Cos

ta d

el S

olSp

ain

Mál

aga

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ádiz

Portugal

France

United Kingdom

Ireland

MoroccoAlgeria

Cantabrian Sea

Mediterranean Sea

Atla

ntic

Oce

an

Málaga

Cádiz

Madrid

Paris

London

Dublin

Lisbon

CeutaMelilla

Index

Costa del Sol 1Málaga, capital of the Costa del Sol 6Map of Málaga 12The Coastal route 14La Axarquía route 22The route of the “PueblosBlancos” 26The route from Guadalhorce toAntequera 34Lodging 39Cuisine 39Festivals and folklore 42Culture and art 43Sports 45Shopping, leisure andentertainment 46Useful Information 48Map of the Costa del Sol 48

Spain

Costa del Sol

Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol or “SunCoast”, one of the mostattractive tourist destinationsin the world due to its naturalbeauty and infrastructure,extends along the entire coastof the province of Málaga andthe Mediterranean coast ofCádiz.

The section along theMediterranean coast from Nerjato Sotogrande blends the beautyof its beaches with the rusticmountain countryside thatprotects the coast and providesit with a truly exceptionalclimate. Three hundred andtwenty-five days of sunshine a

year and an average watertemperature of eighteendegrees Centigrade (64ºF)attract visitors all year round tothe sun and shores.

From densely populated touristareas to small secluded coves,the entire coastline is a marvelof clean, transparent watersand coveted blue flags, modernfacilities and services, a widevariety of cultural and leisureactivities, with a price range forevery traveller.

Protecting the coast, likeprivileged watchmen standingguard over the Mediterranean

1

Fishing boats, Torrox

sea, we find the mountains ofSierra Bermeja, Serranía deRonda, Sierra de las Nieves,Sierra Blanca, Sierra deAlpujarra, Sierra de Mijas,Montes de Málaga, Sierra deTejeda, and Sierra de Almijar,offering rural tourism, hiking orsimply the opportunity tobecome captivated by thepeaceful life of Andalusiantowns and the charmingpopular architecture.

The Costa del Sol is bordered byCosta Tropical or Granadancoast to the east, and Costa dela Luz to the west, the point

where the Atlantic Ocean meetsthe Mediterranean.

Travelling the various routes,such as La Axarquía Route,Route of the Pueblos Blancos(White Villages), Route ofIslamic Málaga, Route of LaPasa, Route of Sun and Wine,and visiting places asfascinating as Antequera orMijas, inland travel lovers willalso find the Costa del Sol anauthentic paradise where theycan enjoy nature’s attractionsand follow the vestiges of itsformer cultures which receivedthe early influence of other

2

Castle, Olvera

Lucena Beach, Mijas

ancient civilizations, such as thePhoenicians, Greeks andCarthaginians.

The Roman Empire,throughout history, developeda vigorous trade along thecoast and encouraged the saleof its products to otherprovinces, but it would be theMoorish culture, born ofIslamic domination, that would provide a lastingimprint on its customs, way of life, populararchitecture, surviving eventoday in numerous ordinarycharacteristics, as well as in the cuisine, and in thesensitivity towards both music and literature.

Sports enjoy a specialdistinction. Numerous beaches

and various marinas, amongthem the celebrated pleasure boat harbor of Puerto Banus, provide theCosta del Sol with anexceptional infrastructure forall activities related to thesea. Tennis and golf alsodeserve special mention.Tennis for the quantity andquality of the facilitiesavailable, and golf, with overforty well-equipped golfcourses within a radius ofabout a hundred kilometers, is in itself one of the biggestinternational attractions, asevidenced by the Ryder Cup ‘97 Championship thatwas held at Valderrama golf course in Sotogrande,Cádiz.

Regional cooking, shopping,entertainment, and specialevents are also importantattractions on the Costa delSol. Along with the specialitiesof the area, among whichproducts from the sea play an outstanding role, one finds a wide variety ofrestaurants and cuisines, from the famed internationalestablishments to the popular beachside lean-tos or“chiringuitos”, where you can sample freshly caught fish. Department stores,specialized shops and

4

Roman theater, Málaga

sophisticated boutiques open their doors along theentire coast, offering thelatest trends in apparel, giftsand handicrafts, while a world of dazzling lights andcolors invades every cornerwhen night approaches.

Nighttime on the Costa del Soloffers countless possibilities forentertainment, from dancing todrinks in a fashionablediscotheque, typical flamencomusic and dance, shows andattractions in theme parks orclubs, gambling at casinos, orsimply sitting at an outdoorcafé by the seaside enjoying theMediterranean breeze with theoutline of the African coast inthe distance.

The Costa del Sol, for the sheer magnitude of its resort complex, the variety ofattractions, and the superbclimate, is a unique destination where every visitor is able to choose among the myriad of options available with the certainty that reality will far surpass even the best expectations.

5

Marina, Estepona

Málaga, capital of the

Costa del Sol

Vicente Aleixandre, thedistinguished Nobel prize-winning poet, describedMálaga as the “City of paradise.You seem to reign under theheavens, over the waters,between the air”; a city inwhich different peoples andcultures have left an imprint of their rich historical andcultural heritage.

Málaga, fenced in bymountains and fractured bythe mouth of theGuadalmedina river, looksupon the Mediterranean withits maritime vocation andmedley of villages. ThePhoenicians arrived by sea and founded the settlement of Malaka. From its port theyferried their products (fish,silk, figs, wines, raisins,almonds, etc.) throughout the Roman Empire, receivingfrom Rome Lex Flaviamalacitana ensuring theirprivileges.

Under Arab domination itbecame one of the mostimportant cities of the area,with a population of fifteen

thousand at the end of the 10th century. Capital of theMoorish Hammudí kingdom, itwas a flourishing city when the famous traveller Ibn Batutasaid in the 14th century that “it combined the advantages of both the inland and theseaside”.

The recapturing of Granadaby Ferdinand, the CatholicMonarch, and the subsequentrevolts leading to the expulsion of the Moors,seriously affected itsdevelopment in the 16th and17th centuries. Prosperous trade with America andimproved communicationsturned it into one of the maincommercial centers in Spainduring the next century. Theconfrontation between theabsolutists and liberals led inthe second half of the 19thcentury to industrialization and an economic boom at thehand of the textile, and ironand steel industries. The decline of these industries atthe end of the 19th centurybrought it to a lull from whichit bounced back with morevigor than ever thanks totourism starting in the 50’s,consecrating it as capital of the sun and one of the mostpopular tourist destinations in Spain.

6

Málaga

City Visit

In the old quarter of the citycenter, the complex consistingof the stronghold of theAlcazaba (1) and Gibralfarocastle (2) is undoubtedly thebest preserved Arab monument.The castle, founded byPhoenicians and reconstructedas a defense of the city by theMoorish king Badis, rises on thehighest hill and is connected tothe Alcazaba fortress by awalled road.

The Alcazaba, as palace-fortressof the rulers, was alsoconnected to the city byramparts. We enter the interiorperimeter by Cristo tower tovisit the Arms courtyard andtower. Through the gate ofPuerta de los Cuartos deGranada, we arrive at the upperarea where we encounter thekeep, the Palace (part of whichdates back to the 11th century

and the rest from the 13th and14th centuries) and also theArcheological section of theMálaga Museum.

Strolling along the nearbystreet called Calle Alcazabillaand its side streets amongcypresses and fragrant purple

bougainvilleas, we find theRoman theater (3) and veryclose to it the building of theold Customhouse (4) and theCathedral (5), built by order ofthe Catholic Monarchs over anancient mosque.

