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What to do in Fuengirola

Mirco Rehmeier — Mon, 17 May 2010 21:35:49 +0000

Fuengirola is a large Spanish town located in the Costa del Sol area of Malaga. There has been a settlement at Fuengirola for thousands of years and the town boasts a long and interesting history that has even included a number of name changes. Now, however, the town`s 8 kilometres of beaches and subtropical Mediterranean climate have ensured that Fuengirola has become a popular tourist resort on Spain`s much loved Costa del Sol.

As have many of the Costa del Sol`s towns in recent years, Fuengirola has undergone much development to make sure it can offer everything holiday makers need and want from a holiday in the sunshine. Having said that town still exudes a traditional charm and sense of history that is lacking in bigger and more commercial resorts on the Costa del Sol. Fuengirola was originally an Arab settlement and then went on to be captured by the Romans, becoming a typical Roman town. In the early Middle Ages a fire meant all the town`s inhabitants had no choice but to flee and Fuengirola then did not become a largely inhabited town for a couple of hundred years.

Now Fuengirola has been restored to its former glory, offering visitors lots of things to see and do during their stay. If you like whiling away the hours on the beach then you will certainly be able to do this on the sandy beaches of Fuengirola and there are lots of water-front bars, cafés and restaurants in which to enjoy a mid-afternoon snack. As well as these beach-side eateries there are many other eating opportunities in the town, so whether you would like to try local cuisine or are looking for something a little more familiar, you will be sure to find it. Fuengirola is also a great place for shopping, as there is a lovely mixture of boutiques, gift shops, shopping malls and stylish leather shops that will no doubt keep keen shoppers busy for hours.

Those who like to get active will love the selection of water sports available on the beach, including kitesurfing, parasailing and banana boat rides. For animal lovers there is lots of exciting wildlife on display at the famous Fuengirola zoo, whereas culture vultures will probably want to explore the town`s history a little further as it boasts a large number of historical sites and open parks. On the top of anyone`s list should be a visit to the Arab castle, which as of 2000 is completely refurbished and now hosts festivals and concerts throughout the summer months.

The best way to get to Fuengirola is by flying in to Malaga airport as there are regular of flights to Malaga from airports all across the UK. Malaga airport is located just 20 minutes away from Fuengirola and so there are no lengthy transfers once you arrive. Most people either take a taxi to their hotel which will cost around €40, however if you are looking to have an especially cheap holiday in Fuengirola you could always catch a train into the centre of the town which costs around €2. There are lots of excellent places to stay in Fuengirola and lovely accommodation near to the sea is available regardless of your budget.

Estepona – nice little city in western Malaga

Mirco Rehmeier — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:56:55 +0000

Estepona is one of the towns of the west side of the Costa del Sol, situated between Marbella and Manilva, surrounded by the Sierra Bermeja, a mountain range that protects Estepona from the cold winds and helps it to have a special mild climate all year round. Estepona has a micro climate with over 325 days of sunshine per year. The old town has still the typical andalucian architecture with beautiful balconies decorated with flowers contrasting with the white facade of the houses. Estepona has now become a tourist place in first order, not just because of the fabulous beaches it has but also because of all the services and installations it offers to their visitors. Its worth to mention the School of Equestrian Art, Adventure Park Selwo, the Marina, water sports activities, all the Golf courses you can find in the surroundings and even challenging trekking routes . If Estepona is a great place to spend your holidays, imagine to live here permanently.

Costa Pop, free concert in Marbella, 19th of May

Mirco Rehmeier — Thu, 10 May 2007 08:31:51 +0000

As every year the radio station “Los 40 Principales” of Malaga celebrates the best of spanish music in a great event called Costa Pop, which this year is celebrated in the city of Marbella. Before the year 2002 the “Costa Pop” was called “World Dance Costa del Sol”, maybe you know it with this name. Next Saturday 19th of May this great concert will take place in the “Estadio Municipal de Fútbol de Marbella”, so the local football stadion in Marbella at 10 pm. In this concert artists like this will perform in direct: Melendi, Nena Daconte, Efecto Mariposa and La Quinta Estación. This artists are confirmed until now. In addition the malagan group Minority, finalist of Costa Pop Express of this year will act.

The entrance to the festival is free, you only have to get some invitations. You can get these tickets in the following points of sale:

- 40 Principales Málaga, Avenida Doctor Manuel Domínguez 6, in Teatinos, Málaga
- 40 Principales Algeciras, C/ General Castaños, Nº2 Algeciras – Cádiz
- Centro Comercial de El Corte Inglés Costa Mijas CN-340, km 210. Las Lagunas, Mijas Costa.
- Centro Comercial de El Corte Inglés Costa Marbella, en C/ Ramón Areces, S/N. Puerto Banús.
- Delegaciones de Juventud del Ayuntamiento de Marbella, in Marbella and San Pedro de Alcántara

This concert is presented by Los 40 Principales and the andalusian tourism in corporation with Unicaja, Pepsi, Cruzcampo and Ron Legendario, maybe that’s why it’s free.

