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Malaga

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It is surprising that a Malaga is region so close to the sea should, as soon as the traveller moves away from the coast, be so rugged and, in many places, inaccessible. In fact, this 'province' is a disparate collection of geographical enclaves which are often virtually cut off from one another. This does not, of course, in any way detract from Malaga Province´s extraordinary beauty and interest.

The villages of the immediate hinterland of the western Costa del Sol, at the feet of the towering Sierra Bermeja, are a great favourite with foreign residents, since they provide both bucolic charm and easy access to the sophisicated life of Marbella and Estepona, and provide the outsider with highly enjoyable half-day excursions.

Leave the coast road west of Estepona for Casares and Gaucin . Leave the coast road at Sabinillas for Manilva . Leave the coast road west of San Pedro for Benahavis . Leave the coast road west of Marbella for Istan . Leave the coast road at Marbella for Ojen , Mona , Guaro Coín and Tolox .

Also inland from the Malaga coast just west or the Airport the A386 passes Alhaurin de la Torre and Alhaurin el Grande .

Leave the coast road at Fuengirola for Mijas .

Villages in the Guadalhorce valley that can be easily reached from Malaga are Cartama and the small but historically interesting Pizzara . Continue on this route for Alora , the lake and gorge of El Chorro , the village of Ardales and the Spa village at Carratraca . The sulphuric hot springs of this spa resort has been popular since the 19th century, when its waters provided relief for such famous travellers - and hypochondriacs - as the poet Lord Byron. The road from Alhora to Antequera will take you through the charming village of Valle de Abdalajis , also know by the hand-gliding community as the ' Malaga 's Flight Capital'.

Visitors staying at the fashionable resort of Nerja , on the eastern Costa del Sol, can easily reach the Axarquia region , where spectacular limestone mountains shelter the picturesque villages of Frigilana , Cómpeta , Torrox and Algarrobo. The village of Comares in one of the highest in Andalucía it can be spied for miles around, rising high above the surrounding countryside. The capital of La Axarquía, Vélez-Malaga is well worth a visit, try the weekly market on Thursday. A popular nearby coastal resort is Torre del Mar .

If you venture higher into the hills, you will discover the town of Antequera and its fascinating region, which includes the plunging river gorge of El Encantado, with its hydro-electric dam and, in the cliffs just above it, an extraordinary medieval citadel called Bobastro (where Moors rebelling against the Caliph of Cordoba converted to Christianity and carved a mosque-like church in the solid rock). Further north is a small natural lake, Fuente de Piedra , visited each year by flocks of migrating pink flamingoes.

Prehistoric remains abound, such as the massive tomb called the Cueva de la Menga, in which thousands of bodies were buried by the Iberian tribes who lived here. But perhaps the most popular attraction of this lovely region are the spectacular rock formations of the great mountain called El Torcal , where many paths have been cleared for weekend hikers. The sulphuric hot springs of the spa resort of Carratraca has been popular since the 19th century, when its waters provided relief for such famous travellers - and hypochondriacs - as the poet Lord Byron.

But the jewel of Malaga´s crown, in this author´s opinion - one which seems to be confirmed by the many illustrious visitors it has received since the 19th century - is undoubtedly the Serranía de Ronda, the range of mountains around the lovely city of the same name. Studded with such charming white villages as Grazalema , Montejaque , Benajoán , Arriate and Cuevas del Becerro , not to mention the picturesque villages on the road from Ronda to Gaucín, such as Cortes de la Frontera , Benarraba, Benalauría and Alpandeire . In the remote reaches of the Genal River valley are the tiny hamlets of Igualeja , Pujerra , Juzcar , Cartajima and Faraján .

Malaga is the major coastal city of Andalucia and is a genuine and typical Andaluz city with a gritty individualism untouched by tourism and, to a large extent, the passage of time.

The Moors occupied the city until the mid fifteenth century, after which it grew to become one of the foremost merchant centres in the entire Iberian Peninsula . This illustrious past has left its imprint on the historic centre, particularly around La Alcazaba, a fortress which dates back to 1065 and is now a fascinating archaeological museum

Also worth a visit is the nearby castle which was rebuilt by the Moors and is today a traditional parador (state hotel) with superb panoramic views. During the nineteenth century, Malaga was a popular winter resort for the wealthy famed for its elegance and sophistication. The impressive park on Calle Alameda dates back to this era and is recognised as being one of the mostcelebrated botanical collections in Europe . During the winter, open air concerts are held here every Sunday which makes a refreshing change from the bucket and spade.

As well as being a cultural centre, Malaga is also a great place to eat out. The Malagueños love their food and the bars and restaurants here are where the real social life takes place. The choice in unlimited and, on the whole, reasonable with some bars offering a menu of the day with bread and wine for as little as 700 pesetas. Tapas , small portions of many different dishes is an Andalusian tradition and a wonderfully inexpensive way to try a variety of local food

The best known local fare in Malaga is pescaito frito, an assortment of fried fish, including small sardines and red mullet, best washed down with a glass of ice cold fino at one of the many old fashioned bodegas in town. But it is El Palo, to the east of the city which is a typical fisherman's village and the place to go if you want that veritable 'catch of the day' freshness.

Capital city of the Costa Del Sol and second largest port in Spain, Malaga is a cosmopolitan city of some 550,000 plus inhabitants. As you would expect from the region it has fantastic beaches, but this extraordinarily lively town has far more to offer than just sea and sunshine. With its wide leafy boulevards and often striking architecture, Malaga has many places of historic interest along with a vibrant nightlife, excellent arts and entertainments and several world class golf courses.

Like most major ports in the world, Malaga has a vibrant nightlife and is famous throughout Spain for its 'locos veranos' or 'crazy summers' when the beaches become a focal point for parties and dancing. In town there is an abundance of entertainment to be enjoyed. The Zona el Paulo, a stretch of beautiful promenade lined with lively seafood restaurants and fashionable bars, is the ideal starting point for a night out.

Zona La Malgueta is a more modern area favoured by trendy locals and young holidaymakers. Zona Pedragalejo is a mixture of modern and traditional bars and restaurants and is the best place to find places serving authentic Andalusian cuisine. There are also 5 main theatres presenting world class acts from both the drama and music world and several very popular nightclubs where you can drink and dance until dawn.

Malaga is often overlooked by visitors to the Costa del Sol and in many ways that has been to its favour. The lack of hardcore tourism has meant that this intriguing city has retained much of its charm and thus a strong personality that is reflected in the local inhabitants. All this ensures that a stay in Malaga will not only be immensely fulfilling but that you will also experience, first hand, the very best of Spanish hospitality

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