Alcazaba, Málaga

Cathedral, Málaga

Church of San Juan, Málaga

8

Its construction lastedthroughout three centuriesand followed the originaldesign of Diego de Siloé. Ofinterest in the interior are thechoir stalls, carved principallyby Pedro de Mena in the 17th century.

The Church of El Sagrario (6),with its Gothic-Isabellinedoorway and altarpiece, as wellas other churches scatteredthroughout the city, such as theChurch of Santiago (7),

San Juan (8), Los Mártires (9),Cristo de la Salud (10), and theShrine of La Victoria (11) areother points of interest, as wellas civil buildings, such as Casade Mena (12) and Villalcázarpalace (13). The palace of thecounts of Buenavista (14) andPablo Picasso House (15),located in the Plaza de laMerced, complete our tourthrough the center of the city.

9

PracticalInformationDistances: Madrid - 544 km. Seville - 219 km. Algeciras - 139 km. Altitude: Sea levelPopulation: 550,000 approximatelyBeaches: 95Road access: A-4, A-92, N-340,Autovía Costa del Sol.Airport: 9 km. west of Málaga inthe direction of Torremolinos. * 95 204 84 84Airlines:Iberia - * 95 213 61 65Air Europa - * 95 204 82 47Autoexpreso:* 95 212 82 25Spanish National Railways: RenfeExplanada Estación* 95 236 02 02. A local lineconnects Málaga with Fuengirola,departing every 30 minutesbetween 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.Boats to Melilla:Compañía Trasmediterránea * 95 222 43 91. Regular lineMonday, Wednesday and Friday inwinter, also Sunday during summer.Buses: Bus Station. Plaza de losTilos, * 95 235 00 61Tourist Information Office: Oficina de Turismo de la Junta deAndalucía. Pasaje Chinitas, 4* 95 221 34 45Oficina Municipal de Turismo.Plaza de la Merced. * 95 235 00 61Patronato de Turismo de la Costa del Sol. Palacio de Congresos y Exposiciones de la Costa del Sol Calle México s/n. Torremolinos * 95 205 86 94/ 95www.costadelsol.sopde.es

Church of Sagrado Corazón, Málaga

Perhaps the most appealingpart of Málaga resides in itstypical streets and squares. Astroll through the gardens

reminds us of the ancient Arab culture while the park,next to the port, is a largeopen-air museum with exoticspecimens from all over theworld. A charming music areacan also be found. A walk down the Pasaje de Chinitas, in the heart of the city, is atypical sample of the enjoyableatmosphere.

Málaga harbor

Plaza Cánovas del Castillo

A quiet streetTown HallConsulate HouseEl Cenachero

10

341 339

340

340

Ensenada de Marbella

Bahíade

Algeciras

340

Emb. deBornos

Emb. dePalmones

Emb. deGuadarranque

Emb. delos Hurones

Punta deTarifa

Punta de Europa

Punta Chullera

C

S E R R ANÍA DE R O NDA

Benamahoma Carratraca

El Bosque Grazalema

Gibraltar

Benaoján

Algatocín Ojén

Istán

Casares

Manilva

MBenadalid

Estepona

Coín

Villaluenga

Ubrique

Tarifa

Fu

San Pedro de Alcántara

Puerto Banús

Sotogrande

San Luis deSabinillas

Montejaque

Jimena de LíbarAtajate

La Línea de la Concepción

Cortes de laFrontera

Ronda

Algeciras

San Roque

Marbella

The coastalroute

The Coastal Route from Nerjato Sotogrande along the Costadel Sol offers the traveller onehundred and fifteen kilometersof coastline with all theattractions typical of the sea, as well as the added allure ofthe countryside and theneighboring nature parks.

Mijas

14

340

Ensenadade Málaga

Punta de Torremolinos

Punta deVélez Málaga

Pta. deCalaburra

Torre del Mar

Maro

Cómpeta

Almáchar

Comares

Benalmádena

Mijas

Cútar

El PaloNerjaTorrox

Torremolinos

uengirola

Algarrobo

Frigiliana

CártamaRincón dela Victoria

Macharaviaya

ArchezSayalonga

Alhaurín elGrande

Vélez-MálagaÁlora Málaga

15

If as our starting point we take the eastern most point atthe border between theprovinces of Granada andMálaga, we will find atkilometer 297 of the N-340coastal highway the Maro-Cerro Gordo nature park, animpressive headland with itstower and huge cliffs covered with mastic treesabove which flocks of sea gulls fly.

Nearby is Nerja with itsattractive old village, itsbeaches between cliffs, theBalcony of Europe, a lookouthigh over the sea, and thefamous cave also known as the Prehistoric Cathedralwith almost two kilometers of floodlit caverns open to the public, boasting enormous vaults, hauntingfigures and Paleolithic cave paintings.

Roman aqueduct, Maro

Continuing along the sameroad, we reach Torre del Mar(21 Km.), travelling through thecoastal areas of the towns of LaAxarquía, such as Torrox andAlgarrobo, where ruins of aRoman settlement may bevisited at the mouth of theTorrox river and a wide varietyof wines of the region from dryto sweet can be sampled. Torredel Mar has experienced recentprosperity from touristdevelopment and little is left toremind us of the fortified citywhere it once served as lookoutfor Vélez Málaga. Not too faraway, we encounter theinteresting Phoeniciansettlement of Toscanos and theGarden necropolis, at themouth of the Vélez river.

Skirting along the coast, wecome to Rincón de la Victoria,

about 18 kilometers away. It is a typical tourist town close to the capital, with alovely beach and warm water.

Málaga, at the mouth of theGuadalmedina andGuadalhorce rivers, lies in adepression and maintains amaritime vocation fromancient times, with its port, its Paseo Marítimo devoted to the immortal artist Picasso, and its well-knownbeaches called playas del Palo.

From Málaga, capital of theCosta del Sol, our journeybrings us to a stretch ofcoastline which hasexperienced the greatesttourist growth in Spain during the last thirty years.

16

Málaga

Twelve kilometers from thecapital, Torremolinos is theleading force behind tourismin the area. Repopulated afterits reconquest by the CatholicMonarchs in 1489, the originof the tourist industry may be found with the EnglishCastle, which in the 1920’stook in veterans from WorldWar I. The castle keep and the fishermen’s district of La Carihuela, withrestaurants specializing in

“pescaíto frito” (mixed fried fish), are the mainattractions.

As Torremolinos burgeoned inthe 60’s, overcrowding causedthe boom of other nearby spotsalong the coast, such asBenalmádena, six kilometersaway, which has also experiencedsurprising growth on the coast,as well as Arroyo de la Miel, alittle inland. The marina, hub ofnightlife, Torrequebrada casino,which takes its name from thenearby watchtower, and Tívoliamusement park, patternedafter the one in Copenhagen,offer a wide variety of sports andleisure activities, as well asentertainment.

Fuengirola is another exampleof a bustling town devoted totourism of sun and sand. Of

17

La Carihuela Beach, Torremolinos

Benalmádena

18

interest are the historicalvestiges, such as Sohayl castle, the “termas” or hotsprings, and Villa Romana, aninteresting museum ofpainting on adjoining walls of buildings, and themandatory trip to Mijas, atruly picturesque mountainvillage.

Marbella, some 50 kilometersfrom the capital, is undeniablythe main international touristattraction on the Costa del Sol. At the foot of SierraBlanca and situated on abeautiful bay, the town has

overcome a lull in itsdevelopment and offers highquality facilities. The colorfulold quarter, the attentiongiven to its streets andbeaches, the surprising variety

and distinction of the housing developments havespawned the name of thegolden triangle for thefinancial power generatedhere. Very well-known isPuerto Banús, frequented by magnates from all over the world, as well as thebeaches of San Pedro deAlcántara, today annexed byMarbella.

