|
|
|
|
Málaga is the major coastal
city of Andalucia and is a genuine and typical Andaluz
city with a gritty individualism untouched by tourism
and, to a large extent, the passage of time.
The Moors occupied the city until the mid fifteenth
century, after which it grew to become one of the foremost
merchant centres in the entire Iberian Peninsula.
|
|
This illustrious past has left its
imprint on the historic centre, particularly around
La Alcazaba, a fortress which dates back to 1065 and
is now a fascinating archaeological museum. (Click
here for a more detailed text on the history of Málaga)
Flanked by a dramatic mountain range, Sierra Almijara,
to the east, the town has, fortunately, managed to
avoid being blighted by the concrete high-rise scenario
which has been the inevitable result of the tourist
boom in some of the coastal resorts. The old quarter
of the town is still virtually unchanged with narrow,
winding streets, whitewashed houses with wrought iron
terraces overflowing with geraniums, on which a canary
can sometimes be heard singing...
|
|
However, the heart
of Nerja is its spectacular Balcón de Europa,
the "Balcony of Europe", a magnificent promenade
along the edge of a towering cliff, once the site of
the great Moorish castle, with sweeping panoramic views
of the Mediterranean and the small coves and beaches
below, against an awesome backdrop of hazy blue mountains.
There are plenty of restaurants and cafes here to choose
from, and the visitor can hire a horse-drawn carriage
to explore the most romantic corner of the town.
The town's monuments include the 17th century Church
of El Salvador, in a style which is a charming mixture
of baroque and Moorish, or mudéjar, and the beautiful
Gardens of Capistrano Playa, which descend to Burriana
Beach.
However, Nerja's most spectacular attraction is undoubtedly
its fascinating caves, located just three kilometres
from the centre of town. They include archaeological
treasures such as paintings over 20,000 years old and
other pre-historic remains. One of the enormous natural
caverns has been transformed into a concert hall, where
many performances are staged during the summer. This
year Nerja is celebrating the 38th International Cave
Festival, with the participation of many top international
entertainers.
Nerja cuisine includes several specialities including
De La Doncella (red mullet) and pescaito frito (fried
fish) and ranging from top international cuisine to
the ubiquitous sausage, eggs and chips!
Nerja is 50 km from Málaga. It is connected to
the western end of the Costa del Sol by a dual carriage
motorway. The journey from Marbella takes about an hour,
while travelling from Málaga takes around half
an hour.
|
|
|