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Costa del Sol 2007-07-26 11:47:45 Well known for its fabulous climate, great quality of life and excellent cuisine, the Costa del Sol occupies just over 300 kilometres of coastline stretching from Gibraltar in the west to Malaga in the east. It is situated in southern Spain in the province of Andalucia and offers diverse landscapes with the beaches, Mediterranean Sea, mountains and valleys all within minutes of one another.
The mountainous backdrop protects the Costa del Sol from the cool winds of northern Spain. The scant rainfall and warm temperatures in the area allows numerous palm trees, oleander, hibiscus and other exotic flora to flourish. Orange, lemon and almond trees can be found all over the province, and there are olive groves in abundance. Just a short drive inland you will discover the more traditional Spain with picturesque villages and hills and valleys covered with pine forests and vineyards.
Most people visiting the Costa del Sol fly into Malaga which is a large cosmopolitan city and the birthplac
El Torcal de Antequera - Going Back To Nature 2007-07-13 03:19:16 Characterised by its searing limestone rocks and flower-laden valleys, El Torcal de Antequera Nature Reserve is one of Andalucia’s hidden gems. It’s not too far from the coast either, and is accessed via the village of Villanueva de la Concepción, just 10 kilometres from the town of Antequera, and 20 metres north of Málaga.
Millions of years ago the entire area of El Torcal was part of a marine corridor that stretched from the Gulf of Cádiz to Alicante, and was entirely underwater; it was only the violent movements of the Earth’s crust that finally forced it upwards. Today, some parts of El Torcal reach nearly 1,300 metres in height. If it weren’t for the telltale horizontal layers of the rocks, it’d be difficult to believe El Torcal was ever waterlogged.
Since its emersion from the sea, the rocks at El Torcal have been severely beaten and eroded by the weather, leaving some of the most peculiarly shaped rock formations in the world today. Whilst bare most of the year, spr Read more:Going
The mystery of Barrancoblanco (near Alhaurin and Coin) 2007-07-12 03:22:28 There is a legend that somewhere in the heart of Andalucia, within the area of Alhaurin el Grandé; the town where the English writer, Gerald Brenan, spent so much of his life; there is a secret valley which had a sinister past. Here, during World War II, it is said that members of the Nazi High Command went to relax and to get away from it all; and it was that here the Axis leaders, Hitler and Mussolini, met to discuss their war strategy. Of course there are no official records, at least not available on public access, and the whole matter is shrouded in secrecy. Local rumour also whispers that there was a restaurant by a roundabout between Alhaurin and Coin where the high-ranking German officials sometimes met together in the early 1940s.
There is really only one location that this description could fit and it is pure film set countryside. Wooded and picturesque, small clusters of low white-washed buildings with terracotta tiled roofs on two sides of the roundabout, and on the hi
Setenil de las Bodegas - Troglodytes and Tourists 2007-07-11 03:09:09 Setenil de las Bodegas, With a population of some 3000 and lying between the towns of Ronda and Olvera in the province of Cadiz, this is another of Andalucia’s famous pueblo blanco. But where most tumble down from Moorish castles built on secure bluffs and peaks, Setenil has been set in and around a prehistoric limestone gorge, the foot of which is lined on both sides of the Rio Trejo with troglodytic cave dwellings. The usual warren of narrow streets radiates upwards from the focal points of Calles de las Cuevas del Sol and de las Cuevas de la Sombra named with unerring logic after the cave houses on the sunny and shady sides of the river. Most of the caves have, of course, been residentially developed with typical frontages, though plenty of them have been transformed, to the relief of tourists, into riverside cafes.
I’ve always been interested in the roots of place names. More often than not local topography is the main influence with the language of original settlers making ref
Festival of the Virgen del Carmen – Honouring “The Queen of the Seas” 2007-07-10 03:39:43 Forget Madonna, disregard Naomi Campbell, the female figures that excite the most adoration from the Spanish are the virgin icons of their faith. One such is the Virgen del Carmen
. She has been adopted as their patron by sailors and fishermen in towns and villages all along the Andalucian coast, and on the 16th July each year her much revered statue is borne from the local church to be paraded through the streets and down to the sea. At this point the nature of the homage may vary: in many towns she may be taken for a trip around the bay on a heavily-garlanded boat accompanied by a flotilla of fishing vessels, whilst in Los Boliches she is merely walked by her 80 plus bearers into the foaming tide - no mean feat as the throne is said to weigh enough to stop a train. In the city of Malaga parades take place on the Sunday following July 16th and the local scuba club pays homage to the Virgen by diving to an effigy of her placed on the seabed!
