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Excursions

Below are a few words on pleasant and interesting places close to Costalita or just a bit further away. Places that provide or include different types of activity are described in a section of their own, Activities, which also comprises sections where activities suitable for families with children are described and to which I have added a little more detail.

Excursions - short

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San Pedro de Alcántara, five kilometres to the east of Costalita, our closest "large" population, stretches from the sea a large distance up towards the mountains. Some years ago, the coastal road passed right through the village annoying car drivers, who often were stuck in traffic jams, as well as village citizens, who had great difficulties getting from one end of the village to the other. However, in 2013, a one-kilometre tunnel through San Pedro has completely changed this situation and made San Pedro a "healed" village. Although the tunnel itself is now in service, the surrounding infrastructure works had lagged. Just before Christmas 2014 the last part of the project was completed: a boulevard for pedestrians and bikers built on top of the tunnel and stretching from the far west end to the far east end of the village (see photos above). The boulevard area also houses an amphitheatre with 500 seats, a skating rink, playgrounds for children, and some small cafés.

Procession in Benahavís,

Málaga,

San Pedro

and San Pedro

If you are lucky enough to visit the Costa del Sol during the Easter Week you must not miss the opportunity to visit one or several of the Easter Processions taking place in most Spanish cities and villages during this time. The most wellknown are those of Seville, but there are processions closer-by as well. Different local groups, so-called "brotherhoods", take the responsability for the preparation and execution of the processions and as there are often several of those in each specific place a number of processions will take place on the different days this week, maybe also several a day. Places where processions can be seen close to Costalita are eg. Estepona, San Pedro and/or Benahavís.

Benahavís is a charming mountain village (exit towards the mountains around one kilometre before San Pedro Alcántara) of white houses, cozy restaurants (speciality: fillet of pork or solomillo de cerdo) and delightful views. Parking is available on the slope just before one reaches the built-up area of the town. In Benahavis itself, most streets are narrow and difficult to negotiate with a car; in these narrow streets, parking may accurately be described as almost impossible.

Estepona's City Arms

Statue "Tourist" with Swedish model

The Clock Tower

Entrance Estepona Port

Cozy pedestrian street in the Old Town

Statue in memory of the Peseta

Castillo San Louis

Spectacular mural

Estepona, ten kilometres west of Costalita, is an ordinary Spanish town, not yet discovered by tourists, and buildings are mixed, new and old. It has a very nice well cared for beach and promenade. During the last few years, major efforts have been undertaken to restore the "old town", resulting in a most charming area with comfortable pedestrian streets, beautifully decorated with flowers and murals (each street has flower pots painted in a unique colour, making it difficult to get lost there). Of historical interest, there is the Castillo San Louis, a fortification from the 15th century, and the Clock Tower, erected on top of an ancient minaret from the 14th century. The walls of the old town have been covered with murals: next to the food market hall and along the beach promenade are a number of interesting, and relatively new, statues to be found. Perhaps of special interest among these is the Monument to the Peseta, a homage to the former Spanish currency, and the Monument to the Tourist, a homage to tourists. The model for the statue was a Swede, Lennart Lomander, a resident of Estepona for many years. The main Parking Garage is located underneath the beach walk.

The Orchidarium

Here you find a waterfall...

...and hundreds of orchids

Since a few years back Estepona has been endowed with yet another interesting place to visit, ie the new Orchidarium housed in a glass-domed contemporary building in the "upper" part of central Estepona. To get there by car take the street going to the right when entering Estepona (not the one along the sea). This street is named Avenida Andalucia and you follow it around one kilometre before reaching the first roundabout. After passing the roundabout turn left on the following street, Calle Calvario, and the Orchidarium can be spotted on its lefthand side. Entrance fee for adults 3 Euros and for children 4-11 years of age 1 Euro. Children under four enter for free. Open Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 7 pm and Sundays 10 am - 2 pm.

