Costa del Sol

by Robert Bovington

The Costa del Sol is essentially the coastal areas of Málaga province in the south of Spain. This 'Sun Coast' stretches from Estepona in the west to Nerja in the east of the province.

Originally, it was a region of quiet fishing settlements but since the 1950s, it has become a massive urban abomination - sorry - agglomeration of high-rise hotels and apartment blocks running the length of the coastline.

This Mediterranean coastline includes the towns of Nerja, Vélez-Málaga, Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella, Puerto Banús and Estepona together with the city of Málaga.

Benalmadena harbour © Robert Bovington

In my opinion, this coastal region suffers from all the worst excesses of mass tourism - a concrete jungle with parades of bars, supermarkets and shops selling cheap souvenirs and beachwear. 'Full English Breakfast', 'Fish n Chips', 'John Smiths Smooth Bitter', 'Football on Sky TV tonight!' appear on the signs outside many establishments. I think Spain is a fantastic country with beautiful cities and spectacular natural parks and yet the majority of British visitors to Spain head for the Costa del Sol. The good news, of course, is that it leaves the other areas of Spain free from beer swilling, football shirt-clad morons!

To be fair, not all the towns in this coastal strip are that bad - some are rather pleasant to live or visit including Marbella, Nerja and Mijas.

Marbella is rather swish. It is a jet-setting resort with many luxurious holiday complexes, mansions and shops yet despite this opulence it has managed to preserve its old Moorish quarter with its maze of winding streets and whitewashed houses.

Marbella © Robert Bovington

Nerja too consists of whitewashed alleyways, though the old Moorish houses here are perched on a rocky promontory. There are magnificent views of the Mediterranean below especially from the Balcón de Europa.

Nerja - Balcón de Europa © Robert Bovington

Mijas is one of my favourite places. It is situated in the foothills of the coastal mountain range that overlooks the coast - from the gardens of 'La Muralla' there are magnificent views of the coast below. This park is a quiet oasis away from the bustle of tourists, yet is only a few minutes walk to the centre of the village. Its maze of old Moorish streets are awash with colour - pottery, basketwork and other goods are displayed in the many shops and colourful floral displays adorn the walls of the houses. Mijas is a good place to get away from the urban sprawl of Fuengirola.

a street in Mijas © Robert Bovington

Another delightful place to visit is Puerto Banús. It is a magnificent marina filled with the most luxurious yachts imaginable. Alongside the moorings stand a huge array of luxury shops and plush restaurants where it is quite common to see Ferraris, Mercedes and other luxurious cars parked.

The main city in these parts is Málaga. Even though it is the international gateway to the Costa de Sol, Málaga has escaped the depressing image of brash tourism. In fact, it is refreshingly Spanish and has many examples of historic architecture, excellent museums and leafy parks and gardens. Just some of the sights on offer are the Alcazaba, Gibralfaro Castle, the Cathedral and the Palacio Episcopal. The Picasso Museum is well worth a visit.

 

more blogs by Robert Bovington...

"Photographs of Spain"	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
"postcards from Spain"	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
"you couldn't make it up!"	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
"a grumpy old man in Spain"	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
"bits and bobs"	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Expressions"	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Art"	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
"Books About Spain"	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

Mijas - a pueblo blanco in the Costa del Sol

Mijas, a pueblo blanco, is situated in the foothills of the coastal mountain range that overlooks the Costa de Sol. Mijas itself is a typical pretty mountain town but due to it's close proximity to Fuengirola it get's a tad crowded  with tourists, even in the winter months. The actual municipal area covers about 140 square kilometres, from the mountains down to the sea and comprises three urban areas, Mijas Pueblo, Las Lagunas and La Cala de Mijas. It is Mijas Pueblo that we and other tourists visit. It is here, the old town with its Town Hall, its historic buildings and its whitewashed houses that holidaymakers seeking a distinct change from the over developed coastal strip are to be found.

a typical street in Mijas

My wife likes Mijas because of the shops. Yes, some are a trifle touristy and sell the usual pottery, leather goods and pictures of white-washed houses but there are also more tasteful establishments including shops selling antiques and fine art. There are also the little bars and restaurants some with stunning views. 

I just like walking the steep narrow streets with the little houses with their white facades adorned by colourful pots of flowers. On one occasion I walked up to the little chapel, the Calvario Hermitage, on the hill high above Mijas. It was rather a strenuous climb and I wished at the time that I had picked a colder day to do it but once there I enjoyed the views and the well-earned rest. Unfortunately the chapel itself was locked.

Calvario Hermitage

A less strenuous chapel to visit, and one that isn't usually locked, is the Hermitage of the Virgen de la Peña, the patron saint of Mijas.  The chapel was built by Mercedarian monks in 1520 and inside is a carved wooden image of the virgin allegedly dating back to AD850. It is a delightful little building, although I find it a bit incongruous that, just like a number of ancient churches that I have visited in recent years, it has electronic candles rather than the real thing! Outside there is a lookout point overlooking the Mijas valley and the Costa del Sol.