San Isidro in Nerja, 15th of May

Mirco Rehmeier — Sat, 05 May 2007 10:47:00 +0000

On the 15th of May Nerja celebrates San Isidro Labrador´s Saint´s Day. San Isidro Labrador or Saint Isidore the Laborer in English is also known as Isidore the Farmer, (c1070 – May 15, 1130). He was a Spanish day laborer known for his goodness toward the poor and animals. He is the Catholic patron saint of farmers and farming. This festival is the biggest happening in Nerja during the year. The festival is officially just one day, the 15th of May, but the party starts the night before and stops on the morning of the 16th. It is a great party and well worth experiencing if you have the opportunity.

The procession starts near the Balcon de Europa at El Salvador Church on the 15th at 12:30 pm and slowly winds it’s way up to the well known Caves of Nerja, only a three km walk, but will take a few hours. On this procession you see a lot of horses, gorgeous Andalucian thoroughbreds, with the riders in traditional dress, some with girls on the back and carts drawn by oxen that are still used to plough and work the land here in Nerja. At the Caves there are loads of bars and food stalls from paella to burgers, a lot of market stalls, loads to see and do. The whole day you can see Flamenco shows from the local schools and other people. More than 6,000 people are expected to attend the festival near the caves in this year.

If you want to visit Nerja and the San Isidro procession but don´t know where to stay I can recommend the Hostal Casa Mercedes.

Nerja, a small town in the east of Malaga

Mirco Rehmeier — Wed, 02 May 2007 11:49:00 +0000

Nerja is the most eastern municipality in the province of Malaga and is situated about 50 km eastern of the province capital Malaga. Nerja has about 20,000 inhabitants. The municipality of Nerja constists of the town Nerja and the village Maro. Despite the big part of foreign population it conserves the flair of a typical andalucian fishing village. Crooked streets and white painted houses form the cityscape. There are very little big buildings like in other coastal towns. The origin of the historical town is going back to the year 1487. Parts of the Balcón de Europa – an old fortress from the 9th century – now serves as a viewpoint over the sea and the surrounding coast. On clear days you can even see the rock of Gibraltar.

In the creek of the Calahonda beach starts the “Paseo de los Carabineros”. A wonderful footpath bordered by cliffs which is going to the Burriana beach. On the other side of the Balcón de Europa you will find the “Iglesia de El Salvador”. A church in a moorish-baroque style from the 17th century. Also a visit worth is the church of pilgrimage “La Ermita de Nuestra Señora de las Angustias”, built in the 16th century, in which you marvel at the frescos of the master Alonso Cano. North of the town, near the village Maro, you will find the “Cuevas de Nerja”, stalactite caves with milelong labyrinths. Day after day innumerable tourists take part on a guide through the caves. In the rear part of the 4,823m long cave a uncommon sport can followed up: cave climbing. In july every year a music and dance festival takes place in the underground concert hall of the caves. The caves are after the Prado in Madrid and the Alhambra in Granada the most visited object of interest in Spain.

Ronda, nice town in the hillside of Andalucia

Mirco Rehmeier — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 09:45:36 +0000

Ronda is a small town in the andalucian province of Málaga, situated in 723m high above sea level in the hillside called Serrania de Ronda, to which belong as well the natural parks Sierra de Grazalema and Sierra de las Nieves. The town is situated approximately 113 km west of the province capital Málaga and 50 km north of the Costa del Sol. With approximately 35,500 inhabitants and an area of approximately 480 km² the municipality of Ronda is one of the biggest “white villages” in Andalucia. Ronda is at first known for its location: the moorish stamped Old Town, La Ciudad, is situated on an all around steep sloping plateau and is separated from the younger district, El Mercadillo, through a 100m deep gap, El Tajo, built by the Rio Guadalevín. The abyss is overstrung from three bridges, the Puente Árabe, the Puente Viejo („old bridge“) and the well known, in the 18th century built, Puente Nuevo (“new bridge”). More objects of interest are the church Santa María la Mayor on the Plaza Duquesa de Parcent, as well as the Casa del Gigante and the Palacio de Mondragón, including the museum of the city, „Museo Municipal“, as well as the well obtained patio and a moorish style garden.

For the Spanish Ronda is particularly of importance because of its role in the evolution of the bull fighting. In the 18th and 19th century three generations of members of the family Romero developed those rules, according to which today still is being fighted. Beginning with the use of the rag, the battle of the Torero not on the horse, but afoot, to the style and pose, known as the Escuela Rondeña („Ronda-School“). Popstar Madonna used the bullring in 1994 in her video Take A Bow as scenery.

You can reach Ronda from the coast by going up the Carretera de Ronda (A-376/A-397) from San Pedro de Alcántara. It’s a nice windy road through the mountains with fantastic views to Marbella and Gibraltar. In Ronda just park your car next to the bullring and take a tour through Ronda.