The parades of the Virgen del Carmen are not Read more:Festival
, Queen
Malaga Summer Fair 2007-08-04 11:31:22 It is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts millions of visitors each year, the MalagaSummer
Fair is held every year in August . The fair is an extravaganza of flamenco and “fino” (dry sherry) commemorating the Christian victory over the Moors in 1487. This year the event is been billed as the best fiesta in Europe by the Malaga City Hall.
The party starts as always with an impressive fire works display which is best viewed from the port area of the city athough wherever you are in this bustling city you will be able to enjoy the party. The party starts at 23.00 and involves the operning ceromony fireworks on the beach and a concert hosted by MTV.
The day after the opening you can enjoy a wonderful street parade where flamenco is the dress code.
There are numerous locations around the city all offering a wide range of displays and stalls, as well as flamenco shows and concerts all over the city
The streets of the centre are closed to cars but you can still get around
Alhaurin de La Torre - Gateway To The Guadalhorce Valley 2007-08-03 02:39:06 Located at the entrance to the stunning Guadalhorce valley the town of Alhaurin de la Torre
has much to offer visitors.The twon is located just 17kmfrom Malga and a short drive from the Airport this Andalucian town is fast becomming a popular base for visitors to the Western Costa Del Sol. It is within easy reach of the beaches at Torremolinos and Malaga as well as been close to stunning Guadalhorce valley and the Mijas Mountains
The town has an charming feel to it with a beautiful blend of the old and new with its old Moorish-style streets and houses in the Barrio Viejo and the new modern estates on the outskirts of the town.
Visitors to the town can see some important and interesting archaeological remains from the Roman period such as ceramic fragments, bowls, wall drawings, coins and burial objects : The main areas of interest are the Cortijo de Mollina, where the remains of a Moorish farm-house and tower still stand and remains in the El Cardón Valley
Carrera de Caballos area Read more:Gateway
Malaga Restaurants 2007-08-07 12:29:35 Because of its close proximity to the sea, Malaga
cuisine is typically Mediterranean with fish and seafood featuring heavily. The most famous local dish is deep fried fish in batter called Pescaíto Frito or Malaga style fried fish which requires the freshest fish and right kind of oil to achieve the correct crispness and taste. Adobo is a local recipe made with fried fish marinated in wine, and the chanquetes (tiny fish cooked in vinegar) and sardinas (sardines) grilled over charcoal are superb. Vegetarians will be delighted by the fresh vegetables in the region, and should try Ajo Blanco which is a cream of almond, garlic and olive oil.
Spanish cuisine incorporates halal food with so many parts of the country having undergone Moorish rule. One of the more popular forms of halal is lamb kebab which is delicious. Other dishes worth trying are Malaga-style noodles; anglerfish soup; Malaga-style stuffed tuna; potatoes with garlic sauce; coquinas or small clams cooked with white wine and
Benahavis – a village of Restaurants on the Western Costa del Sol 2007-08-15 01:45:22 Eating out is one of the many pleasures of living in Spain and the Costa del Sol seems to have available every nationality of food that you could possibly want. Everybody has their own favourite restaurants and so I am not going to tell you about my favourite Indian, Chinese, Pizza or Paella place but direct you to a “white village” that has more restaurants per square metre than almost any other village I know.
The municipality of Benahavis is home to 3800 people. The majority quite naturally are Spanish (1670) but amazingly there are also nearly 1000 British ex-pats in addition to many other Europeans
Asians and Africans. The municipality is quite extensive in land area and all the population do not live in the village itself. The village feels Spanish despite the many foreigners living there and you do not find English newspapers, Sunday Lunch or English Breakfast!
The village of Benahavis is situated about 7km inland from the A7 (N340) coast road. The turn off to take you up in Read more:Western
The Mijas Fair - Horses, Flamenco And Fun 2007-08-20 13:22:16 The whitewashed village of Mijas
which is located up the mountain from the town of Fuengirola on the Costa Del Sol hosts is annual fair at the beginning of September. This very popular village hosts the celebration in honor of The Virgin Of The Rock, its Patron Saint
It is an event that is well worth a visit , The beautiful town square is where you will find most of the main attractions but you will find stalls all along the main street heading into the town itself.
