MALAGA
TRAVEL INFORMATION - COSTA DEL SOL WESTERN
The visit of the Western half of the Costa del
Sol is the most representative sector: between Torremolinos and Marbella
the trip passes through a real display of tourist attractions near
beaches and yacht clubs. However, the visit, which begins in Málaga,
must not omit many less known places, often still unchanged despite
their proximity to more cosmopolitan and sophisticated places. (Total
length: 213Km)
Málaga is a town with an attractive personality consisting of the
most refined essence of Mediterranean traditions. It is no competition
for other Andalusian capitals as regards sights - such as Granada,
Seville and Cordoba-, but it does have a valuable series of buildings
from each of the different periods of its history. A walk through
the old part shows the visitor the different features of this friendly
city. Beginning with the two Muslim fortresses - the Alcazaba and
the castle of the top of the hill of Gibralfaro- and the nearby Roman
theatre, the visit continues with the Cathedral, an excellent example
of renaissance and Baroque architecture. A stones throw away lies
the Paseo del Parque and the 18C Alameda, which - together with El
Marques de Larios Saint - are the centre of Málaga. The Parish Church
of Sagrario, next to the Cathedral, and the Churches of El Cristo
de la Salud, San Juan, Santiago, Los Martires and the Sanctuary of
La Victoria, which has an interesting crypt, are the most outstanding
buildings apart from the Episcopal Palace. El Pasaje de Chinitas,
La Merced and La Constitucion squares are other key places in Málaga.
As far as Torremolinos - once a fishermen's area of the capital -
a busy motorway is used. About 8km from Málaga the Parador del Golf
on the seashore has one of the best courses on the Costa del Sol.
Torremolinos (12Km. from Málaga) is very near. The enormous concentration
of recent buildings surrounds the former hamlet of La Carihuela, once
a small seaside city, which was to turn into the summer paradise called
Torremolinos today. In la Carihuela it is still possible to taste
the Pescadito (deep fried fish and the fino (a sherry) as in the past.
Apart from that the discotheques, night clubs, restaurants and other
places of leisure practically occupy the whole extension of the multifaceted
tourist centre, which includes recreational activities and entertainment
of every kind, from the most sophisticated to the most informal. The
beaches of La Carihuela, El Bajondillo, Montemar and El Lido stretch
as far as the mouth of the Guadalhorce.
Almost without noticing, the traveller enters Benalmadena-Costa, a
kind of natural extension of Torremolinos. There, however, the visitor
should go in search of the old part of Benalmadena inland, a whitewashed,
friendly village on the slope of a two Km. beach. A huge funfair provides
entertainment of all kinds. Further along the road skirting the coast,
Fuengirola (17Km. from Torremolinos) comes into view almost immediately.
It stretches along a very long beach. From there a road leads to Mijas
which is so picturesque that it has produced an excessive surge of
excursions. A visit is nevertheless worthwhile. The setting is a prototype
of rural Andalucia: the impeccably whitewashed little streets, the
small squares perfectly suited to the village and the two modest Mudejar
style churches. The observation platform in the upper part provides
a magnificent view over a good part of the Málaga coast.
Back in Fuengirola, the road passes through housing developments and
continues skirting the coastline. On the left there is the old Castle
of Sohail, built by Abd el-Rahman III in the 10C and rebuilt in the
18C. A little later the traveller reaches the boundary of Marbella
(17Km.). High hedges isolating the villages and luxury housing developments
appear on either side of the road. The town still preserves its Moorish
layout and the small whitewashed façades around a pleasant
tree-lined square. The most outstanding sights of this important seaside
and agricultural town are the walls of the medieval caste, the 16C
Casa del Corregidor (town hall) on the main square, San Juan de Dios
Hospital and the Parish Church of la encarnacion from the 16C, 17C
and 18C, apart from the 16C Hermitages of Santo Cristo and Baroque
El Calvario. A slow walk through Marbella and along its beaches is
a must for every visitor. The babel of languages and the string of
attraction along the way turn the town into one of the most cosmopolitan
and colourful places on the Costa del Sol. On the way out of the town,
there is a modern mosque built by a Saudi sheik, which is proof of
the presence of really exclusive neighbours. From Marbella a good,
though winding road leads into the Sierra Blanca as far as Ojen, a
peaceful mountain village. The Parador lies 10km away from Ojen. It
is the meeting point of hunting sportsmen in search of a rare species,
the capra hispanica. A visit to Ojen should include the 16C/18C La
Encarnacion church with a good Mudejar coffered ceiling.