Malaga – capital of the province Málaga

Mirco Rehmeier — Sat, 21 Apr 2007 11:21:37 +0000

Málaga is with its 560,631 inhabitants (2006) the second largest city in Andalucia after Sevilla and capital of the province Málaga. In addition Málaga is the sixth-largest city of Spain. The city possesses one of the largest Spanish airports, which is now being extended, and is considered as the gate to the Costa del Sol. Málaga is a modern city with an important commercial port, airport and a university. It is the capital of the Costa del Sol, which represents one of the most important vacation destinations of the iberian peninsula with its good climate all year round. The city is in culinary regard known for raisins and wine (muscatel).

Today the main focus is particularly on the tourism, which gives rapid growth to the city. Already since the 19th century English and Spanish upper layer families settled here in order to spend the winter in the mild coastal climate. Opposite the bullring there is even an English cemetery and a residential area with modernistic mansions. From here a large palm tree park, in which also horse coachmen offer its service, leads to the city centre and to the port. The park surrounds the castle mountain, on which the Alcazaba is situated. This Arab king palace was built between that 8th and 11th century and is situated in the midst of maintained, expanded gardens. Today it houses the archaeological museum. Connected by two towers with a bridge above is the “Gibralfaro”, the moorish castle Malagas, within whose walls is the lighthouse and a mosque. Beside it is a beautiful hotel, the Parador de Gibralfaro, from whose pool in clear weather the view is good enough to see Gibraltar.

In the city centre in the place of a moorish mosque now is the cathedral. By different destruction and rebuildings the interesting “cathedral” today is a mixture of most diverse styles with its gothical hall and the baroque holy figures. South of the cathedral you will arrive to the port, an approach place for large cruise ships. A promenade leads from the port up to the quarter El Palo, which admits for its numerous fish restaurants. A walk by the bent lanes of the old part of town leads to the central market, whose main gate once decorated the dock of an Arab threw. The birth house of the most famous son of the city, Pablo Picasso, is at the Plaza de la Merced.

San Luis de Sabinillas

Mirco Rehmeier — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 15:06:49 +0000

San Luis de Sabinillas is a small town on the Costa del Sol in the extreme southwest of the province Málaga, rather known as Sabinillas. It was very typical of a Spanish fishing community which did not pay much importance to the aesthetics of architecture. Like most places on the Costa del Sol it has seen rapid growth over the last decade. But it will grow further on. Since the construction of a large block called Punta Almina in the 1980s it has also become a popular place for expats working on the coast and in Gibraltar. Because it’s only a 30 minutes drive to Gibraltar.

The Sunday morning Sabinillas rastro is one of the biggest on the coast. It started as a car boot sale in 1990 in a small car park, but once it caught the attention of a wider group of people looking for a bargain it grew a lot. Since its beginnings it needed to change locations three times to accommodate its popularity. If you are coming from Estepona it is the first roundabout in Sabinillas, where you have to turn right, next to the Lidl supermarket and then you will see, where all the people are going.

Manilva

Mirco Rehmeier — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 12:28:22 +0000

Manilva is a municipality on the Costa del Sol in the extreme southeast of the province Málaga in Andalucia (Spain). It consists of three principal places, whereby the most important is Manilva itself of course, a place, which is about 2km afar from the coast. Second is the coastal place San Luis de Sabinillas, rather known as Sabinillas. The third part, the fishing village called el Castillo de la Duquesa or just El Castillo is approx. 1,75km western at the coast. In addition there are many further parts with its own name. There is e.g. Puerto de la Duquesa, a beautiful small place with a not so small marina.

With approximately 11,200 inhabitants one could mark Manilva as a town. The numbers of inhabitants rises annually. Two years ago there were just under 8000 inhabitants.

San Roque

Mirco Rehmeier — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 10:25:20 +0000

San Roque is a small town with a population of 25,000 near Gibraltar. It is part of the province of Cádiz. It was founded by the original inhabitants of Gibraltar, which abandoned the town in 1704, after the takeover by the Anglo-Dutch forces during the War of the Spanish Succession. This way, San Roque official motto is “The town of Gibraltar that lives in San Roque”. From San Roque you have a good view to Gibraltar and although Algeciras. San Roque itself is very nice, with its small streets and nice buildings. It´s worth a visit to drink a coffee in a little bar.

Nerja, always worth a visit

Mirco Rehmeier — Sat, 25 Mar 2006 20:19:14 +0000

On my other blog I already started writing a little about Spain especially this town. The last years I have been many times in a little town called Nerja. It´s about 50 km east of Malaga. The town is well known, because of its caves which is the third most visited object of interest in Spain after the Prado in Madrid and the Alhambra in Granada, which is about an hour away from Nerja. At my last visits I used to stay in a Hostal called Hostal Casa Mercedes. From here it´s a walking distance to the town and only a few hundred meters to the beach which is very nice to visit. In the low season the prices a very good so you have to stay there.

costablog.com » towns

What to do in Fuengirola

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