 Alhaurin
Located at the entrance of the Guadalhorce
Valley, 17km from Málaga and 8km from
Torremolinos, the village of Alhaurin is easily accessed
by means of the N340 highway. Modern features happily
coexist alongside the old here, where white bleached
houses in narrow streets are surrounded by
modern urbanisations. The area has a good
agricultural industry with fruit high on the
production list, as are flowers.
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Benalmádena
Just 19km from Málaga lies the principality of
Benalmádena, which consists of three main
areas. The first o f these, Benalmádena Pueblo
(village), is located on the mountainside, an
old, typical Andalucian village with steep,
narrow streets and white-painted houses that
retain a wealth of culture, while Arroyo de la Miel is a populated area between the mountains
and the coast. This is where the cable car to
the mountain peak departs from. The third
area, Benalmádena Costa, is the most visited
by tourists. Next to Torremolinos, it has 9km
of shoreline with beautiful beaches, tiny
coves, and a fully equipped marina for over
1,000 vessels. The marina, boasting many
international awards for design and
functionality, is surrounded by apartments and
offers sports such as diving and sailing,
where you can also walk in it's large
garden overlooking the sea.
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Casares
Close to Estepona stands a unique Spanish
village nestled in the hillside with
white-painted houses interlaced with tiny
streets. Casares has been inhabited for
thousands of years by a myriad of
civilisations, each leaving its mark. Besides
walking along the narrow cobbled streets with
their Moorish design, one should not miss the
opportunity to visit the Arabic castle at the
top of the hill where the views are
particularly spectacular. Tiny village shops
selling local produce hide around every corner
with a scattering of small bars and cafés
thrown in for good measure. Local pottery and
leatherwork are very good buys. Almost
untouched by tourism, Casares has its own
little museum with artefacts dating from the
Roman era. In Roman times the town was of such
importance that it had its own mint and baths,
which were commissioned by Caesar as a mark of
gratitude after being cured of a skin
complaint while bathing in nearby sulphurous
waters. Numerous Roman ruins lie close by,
including the remains of an aqueduct.
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Coín
Coin is one of the Andalucian towns that have
yet to be touched by the tourist boom. It is
just far enough from the coast to be out of
the reach of the high-rise hotels. The
beautiful village of Coin is located at t he
crossroads between Marbella and Mijas and is
accessed by very reasonable roads. Conquered
from Arab rule by the Catholic Kings and later
destroyed, the settlement grew once again
under rule of the Castillian monarchs. Coin
makes for a wonderful visit at any time of
year but you may wish to visit during one of
its popular festivals. In May, the town
celebrates Cross Day and in June the
procession to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Fuensanta takes place, while in August there
is a traditional fair dating back to the 18th
century. Within the town you will find several
important monuments including the Saint Maria
de la Encarnación Church, San Juan Church and
the Torre de los Trinitarios.
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Duquesa
At the heart of this fast developing area is a
wonderful, quaint marina built with more than
300 berths. There are no high-rise hotels
although the area is undergoing a property boom. Along
the waterfront is a wide variety of
restaurants and bars, topped with apartments
overlooking the boats, although there are very
few shops in the port itself. It has however
retained its charm and its quiet environment. The port is flanked by two very long sandy
beaches with their own beach bars. As well as
modern pleasure vessels, the port is still
home to a working fishing fleet and daily
catches are landed here. The port offers all
marine facilities including storage, as well
as very reasonably priced berths, although
there is often a long waiting list. There are
also refuelling facilities for boats in the
port. The boatyard offers renovation space and
a lifting service.
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Estepona
An Andalucian fishing town on the Costa del
Sol that has begun to move into the tourist
industry yet still preserves its peaceful
atmosphere, Estepona is located 25km from
Marbella and within an hour of Málaga.
 The
town is sheltered on its northern side by the
Sierra Bermeja Mountains, which reach 1,449m
at their highest point, Los Reales. Estepona
has a wonderful, quiet cove, Playa de Cristo,
which is ideal for small children due to its
shallow, safe waters, a long, sandy beach
called La Rada and a small naturist beach. The
beaches, which boast the Blue Flag Award, are
very clean and well cared for and all have
pleasant bars. In total there is 23km of sand.