Back on the coastline, there is yet one more place on the left where
the temporary Marbella society loves to meet: Puerto Banus. The same
as other nearby housing developments, it was built in a style designed
to be reminiscent of the old fishing harbours, where the most dazzling
yachts as well as luxury restaurants and shops are found. San Pedro
de Alcantara lies 10Km. from Marbella. It is an old seashore village
where valuable Roman and palaeo-Christian remains are preserved. The
excellent beach has attracted modern housing estates.
After another 15km, the traveller reaches Estepona, an important fishing
village, which has managed to preserve a peaceful city atmosphere
next to the modern buildings of the Paseo Maritimo (promenade). The
Baroque façade of Los Remedios church, which stands out among
the roofs and whitewashed houses, is charmingly attractive. A walk
around the harbour is a standing invitation. Behind the village lies
Bermeja Sierra, a part of the spurs of the Ronda mountains, with beautiful
views.
A visit to the Málaga coast cannot be considered complete without
going to a certain village inland. Casares (25km from Estepona) is
unquestionable one of the most attractive of the famous so-called
white (whitewashed) villages of Andalusia. It clings to the slopes
of a hill at the foot of a castle in ruins and commands a magnificent
view. The most remarkable buildings are the parish church and San
Sebastian church (both from the 17c). the detour, 14Km. from the coastal
road, is well worth the effort.
With Sabinillas beach and the small Castle of La Duquesa (18C) the
journey through the Province of Málaga comes to an end. At this point
the road turns away from the coast and passes through more solitary
countryside.
A short detour is required to enter the Cadiz part of the Costa del
Sol On the right there are the housing estates of Guadiaro, among
them especially Punta Europa and Sotogrande. The key attractions of
these summer resorts are a golf course and long beach ideal for water
sports.
The sierra pass of El Higueron leads to San Roque (10Km.), a small,
orderly place founded in the 18C by the inhabitants of Gibraltar in
full view of their place of origin. It deserves a leisurely visit
to see Santa Maria la Coronada Church, the Palace of the Governors
and the whole of the old part in general. At a distance of about 5Km.,
half way round the bay of Algeciras, there are the ruins of Carteya,
an extraordinarily well preserved, first Phoenician and later roman,
colony.
There is an industrial centre between San Roque and La Linea de la
Concepcion. La Linea at the foot of the Rock of Gibraltar is yet another
of the austere, rectilinear places with good beaches along the coast
of Cadiz. Skirting the bay, the traveller reaches Algeciras, an important
port and an obligatory meeting point for passengers to Ceuta and Tangier.
It is recommended to visit Alta Square in Algeciras: the palm tree,
the ceramic fountain in the centre as well as the Baroque façades
of San Isidro Chapel and the parish church lend the a vague colonial
air, which the traveller will come across again in other places in
this province. Other parts to be visited are the promenade and the
beaches of the bay.
There are only 22km left for the traveller to reach Punta Tarifa on
the border of the Costa de la Luz (Coast of Light) and the only gateway
to the Mediterranean Sea. The road lined with cork oaks, which grow
on the rugged slopes of the cape, passes through 2 small harbours.
Upon arrival, the Arab walls point the way towards the seaside region
and the magnificent observation platform overlooking the African coast.
The most outstanding sights in this ancient city are the Castle of
Guzman el Bueno (10C) and the Churches of San Mateo (16C), San Francisco
(16C/18C) and Santa Maria
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