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MIJAS

One of the jewels of the Costa del Sol is white washed Mijas, when you wander the narrow cobbled streets of this village you can understand why it attracts people. Despite many tourists coming here Mijas has retained its old fashioned way of life. The shops have traditional Spanish goods and there are numerous craft shops to explore. Mijas has many festivals to see throughout the year, a bullring, museums and the shrine in the rock. Take a trip around the village in a donkey cart or just take  time to stroll. 

LA CALA

La Cala de Mijas is one of the original fishing villages situated on the Costa del Sol, a charming village between Fuengirola and Callahonda. There is a lovley beach surrounded by bars and restaurants and craft stalls, with traffic free promanade to sit for a leisurely lunch. Further in the centre of the small town there are various shops, with more bars and restaurants. Well worth a luchtime visit.

GIBRALTAR

The rock of Gibraltar is a giant slab of jagged Jurassic limestone. It has dominated the Straits of Gibraltar for around 200 million years and of course over such a period has continually changed and evolved. The porous limestone ensures that the Rock always has a plentiful water supply, so when nearby Spain is often arid and brown the Rock will be lush and green. Look out for the Barbary Apes who can be viewed at the Apes’ Den at the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. The best way to reach it is either by the Cable Car or on one of the Rock Tours. The Cable Car is situated at Grand Parada and operates between 0930 and 1800 hours, Monday to Saturday. Rock Tours are also operated by taxi and tour companies and is an excellent way to see the Rock and learn the history. St Michael's Cave has interested visitors to Gibraltar ever since the Romans. The Cathedral Cave was long believed to be bottomless, probably giving birth to the story that Gibraltar was linked to Africa by a subterranean passage over 15 miles (24 Km) long under the Straits of Gibraltar. The cave consists of an Upper Hall with five connecting passages and rocks between 40ft (12.2m) and 150ft (45.7m) to a smaller hall. Beyond this, a series of narrow halls leads to a further succession of chambers, reaching depths of some 250ft (62.5m) below the entrance. During World War II the cave was prepared as an emergency hospital, but was never used as such. Whilst blasting an alternative entrance to the cave, a further series of deeply descending chambers ending in a mini lake were discovered and named Lower St Michael's Cave. The Cathedral Cave is opened to visitors and makes a unique auditorium for concerts, ballets, drama and presentations. The unique beauty of crystalised nature can be appreciated through a centuries old stalagmite that became too heavy and fell on its side at the far end of the Chamber. In 1972 a slice 18" thick (45cm) was cut, revealing its interior structure. Its growth is clearly indicated during periods of excessive rain by light brown rings and patches, the dark area being formed during periods of less rain. Two thin lines of a crumbly white substance are thought to represent glacial periods. The stalagmite is also translucent in some areas.

There are numerous dolphin-watching trips on offer and it is not unusual to be able to see these fascinating creatures close up.

MARBELLA

One of the prettiest places is 'Orange Square' which is located just off the main street in the old town, which is also home to the 16th century town hall and the tourist office where you can pick up a detailed map and any additional information. The plaza is lined with stately buildings, small shops, art galleries, bars and bistros and is a hub of activity day and night. Explore the honeycomb of surrounding narrow streets where homes and shops intermingle to create the atmosphere of a small village. There are numerous excellent restaurants to choose from, ranging from those specializing in the predictably pricey exclusive cordon bleu to the gritty individuality of a backstreet Spanish bar where the Serrano ham is gently cured by tobacco smoke and the tapas are both tasty and filling. Back towards the coast is the La Alameda park where you can take your personal horse and carriage to travel in style, or if you prefer, stroll on towards the sea along the Avenida del Mar. This is arguably one of the most delightful promenades on the costa, flanked by classy restaurants and bars.