A short distance inland, wefind Istán, spring of the Costa del Sol and Ojén, anecological paradise. Estepona,the Phoenician Astapa, was the center of important naval and land battles duringthe Middle Ages. Protectedfrom winds by Sierra Bermeja, it has a typicallyMediterranean village center, a notable marina, and a well-known nudistbeach, Costa Natura, in Arroyo Vaquero.

Before arriving at Manilva,sentinel of the coast, pastsprawling housingdevelopments and enchanting beaches, we turn off at Casares atkilometer 146 of the N-340.Fourteen kilometers furtheralong, we reach the mountain village where BlasInfante, father ofAndalusianism, was born.

Marina, Fuengirola

Puerto Banús, Marbella

Here we also find ruins of anold fortress. Founded by order of Julius Caesar, it has been declared an historic-artistic complex which includes the Church of LaEncarnación, tower of la Sal,and an archeological area.

Manilva, 94 kilometers fromMálaga, rounds off this coastalroute before arriving atSotogrande where Costa de la Luz begins. Perched on a hill presiding over sevenkilometers of beaches, itboasts a castle and Sabinillasbeaches, around which arecreational complex including housingdevelopments, golf courses, and a marina has been built.

20

Casares

Marina, Sotogrande

21

Practical Itinerary

The coastal route begins on theN-340 coastal highway(Almería-Málaga) in thedirection of Málaga. BypassingMálaga, we take the Costa delSol Autovía, an expresswayleading to the western part ofthe coast.Málaga airport is located 9kilometers from the city, closeto Torremolinos, and is the mainair traffic center in the area.Málaga is also the bestconnected point for visiting thisroute, either by bus (Bus Station, Plaza de los Tilos, * 95 235 00 61) or by train(Railway Station EstaciónFerrocarril. Explanada de la Estación, * 95 236 02 02)

Tourist InformationTurismo Andaluz S.A.International Center for Tourism of Andalusia, * 95 283 87 85Patronato de Turismo de laCosta del Sol, * 95 205 86 94/95

Tourist Offices

Málaga: Pasaje de Chinitas, 4* 95 221 34 45Málaga Airport, * 95 204 84 84, ext. 58617Málaga Town Hall:“Casita del Jardinero”Avenida de Cervantes* 95 260 44 10Benalmádena Costa: Carretera de Cádiz, km. 220 * 95 235 00 61Estepona: Avenida de San Lorenzo* 95 280 20 02Fuengirola: Avenida JesúsSantos Rein, 6* 95 246 76 25Marbella: Glorieta de laFontanilla-Paseo Marítimo * 95 277 14 42Puerto Banús* 95 281 74 74Nerja: Puerta del Mar, 2 * 95 252 15 31San Pedro de Alcántara Avenida Marqués del Duero, 69* 95 278 52 52Torre del Mar Avenida de Andalucía, 119 * 95 254 11 04Torremolinos: Plaza de lasComunidades Autónomas* 95 237 19 09Torrox Costa Centro Internacional, bloque 79* 95 253 02 25

La Axarquía route

“Good water and healthy air,good land for producing silkand many raisins andfermented juice”, this was LaAxarquía for the 17th centurywriter, Henríquez de Jorquera.A land east of Málaga,extending from the divisionformed by the mountain rangesof Sierra Alhama, Tejeda andAlmijara in the province ofGranada.

22

341

339

342

339

340

340

Emb. deBornos

Embalse deBarbate

Emb. dePalmones

Emb. deGuadarranque

Emb. delos Hurones

Emb deGuadalteba

Punta de Europa

Punta Chullera

PCa

S E R R ANÍA DE R O NDA

Ensenada de Marbella

Bahíade

Algeciras

Benamahoma Carratraca

El BosqueGrazalema

Setenil

Gibraltar

Benaoján

AlgatocínOjén

Istán

Casares

Manilva

MijBenadalid

Alcaládel Valle

Estepona

Coín

OlveraAlgodonales

Villaluenga

Ubrique

Tarifa

Fue

Ardales

Villamartín

San Pedro de Alcántara

Puerto Banús

Sotogrande

San Luis deSabinillas

Montejaque

Jimena de Líbar

Atajate

AlháquimeZahara

Alhaurín

La Línea de la Concepción

Cortes de laFrontera

Ronda

Algeciras

San Roque

Marbella

23

Punta de Torremolinos

Punta deVélez Málaga

Pta. dealaburra

AXARQUÍASIERRA DE

TEJEDA

Ensenadade Málaga

Torre del Mar

Cómpeta

Almáchar

Canillas de AlbaidaSalaresComares

Benalmádenajas

Cútar

El Palo

NerjaTorrox

Torremolinos

engirola

AlgarroboFrigiliana

Cártama

Viñuela

Rincón dela Victoria

Macharaviaya

Archez

Sayalonga

el Grande

Alcaucín

Vélez-MálagaÁloraMálaga

Following the path of thegreat 14th century travellerIbn Batuta, we penetrate intothe region of La Axarquía. Itshistory recalls the essence ofthe Moorish legacy, as it washere in this region that thekingdom of Granada won itslast battle from the Christiansbefore being recaptured bythe Catholic Monarchs.

Leaving the Malagan beaches ofEl Palo and Pedregalejo behindus, we arrive at Rincón de laVictoria, a tourist spotfrequented by Malagans. Coastalfishing for sardines, anchoviesand other small fish, usuallyeaten right on the beach, hasbecome quite popular. Fromhere and after visiting the cavepaintings at Higuerón cave, weturn off onto a local road toMacharaviaya, birthplace of theGálvez family, conquistadors andgenerous patrons.

We return to the coast to getto Torre del Mar, a verypopular tourist enclave andfrom here, a few kilometersinland, we reach Vélez Málaga,capital of La Axarquía wherethe Roman Mainoba once settled.

From here, we observe howthe region rests on a giganticamphitheater of more thanone thousand squarekilometers, a great arena ofmountainous land that slopestowards the sea.

Perched on Veas hill, VélezMálaga castle-fortress gives itsname to the city whose oldquarter is considered anhistoric-artistic complex,presided over by Santa Maríala Mayor, a parish churchconstructed in the Gothic-Mudejar style on the site of anancient mosque.

Other noteworthy religiousarchitecture includes theConvents of San Francisco, LasClaras and Las Carmelitas, andthe Churches of San JuanBautista, San José de la Soledad,and its famous street chapels. Themost notable civil architectureincludes the Casa de Cervantesand Hospital of San Marcos in thehistoric city center which alsodeserves to be discovered andadmired in its own right.

Vélez Málaga is the point ofdeparture for a route which

will take us on a journeythrough various enchantinglittle villages. To the west, wewill pass through Benamocarraand Benamargosa before wecome to Comares situated onthe crest of a mountain whichpreserves a typical Moorishappearance with steep narrow

streets; Viñuela witharcheological finds dating from Neolithic to Romantimes; and Alcaucín with castleand baths. In the surroundings,we have Cutar, El Borgue andAlmáchar with their wine-presses and subtropical fruits.

To the east, through therolling countryside andbetween Andalusian farms, the dazzling sight of smallvillages with their Arabarchitecture await where the imprints of a Moorish past can be discovered, forexample, in the minarets ofÁrchez and Salares or thetraces of different religions in the circular cemetery ofSayalonga, the hermitage ofSan Sebastián in Algarrobo,and Holy Week in Riogordo.

