Top 4 Drives Malaga

TOP TRAVEL DESTINATIONS – http://routebyroad.com

Hot on the heels of the Costa del Sol, Malaga has long been one of Andalusia’s most popular holiday destinations. It’s not surprising, given the obvious charms of its sunny climate and long sandy beaches. However, there’s more to Malaga than first meets the eye. Malaga’s hidden gems are just waiting to be discovered. Don’t just sit there-grab a map, jump in your hire car and go exploring…

1.Nerja

This pretty Andalusian town is situated on the eastern ridge of the Costa del Sol, just a 50km drive outside of Malaga. The town is famous for its dramatic Maro cliffs, which harbor secluded coves and beautiful beaches like the famous Blue Flag Burriana Beach. The beach lends itself to a range of active holiday water sports including windsurfing, sailing and diving.

Having worked up an appetite, you’ll find plenty of waterfront eateries to tempt all palates. Fish is definitely the dish of the day here and it’s well worth sampling the low cost ‘just netted’ local seafood. Following a good feed, a stroll through the old town is advised. Nerja’s medieval center is steeped in history, evidence of which can be seen at the Balcn de Europa, which dates back to 1487. The winding cobbled streets of the old town quarters are the perfect place to invest in local produce like sweet fruity wine, olive oil and honey.

2.Mijas/Pueblos Blancos Tour

The whole region of Andalusia is synonymous with white washed villages and towns known as ‘pueblos blancos’. A pretty village worth checking out is Mijas. The town of Mijas is just a 30km drive from Malaga and is one of the most visited of the pueblos blancos. Despite its popularity with tourists, the town retains traditional Andalusian charm and hospitality. Many artists have made their home in Mijas, due to its picture-postcard location and laid back lifestyle. A wander through the sleepy old town offers the chance to browse the galleries and craft shops of local artisans. No doubt on your way you’ll pass easy-going villagers indulging in a spot of people watching from the comfort of their front door.

3.Marbella

The beautiful marina and exclusive city of Marbella is just a 30km drive from Malaga Airport. The city of Marbella is a popular sunshine holiday destination with wealthy European tourists. Marbella marina is a playground for the rich and famous and it’s here that day-trippers come to eye-up their expensive toys. However, there’s more to Marbella than shiny yachts and flashy sailing boats. A little exploration uncovers fascinating cultural attractions and an exciting shopping scene. Perhaps surprisingly, many of the city’s most appealing tourist sites offer free admission. A stroll around Parque de la Alameda is a cheap way to while away a few hours. It’s possible to see some works by the artist Salvador Dali for free here.

In the old quarters of the town you’ll find Villa Romana de Rio Verde & Las Bovedas, an ancient Roman Villa dating back to the 1st and 2nd centuries. Interested visitors can avail of free guided tours. Las Murallas del Castillo Moorish castle will also impress those fascinated by the old town’s history.

Marbella is a hive of decadence and excess and those on budget will find that shopping here doesn’t come cheap. However, those ready and willing to splash the cash will find that Puerto Banus offers a dream shopping experience. Here many exclusive and elegant designers clothing stores have set up shop.

Finally, no journey to Marbella would be complete without a visit to one of the city’s fine beaches such as Guadalmina, Linda Vista and San Pedro De Alcantara.

4.Ronda

The pretty and historic Andalusian town of Ronda can be reached within an hour’s drive of Malaga. An interesting route worth following is the Sierra Bermeja road, which cuts through the mountains, offering stunning views.

The town of Ronda is famous as being the birthplace of modern bullfighting and to this day showcases the best local talent at the Feria Goyesca in September. Here matadors dressed in their traditional finery battle it out against a bull on foot. The rest of the year you’ll find that the bullring is an outdoor museum where visitors are allowed to wander around freely, imagining the gladiator-esque battles between man and bull.

More sedate attractions in Ronda include walking tours of the charming old town. A stroll through Plaza Duquesa de Parcent is one way to absorb the town’s architectural highlights. Here you’re guaranteed to get a good photo of interesting structures like the belltower of the Iglesia Santa Maria de Mayor and the dramatically arched Ayuntamiento building. From here, it’s possible to walk to Ronda’s famous Puento Nuevo Bridge, which offers spectacular views of the plunging El Tajo gorge.