Boats in the port with La Concha in the background

José Banús, founder of Puerto Banús

The Shaf, boat owned by the King of Saudi Arabia

Average size boats in Puerto Banús

Common Car in Puerto Banús

Puerto Banús, a huge tourist development created in the 60's, is a small town with many small shops and restaurants, not to mention a large number of super-luxury yachts and boats, both large and small. Puerto Banús, or PB as it is called if you want to be "in", is The Place for night life on the coast, especially in the small hours of the morning. A night on the town never starts before midnight and almost always starts with a gathering and a few drinks at Salduba Pub or Sinatra Bar situated next to each other on the waterfront. There are many Parking Garages in the area.

Marbella is both a luxury tourist town and a charter-flight destination. Parking in Marbella is located right in the city centre. Follow the main road (Ramón y Cajal) eastwards through the town until you see a blue P sign (Avda del Mar) with an arrow pointing to the right. Some hundred metres from the parking area away from the sea you find Orange Tree Square (Plaza de Naranjos), considered to be the heart of Marbella. The area surrounding Orange Tree Square, known as the Old Town, is full of restaurants and small boutiques. Most streets are pedestrianized.

Harry Recanati (1919-2011), founder of the museum

Salvador Dalí's figures are typical

The museum exhibits paintings as well as sculptures

For those interested in culture, we can recommend a visit to the Ralli Museum, situated to the right of the very first traffic lights when entering Marbella. This museum, one of five Ralli museums in the world, exhibits sculptures as well as paintings, the majority of which are Latin American art, mostly representing today's still-living artists. With the Ralli museums, all of them housed in beautifully designed buildings, the founder Harry Recanati (1919-2011) wanted to spread knowledge about contemporary European and Latin American art. These museums are funded by a private, non-commercial organisation and entrance is free of charge. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday between 10 am to 2 pm. Closed bank holidays.

The museum is beautifully embedded in the park

"El Toro", over 400 years old

500-year-old mulberry bonsai from China

An unusual place to visit, not known by so many, is the Bonsai Museum, situated in the Arroyo de la Represa Park, right to the north of Marbella's Old Town. As parking is difficult in the area, the best way to visit is to park downtown (Avenida del Mar) and then take a short walk passing Orange Tree Square; just a little bit further on is the park and the museum. The museum, inaugurated in 1992, houses one of the world's best bonsai collections... and when it comes to olive tree bonsai, most certainly the best. Among the bonsai worth special mentioning is "El Toro" (the Bull), a Japanese juniper bonsai over 400 years old, which also forms part of the logo of the museum, a 400-year-old Andalusian Wild Olive bonsai, and the museum's oldest plant, a 500-year-old Mulberry bonsai from China. The museum is open daily 10.00-13.30 and 16.30-20.00. Entrance is 4 Euro for adults and 2 Euro for children.

Sample of the village art

View over Genalguacil

Old tree trunk became a nice chair

..and another sample of the art

Genalguacil, also referred to as the Art Village, is located roughly 10 kilometres north of Estepona. Take road MA-557, which is easy to access at the Estepona exit from the ring road north of the city. Follow the road east of Sierra Bermeja, the mountain keeping an eye on Estepona from the north, drive through the small village of Jubrique and from there follow the road signs for Genalguacil. In this village, a traditional white Andalusian mountain village, an annual art festival is held for two weeks in August; the winning contributions are handed over to the village, where they are installed at locations, accessible to the public.

View over Casares

Blooming Almond Trees...

..alongside the Casares road

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Floating bird in the sky

Casares is a charming and original mountain village with breathtaking views from the road and the castle area. Vultures and birds are commonly seen from the ramparts of the hilltop castle. Pay a visit to the churchyard, at the top of the Castle Hill. The way to Casares goes along the coast road westwards. Turn right at the sign around five kilometres after Estepona and you have just 16 kilometres more to go. In February/March, when the Almond Trees blossom, this road is wonderfully beautiful.

Agneta's place

Cormorants

Biannual Vernissage

Agneta Larsen's Workshop

On the road to Casares, a few kilometres before arriving at the village itself, you will find the home and workshop of Swedish ceramic designer Agneta Larsen. You know that you have arrived at the right place when you spot a Swedish flag and a sign on the right-hand side of the road. Agneta hosts two official exhibitions a year, but welcomes visitors any time of the year. However, in order to be certain that she is available, we advise that you make a call and arrange your visit beforehand, in order to avoid any disappointment (tel 952 89 51 25).