There is a wide selection of stalls and bars offering a feast of different food and drink and the whole town joins in to make the celebration special.
One of the best attractions of the beautiful Spanish horses that can be seen around the town. These stunning creatures are decorated in magnificent dress that adds to the effect wonderfully.
Other events of the fair include the traditional Sevilliana dancing which is great to watch but even better to join in with. You will also see the ladies wearing their amazing flamenco d Read more:Horses
Scuba diving in Andalucia 2007-08-23 14:17:47 Not very known yet in Andalucia, but becoming more popular is scuba diving. Although you will find diving centers along the whole coast, some places are better for diving than others.
Starting in the east, in the province of Almería, Cabo de Gata (a Natural Park) is a very pretty place to dive. While diving in the Mediterranean Sea, underwater you can expect coral, invertebrates, conger eels, moray eels, sunfishes, barracudas, seahorses and lobsters. In summer the water temperature is quite pleasant, about 22 ºC. There are a few diving centers in this area, for example Diving Center Branquias, located in the village of Carboneras. This Center offers guided boat dives in the northern area of The Natural Park of Cabo de Gata and in the San Andres Island (a Natural Monument). One dive with own equipment costs 20 €, 2 dives 40€. Extra costs for full rental equipment are 13 €. They also offer courses, from beginners to Divemaster. More information: www.branquias.com.
A bit more to t Read more:Scuba
Puerto Banus Apartment Rentals 2007-08-22 09:19:29 A few years ago people contacted rental agents asking for apartments in Marbella for holiday rentals. This has changed dramatically the last years and holiday makers are only asking for Puerto
Banus. Dior, Gucci, Luis Vuiton, Chopard and Bulgari have all understood this and have all started boutiques in the Port.
Los Grandos is one of the most upscale developments in Puerto Banus. Apartments are on the beach and only a 5 minute walk to the Marina.
La Alzambra is also a newer upscale development just 10 minutes from the beaches and the Marina on foot.
Medina Gardens is a very nice urbaisation 200 meters from the Ocean Club and 10 minutes from the Marina.
Playas del Duque is front line beach just 400 meters from the Marina and directly on the beach.
All these apartments are walking distcnce to beaches and the Marina and are of the best in Puerto Banus. Read more:Rentals
Bootleg Beatles Concert 2007-08-21 07:03:27 For A great time in aid of a good cause then you should head to San Roque in the province of Cadiz where The famous Beatles
Tribute Band The Bootleg
Beatles will be holding a concert at the San Roque Golf & Country Club in aid of the Save The Children Fund
This Great event by a very good band will be held on the practice range of the beautiful course , where there will be some 3,000 seats and a bar area. The stunning range building, that has a magnificent amphitheatre like form, has been transformed into a VIP hospitality area with reserved tables for up to 250 people in the lower deck and 120 in the upper deck. Both VIP areas will have canapés and bar service
Tickets Can Be Reserved by calling The Summer Event Box Office on 956 646 505 every day from 08:00 hrs to 16:30 hrs.
Tickets Cost From 25 Euros and the concert is been held on the 22nd August 2007 Read more:Concert
Tapas time in Fuengirola 2007-08-28 02:30:22 One of the numerous reasons why so many people want to live or holiday on the Costa del Sol, apart, of course from the glorious weather which radiates illuminating sunshine well over 300 days of the year, has got to be the variety of activities freely available to everyone. As long as your holiday representative advises you what’s on, you will be spoilt for choice on what or where to go when you venture slightly inland. For the independent traveller, you can pick up one of the free local papers that abound in town shops such as Dunnes, a department store, where Euroweekly can usually be found or Woody’s stationers which supplies the latter in addition to the Sur in English and the Town Crier. All three papers provide a mound of useful information and tips on what’s on in the forthcoming weeks.