Top 4 Drives Malaga

A Visit to Ronda Malaga and Nerja Spain

TOP TRAVEL DESTINATIONS – http://routebyroad.com

Malaga is the capital city of the Costa del Sol, it is also one of the provinces of Andalusia, a port city and also the location for the international airport which is the largest airport in Spain.

The population of Malaga and the surrounding area is estimated at over 1,000,000 and this number swells in the summer with the influx of visitors. Malaga is surrounded by mountains and there are two rivers, the Guadalhorce and the Guadalmedina which flow past the city into the Mediterranean.

Malaga has a wealth of history going back over 3,000 years. It was founded by the Phoenicians and named Malaka, meaning salt, probably because of the fish which was salted by the harbour. In the 8th century it was inhabited by the Moors and became an important trading city. In more recent times, tourism has naturally boosted the economy.

Malaga is a very popular tourist destination, made more so in recent years, because of the number of cheap charter flights which now operate in and out of the international airport. But it is also from here that people can reach a large part of Andalucia and may choose to stay in the famous white villages or the historic cities of Sevilla or Granada.

There is plenty to do and see in Malaga the Arabic Fortress, the Gibralfaro Castle from where there is a beautiful view over the city, the harbour which is one of the most important in Spain and various museums, cathedrals and churches as well as, of course, the bullring and it can also be known as the birthplace of the actor, Antonio Banderas!

Nerja

Nerja is found at the eastern tip of the Costa del Sol, approximately 50 km from Malaga, 1 hour and 15 minutes from Granada and the infamous Alhambra Palace and from there just another half an hour to reach the skiing regions of the Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Nerja is steeped in history and is well known for the primitive paintings in the Nerja Caves, which were discovered in the late 1950s and which have now become one of the most visited tourist attractions in Spain. The caves are also home to the worlds longest stalactite. Nerja is also famous for the Balcon de Europa, the balcony of Europe. A wonderful promenade which sits between two small coves on the edge of a towering cliff which was once the sight of a great Moorish castle. It offers magnificent views across the Mediterranean as well as numerous bars and cafes where one can sit sipping refreshments while enjoying the scenic surroundings.

Nerja has some lovely beaches which are mostly rocky coves with sharp sand and there are some good restaurants along the beaches which specialise in local fish dishes. The old town of Nerja has small, narrow streets which are busy in the summer and the weekly market is held on a Tuesday.

Nerja is also becoming a popular destination for walkers exploring the mountainous areas of the Sierra Almijar and the Sierra Tejeda.

Nerja has a wide range of good hotels as well as many private apartments and villas to choose from where you can enjoy your holiday and the surrounding area.

Ronda

Ronda is one of the most beautiful historic towns in Andalucia and is part of the province of Malaga. Ronda can be found approximately 50 kilometres from the coastal town of San Pedro de Alcantara along a very winding road through the mountains, the Serrania de Ronda and it is 113km from Malaga. Ronda has a population of approximately 35,000 people and it is 739m above sea level. The average year round temperature is 15C and has around 2700 hours of sunshine per year.

There is lots to do and see in Ronda. It is famous for having the oldest bullring in Spain and together with the New Bridge, the Puente Nuevo, these are two of the symbols of Ronda. The New Bridge is, in fact, over 200 years old and took more than 40 year to complete. The masonry stones were brought up from the depths of the Tajo gorge. The Bullring, The Plaza de Toros, is recognized as one of the oldest in Spain and one of the most monumental in design. It took 6 years to build and opened in 1785. The City Museum and the Bullfighting Museum are also very popular sights to visit. The Sierra de las Nieves natural park is within the province and has the most important forest of Spanish firs.

The fair and festival of Pedro Romero is usally held at the beginning of September and is a good time of year for tourists to visit.

Ronda is a wonderful place to visit, but an even better place to stay. There are many lovely villas, apartments or townhouses available to rent or maybe choose to stay in one of the picturesque surrounding villages such as Montejaque or Gaucin.

A Visit to Ronda Malaga and Nerja Spain