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Velez Malaga (20 Minutes)

The bustling market town of Vélez-Málaga lies 5 km inland from Torre del Mar, surrounded by subtropical vegetation.

Capital of La Axarquía, Vélez-Malaga, often simply referred to as Vélez, is the centre of an agricultural region known for its strawberries and vineyards, which produce the muscatel grapes from which the famous Málaga wines are made.

The town was important in both Roman times, under the name of Menoba, and Moorish when as Ballix-Malaca (Fortress of Málaga) it had an important role in subduing what has always been a turbulent region. In 1487, Ferdinand conquered the town and the Christian flag was raised on the castle's battlements as the Moors were ejected. This victory paved the way for the fall of the Nasrid city some five years later. There are also several remains of Phoenician cemeteries and tombs which testify to a still older history.

The town is a centre for the processing of olive oil and sugarcane. Ceramics feature among other industries. If you are here on a Thursday, take time to wander around its weekly market, always an enjoyable experience.

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Lake Viñuela (25 Minutes)

Lake Viñuela is set in the stunning landscape of the Axarquia in Malaga province. Less than an hour’s drive from Malaga International Airport, La Viñuela is a very popular destination for those who hope to enjoy the unspoiled beauty of Andalusia. It has also been chosen by many Spanish and foreigners alike to become their home, enjoying life in its beautiful surroundings. This idyllic spot attracts writers, artists, photographers and those who just take pleasure in the countryside in one of the best year-round climates in Europe.

Lake Viñuela is a man-made reservoir that not only provides much-needed water for the surrounding area but has also been instrumental in creating a picturesque landscape within an already glorious rural locale. Prior to the creation of the reservoir, extensive archaeological excavations were carried out, producing evidence of Neolithic and Roman settlements, demonstrating the longevity of this area’s historic legacy.

Due to the lake forming part of the local water supply, the only kind of boating activities permitted are those in non-motorized vessels. Pretty beaches make this the ideal place for a family outing, away from the nearby busy coastline. Pine trees add to the sense of tranquility and give you a feeling of being at one with nature, while they provide the perfect habitat for many different species of birds. The abundance of flora and fauna transforms this spot into a changing tapestry, depending on the season. Picnic areas have been set out, complete with barbeque facilities strategically facing south, giving the visitor the best views across the placid waters. They are only occasionally disturbed by small boats, which add a fitting splash of colour to the surroundings. All of this is set against the majestic backdrop of the nearby mountains. There is also a campsite near the lake, for those who would like to enjoy an overnight stay in this wonderful wilderness.

The lake was formed by a dam being built across the Guaro River, one of the two tributaries of the Vélez River that run through the area. The other tributary is aptly named RíoSeco (Dry River), because there are many months here without rainfall. At full capacity the reservoir can hold up to 170 million cubic metres of water and the surrounding lush pastures allow for thriving agriculture based on its olive groves, its vineyards and its cereal crops.

Named after the white village of the same name, the lake has become a focal point of the area. La Viñuela Pueblo (Village) was named after the vines that still produce the excellent local sweet wine. The village was a favourite stopping place for travellers on horseback when journeying between the coast and Granada during the 18 th century, the famous wine being its main attraction.

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Torre del Mar (30 minutes)

Torre del Mar is one of the main touristic resorts of the Costa del Sol. Located in the eastern part of the Coast, the town is the beach resort of Vélez-Málaga, capital of the Axarquia region.

There are unsubstantiated claims that Torre del Mar once formed part of an ancient Greek settlement known as Manake which is believed to have been destroyed by the Carthaginians, prior to the arrival of the Romans. These days the town is better known for its four kilometres of sandy beaches lined with restaurants, bars and apartments; the latter primarily catering for summer visitors. At the seafront end of Paseo de Larios is a line of bars and discos known as El Copo, which kick on all night on Friday and Saturday and attracts crowds from far afield.

One of the resort's most pleasant features is the extended esplanade which follows the coast to reach the Marina of Caleta de Vélez which has over 200 berths and offers sailing and a variety of other watersports. Its lively cafés and restaurants also provide a good place in which to idle the time away, as well as enjoy excellent seafood.

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Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Almara Natural Park (on the doorstep)

Designated a natural park in 1999, this large and rugged mountainous region of 40,663ha stretches across the provincial border of Granada and Malaga. Its western part in Malaga province is known as the Axarquía and is famous for its attractive villages dating from Moorish times. It is also superb hiking country and its numerous steep mountainsides make it ideal for climbers. Its highest peak is La Maroma, at 2,080m.