The most recent event to take place in the Fuengirola feria ground was the tapas fair which ran over a period of 4 days, from Thursday 2nd August to the Sunday 5th. This venue plays hos Read more:Tapas
Goyesque Fair (Feria Goyesca) Ronda 2007-08-26 17:31:41 During the first week in September the Andalucia town of Ronda
celebrates its annual Goyesque Fair. This is an event not to be missed if you enjoy Bull Fighting. During the event participants dress in the traditional 18th and 19th century costumes of the bull ring
Apart from the bull fights there are numourous parades around the town and plenty to see and do if you dont fancy the fights them selves
On the first Saturday of the event there is the feature bull fight where the matadors and toreros dress in costumes which were immortalised in the paintings of the famous Goya
Before the Main event there is a parade though the streets of the town ending in the centre of the bull ring. You can see the beautiful horse drawn carriages and stunning costumes
If Bull fighting is for you head for Ronda during the first week of September
More information can be obtained from the Tourist office In Ronda Read more:Feria
Costa del Sol Events - 29th August to 4th September 2007-08-31 06:08:51 29th August
, Torremolinos
Children’s puppet show performed by the Tiovivo company. 9.30pm in Plaza la Nogalera, admission free.
30th August, Mijas Pueblo
Free flamenco show in the town square (Plaza Virgen de la Peña) at midday on Wednesday and repeated at 9.30pm at the same venue on Thursday.
31st August - 1st September
, Benalmadena
Romancero Gitano take to the stage at the Auditorium next to Paloma Park with their flamenco ballet show. The performance is inspired by a piece of work by the acclaimed Andalucian poet, Federico Garcia Lorca, who was murdered during the Spanish Civil War. Tickets cost 20, 25 or 30 euros and are available from auditorium box office. Performances start at 10.30pm.
31st August, Mijas Pueblo
Flamenco on the Patio with singer/dancer Laura Roman and Miguel de Cadiz on guitar. 9.00pm in the Folk Museum on Plaza de la Libertad. Admission free.
4th September, Estepona
Free flamenco performance by the La Milana dance group on the Paseo Maritimo (seafront) at
Vélez Rubio, Vélez Blanco And The Cave Paintings 2007-08-31 02:48:59 Located in the northen tip of Almeria province you will find the towns Vélez Rubio and Vélez Blanco. Located 6km from each other these two beautiful Andalucian towns offer visitors a great base to explore the UNESCO World Heritage listed pre-historic caves and paintings La Cueva del Gabar and Cueva de Los Letreros (Leters Cave).
Vélez Rubio has a stunning 18th century hospital ‘Hospital Real’ where you will find a fascinating exhibit of artifacts and ceramics dating from prehistoric to Moorish times, as well as a wonderful exhibit of the local cave paintings, You can also find the local tourist office located in the museum which is located on Calle Carrera del Carmen 29.
The town benifits from the wonderful Baroque Church of La Encarnación which was built in the 18th century and has an imposing carved facade which includes the arms of theperson who bult it, the Marquises of Villafranca y Vélez
Its neigbour Vélez Blanco, is overlooked by the ruins of magnificent Rena Read more:Paintings
The Marine Science Centre Malaga 2007-08-30 02:33:40 There are a lot of good marine based attractions on the Costa Del Sol include the Selwo Marina and Sea Life Centre
in Benalmadena, but for something a little bit different you should head for the the main port on the Avenida Manuel Agustin Heredia in Malaga
where you will find the ‘Aula del Mar’ or MarineScience
Centre.
This fascinating centre is basically an aquarium and a museum in one which is dedicated to the conservation and protection of marine life which has two parts to it.
The aquarium gives visitors a interesting view of over 500 marine animals in a wonderful reproduction of their natural environment while the museum provides you with an exhibition of the huge diversity of different types of flora and fauna marine life of the Málaga coastline.
While at the centre you can see various different informative programs which include an audiovisual presentation on all types of marine life around Málaga and a guided tour of the museum, the aquarium and the turtle sanctuary.
Weddings and Hen parties Marbella - Puerto Banus 2007-09-22 12:41:57 Weddings and Hen parties
are very popular in Marbella
and Puerto
Banus. Why not rent your own private villa for a weekend or a week for this special occasion. One of our best villas for this has 9 bedrooms, all with their own bathrooms. we can aslo arrange in-house entertainment for your hen party in Puerto Banus. Invite all the family to stay or all your friends. We will arrange transport to and from the airport and daily transport to and from the villa to Puerto Banus where the action is. For more details of this villa with indoor and outdoor swimming pool please click here. Read more:Weddings
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