Villages where nature carvesthe most impressive sceneryinclude Cómpeta with itsgraceful tower and multi-colored hamlet, and Canillas,among the valleys of the Vélez and Rubite rivers. Torrox, on the coast, was thebirthplace of CaudilloAlmanzor and center of thesilk industry in Nasrid times,and Nerja, at the easternborder of the Costa del Sol,with its lovely town center, its beaches, and famous Dolomitic cave.

24

Nerja cave

Inland from Nerja, a shortdistance to the north is thevillage of Frigiliana. Itsprehistoric necropolis of Cerillo de las Sombras and the abrupt terrain, site of one of the last battlesbetween Moors and Christians,preserves one of the purestArab structures of La Axarquía.

Cómpeta

Frigiliana

Practical Itinerary

From Málaga to Torre del Maron the N-340 (30 km.). In Torredel Mar turn off at the C-335for Vélez Málaga (4 km.). FromVélez Málaga, within a 50 kilometer radius, it is only ashort distance to the mostimportant towns of the regionon the local roads though thebeautiful countryside.

Tourist InformationNerjaPuerta del Mar, 2 * 95 252 15 31Torre del MarAvenida de Andalucía, 119 * 95 254 11 04TorroxCentro Internacional, bloque 79* 95 253 02 25

25

26

341

339

342

440

339

340

340

Emb. deBornos

Embalse deBarbate

Embalse deCelemín

Emb. dePalmones

Emb. deGuadarranque

Emb. delGuadalcacín Emb. de

los Hurones

Emb deGuadalteba

Punta deTarifa

Punta de Europa

Punta Chullera

S E R R ANÍA DE R O NDA

Ensenada de

Bahíade

Algeciras

BenamahomaCarratrac

El BosqueGrazalema

Setenil

Gibraltar

Benaoján

AlgatocínOjé

Istán

Casares

Manilva

Benadalid

Alcaládel Valle

Estepona

OlveraAlgodonales

VillaluengaUbrique

Tarifa

Ardales

Villamartín

Bornos

San Pedro de Alcántara

Arcos de laFrontera

Puerto Ba

Sotogrande

San Luis deSabinillas

Montejaque

Jimena de Líbar

Atajate

AlháquimeZahara

La Línea de la Concepción

Cortes de laFrontera

Espera

Ronda

Algeciras

San Roque

Ma

Espera (Cádiz)

27

a

Punta de Torremolinos

Punta deVélez Málaga

Pta. deCalaburra

AXARQUÍASIERRA DE

TEJEDA

de Marbella

Ensenadade Málaga

Torre del Mar

Cómpeta

Almáchar

SalaresComares

ca

én BenalmádenaMijas

Cútar

El PaloCoín

Torrox

Torremolinos

Fuengirola

Algarrobo

Cártama

Viñuela

Rincón dela Victoria

anús

Macharaviaya

Archez

Sayalonga

Alhaurín el Grande

Alcaucín

Vélez-Málaga

Antequera

Álora

arbella

Málaga

The route of the

“Pueblos Blancos” (white

villages)Situated in the provinces ofMálaga and Cádiz, between the Atlantic and theMediterranean, and in amountainous area where theBético, Ronda and Cádizmountain ranges converge, the “Pueblos Blancos” make up one of the most beautifulroutes for admiring popularAndalusian architecture.

Geographical locations on thetops of mountains, on slopes,or in ravines allow thelandscapes to dominate,appearing on the horizon likewhite spots against a backdropof oak trees, Spanish firs, orpine groves.

Steep narrow streets,passageways leading tocourtyards and dwellings,propped-up facades, and tileroofs over dazzling white-washed walls, form a uniqueassembly often clusteringaround a castle for protection in the Medieval

struggle between Arabs andChristians. A number ofitineraries may be followed. Agood starting point is Ronda,the charismatic city of Celticorigin, perched more thanseven hundred metersoverlooking an imposingravine that divides it in two.Several of the gateways to thecity are preserved in goodcondition including theAlmocábar (13th century),Puerta de los Molinos givingaccess to the Arab medina(town), and Puerta de Carlos V.The San Francisco districtpreserves all the Moorishdesign and in the lower part ofthe city, we find the Arabbaths, the structure

almost intact (13th-14thcentury). An impressive historicenclave boasts more than 70houses including the palace ofSalvatierra, Casa del Gigante,Casa de Mondragón and Casadel Rey Moro. The religious

monuments of interest includethe Church of Santa María laMayor, convent of SantoDomingo, and minaret of SanSebastián. The Plaza de Toros(Bullring), which dates back tothe days of Philip II, makes thisa mandatory stop. Twelvekilometers away, we encounterthe Roman city of Acinipo, alsocalled Ronda la Vieja, whichdates from the second century.

From Ronda, the southernroute takes us to Montejaqueand nearby Hunidero cave,where the waters of theGaduares river disappear andreappear nine kilometersfarther down in the Cave ofthe Cat in the township ofBenaoján, with its watchtower,

29

Ronda ravine

Ronda

Bullring, Ronda

Church of the Rosario, andPileta caves, with theirPaleolithic cave paintings.

Crossing the Guadiaro river, weapproach Jimena de Libarwhich has an ancient Roman-Arab castle. We proceed byAtajate; Benadalid with the

oldest castle in the region;Algatocín with Roman ruins,and Cortes de la Fronteraboasting a magnificent square, the Church of NuestraSeñora del Rosario, Casa de los Valdenebro, and the Town Hall.

The northern and westernroute situates us in Setenil delas Bodegas, where populararchitecture melts into thesurroundings with its houseshewn in the walls of the

ravine. The castle-fortress fromMoorish times and GothicChurch of La Encarnación arethe most representativemonuments. From here,passing through Alcalá delValle and Alhaquime, we come to Olvera. The villageemerges like a great whitepyramid crowned by an Arabcastle from the 12th century.The Church of San José is also visible. Nearby, we findthe rock of Zaframagón, an important ecological reserve.

Going towards the west, weencounter Algodonales,surrounded by olive trees and orchards, contrasting with the white-washed houses. We will take the routeof Zahara de la Sierra,

30

Palace of the Marquis of Salvatierra,Ronda

Algatocín

founded by the Arabs in the8th century and presentlydeclared a NationalMonument. The typical uneven streets of Zahara, the12th century Moorish castle,and Baroque Church of SantaMaría de Mesa can be enjoyedon a walking tour. A splendidview of Grazalema Nature Park can be admired from thecastle. On the road towardsGrazalema, a path to the

right leads to “GargantaVerde”, a gorge with animpressive cave known asErmita de la Garganta. Afterascending Puerto de lasPalomas (1,357 meters), wearrive at Grazalema, embracedby the Pinar and Endrinalmountain ranges. A place ofancient Roman and Arabsettlements, its artisticheritage is centered aroundthe Churches of La Encarnación

and La Aurora (17th century).We proceed afterwards toVillaluenga del Rosario, thehighest town in the region, to reach Ubrique, perched onthe almost vertical slopes ofthe Algarrobal hill, andfamous for its leather goods. It has an important religiousheritage as shown in the 16th century Church of SanAntonio, convent of losCapuchinos, Church of Nuestra Señora de la O, andChurch of San Pedro, presently a library. To the east of El Bosque, we findBenamahoma with its grove of native Spanish firs, growing in very isolated areas.El Bosque, white and luminous,is a lovely village with idealspots for trout fishing.

Villamartín, the next stop onour route, has interestingexamples of civil architecture,including the Palace of losRíos, Casa de los Topete, as

31

Olvera

Zahara de la Sierra

well as religious buildings,such as the 16th centuryChurch of Las Virtudes, andChurches of San Francisco andLas Angustias.