Hermitage of the Virgen de la Peña

Other places to visit in Mijas are the Casa Museo and Carromato de Max museums; the Plaza de Toros bullring and museum of bullfighting. 

Mijas bullring

However, my favourite place in Mijas is La Muralla - a park with balconies from where one can view the coast below.

 

view from La Muralla

for more photos of Mijas, click on my photo below:-

www.tablondeanuncios.com

more blogs by Robert Bovington...

"Photographs of Spain"	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
"postcards from Spain"	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
"you couldn't make it up!"	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
"a grumpy old man in Spain"	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
"bits and bobs"	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Expressions"	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Art"	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
"Books About Spain"	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

Mijas

by Robert Bovington

Mijas, a pueblo blanco, is situated in the foothills of the coastal mountain range that overlooks the Costa de Sol. Mijas itself is a typical pretty mountain town but due to it's close proximity to Fuengirola it get's a tad crowded with tourists, even in the winter months. The actual municipal area covers about 140 square kilometres, from the mountains down to the sea and comprises three urban areas, Mijas Pueblo, Las Lagunas and La Cala de Mijas. It is Mijas Pueblo that we and other tourists visit. It is here, the old town with its Town Hall, its historic buildings and its whitewashed houses that holidaymakers seeking a distinct change from the over developed coastal strip are to be found.

My wife likes Mijas because of the shops. Yes, some are a trifle touristy and sell the usual pottery, leather goods and pictures of white-washed houses but there are also more tasteful establishments including shops selling antiques and fine art. There are also the little bars and restaurants some with stunning views. I just like walking the steep narrow streets with the little houses with their white facades adorned by colourful pots of flowers. On one occasion I walked up to the little chapel, the Calvario Hermitage, on the hill high above Mijas. It was rather a strenuous climb and I wished at the time that I had picked a colder day to do it but once there I enjoyed the views and the well-earned rest. Unfortunately the chapel itself was locked.

 

A less strenuous chapel to visit, and one that isn't usually locked, is the Hermitage of the Virgen de la Peña, the patron saint of Mijas. The chapel was built by Mercedarian monks in 1520 and inside is a carved wooden image of the virgin allegedly dating back to AD850. It is a delightful little building, although I find it a bit incongruous that, just like a number of ancient churches that I have visited in recent years, it has electronic candles rather than the real thing! Outside there is a lookout point overlooking the Mijas valley and the Costa del Sol.

 

 

Other places to visit in Mijas are the Casa Museo & Carromato de Max museums; the Plaza de Toros bullring and museum of bullfighting. 

 

 

However, my favourite place in Mijas is La Muralla - a park with balconies from where one can view the coast below.

 

 

more blogs by Robert Bovington...

"Photographs of Spain"	http://bovingtonphotosofspain.blogspot.com/
"postcards from Spain"	http://bovington-posts.blogspot.com/
"you couldn't make it up!"	http://bovingtonycmitup.blogspot.com/
"a grumpy old man in Spain"	http://grumpybobbov.blogspot.com/
"bits and bobs"	http://bovingtonbitsandblogs.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Expressions"	http://spanishsayingsbovington.blogspot.com/
"Spanish Art"	http://bovingtonspanishart.blogspot.com/
"Books About Spain"	http://bovingtonbooks.blogspot.com/

Mijas (a pueblo blanco nr Málaga)

There are many pueblo blancos in the province of Málaga including my favourite, Mijas. It is situated in the foothills of the coastal mountain range that overlooks the coast. The town's maze of old Moorish streets are awash with colour - pottery, basketwork and other goods are displayed in the many shops and colourful floral displays adorn the walls of the houses. Mijas is a good place to get away from the urban sprawl of Fuengirola.

My wife likes Mijas because of the shops. Yes, some are a trifle touristy and sell the usual pottery, leather goods and pictures of whitewashed houses. However, a few establishments are more tasteful and sell antiques and fine art. There are also the little bars and restaurants some with stunning panoramic views.

I just like walking the steep narrow streets and admiring the little houses with their white facades adorned by colourful pots of flowers.

On one occasion, I walked up to the little chapel, the 'Calvario Hermitage', on the hill high above Mijas. It was rather a strenuous climb amidst pine trees and I wished, at the time, that I had picked a colder day to do it but once there I enjoyed the views and the well-earned rest.

Calvario Hermitage

Another chapel in Mijas is the Hermitage of the Virgen de la Peña, the patron saint of Mijas.  Mercedarian monks built the chapel in 1520 and inside is a carved wooden image of the virgin allegedly dating back to AD850. It is a delightful little building, although I find it a bit incongruous that, just like a number of ancient churches that I have visited in recent years, it has electronic candles rather than the real thing!

Hermitage of the Virgen de la Peña

My favourite place is 'La Muralla' - a park with balconies from where one can view the coast below. It is a quiet oasis away from the bustle of tourists, yet is only a few minutes walk from the centre - just up past the Plaza de Toros.

La Muralla

Robert Bovington