spanish-holiday.comSelf-catering Holiday Accommodations for Rent in Andalucia, Southern Spain: in and around Nerja and Torrox at Malaga's Costa del Sol and in Almerimar at the Costa Almeria |
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spanish-holiday.com :: Places to go
Places and Venues to Visit in and around Nerja and Torrox at Malaga's Costa del Sol |
Towns & VillagesVisitor AttractionsChurches & ChapelsTraditional FestivalsBullfighting |
Towns & Villages |
Frigiliana
Frigiliana is a picturesque Andalucian mountain village in the Sierra Almijara, 6 km (4 miles) inland from Nerja. Most parts of the village can only be reached by foot. Frigiliana's clean, shapely, white streets are decorated with flowers and other colorful details, giving almost the impression of an open-air museum where the best and most genuine features of Andalucia are conserved, with all their Arab reminiscences. Frigiliana has one of the purest and best preserved moorish quarters in Andalucia, and has received national various prizes. Frigiliana is also famous for its delicious Vino del Terreno (sweet wine) and Choto (goat kid). |
Maro
Maro, 4 km (2 miles) East of Nerja, is a nice Andalucian pueblo surrounded by rich orchards. The Cliffs of Maro, at the bottom of the Sierra Almijara have been slowly eroded away by the sea to form a series of unique headlands. The limestone rocks reach 80m ( ft) above sea level in some places, forming small and unique bays, overlooked by the Tower of Maro. The Tower of Maro is one of many similar towers of the historic coastal defense system. From here you can enjoy pleasant walks with stunning views. |
Torrox
Torrox is an authentic Andalucian white village, still untouched by tourist development. Here you can truly appreciate the Spanish way of life and have unmatched mountain and sea views. In Torrox you can find popular architecture such as the Moorish Quarter and wine and raisin presses and interesting industrial architecture such as the Sugar Factory. Torrox is an ideal base for exploring this fascinating region with its mountains, national parks, and famous old towns. Local activities include hiking in the local countryside, horseriding in the Sierras or touring the local villages to sample their wines and cuisine. There are Roman ruins all along the coast and the caves at Nerja for those with sightseeing in mind. The ruins of the Roman Village at the Torrox Lighthouse are protected as a Property of Cultural Interest. The National Hunting Reserve of the Sierras Tejada and Almijara are closeby, and the famous Alhambra Palace, Granada and skiing in the Sierra Nevada are also within easy reach. |
Visitor Attractions |
Balcon de Europa - The Balcony of Europe
Tel: Once a fortress in the 9th century. Now a beautiful balcony promenade in the centre of Nerja, overlooking the sea with impressive views of the coast. This splendid area paved with marble and with an avenue of palm trees is the centre of activity for many of the local festivals, and it is also an ideal place to meet friends at one of the pavement cafes. |
Centro Historico de Nerja
Tel: Historic centre of Nerja built in 1487 with narrow streets and white facades. |
Cueva de Nerja - The Caves of Nerja
Nerja Natural archaeological cave, 3 km (2 miles) from Nerja, containing the world's widest column shaped by the merge of a stalactite and a stalagmite. Guiness Record 1989. Underground streams perforated the limestone of these mountains forming huge chambers and strange but lovely stalactites and stalagmites. The cave was inhabited as far back as Higher Paleolithic Age, 30,000 years ago and was used up to about 3,000 years ago. Sound and light equipment has been installed to provide easy access and viewing for the interest of tourists. One of the chambers has been converted into an original 800-seat setting for the famous Festival of Dance and Music, held every summer since 1960. Throughout the year there is the occasional concert held in this magnificent site where the acoustics are suberb. There are cave paintings to view and a museum, restaurant, cafe and other facilities. |
El Acueducto del Aguila - The Eagle Aquaduct
Barranco de la Coladilla / Maro Impressive aquaduct located on the Barranco de la Coladilla or the Cazadores de Maro (Nerja) cliff, close to the N-340 main road. Built in the 19th century under the direction of Francisco Cantarero to transfer water to Maro's Sugar factory. Four storeys of superimposed brick arcades with 38 arches. |
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Jardines Urb. Capistrano Playa
Nerja Lakes and gardens of great beauty and originality descending to Burriana Beach. |
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Paseo de los Carabineros
Nerja Beautiful promenade situated in a natural rock landscape bordering the coast from the Beach of Calahonda to the Beach of Carabeillo. |
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Rapto De Europa
Nerja Monument erected by the sculptor Aurelio Teno on the occasion of the adhesion of Spain to the EEC. |
The Alhambra
Granada Well worth a visit is Granada with its magnificent Alhambra palace. Almost unrivalled for beauty and architectural splendour, the entire city has been declared a national monument. Granada lies at the foot of Spain´s mightiest massive, the Sierra Nevada, and on the edge of an extraordinarily fertile plain. A provincial capital with a university and archaepiscopal see, the city is divided by the Darro which runs underground in the city centre. On the one side is Albaicin, the city´s oldest quarter; on the other side rises the imposing Alhambra. To the south the city is bordered by the Rio Genil into which the Darro flows. This fertile area was already settled in the 5th Century BC and was known as Iliberis in Roman times. The city was founded under the Visigoths, whose domination ended with the Arab victory in 711. |
Churches & Chapels |
The Nerja region contains various interesting religious buildings and manifestations of sacred art. The majority of the parish churches were built on top of Moorish mosques, as this territory wasn't conquered by the Christians before the end of the 15th century.