Before reaching Bornos, wecan visit the Roman ruins of

Carissa Aurelia and Bornosreservoir. Its monumentsinclude the Castle-Palace ofLos Ribera, Casa de Ordóñez,and the religious architecturalassemblage made up of the16th century Church of SantoDomingo, La Sagra school,hermitage of El Calvario, andconvent of Corpus Christi.

Leaving to our right the route leading to Espera,another attractive mountaintown, we arrive in Arcos de laFrontera, the end of our route and archetype of the“Pueblos Blancos”. Site ofRoman, Visigoth and Arabsettlements, the town of Arcoshas one of the most spectacularold quarters in Spain.

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Grazalema

Bornos

There are many monuments tovisit, including the 15thcentury Gothic-MudejarChurch of Santa María, theCastle of the Dukes, formerresidence of Moorish kings,Casa de Belén, Convents of SanFrancisco, San Augstín, and LaEncarnación, and otherreligious monuments, such asthe Churches of San Pedro, LaCaridad, San Juan de Dios, andLa Misericordia.

Arcos de la Frontera

Practical Itinerary

Access from San Pedro deAlcántara by the C-339 toRonda (49 km.).By a local road to Setenil untilreaching N-342 (23 km.) andarriving in Olvera. By said roadto Algodonales (17 km.) andfrom here by local roads toZahara (7 km.), Grazalema (13 km.), El Bosque (17 km.), El Prado del Rey (7 km.) andVillamartín (12 km.). Returningto the N-342 to get to Bornos (8 km.) and Arcos de la Frontera(13 km.).Railway Station: RondaAvenida Andalucía* 95 287 16 73Bus Station: Ronda (PlazaConcepción García Redondo, 2* 95 287 26 57) Olvera (Cabrera Menacho* 956 13 04 92) Arcos de la Frontera(Los Amarillos. Alcaldes, s/n* 956 70 02 57)

Tourist Information

Arcos de la FronteraPlaza del Cabildo * 956 70 22 64Benaoján* 95 216 71 03El Bosque* 956 71 60 63Cortes de la FronteraCamino de la Estación * 95 215 43 45GrazalemaPlaza de España, 11* 956 13 22 25Ronda Plaza de España, 1 * 95 287 12 72

33

34

341

339

342

440

339

340

340

Emb. deBornos

Embalse deBarbate

Embalse deCelemín

Emb. dePalmones

Emb. deGuadarranque

Emb. delGuadalcacín

Emb. delos Hurones

EmGuada

Emb deGuadalteba

Punta deTarifa

Punta de Europa

Punta Chullera

S E R R ANÍA DE R O NDA

Ensenada de Marb

Bahíade

Algeciras

Benamahoma Carratra

El Bosque Grazalema

Setenil

Gibraltar

Benaoján

AlgatocínOjén

Istán

Casares

Manilva

Benadalid

Alcaládel Valle

Estepona

Coín

Olvera

Algodonales

Villaluenga

Ubrique

Tarifa

Ardales

Villamartín

Bornos

San Pedro de Alcántara

Puerto Banús

Sotogrande

San Luis deSabinillas

Montejaque

Jimena de LíbarAtajate

Alháquime

Zahara

Alha

La Línea de la Concepción

Cortes de laFrontera 339

Ronda

Algeciras

San Roque

Marbella

The route from

Guadalhorce to Antequera

Following the course of theGuadalhorce river, the route from Antequera toMálaga winds through places of unique and spectacular beauty.

35

mb. dealhorce

Punta de Torremolinos

Punta deVélez Málaga

AXARQUÍA

SIERRA DEALHAMA

SIERRA DETEJEDA

rbella

Ensenadade Málaga

Torre del Mar

Cómpeta

Almáchar

SalaresComares

aca

BenalmádenaMijas

Cútar

El Palo

NerjaTorrox

Torremolinos

Fuengirola

Algarrobo

Cártama

Viñuela

Rincón dela Victoria

Macharaviaya

Archez

Sayalonga

aurín el Grande

Alcaucín

Vélez-Málaga

Antequera

Álora

a

Málaga

Taking Málaga as ourreference point, we go in thedirection of the villages of LaHoya by the orange-blossomroute starting in Alhaurín elGrande which can be reachedby way of the coast or viaCártama. Alhaurín, RomanLauro Nova, shows the

imprints of ancient civilizations that includedIberians, Tyrians, Phoeniciansand Romans. Situated on thenorthern slope of Sierra deMijas and spilling into thevalley of Guadalhorce, its most notable monumentsare the Town Hall, Church of

Torcal de Antequera

Nuestra Señora de LaEncarnación, and Palace ofMontellano. The mostimportant festivals are heldduring Holy Week when thebrotherhoods of “verdes” and“moraos” rival in theirprocessions.

Coín, a short distance to thewest, known for its lovelycastle, also boasts beautifulchurches and fountains, astrong pottery tradition, andthe legend of the apparitionon its soil of the Virgin ofFuensanta in the 15th century.

Continuing the route, we canreturn to Cártama in order toreach Álora (34 km.) by a roadlined with lemon trees.

The village is set among rollinghills, and the town center is a

succession of steep slopesleading to an Arab castlewhere the fertile valley of theGuadalhorce can be viewed inall its splendor. From here, wecan make two interesting sidetrips and follow the road toCarratraca, with its 19thcentury spa, and see Ardales,on the banks of the Turónriver, with its Medieval castle.

The second trip will take us tothe ruins of Bobastro (aMozarab church excavated inrock) and “garganta delChorro”, a gorge with amagnificent landscape andcaves with ancient paintings.

We will return to Álora to getto Antequera (34 km.).Antequera is the heart of theAndalusian land, on the routefrom Seville to Granada and onthe road from Málaga toCórdoba. All the civilizationshave converged here sinceprehistoric times, thusproducing one of the richestmonumental groupings in

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La Menga Cave, Antequera

Antequera

Andalucía. City of white churchesand Gongorists (Gerardo Diego),which was the Madina Antakiraalmost impregnable under Arabdomination, invites us to visit theGranada gate, arch of the Giants,and the castle with the keep.

The Christian heritage ispatent in the Royal CollegiateChurch of Santa María laMayor, Churches of SanSebastián, Santo Domingo, SanJosé, San Pedro, LaEncarnación, and El Carmen,among others, and theMunicipal Museum whichboasts collections of painting,sculpture, and gold andsilverworks.

Thirteen kilometers to thesouth, Torcal de Antequera,with more than a thousandhectares, is one of the mostspectacular spots in Andalusia.Time and water have erodedunusual forms in the rocks ofthis Nature Park formed by akarstic mass of amazingbeauty.

Practical Itinerary

Access by road from Málaga onthe motorway towards theairport. At the junction ofChurriana, take the C-344 untilAlhaurín el Grande and Coín.From there, a local road to thejunction of Estación de Cártamaand by the C-337 to Álora andAntequera.Railway station. Antequera(Renfe. Avenida de laEstación, s/n* 95 284 32 26)Bus Station with various regularlines to different destinations (Calle Campillo Alto).