Geologically, the area is has some distinctive features. It is rich in quartzite and gneiss, which date from over 300 million years ago. The Sierra Almijara has one of Spains's most important areas of dolomitic marble, which gives the landscape its characteristic grey and white hues where erosion has broken down the marble into small stones. The main rock in the Sierra Tejeda is limestone, which has been severely weathered leaving a lanscape riddled with steep-sided ravines and plunging cliff faces.

There are many caves, the most famous being those at Nerja. Others are near the sierras' highest peak, at La Sima de la Maroma, and close to the village of Canillas de Aceituno. Its abundance of caves make speleology a popular activity here.

Its relative remote nature has meant that it has a high number of endemic species of flora and is rich in wildlife, particularly raptors and mountain birds. Its inaccessibility has also meant that historically, it has harboured bandits and later on, anti-Franco guerrillas during the Civil War. Its inhabitants were part of the Morisco rebellion.

Part of the park has been designated a game reserve, the Tejeda y Almijara National Hunting Reserve

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Nerja (40 Minutes)

Nerja is a tourism-oriented town on the Costa del Sol in the province of Málaga, which lies in one of Spains 17 autonomous regions, Andalucía, on the countrys southern, Mediterranean coast.

Nerja has a long history, evidenced by the primitive paintings found in its famous Nerja caves, discovered in 1959, and now Spains third most-visited tourist attraction (after the Prado in Madrid and the Alhambra Palace). These caves are now believed to be just one entrance to a linked series of potholes stretching many miles into the mountains between Nerja and Granada, and which may yet prove to be one of the most extensive unexplored systems in Europe. Visitors to the caves will be able to view the remains of one of the ancient inhabitants of Nerja.

The Romans gave the settlement the name "Detunda", and it was later taken over by the Arabs. Under the Muslims, it became "Narixa", which means "abundant spring", and is the origin of its present name.

Its agricultural and silk products are said to have been famed throughout the Muslim world and in the markets of Damascus as early as the tenth century.

The Balcón de Europa, a mirador or viewpoint which gives stunning views across the sea, is in the centre of the old town. Its name is popularly believed to have been coined by King Alfonso XII, who visited the area in 1885 following a disastrous earthquake and was captivated by the scene. However, local archive documents are said to show that its name predated this visit.

The Balcón area was originally known as La Bateria, a reference to the gun battery which existed there in a fortified tower. This emplacement and a similar tower nearby were destroyed by British led forces under Major General Blayney in 1810 to deny their use to French occupying forces during the Peninsular War.

Modern Nerja

In more modern times, sugar cane production has given way to more valuable cash crops, particularly semi-tropical fruits such as mango and papaya and widespread avocado plantations in what is one of the major avocado growing regions in Europe.

It is the eastern-most town in the are a known as the Axarquía and has an official population of around 20,000  a fifth of which are foreign residents, including around 2,000 British  although the true expatriate population is probably twice that. In the summer months, tourism swells the population several times more.

Nerja has several beaches set in charming coves beneath cliffs and one of the best climates in Europe.

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The Alhambra Palace  (1 1/2 Hours)

On a hill overlooking Granada, the Alhambra—a sprawling palace-citadel that comprised royal residential quarters, court complexes flanked by official chambers, a bath, and a mosque—was begun in the thirteenth century by Ibn al-Ahmar, founder of the Nasrid dynasty, and was continued by his successors in the fourteenth century. Its most celebrated portions—a series of courtyards surrounded by rooms—present a varied repetoire of Moorish arched, columnar, and domical forms. The romantic imagination of centuries of visitors has been captivated by the special combination of the slender columnar arcades, fountains, and light-reflecting water basins found in those courtyards—the Lion Court in particular; this combination is understood from inscriptions to be a physical realization of descriptions of Paradise in Islamic poetry

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El Torcal (1 1/2 Hours)

El Torcal Park Nature Reserve is known for it's unusual limestone rock formations. Located about 30 km north of Málaga city in the direction of Antequera near the village of Villanueva de la Concepción, within El Torcal Park's 17 square km are some of the most beautiful and impressive limestone landscapes in Europe. The whole area was under sea until one hundred million years ago.

Then the violent movements of the Earth's crust forced it upward into hills and mountains up to 1.300 m, the limestone still kept its layered horizontal formation. Because of this, over the millions of years the rain and wind have been able to chisel away at these layers to form incredible shapes.

To reach the heart of the park it is possible to drive up to 1.100 m. above sea level along a good access road into the park. Simply go to the village of Villanueva de la Concepcion and follow the sign to El Torcal out of the town about 1 km. At the parking area you will find an information centre, small museum, with an interesting of view of the wildlife, flora and fauna of the park. Orchid enthusiasts will be captivated by the 30 varieties of the plant growing in the park

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Local Market Days

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