Puerto Banus

Between Marbella Town  and Estepona lies Puerto Banus. Renowned as a holiday resort and home to the rich and famous,  Puerto Banus, is home to some of the finest shops and restaurants in Spain and has a large yacht marina and offers you beaches with views towards Africa and Gibraltar. Until 10 years ago, Puerto Banus was so exclusive only a few people had actually heard of it, but in recent years "The Port" has grown and what once consisted of just 2 roads and a marina has now developed into an International Resort. Puerto Banus is the place to ogle those fabulous luxury yachts while sipping a drink at one of the many open air restaurants and bars. The setting is close to ideal with its impressive mountain backdrop and ocean views. El Corte Ingles Department Store is somewhere between Selfridges & Debenhams and caters for every shoppers need.  around Puerto Banus Port where you can find most of Designer Shops in Puerto Banus including, the latest Jimmy Choo Store, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Fendi and soon to be open Valentino. One of the largest Markets on the Costa Del Sol is the street market in Puerto Banus which starts at the Bull Ring and continues down the road into Puerto Banus itself. Its every Saturday Morning, starts around 9ish and finishes at 2/3pm.

Ronda

one of Andalucia's loveliest towns. Steeped in history, it stands on a towering plateau in the mountains of the province of Malaga and is famous through Spain for the plunging river gorge which divides the medieval from the 18th century parts of the town. This gorge is known as El Tajo (The Cliff) and is spanned by a stone bridge, which one housed a prison. Visitors love to peer down into the gorge to see the waters of the River Guadalevin.Ronda is also famous for its bullring, the oldest and most beautiful in Spain – the arena itself is also the country's largest. When there are no fights, the bullring is open to visitors and has a fascinating museum with many mementos of Spain's most renowned bullfighters

GRANADA

One of the most brilliant jewels of universal architecture is the Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens built under the Nazari Dynasty in the 14th C. This mighty compound of buildings – including the summer palace called Generalife, with its fountains and gardens - stands at the foot of Spain's highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, and overlooks the city below and the fertile plain of Granada. At the centre of the Alhambra stands the massive Palace of Charles V, an outstanding example of Spanish Renaissance architecture. Other major Christian monuments found in the city are the Cathedral, including the Royal Chapel where Isabel and Ferdinand lie buried, the Monastery of La Cartuja and many churches built by Moorish craftsmen after the Reconquest, in Granada's unique "mudéjar" style. The hill facing the Alhambra is the old Moorish casbah or "medina", called the Albaicin, a fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and whitewashed houses with secluded inner gardens, known as "cármenes". The Plaza de San Nicolas, at the highest point of the Albaicin, is famous for its magnificent view of the Moorish palace. The Sacromonte hill, which overlooks the city from the North, is famous for its cave dwellings, once the home of Granada's large gypsy community. The name Granada is ancient and mysterious. It may mean "great castle", for the Roman fortress which once stood on the Albaicin Hill. When the Moors came here, the town was largely inhabited by Jews, for which they called it Garnat-al-Yahud - Granada of the Jews. The Jews are said to have been one of the first peoples to settle in Spain, even before the Romans.

SEVILLE

Sevilla lies on the banks of the Guadalquivir and is one of the largest historical centres in Europe, it has the minaret of La Giralda, the cathedral (one of the largest in Christendom), and the Alcázar Palace. Part of its treasure include Casa de Pilatos, Torre del Oro, the Town Hall, Archive of the Indies (where the historical records of the American continent are kept), the Fine Arts Museum (the second largest picture gallery in Spain) , plus convents, parish churches and palaces. In Sevilla, you will want to visit the old city, with the Cathedral and the Giralda tower at its heart. (You can climb the steps inside the tower for a magnificent view of the City). Very close by are the royal Mudéjar palace known as the Alcazar with marvellous gardens and the Santa Cruz quarter, with cramped streets, flowered balconies, richly decorated facades, hidden patios... Other sights not to be missed are, in the old city, the Casa de Pilatos, a large sixteenth-century mansion where Mudejar, Gothic and Renaissance styles blend harmoniously amidst exuberant patios and gardens and, crossing the Triana bridge over the large Guadalquívir River, the lively popular quarter of Triana with charming narrow streets around the church of Santa Ana and traditional ceramic factories.