The construction in the town is attractive,
combining modern with old. There is a
wonderful Wednesday market, considered to be
one of the best on the coast, at which all
manners of local produce can be found.
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Fuengirola
The coastal holiday resort of Fuengirola is now the most
densely populated area within the Málaga
province. Its long sandy beaches offer
numerous bars and restaurants and one of the
longest seafront walks along the coast. The
thermal baths in nearby Torreblanca and the
Roman columns in Los Boliches are well worth
visiting, as is the Castle of Sohail at the
entrance of Fuengirola. Offering entertainment for all tastes
and ages, in Fuengirola you can ride on the tourist train or
horse and carriage around the town or visit
the local zoo. At night, Fuengirola truly
comes alive as its remarkable variety of bars,
restaurants and clubs fill with people. Here
you will also find cinemas with a wide range
of films, theatres with a full programme and
in the summer, regular festivals and concerts
at the castle.
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Istan
Just 20 minutes from the highlife of Marbella
is this beautiful Andalucian village.
 The
brilliance of the white painted houses
contrasts perfectly with the green slopes of
the Sierra Blanca. Istán means 'spring' and
throughout the village you will find many
springs, flowing with fresh water. The origins
of the village date back to the 14th century
when, after the capture of Arboto Castle by
the Christians, the defenders retreated to the
site of the present day ‘pueblo’. The oldest
and most important building is the parish
church, built in the 16th century on the
orders of the Archbishop of Seville. Other
features worth noting are the cave which
houses the Casa de la Juventud and the Arab
tower, situated at the highest point of the
village. The tower once formed part of the old
fortress that dominated the local area.
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Malaga
The capital city of the Costa del Sol, Málaga
is steeped in over 3,000 years of history. It
has been inhabited by the Romans, the Moors
and the Carthaginians, all of whom have left
their mark on this wonderful city. Málaga
is also home to the largest
airport in Spain. In the city houses the Alcazabar, a 15th
century Moorish fort. It will take you at
least an hour to explore its many parts, most
of which have been restored. You will see
several good examples of Roman stonework, some
of which have clear inscriptions. From the
top, wonderful panoramic views of the city and
port can be enjoyed. Unusually perhaps, for a
large city, Málaga also offers a long clean
beach with clear
Mediterranean waters.
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Manilva
A wonderful little white village in Andalucia.
Set back from the coast by about 3km, high on
the hill, this sleepy little village is almost
untouched by tourism
with few bars and
restaurants, no discos and nightclubs. The main hub of the village is embraced
by a magnificent vineyard of Muscatel Grapes. Most of the district is influenced by the
coast as is reflected in the first-class fish
restaurants available. Wander down one of the
narrow side streets and find the 17th century
church, with a quiet square close by to sit
and rest. Very close to the village of Manilva
lie some excellent Roman ruins. At the foot of
the village are two pieces of aqueduct in very
good condition, one of which can actually be
walked over. There is also a Roman bath that
is still used to this day, and Spaniards
travel from miles around to bathe in the white
sulphurous waters.
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Marbella
Marbella is probably one of the best known,
most popular and best liked resorts on the
Costa del Sol.
 With 3000 hours of sunshine a
year and a very agreeable climate, it is
difficult to find better conditions anywhere
in Europe. Despite its popularity, Marbella
has managed to retain its charm and Andalucian
character. Step away from the glamour of the
port area and venture into the old quarter
where you will find the popular resting place,
Plaza de los Naranjos (Orange Square), amidst
a maze of narrow alleys and streets. It is the
nightlife of Marbella that attracts many
thousands of visitors every year, with an
array of quality restaurants, theatres,
cinemas and clubs of every description. If
it's something a little more traditional
you’re looking for, then head into the old
town and sample a few of the tapas bars. Many
of the rich and famous have made Marbella
their home in some of the most beautiful
villas on the coast.
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Mijas
If there were ever a typical Spanish village
worthy of a visit then Mijas, perched high on
the hillside near Fuengirola, must be it.
