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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. Read more »

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. Read more »

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. Read more »

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 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.