Ladies taking a Bath

Pretty colours inside the cave

Manilva/Sabanillas is located ten kilometres west of Estepona, just off the coast road. An historic Roman bath where Julius Caesar took a bath in the year 66 BC is of special interest. The bath is built at a natural sulphur water well and is situated in the middle of nowhere far from any commercial interests. According to legend, Julius Caesar cured his herpes here, and his soldiers got rid of their scabies; in other words, the bath is considered to be very good for your health. Don't hesitate to take your bathing attire. Water temperature is constant at 18 degrees all through the year. The best way to get there is by turning off the main road at Sabanillas, drive straight northwards for around three kilometres until the road passes under the new motorway, and then turn right. In a few minutes, you will arrive at the restaurant parking area Los Alamos; from here you have to continue on foot in the same direction for approximately another kilometre. This excursion is best made on a Sunday. Then, if you wish, you can first visit the Sabanillas Street Market (open Sundays only) and thereafter continue to the bath and later eat a well-deserved Sunday lunch at Los Alamos.

View over Istán

Istán, well known for its natural water springs

Torre de Escalante from the 14th century

Village church in the centre

Istán is a charming and original mountain village. It is the closest mountain village from Costalita for those who do not want to drive up to Ronda. Follow the main road towards Malaga. Turn around right after the tunnel at Marbella, drive back into the tunnel, and then take the first exit. After that, there are signs that you can follow. Around 15 km. As is the case in most of the mountain villages, streets are originally designed for transports by donkeys or horses, thus being narrow and sometimes steep. It is best to park the car outside the village itself and to explore it by foot.

View over Ojén

Ojén, yet another white mountain village, is situated a few kilometres further away from Costalita. To get there, follow the main road to the exit at La Cañada and from there on just follow the road signs. Ojén, a somewhat larger village than Istán, is a good destination to admire the almond blossoms at the beginning of the year.

Excursions - a little bit further away

To the east

The City Wall seen from the west "by night" .

San Sebastián Minaret from the 14th century

The Arabic Baths from the 14th century .

Bridge leading to the Old Town, Puente Nuevo

The Bullfighting Arena - from inside

Part of the old City Wall

Ronda, a medieval mountain town 50 kms inland from San Pedro de Alcántara, is situated on an 160-metre-high rock surrounded by deep ravines (simplifying its defence once upon a time). To get there, turn off the coast road just after exiting the San Pedro tunnel and take the road in direction of the mountains which is partially very similar to a winding road in the Alps, and at its highest reaches a height 1.100 metres above sea level. We recommend that you park your car in "modern" Ronda (where you first enter the town) eg in a parking house and that you from there take a walk over to the historical section crossing the beautiful 18th century bridge Puente Nuevo. In Ronda you will find Spain's oldest Bull Fighting Arena (click for more info) and the local food speciality, Bull's Tail (rabo de toro). We recommend you to try this dish, it tastes far better than one is lead to believe. Author Ernest Hemingway lived for many years in Ronda and here he wrote his book Death in the Afternoon, a non-fiction novel describing the drama of bullfighting. Another wellknown person who also lived in Ronda is Orson Welles who also is buried here.

The vicinities of Ronda also houses a number of vineyards which, upon agreement, will be happy to arrange visits offering guided tours of their premises, presentation of their activities and production, wine sampling and mostly also meals. Some of the vineyards are:

Bodega Descalzos Viejos (click for more info), a vineyard located on historical premises dating back to the beginning of the 16th century when it was built as a convent for the Trinitary Orden.

Bodega Cortijo Los Aguilares (click for more info). According to many the producer of the best Wines within the Ronda district.