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Iglesia El Salvador
Nerja 17th century church in Nerja, charming Baroque-Mudejar style |
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Iglesia San Miguel
Nerja Modern Nerja church of 1977 in popular style |
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Ermita De Las Angustias
Nerja 17th century chapel in Nerja with paintings of pure Granada style on the cupola |
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Iglesia Maravillas De Maro
Maro Small 19th century church in Maro, popular style |
Traditional Festivals |
There is hardly any better way to get to know the Andalucians than through their many fascinating feast days. The local fiesta is the moment when every town and village strives to put on a splendid show, not only for themselves but also for those who come from afar to admire and enjoy. Over 3000 fiestas are celebrated every year in Andalucia, including fairs, pilgrimages, carnivals, mock battles between Moors and Christians and religious processions, throughout the 800 communities of the region.
In fact, there is scarcely a day in the year without a fiesta, especially in the periods before and after the autumn harvests. Each town has its own patron saint and yearly procession, and some of the Madonnas are revered throughout the entire region.
Here is a list of the Cultural & Festival Activities in and around Nerja:
| Date | Event | Location |
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| January 5 | Three Kings processions in Nerja and Torrox |
Nerja Torrox |
| January 17 | San Anton procession, candles and fireworks in Maro |
Maro |
| January 20 | San Sebastian procession and night festival in Frigiliana |
Frigiliana |
| February | Carnival carnival festivities, colorful street parades in Nerja, Frigiliana, Torrox and the rest of Andalucia |
Nerja Frigiliana Torrox and the rest of Andalucia |
| March/April | Easter Week processions in Nerja, Maro, Torrox; procession, the Washing of the Feet and the Fall of Christ in Frigiliana |
Nerja Frigiliana Maro Torrox |
| May 3 | Crosses Day floral altars in Nerja, Frigiliana, Torrox |
Nerja Frigiliana Torrox |
| May 15 | San Isidro pilgrimage and night festivities in Nerja and Maro |
Nerja Maro |
| June 13 | San Antonio pilgrimage and fair in Frigiliana and Torrox |
Frigiliana Torrox |
| June 24 | San Juan camp fires, beach barbeque day in Nerja, Maro, Frigiliana, Torrox |
Nerja Frigilana Maro Torrox |
| July 16 | Virgen del Carmen maritime procession in Nerja |
Nerja |
| July | Festival de la Cueva - Caves Festival Flamenco, classical music, folklore festival at the Caves of Nerja, Maro |
Caves of Nerja Maro |
| August 5 | Virgen de las Nieves procession and fair in Torrox |
Torrox |
| August 15 | Virgen del Carmen maritime procession and fair in El Morche |
El Morche |
| September 7-8 | Candelarias candles and fires in Frigiliana and Torrox |
Frigiliana Torrox |
| September 7-9 | Feria Maravillas de Maro - Maro Fair local saint's day festivities with fair in Maro |
Maro |
| September 8 | Virgen de la Maravillas procession and fair in Maro |
Maro |
| September, end | Virgen de las Angustias procession from the Ermita, Nerja |
Nerja |
| October 10 | Feria de Nerja - Nerja Fair procession and fair in Nerja |
Nerja |
| December Sunday before Xmas |
Migas Fiesta Migas, Wine, Folklore in Torrox |
Torrox |
| December 31 | New Year's Eve celebration held in the centre of town on the Balcon de Europa |
Nerja |
Bullfighting |
Bullfighting
Spain's bullfighting season stretches from April to October. The most important bullfight ferias - week-long events which feature a corrida every afternoon - are held in spring and summer, being the central part of the yearly fairs of Sevilla, Cordoba, Jerez, El Puerto de Santa María, Algeciras and Sanlúcar de Barrameda, with others such as Ecija, Granada, Malaga, Almería, Antequera, La Línea, Priego, Cabra, Pozoblanco, Villacarrillo, Ubeda, Baeza, Jaén, Aroche, Almonaster la Real and Campofrío, Higuera de la Sierra and Huelva. Ronda holds a very popular type of bullfight known as a "corrida goyesca", in which the fighters dress in the costumes shown in Goya's famous 18th century engravings. There are over seventy bullrings in Andalucia. The most important is the Real Maestranza de Sevilla with seating capacity for 10.000. Most popular is the week of fights which coincide with the Seville Spring Fair. There are also important bullrings in the other Cities such as Malaga, Almeria, Huelva, Jaen, Granada, Cadiz, and Cordoba. Ronda is the oldest bullring in Spain. It hosts the famous Goyesque Fair in early September. There is a specialist branch of architecture devoted to the layout and functionality of bullrings which can also be used for other events such as pop concerts. Some villages have small seemingly temporary structures that serve only once a year at the village feria. Bullfight Magazines such as "6toros6" can be purchased from the newsagent in Spain. They give a good insight into the complexity of the sport. Bullfight posters can be collectors items. Their style hasn't changed for years. If you take the trouble to read them carefully they explain in detail all about the fight in question. Andalucia also has various Bullfighting museums that the aficionado may visit. |
spanish-holiday.com :: Places to go