Tourist Information

AntequeraPlaza de San Sebastián, 7* 95 270 25 05

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38

Practical Information

AHRA. Asociación de HotelesRurales de Andalucía(Association of Rural Hotels ofAndalusia) */fax 957 53 80 96RAAR. Red Andaluza deAlojamientos Rurales(Andalusian Network of RuralLodging)* 950 26 50 18, fax 950 27 04 31Tourism and Development (Málaga Provincial Authority),* 95 260 28 80Asociación de PromociónTurística de La Axarquía(Association for the Promotionof Tourism of La Axarquía)* 95 254 28 08

Paradores de Turismo (TouristInns) deserve special mentiondue to their privileged locationsand facilities. On the Costa delSol, we find both the Málagadel Golf (* 95 238 12 55) andthe Parador de Nerja(* 95 252 00 50) on the ocean.The Málaga-Gibralfaro isperched on a spot overlookingthe beautiful city and has beenrecently remodeled (* 95 222 19 02)The Parador de Antequeraboasts comfortable facilities (* 95 284 09 01) and the onesin Ronda (* 95 287 75 00) andArcos de la Frontera(* 956 70 05 00), on the routeof the “Pueblos Blancos”, arelocated in areas of great naturalbeauty.

LodgingThe Costa del Sol has a widevariety of hotels, tourist inns,apartments, camping sites,tourist villas, and rural housesallowing visitors to find

comfortable accommodationsin the desired price range.During high season, whichincludes the months of July,August and September, it isnecessary to make reservationswell in advance.

The coastal region, from Nerja to Sotogrande, aboundswith hotels, apartments,residential villas, and campingsites, while inland, rural tourist facilities are common,including charming littlehotels. Information may befound at tourist informationpoints.

CuisineFor many centuries Andalusiahas been a land of differentcultures, center of maritimetrade, and port to the Indies. Its land of great contrasts andchanges in landscape andclimate gives rise to a cuisine as wide in variety as it is rich inflavors.

From the deluxe restaurants ofMarbella to the “chiringuitos”on the beach, or the mountaincooking of La Axarquía and the“Pueblos Blancos”, the cuisinealong the Costa del Sol keeps

the influence of former culturesalive; the Phoenician style ofsalting, Roman appreciation foroils and garlic, and Arab cuisinewhich helped agriculture andgarden products flourish.

The strong contrast betweenthe coast and inland is alsoevident in the cuisine. CoastalMálaga looks to the sea andrevels in the freshly caught fish

39

and seafood, cooked withunique and special skill, such asthe “pescaíto frito” (mixed friedfish), grilled or marinated fish,anchovies, red mullet, squid,

and sardines. Rice dishes alsooccupy a privileged place inMediterranean cuisine withendless varieties combined withfish and seafood.

Cold vegetable soups or“gazpachos” acquire their ownidentity in this region, especiallyin the region of La Axarquía.The splendid garden produce ofVélez Málaga makes fordelicious dishes, such as“ajoblanco” (chilled whitegarlic-almond soup),“ajobacalao” (with salted cod),“sopa Maimones” (Arab soup ofgarlic, bread and olive oil,sometimes with ham), “ropavieja”, and pastry such as“tortas de aceite” (pastrybiscuits made with oil), and“mostachones” (S-shapedbiscuits, often with nuts). The“porra antequerana” is a verythick type of “gazpacho”.

Hunting and fishing alsoinfluence the cuisine of themountain regions. Trout from ElBosque, rabbit stew, porksausages, celery salads andgreen cabbage are some of thespecialties of the “PueblosBlancos”.

We also find, especially in theinland areas, a rich traditionalcuisine abounding in stews andthick vegetable soups, porkproducts, and pastoral recipes,with its simple country cooking,which gives us products such asgoat cheese from Estepona, liverpastoral-style, or “gachas” (gruel).

To all of this must be added theinfluence of both Arab andJewish cultures in the widevariety of subtle and splendidtreats that can transport one tothe world of “A Thousand andOne Nights”. Crumbly littlecakes called “mantecados” and“polvorones” of Antequera,“alfajores” (almond-and-honeycandy), “batatillas” in honey, aswell as almond soup from

40

Ronda are some of the sweetestexamples we can enjoythroughout the region.This appealing cuisine is notonly present at the dinner tableat home or in a restaurant, butalso at the hour of the “tapeo”, a pleasant Spanish custom ofbar-hopping or “grazing”,enjoying life to the fullest inthe company of friends whiledelighting in good conversationand a variety of succulenttidbits, where the essence ofAndalusia shines. Accompaniedby a glass of sherry, thisdelightful custom brings outthe vast culinary repertoire ofthis southern land.

Fruits also deserve specialmention. From timeimmemorial, they have beenassociated with the Costa delSol. Grapes, raisins,pomegranates, and figs fromthese coasts once travelledthroughout the entire RomanEmpire and lately, subtropicalfruits, such as avocados,cherimoyas or custard applesare also grown in the easternpart of the Costa del Sol.

Wine is the perfectaccompaniment for such a richassortment of dishes. The winesof the region are the famoussweet wines of Málaga.“Moscatel”, “pajarete”,“campanilla”, and “pedrito”are some of the varieties, butvisitors can also sample some of

the other wines fromneighboring Cádiz, withoutwhich bar-hopping would notbe complete.

“Fino” (dry, light, pale yellowsherry), “manzanilla” (drydelicate sherry), and “oloroso”(dark golden full-bodied sherry)or “amontillado” (ambermedium-dry sherry), morecolorful and sweet, areindispensable culinaryaccompaniments in theseAndalusian lands.

Gastronomy is inseparablefrom the joy of life. Andbecause of this, festivals andcelebrations devoted to foodand drink abound, such as theFestival of the Ajoblanco inAlmachar in August; Festival of the Harvest in Antequeraalso in August; Day of the“Pescaíto” in Torremolinos;Festival of las Migas y los Vinos in Torrox in December,Festival of the Raisin in theregion of La Axarquía held in September.

41

Festivals and folklore

It is not unusual to run into sometype of colorful “Fiesta” orexciting “Feria” on the Costa delSol. Many are related to religiousobservances and includeprocessions. Holy Week is thefirst grand celebration whichholds a special significance inMálaga, Ronda and Riogordowith its traditional display of thepassion of Christ by thetownspeople. Brotherhoods,religious images, bearers ofstages in the Passion of Christ,religious songs, a spectacle bornof the religious fervor of thepeople. “The blessing of Christ”during the early morning ofGood Friday maintains a special

significance in Arcos de laFrontera.

The Cruces de Mayo, aspringtime celebration, stillpreserves the tradition ofadorning the squares andcorners of the town withflowers. Casabermeja, Coín and

Torrox celebrate this traditionalfestival today.

Romerías (pilgrimages or visits tonearby shrines), a deep-seatedAndalusian tradition, have theirexpression in those celebrated inEstepona and Nerja in the middleof May. The maritime traditiongives rise to the festivities such asSan Bernabé in Marbella in June,the Fiestas Mayores in Esteponaor the Virgen del Carmen on theentire coast in July which isjoined to the “Day of the FishFry” in Torremolinos in June.Benalmádena also celebratesanother important day on theSpanish calendar which is Corpus Christi.

Associated with the rites of theharvest, we have the festivals ofAntequera and Almachar inAugust with their “Fiesta de laRecolección” and “Fiesta delAjoblanco”, “La Asunción” inCómpeta and the Septembercelebrations of San Miguel inVélez Málaga and Torremolinos.The Festival of the Raisin inAlcaucín and El Borge inSeptember, has a specialsignificance in the lands of LaAxarquía. Along another line, weneed to highlight the SummerFestival of Music and Dance inNerja in August, and the Day ofthe Tourist in Torremolinos, atthe beginning of September.

For their originality andconnection with the

42

Holy Week

Mediterranean, the Festival ofMoors and Christians inBenalauría at the beginning ofAugust must be mentioned.Closing the series are thefestivals of the Rosario inFuengirola at the beginning ofOctober, “Fiesta de la Virgende los Rondeles” inCasarabonela in December, aswell as “Fiesta de las Migas y losVinos” in Torrox, and Festival of“verdiales” in Málaga held onInnocents’ Day, is theculmination of the celebrations.