Welcome to Joaquín Fernandez

The vineyard houses almost eight acres of vine

The fermentation takes place in steel tanks

Peach coloured Blanco de Tinto to the left

Joaquín Fernandez Bodega (click for more info), located a few kilomtres north of Ronda, produces ecological red and white wines based upon the grapes Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Garnacha. Of interest is their Blanco de Tinto wine, a white wine produced from red grapes (Merlot and Syrah). It is extremely interesting to hear about the details on how to succeed with ecological cultivation. In short no chemicals at all are used. The trick is to introduce good insects on the premises that live from the bad insects threatening the cultivation and in order to attract those useful insects cultivate the types of flowers and plants that attract these. Between the vines so-called biological corridors are used where different types of grass, legumes and flowers are planted. The grass and the legumes contribute with nitrogen and nutrition to the soil and the flowers attract the useful insects in order to keep them away from the grapes.

Vines on the mountain slope

Miguel Ángel Garcia guides his guests

IKEA glasses are frequently used here

Paella is served in the shadow of the vines

Bodegas Garcia Hidalgo (click for more info), also a few kilometres north of Ronda, is yet another ecological vineyard, beautifully located besides the river Rio Guadalcobación, a few kilometres west of the previous vineyard. The name of the river has also influenced the family name of the wines produces here: Alcobazín. The vineyard, relatively small, is using just a little bit more than four acres for its plantations where white wines based upon Chardonnay grapes and red wines based upon Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah grapes are produced.

View over Júzcar

Entering the Smurf Village

Smurfs are also celebrating Christmas

Júzcar is the name of a small village, until June 2011 completely unknown to the public. When the new (3D) Smurf movie was to be launched in Spain, the production company Sony looked for a village which could be used for this, and after thorough research they picked Júzcar. There was only one hang-up. As you all know, houses in the Smurf Village are all blue (as are the Smurfs themselves), and in Júzcar, being a typical Andalusian village, all the houses were painted white. The village administration was asked whether they would be willing to have their houses repainted blue. The request was forwarded to all inhabitants who, with only one exception, accepted the idea, and this is how Júzcar quickly was converted into the Smurf village, a decision the inhabitants have had no reason to regret. The village, earlier a sleepy village with a high unemployment rate and people moving out, was over night converted into a village bubbling with life and is today a popular tourist destination. Access to the village is from the Ronda road until roughly a mile before Ronda; turn left onto road 7306 (not 7304 which is the road just before) and follow the road signs. After a further seven miles of narrow winding roads, you will reach the village. There is no way of not identifying it immediately!

View over Setenil

Setenil - Main Square

Setenil - Hanging Mountain

Setenil is a mountain village situated roughly ten kilometres behind (north of) Ronda: ie. to get there, you should drive "around" Ronda. A typical mountain village with white houses and narrow streets, Setenil is known for its "hanging mountains". A number of houses are built so that the mountain overhang constitutes a natural part of their walls and roof. You should definitely visit one of the restaurants in the main square, built under, and integrated into, the "hanging mountain".

Benalmádena is the second-to-last town along the coast before arriving in Málaga (Torremolinos being the last one). In the upper part of the town, right below the carretera (A7), there is a small area housing a number of interesting places to visit,

Buddha Statue in the Temple

The Buddhist Stupa

Buddha Painting in the Tower

The most spectacular object to visit is a genuine Tibetan Stupa, i.e., a fully functioning Buddhist temple. The Stupa is open to the public every day, except for Mondays, 10 am - 2 pm and 4 pm - 6.30 am. On Sundays there is a guided meditation at 6 pm. Entrance is free.

Butterfly Park

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Right behind the temple there is a Butterfly Park, Mariposario, housing more than 1500 butterflies of more than 150 different species from all over the world, and all flying freely around the exotically planted grand enclosure. Besides the butterflies also other kinds of animals, such as birds, fishes and also a small kangaroo, can be seen. The butterfly park, the largest of its kind in Europe, measures some 2.000 square metres and is open daily from 10.00 am until 7.30 pm. Entrance fee is 12 Euros for adults and 9,50 Euros for children and seniors (If booked over the Internet entrance fee will be 10.50 and 8.50 Euros respectively).

The road down towards the sea leads to the beautiful port, rated the third most beautiful artificial leisure port in the world. Close by, in the area called Arroyo de la Miel, you will also find Sealife Aquarium, open daily from 10 am until midnight. Entrance is 17.50€.