 Make
your way up the winding, narrow road towards
the village and see the whitewashed houses
arranged in tiers clinging to the hillside. Despite its popularity with the tourists, Mijas has managed to retain its Spanish
individualism and character. All over the
village are viewpoints and resting places, one
of the best being the Muralla Gardens,
designed so that flowers are in bloom all year
round. The Plaza de la Virgen de la Pena is
another ideal place to relax, with the
bandstand in the centre. Mijas has splendid
views all round. The best can be had from the
church on the hill or from the park at the top
of the village. Tiny shops line many of its
beautiful streets, all brimming with local
wares such as ceramics, leatherwork, jewellery
and paintings.
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Monda
The town of Monda predates Roman times and it
was the Moors that established its castle in
its commanding position. The castle has been
totally rebuilt and is now occupied by one of
the Best Western chain hotels. The road to the
castle winds its way up the hill and can be
dangerous when wet, however the panoramic
views from the hotel alone justify the risk. The whole of the surrounding area is the
Sierra las Nieves, one of Spain's most
beautiful natural parks.
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Ojen
Not far inland from Marbella lies the typical
Andalucian white village of Ojen. For a
panoramic view, the village is best viewed
from the ‘mirador’ on the main Marbella road. There is a lay-by for parking near the tiled
plaque. Ojen has a wonderful parish church of
modest proportions based in the market place. There is also an interesting wine museum where
you can enjoy a guided tour, sample or buy
local wines and purchase local handicrafts.
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Puerto
Banús
 Located just 6km from Marbella within
Andalucia, Puerto Banus is a favourite resort along the Costa
del Sol for international celebrities. As you
wander along the waterfront at Muelle Rivera,
you will be confronted with a wide array of
expensive bars, restaurants and designer
shops. There is not a designer name that you
can't find in Puerto Banus among it's many
expensive shops. If it's in fashion - you'll
find it here. The marina is always well
stocked with the most expensive of vessels
from all over the world. It is quite easy on a
pleasant evening to spend several hours
wandering up and down the marina pontoons,
then sit in one of the many bars, watching the
world of high-life strolling past you.
There is also a cinema close by that show films in both
Spanish and English.
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Ronda
This town is steeped in history and is
dominated by the fact that the town is split
in two sections by a spectacular 100m deep gorge,
also bridged by the New Bridge
(Puente Nuevo) built in 1751 and taking 42
years to build. On one side of the bridge is
the old Moorish town with many historic
buildings including the House of the Moorish
King, worth a visit. On the other side is El Mercadillo, a more recent urban development.
There is also evidence of prehistoric man
living near Ronda. The famous Ronda bullring
is one of the oldest in Spain, built in 1785
and now houses a museum, a shrine to the
sport. Before you head for the bridge take in
the gardens behind the bullring, along Paseo
Blas Infante. From here are the best panoramic
views over the mountains. Ronda is accessed by
routes that are very scenic and frightening at
the same time.
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Sabinillas
 Just about 1km from Puerto de la Duquesa,
along the main N340 highway, lies the small
village community of Sabinillas;
predominantly a market town with a street
market every Friday and a massive car boot
sale and market every Sunday. There are many
bars and restaurants here but very few hotels. It has a wonderful sandy beach that stretches
the whole length of the village.
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San
Pedro de Alcantara
The beach at San Pedro is nearly 5km long and
has been awarded a blue flag.  San Pedro came
about in the 1860s on the creation of a new
agricultural colony. At the same time, the
areas of Cancelada and Cortes were born. Even
though agriculture is still important, since
the 1970s the area has thrived on tourism. Hotels, golf courses and many other businesses
have become established. San Pedro has it's
share of history and monuments to offer the
visitor, including the Parish Church,
constructed in 1866. The building is of
colonial style and stands adjacent to Villa
San Luis, now the Deputy Mayor's office. Las Bovedas is a Roman site belonging to the 3rd
century A.D and consists of an octagonal
building containing a central nucleus with
seven rooms around it. The purpose is thought
to be public baths or a water storage place at
the end of an aqueduct.
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