The verdiales and malagueñashave a special significance inthe folklore of the region. The“verdiales” are ancientfandangos which todaymaintain all their vitality andcolor, born in the Partido deVerdiales of the Montes deMálaga. They are accompaniedby primitive two-string violins,guitars, cymbals, tambourines,and kitchen utensils, such asmortars or bottles. The soundof castanets marks the rhythmof singers’ voices.

Culture and art

All cultural manifestations havetheir place, as well as a brilliantsetting on the Costa del Sol.Music is an important part of allfairs which often feature liveperformances by well-knownsingers; the Flamenco Festival ofMijas in July, and in August,Festival Flamenco de lo Rancioin Ronda, the Flamenco Festivalin Ojén and the “Feria” ofMalagá. Málaga displays ahandsome array of color andthe townspeople’s participationduring its “Ferias” where thetypical folklore must behighlighted. Throughout theyear, a series of concerts whichincludes “Bands of Music”(spring), “Andalusian artists”(August), “Young Music” (fall)and “Young Artists” (December)have an active musical programfor all tastes. Nerja’sInternational Festival of Musicand Dance has as a backdropthe famous prehistoric caveduring the month of July, andeach year hosts special eventswith distinguishedinternational stars. Ronda hosts“fiestas” in honor of PedroRomero with a singularGoyesque bullfight.

Films have always had a specialsignificance on the Costa delSol. Movies are filmed here,distinguished directors andactors reside here, and special

43

Los Verdiales

events are celebrated here also,such as the Festival ofSpeleological Cinema inFuengirola, the InternationalComedy Film Festival inTorremolinos held duringJanuary; the Amateur FilmsContest in Marbella in July;Week of Scientific Films inRonda during the month ofOctober, and the recentlyinaugurated International FilmFestival at Puerto Banús.

Theater and dance also enjoyspecial prominence in thealready mentionedInternational Festival of Music and Dance in Nerja, and in Andalusian TheaterWeek, held in August in Ronda. Torremolinos alsoschedules InternationalBallroom Dance Contests.Cultural institutions, such as thePicasso Foundation and theCultural Center of theGeneration of ‘27 in Málaga,hold other important culturalevents in connection withpainting and literature.

Different forms of art can beadmired in the variousmuseums on the Costa del Sol.Highlighting a few in Málaga,we have the Archeologicalmuseum (* 95 221 60 65),Provincial Museum of Fine Arts(* 95 221 83 82), CathedralMuseum (* 95 221 59 17), Arte Sacro Museum (* 95 222 25 52), Popular ArtsMuseum (* 95 221 71 37), theAquarium (* 95 222 92 87),and Holy Week Museum(Expiración, * 95 226 02 71).

Antequera also has anArcheological Museum (* 95 270 40 25), a MunicipalMuseum (* 95 270 07 26),Picasso Museum (* 95 221 50 05), andBullfighting Museum.

In Ronda, we find theinteresting BullfightingMuseum located at the Bullring(* 95 287 41 32) and anArcheological Museum (* 95 287 84 50).

Benalmádena has a MunicipalMuseum of Pre-Columbian Art,and in Marbella we find theMuseum of Spanish Engraving(* 95 282 50 35), and in Nerja,a new Arqueological Museum.

44

Arqueological Museum, Antequera

SportsThe Costa del Sol is a paradisefor sports. Its privileged climateand excellent facilities not onlyattract the amateurs but alsonumerous professionals withthe possibility of practicingtheir favorite sport or trainingfor a championship.

Water sports occupy aprominent place along theentire coastline. More than adozen yacht clubs are scatteredalong the coast, from Nerja toSotogrande, as well as many

marinas. The following is apartial list: Real ClubMediterráneo of Málaga (* 95 221 63 11), Puerto Deportivo ofBenalmádena (* 95 244 30 47), Puerto Deportivo of Fuengirola (* 95 246 80 00),Puerto Deportivo of Marbella (* 95 277 57 00),Puerto Deportivo ofPuerto Banús (* 95 290 98 00)and Puerto Deportivo LaDuquesa in Manilva(* 95 289 01 00).

Information about water sportsactivities may be requestedfrom Federación Andaluza dePesca Deportiva (Sport Fishing)(* 957 32 64 89), FederaciónAndaluza de Vela (Sailing)(* 956 85 22 39), FederaciónAndaluza de ActividadesSubacuáticas (SubaquaticActivities) (* 950 25 21 13),Federación Andaluza dePiragüismo (Canoeing) (* 956 25 21 87) andFederación Andaluza deRemo (Rowing) (* 95 422 66 62).

Golf is unquestionably king ofsports on the Costa del Sol.Some forty golf courses provide the densestinfrastructure in Europe and the most modern in design andfacilities. Some of the golfcourses are listed below:

Club de Campo of Málaga (* 95 237 66 77). Alhaurín Golf (* 95 259 59 70), Golf Torrequebrada inBenalmádena (* 95 244 27 42).Club Mijas Golf-Los Lagos(* 95 247 68 43),

45

Golf Miraflores (* 95 283 73 83),Marbella Golf (* 95 283 05 00),Los Naranjos Golf (* 95 281 52 06), La Quinta Golf (* 95 276 23 90),Estepona Golf (* 95 211 30 81),La Duquesa Golf (* 95 289 07 25) andClub de Golf Sotogrande (* 956 79 50 50).

Tennis has become one of themost important sports on theCosta del Sol. Hostinginternational championshipshas helped the area acquirefame and prestige amongtennis players around theworld. A few of the existingtennis clubs are: Club de Tenisof Málaga (* 95 229 10 92),Club Manolo Santana ofMarbella (* 95 282 61 03),Club de Tenis Torremolinos (* 95 243 51 25), Club de Tenisin Nerja (* 95 252 09 48),Campo de Tenis Lew Hoad inMijas Costa (* 95 247 48 58),Club de Tenis of Estepona (* 95 280 15 79).

Along its entire length, theCosta del Sol offersinnumerable opportunities forother sports, such as hunting(Andalusian HuntingFederation, * 95 271 48 51),fishing (Andalusian Fishing andAngling Federation, * 957 25 30 59),mountaineering (AndalusianMountaineering Federation, * 958 29 13 40), caving, scuba

diving (Andalusian Scuba DivingFederation,* 950 27 06 12),flying and aerial sports(Andalusian Aerial SportsFederation, * 95 260 13 61),and para- and hang-gliding.

Shopping, leisure and

entertainmentThe Costa del Sol is an immenseparadise for shopping andinvestments. Many of theworld’s leading firms, jewelersand antique dealers have shopson the coast. The demandingtraveller can find a wide varietyof products of excellent quality.

A popular custom, the local fleamarket or “mercadillo”, is a funway to acquire a variety ofarticles at affordable prices.Some of them are mentionedbelow along with the days ofthe week they are held:antiques in Puerto Banús(Saturdays), handicrafts inEstepona (Sundays), and thelargest ones where a widevariety of articles can be foundinclude Arroyo de la Miel(Fridays), Estepona(Wednesdays), Fuengirola(Tuesdays and Saturdays),Málaga (Sundays andWednesdays), Marbella(Mondays), Mijas (Saturdays),Nerja (Tuesdays) andTorremolinos (Thursdays).