CORDOBA

Cordoba´s unpredictable cityscape showcases to tourists a whole world of striking and astounding history. People of diverse cultures and religions (Jews, Muslims and Christians) have put in numerous contributions to the beauty of this outstanding place. It is worth visiting just to stroll down all the little streets full of flowers from the balconies and gardens all year round, but there is so much to see here.
La Mezquita is a colossal, tenth century bastion in Cordoba, which is said to be the third largest place of worship in the world. La Mezquita was formerly a mosque consisting of several arches and over a hundred columns. Gerald Brenan, a well acclaimed, Malta-born writer of the early 20th century, dubbed this fortification as the most beautiful and original building in the whole of Spain. The architectural design of this bastion is a mixture of Roman, Gothic, Byzantine, Syrian, and Persian fundamentals. La Mezquita was sanctified as a cathedral when the Christians took over the Moorish empire in Cordoba in 1236.

When Cordoba was again overpowered by the Christians in the year 1236, the rulers beatified the mosque to be a Christian cathedral. Within the building, King Alfonso X, the ruler of Castile and León during the middle ages, built the charming Villaviciosa Chapel. Furthermore, the Capilla Real (Royal Chapel) was also constructed as a synagogue for Christian Kings. In the subsequent centuries, the structure had several transformations under the tutelage of royalties from different generations. That explains the fascinating mélange of Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance architectural designs. Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos or The Palace of the Christian Kings was re-erected in the year 1328 by King Alfonso XI, the Spanish King of Castile and Leon. The entire castle covers over 4,000 square meters and in its interiors are impressive Arabian baths, Roman mosaics and a sarcophagus of marble from the 3rd century. Even if this structure was built during the Christian period, its gardens are characteristically Moorish in design comprising of ponds, water cascades and sweet ambrosial plants. At the eastern perimeter of the gardens are the walls and the Door of Seville, situated alongside a shrine of the renowned poet Ibn Zaydun. Originally, there were four towers at the corners of the Alcazar, three of which can be seen up to today: the Torre de Los Leones, the oldest, which forms the entrance to the palace, the octagonal Torre del Homenajeand the round Torre del Rio. The fourth tower, Torre de la Vela, was unfortunately destroyed in the 19th century. Cape Verde Real estate and Brazil property are examples of new times

 

Benalmádena Costa

The coastal area with many hotels, beaches and the award winning Marina, with excellent port facilities, fantastic nightlife and the fabulous Aquarium.With the huge number of resident and visiting foreign Tourists to Benalmadena and the Costa del Sol in general, the variety of types of restaurants is enormous. There are many English, Scottish and Irish pubs, most of which have live big screen sporting events. You have the choice of all nationality restaurants, including, Chinese, Italian, Dutch, Lebanese, etc. There are also plenty opportunities to try out the local dishes and the best place to go is along the beach or to the Marina and visit a "Chiringuito" (Beach Bar) where fresh fish dishes are served up with a wonderful chilled wine or a refreshing glass of sangria. One of the best places on the Costa del Sol for nightlife is Benalmadena, with so many different types of bars, clubs, restaurants that there is always something to suit all tastes. From the latest Clubland sounds with top D.J.'s to swish sophistication and the live jazz, or salsa dancing till dawn, the Marina Port has it all. At the crossroads before going down to the Port, is the Solimar Plaza, where there are more pubs and clubs for the night owls, as well as a recently built commercial centre with 8 cinemas to choose from. In Benalmadena there are plenty of things to see as well as enjoying entertaining family days out to places like the theme park, Tivoli World, the fabulous Jardin de Las Aguilas (Garden of Eagles), see the penguins and dolphins at Selwo Marina and Sea Life or take a ride in the Cable Car to see breathtaking views of the coast. The promenade is one of the smartest of the Costa del Sol and plans are afoot to extend it further. It presently covers several kilometres and stretches across the Benalmadena area with the relaxing tranquillity of sand and sea on one side and the bustling commercial hubbub of activity on the other. There are many bars and restaurants all along the sea front, where you can enjoy a pleasant time looking out across the Mediterranean or watching the world go by.

Site Last Updated - 30/05/2013 12:29:08
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