Towns of The Costa del Sol

The majestic Christian processions which line the streets during Easter week and the August Fair offer the best opportunity to witness the city's most popular traditions, traditions which are more than worthy of the visitor's attention. The Verdiales Dance Festival held in the Málaga Mountain on 28 December is a more intimate affair.

Malaga is the major coastal city of Andalucia and is a genuine and typical Andaluz city with a gritty individualism untouched by tourism and 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.

Also worth a visit is the nearby castle which was rebuilt by the Moors and is today a traditional parador (state hotel) with superb panoramic views. During the nineteenth century, Malaga was a popular winter resort for the wealthy famed for its elegance and sophistication. The impressive park on Calle Alameda dates back to this era and is recognised as being one of the most celebrated botanical collections in Europe. During the winter, open air concerts are held here every Sunday which makes a refreshing change from the bucket and spade scenario on the coast. Pablo Picasso is the city's famous son and there are several galleries showing his work, including the 16th century Museum of Fine Arts, adjacent to the Cathedral.

His birthplace in Plaza Merced is today an archive of his life and works and is open to the public. The entrance is absolutely free (so are all the services: Documentation Centre, exhibitions, museum, video projections.) Málaga's main theatre is the "Theatro Cervantes". As well as being a cultural centre, Malaga is also a great place to eat out. Tapas, small portions of many different dishes, is an Andalusian tradition and a wonderfully inexpensive way to try a variety of local food.

Garden lovers won't be disappointed in Malaga either. In the centre of the city is the beautiful Alameda Gardens, and just outside on the way to Antequera one finds the extensive Jardines de la Concepción. Málaga airport is of course one of the major airports in Spain and is the gateway to the Costa del Sol.

Marbella

World-famous for its gardens and beaches, the jewel in the Costa del Sol's crown offers the visitor a most special panorama, a contrast of sea, mountains, village and cosmopolitan city, where fishermen rub shoulders with wealthy foeign residents.

Marbella is unique. A sun drenched historic town, at the foot of Europe, it is blessed with a specially mild microclimate, thanks to the protection of the impressive Sierra Blanca mountain range, which rises majestically behind Marbella just one mile inland from the shore. Surrounded by luxuriant semitropical vegetation, bathed by the waters of the Mediterranean, cooled by sea and mountain breezes, Marbella has a very special feel.

A truly Andalucian town, Marbella has always succeeded in conquering its conquerors - Phoenicians, Romans, Vandals, Arabs. Marbella is a wonderful blend of old and new, historic and modern. Its carefully conserved historic monuments include the beautiful 16th century parish church with its outstanding organ, built ten years ago by public subscription. Its Moorish walls border the eastern perimeter of the Old Town - itself a fascinating collection of old houses and quiet streets. Marbella's archaeological treasures and sites have been carefully catalogued, restored and protected.

The Museum of Engravings is the largest in Europe, whilst its Bonsai Museum is located nearby in the broad Represa stream bed, recently converted into a quiet and beautiful park. All Marbella's wide beaches fly the European Union blue flag. There are national and international schools for students of all nations, and soon there will be a university.

The Exhibition and Conference Centre hosts dozens of events a year, there are hotels and restaurants, bars and discos for all tastes and pockets, a string of leisure ports, including the world famous Puerto Banus, and a full range of sports facilities, including numerous golf courses, water ski centres, tennis and health clubs.

Its musical life, both classical and pop, includes concerts and recitals by world famous artists. Lighter entertainment is also on offer - piano bars, karaoke bars, flamenco centres, and the like.

Benalmádena

This town in the province of Málga is situated between Torremolinos and Fuengirola. Phoenician, Carthaginian, Roman, Visigoth and Arab influences have all shaped Benalmádena, which consists of three areas: Benalmádena-Pueblo, in the mountains, Arroyo de la Miel and Benalmádena-Costa, a first-class tourist resort.

Tapas bars, a wide range of cuisine and the open character of the people make this town a fun place to be with a nightlife which is second to none. The beaches, Bil-Bil Castle and the delightful marina, declared one of the world's finest for its housing complex, make Benalmádena a charming place to live or visit.

Benalmádena has developed a magnificent structure of golf courses and amusement parks. Its pleasure crafts harbour and other high-level amenities, make this town one of the main attractions in the Costa del Sol.

Worth a visit is the Archaeological Municipal Museum where a very interesting collection of Neolithic and pre-Columbian pieces are exhibited.

Among its traditional food dishes are roasted baby pork, fried fish, grilled sardines, shell fish, gazpacho, etc.

Estepona

Located between the mountains and the sea, Estepona is another of the Costa del Sol's great bastions. Its beaches and marina offer the visitor the chance to enjoy nautical pursuits. The mountains, famed for the presence of forests of Spanish fir, have been declared a Nature Reserve. The town itself boasts monuments of great significance, such as the Virgen de los Remedios Parish Church, the Clock Tower and the ruined walls of the 15th-century castle. Selwo Theme Park is a must for safari lovers and is recommended for all ages. The school of Equestrian Arts is another example of the interesting recreational opportunities Estepona has to offer.

With an overall population of 37,000, the "old town", as it's known, is quite a hive of activity. Estepona is one of the few coastal towns, that, whilst providing tourist facilities, maintains it's original charm and character. The numerous street cafés and tapas bars still serve authentic Spanish delicacies. The hilly, cobbled, very narrow streets are more used by horses than cars. You'll find unusual shops and bodegas where you'd least expect them, very inviting ,very friendly and very cheap!

Its essential economic sources were for years, the fishing, agriculture and cattle industries which remain strong today. Well kept beaches, such as La Rada and Cristo Beach, golf courses, pleasure crafts harbour and a range of superb restaurants add to Estepona's appeal. The gastronomy is, of course, influenced by its maritime environment enriched by its tasty vegetables, so it is easy to find savoury grilled sardines (espetos) cooked in Moorish style, salmorejo, anchovies salad, grilled pimentos salad, tomato soup, and many more different plates.

Its excellent shops and the special amicability of this town make Estepona a perfect base for high-class living.

Fuengirola

Cosmopolitan Fuengirola still looks like the fishing village that it once was. This town, whose watchwords are fun and sun, atrracts a significant number of Spanish tourists, not that it is overlooked by foreign visitors, for whom its beaches and marina offer the ideal place to spend a holiday.

Fuengirola's main monuments are the archaelogical sites of Torreblanca del Sol, Sohail Castle and its parish churches. The October Fair and Easter week see visitors from around the world flocking to Fuengirola to enjoy the town's typical festivities.

Fuengirola is probably most famous for its five miles of sandy beaches, flanked by high-rise hotels and residential blocks of apartments with magnificent views of the Mediterranean and sweeping coastline. A recent landscaping drive by the local municipality has resulted in a wider promenade and plenty of palm trees, interspersed with colourful flower beds and additional seating.

There are also a considerable percentage of British and other nationalities with the result being an impressively wide variety of entertainment and restaurant choice, ranging from the Andalusian traditional tapas (bar snacks) and shellfish dishes to the British bangers and beans standard, together with Guinness on tap. Follow the shopping baskets on Tuesdays and you will find yourself at the largest and liveliest street market on the coast.

Annual fiestas here include the feast of the Virgin del Carmen in July when local fisherman carry an effigy of the Virgin out to sea, while the colourful feria takes place in October and is the time when the town really comes to life with flamenco, fino ... (dry sherry) and fun which carries on from dawn to dusk for a week.