46

With respect to native products,ceramics and pottery continueto maintain the Moorishtraditions of these Andalusiancrafts. We find interestingexamples in the towns of Coínand Mijas, as well as along theroute of the “Pueblos Blancos”.The skillful crafting of leatherhas gained well-earned fame inthe town of Ubrique, and thenorthern part of the province ofMálaga is noted for espartograss products.

In Vélez Málaga, we findexamples of the delicatehandiwork on religiousvestments in silk, as well asembroidery and metal objects.Mijas is also famous for itsembroidery and numerousother handicrafts, and in Rondawe find handsome wroughtiron work. The blankets fromGrazalema continue to preservethe texture and designs fromcenturies ago which haveadorned saddles and riders inthe mountains of Málaga.

Visitors can find a wide varietyof activities to choose from onthe Costa del Sol to fill theirleisure time. From practicing afavorite sport to attending Fairsand Festivals, excursions andhiking in Nature Parks, such asthe Montes de Málaga, Sierrade las Nieves, Sierra deGrazalmema or Alcornocales, ora visit to admire the scenery atthe gorge of Gaitanes

(El Chorro), los Reales de SierraBermeja, and Sierra Crestellinain Estepona, Torcal deAntequera, or the cliffs ofMarocerro Gordo; thepossibilities are endless.

The mouth of the Guadalhorceriver and lagoons of El Bosque,Capillos, La Ratosa,Fuentepiedra and Archidonaare also interesting sites to visitin the region.

Theme parks such as Tívoliamusement park located inArroyo de la Miel (* 95 257 70 16); the Zoo inFuengirola (* 95 247 15 90);Aquavelis in Torre del Mar (* 95 254 27 58); Aquapark inTorremolinos (* 95 238 88 88),Aquatic Park in Mijas (* 95 246 94 42); Sea Life inBenalmádena (* 95 244 50 00);Acuarium in Puerto Banús (* 95 281 40 80), Botanical andOrnithological Park “El Retiro”in Churriana (* 95 262 16 00),Selwo Nature Park in Estepona (* 95 279 21 50), CrocodilePark in Cártama and theHipódromo (Racetrack) in Mijas(* 95 249 36 06) are also otherinteresting options. There arealso the Casinos ofTorrequebrada in Benalmádena(* 95 244 23 54) and NuevaAndalucía in Marbella (* 95 281 40 00). Torremolinosis the site of the Spanish MusChampionships, a very popularcard game in Spain.

47

48

USEFUL INFORMATION

Telephone dialing codes:International: 34

TOURIST INFORMATIONTURESPAÑA: * 901 300 600www.tourspain.es

Dirección General de Planificación Turísitica de la Junta de Andalucía.Avenida de la República Argentina, 25 - 8th floor * 95 455 84 11, fax 95 455 57 79Patronato de Turismo de la Costa del SolPalacio de Congresos y Exposicionesde la Costa del SolCalle México s/n. Torremolinos* 95 205 86 94 & 95 205 86 95fax 95 205 03 11 & 95 237 04 06www.costadelsol.sopde.esPatronato Provincial de Turismo de Cádiz. Plaza San Antonio, 13* 956 80 70 61

TRANSPORTATIONIBERIA AIRLINES:Málaga: Calle Molina Lario * 95 231 61 66Cádiz: Jerez Airport * 956 15 00 10RENFE (Spanish National Railways):Cádiz: Plaza de Sevilla * 956 25 43 01Málaga: Explanada de la Estación* 95 236 02 00Buses:Cádiz: Plaza de la Hispanidad, 1 * 956 22 42 71Málaga: Plaza de los Tilos * 95 235 00 61

Taxis:Cádiz: Radio-Taxis * 956 21 21 21Málaga: Radio-Taxis * 95 233 64 00

Traffic Information:Highway Information: * 900 12 35 05Civil Guard Traffic:Cádiz: * 956 26 16 11Málaga: * 95 239 19 00

POST OFFICE & TELEPHONES Post Office and Telegrams: Cádiz: Plaza Topete* 956 21 18 78Málaga: Avenida de Andalucía, 1* 95 235 90 08Public Telephone center:Cádiz: Avenida José León deCarranzaMálaga: Calle Molina Lario

USEFUL TELEPHONE NUMBERSRed CrossCádiz: * 956 22 22 22Málaga: * 95 222 22 22Medical Emergencies: * 061National Police: * 091Municipal Police: * 092Citizen Information: * 010

PARADORSReservation Center:Calle Requena, 3, Madrid 28013* 91 516 66 66,fax 91 516 66 57www.parador.es

SPANISH TOURIST INFORMATIONOFFICES ABROAD

Canada. TorontoTourist Office of Spain2 Bloor Street West Suite 3402 TORONTO, Ontario M4W 3E2* 1416/ 961 31 31, fax 1416/ 961 19 92e-mail: toronto@tourspain.eswww.tourspain.toronto.on.ca

Great Britain. London Spanish Tourist OfficeManchester Square, 22-23 LONDON W1M 5AP* 44207/ 486 80 77, fax 44207/ 486 80 34e-mail: londres@tourspain.eswww.uk.tourspain.eswww.tourspain.co.uk

Japan. Tokyo. Tourist Office of SpainDaini Toranomon Denki Bldg.4F. 3-1-10 Toranomon Minato-Ku. TOKIO-105* 813/ 34 32 61 41, fax 813/ 34 32 61 44e-mail: tokio@tourspain.eswww.spaintour.com

Russia. MoscowSpanish Tourist OfficeTverskaya – 16/2 Business Center“Galeria Aktor” 6º floor MOSCÚ 103009* 7095 / 935 83 99, fax 7095 / 935 83 96e-mail: moscu@tourspain.eswww.tourspain.ru

Singapore. SingaporeSpanish Tourist Office541Orchard Road. Liat Tower # 09-04238881 SINGAPORE* 657/ 37 30 08, fax 657/ 37 31 73e-mail: singapore@tourspain.es

United States of AmericaLos Angeles. Tourist Office of Spain8383 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 960 BEVERLY HILLS, CAL 90211* 1323/ 658 71 95, fax 1323/ 658 10 61e-mail: losangeles@tourspain.es

Chicago. Tourist Office of SpainWater Tower Place, suite 915 East845, North Michigan AvenueCHICAGO, ILL 60-611* 1312/ 642 19 92, fax 1312/ 642 98 17e-mail: chicago@tourspain.es

Text:Alfredo Villaverde

Translation:J. West

Photographs:Turespaña Archives

Layout:Florencio García

Published by:© Turespaña

Secretaría de Estado de Comercio y Turismo

Ministerio de Economía

Printed by:Egraf, S.A.

D.L.: M. 29709-2001

NIPO: 380-01-009-3 Printed in Spain

Fourth edition

Miami. Tourist Office of Spain1221 Brickell Avenue MIAMI, Florida 33131* 1305/ 358 19 92, fax 1305/ 358 82 23e-mail: miami@tourspain.es

New York. Tourist Office of Spain666 Fifth Avenue 35 th floor NEW YORK, N.Y. 10103* 1212/ 265 88 22, fax 1212/ 265 88 64www.okspain.orge-mail:nuevayork@tourspain.es

EMBASSIES IN MADRID

Canada: Nuñez de Balboa, 35 * 91 431 43 00, fax 91 431 23 67

Great Britain: Fernando El Santo, 16* 91 319 02 00, fax 91 308 10 33

Japan: Serrano, 109 * 91 590 76 00, fax 91 590 13 21

Russia: Velazquez, 155 * 91 562 22 64, fax 91 562 97 12

United States of America: Serrano, 75 * 91 587 22 00, fax 91 587 23 03

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EUROPEAN COMMUNITY

European Regional Development Fund

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