, it is mainly pedestrian, and it is easy to get lost in the winding streets. The central areas are dotted with souvenir shops and kiosks.
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Ronda Ronda is one of Andalucia's loveliest towns, steeped in history. It stands on a towering plateau in the mountains of Malaga Province, and is famous through Spain for the plunging river gorge which divides the medieval from the 18th century parts of the town. This gorge is known as "El Tajo" - The Cliff and is spanned by a stone bridge, which once housed a prison. Visitors love to peer down into the gorge, to see the waters of the River Guadalevín. The road to Ronda winds up through the mountains of the Sierra Bermeja, and then descends into the Serrania de Ronda and the town itself. One of the most charming and fascinating towns in Andalucia, it is very popular with day-trippers from the Costa del Sol, and has a wide range of cafés and restaurants. However, it retains all of its traditional charm and languid atmosphere." El Tajo" - The Cliff & "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 re-conquest. 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.	Click on image to enlarge.
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