Close by is the beautiful Paloma Park, which house free-roaming rabbits, ducks, geese, guinea fowl, and peacocks plus three cafés. Fenced in are goats, emus, etc. Dogs are permitted on the lead. The cactus garden, housing more than 450 species, is spectacular especially when the plants flower in May.

Mijas is a well-known charming mountain village, six kilometres inland from Fuengirola, boasting splendid views over the coast and tourists a-plenty. Look for the parking garage sign on your left just after entering the village. An elevator takes you directly from the parking garage up to the square.

The old Castle keeping an Eye on Álora

The Lake District, a popular place to go

El Chorro de la Garganta

El Caminito del Rey

Álora is yet another of those white mountain villages. It's located roughly one hour's drive by car from Costalita, fifty kilometres northwest of Málaga. Leave the coast road at La Cañada, in the direction of Ojén, continue passing Coín, and you are there. Álora is considerably more "Spanish" than its mates among white mountain villages, i.e., not so many tourists have found their way there (yet). Its most important tourist attraction is undoubtedly the Castle overlooking the village, and with a history dating back, in certain parts, to the Phoenician era, i.e., almost 3000 years. Although it must be admitted that the village by itself does not offer a great deal of tourist attractions, there are many interesting places to discover in its vicinity.

The most wellknown of these places not to be missed is the fantastic ravine formation El Chorro de la Garganta, a few kilometres to the north of the village. This ravine is today a popular object to mountaineers. High up on its side, along the ravine wall, runs a walkway El Caminito del Rey (click for more info), the King's Little Path. This pathway, originally built from 1900-1905 for prisoners of war working at the water electricity plant nearby, has today, after many years of decay, been restored and renovated and is now again open to the public. Because of the very heavy interest from visitors a pre booking is strongly advised. The site is open from 9.30 am until 3.30 pm except for Mondays when it is closed. Cost for guided visits is 10 Euro.

A few kilometres further north lies the artificial lake system Conde del Guadalhorce, which is a popular destination for excursions, especially during week-ends. Here you can go swimming, sailing, paddling, enjoying good food etc, -all that is needed for a successful excursion. This lake system, in reality artificial water reservoirs, was inaugurated in 1921 by King Alfonso XIII.

Picasso's birthhouse, seen from the Museum

Easter procession

The cathedral at easter

Málaga, the province capital, 70 kms east of Costalita, is a large city and has one of Spain's largest ports, founded during the Phoenician era. Today the port is an important base for Mediterranean cruise ships. As you approach Malaga by car, you should follow the signs towards the port, El Puerto, and as you approach the transit street, parallel to the port, Alameda Principal, you can park your car. Also for those visiting Málaga by bus you will arrive at the Alameda Principal. One comfortable way to move around in Malaga is to board one of the sightseeing buses traveling around the city; you can board or jump off wherever and whenever you like at one of the 16 stops that are part of the tour. The complete tour takes one hour and a half and a one-day bus card costs 25€ for adults, 12,50€ for children 4-15 years and free for children up to 3 years old. Above the Alameda you find the Parade Street Marqués de Larios with its fancy boutiques, nowadays, it is a pedestrian street. To the right of this street, you will spot the Cathedral, construction of which started in 1522. The new Picasso Museum, the pride of Malaga, is not far from the cathedral. The museum, housed in one of Malaga's old palaces, Palacio de los Condes de Buena Vista (calle San Augustín), has on display more than 200 of Picasso's works representative of his different techniques and his different stages of creativity. The museum is open daily 10 am - 6 pm. A little way beyond the museum, you find Plaza de la Merced where the house where Picasso was born in 1881 is to be found.

Looks like an indian, doesn't it?

Antequera at dusk

Antequera's own Triumph Arch - the start of Paseo Real

View over Antequera

Jacob's Church (1522) at Plaza de Santiago

Antequera is a very old town, dating back to the 3rd century before Christ, to the Bronze Age, from which remains are still to be seen. The town is situated 50 kilometres north of Málaga on the A45 road connecting Málaga with Córdoba. As you approach the town, a very special profile can be spotted on the horizon, the so-called Indian Rock, a rock formation dominating the city that resembles an Indian lying down. Antequera houses a large number of very old and well-kept buildings, primarily churches and convents (there are no less than 34 convents in Antequera). The heights of Antequera house an old fortress, Alcazaba, erected by the Muslims at the beginning of the 15th century and used in their defence against the approaching Christian troops. The fortress itself is built on top of even older Roman constructions, including thermal baths situated right below and beside the fortress, which today can be visited and viewed thanks to recent excavations. Near the town a number of interesting targets for excursions can be found, of which the following deserve mention:

Howling wolves - LIVE

Pack leader Daniel howling with his wolves

Some of us are more curious...

The sound at full moon is the best...

Lobo Park, "The Wolf Park", where live wolves can be seen, is located some 16 kilometres west of Antequera along the road to Álora (A343). Lobo Park is open to visitors daily, except for Wednesdays, 10 am - 6 pm and guided tours are offered at regular intervals during the day. During the season (May-October), special tours are arranged on weekends and at full moon, when visitors are invited to Howl with the wolves. The entrance fee to the park is 11,50 Euros for adults and 7,50 Euros for children (2018-19). Credit cards are not accepted.

One of Antequera's 'Dolmens'

Flamingos in Fuente de Piedra       Photo Jan Werding

El Torcal

Fuente de Piedra, a salt water lagoon 19 kilometres northwest of Antequera, is a place for bird watchers, with several hundred species, including Europe's second largest population of the Greater Flamingo, which often can be spotted by the thousands during the breeding season that takes place during February-March each year (exactly when, and how many birds breeding depends on the weather conditions during the preceding winter; after a cold winter, the breeding takes place later, and when there has been little rain - a dry year - not so many birds will be spotted). In 2011, from a weather point of view a very good year, 11.000 new birds saw the light of day here. The breeding takes place in the middle of the lagoon where the birds will not be disturbed, so make sure to bring binoculars and camera with good lenses in order to get the maximum out of your visit.

El Torcal is a natural reserve just south of Antequera, whose main attraction is the beautiful limestone rocks in very special formations, referred to as limestone pavement. The area also houses caves dating back as far as the Neolithic Period. El Torcal is today a popular destination for mountaineering and offers a number of designated tracks for walking. The simplest access to El Torcal is by leaving the A45 road at Casabermeja towards the Villanueva de la Concepción village from where there is a tarmacadam road to El Torcal. During summer/winter, temperatures here are often extreme; therefore the best time for excursions are in the spring or in the autumn.

Axarquia is the name of the region located at the eastern border of Malaga province. This region, offering one of the best climates of Europe, stretches from the coast some 50 kms into the country. Places of interest are the town Nerja on the coast and the old villages alongside the Oil and Mountain road, for example, Alfarnate in the northern part of the area.

1000-year old Almond Tree

Almond flowers in February

Interior of an Olive Oil plant in Alfarnate

Alfarnate, the northern-most village of Axarquia, is beautifully located on a plain, embedded between and surrounded by high mountains. Its streets are wide and straight. The village, dating back to prehistoric times, was further developed by Moorish as well as Christian cultures. Its name, Alfarnate, dating back to the 10th century, comes from the Arabic word for Flour Mill. During the 19th century, the village became, due to its strategic location along the trade road between Malaga and Granada, the home of many bandits. Today the major source of income is agriculture and the production of some of the world's best olive oils; almonds, cherries, and chick peas are cultivated here. An excursion along the so-called Olive Oil Route is highly recommended, preferably in early spring when the almond trees are in full bloom.

Riogordo, yet another of several typical Andalusian mountain villages, is located 35 kilometres northeast of Malaga in the Axarquia region. The village, housing 3000 inhabitants, is particularly known for its three-hour long Passion Play which, since 1951, is given (in Spanish) on Good Friday and Easter Saturday on an outdoor stage (big enough for 6000 spectators) with around 400 of the village inhabitants as actors.

Nerja is a genuine Spanish town, though lately becoming more and more popular among builders of new (tourist) complexes. Nerja is situated by the sea around 60 kms east of Malaga and today most of the travel is by motorway. Of special interest are the so-called Nerja Caves, Cuevas de Nerja (tel 952 529 520), a large natural cave complex in the mountains above the town itself. Its largest rooms are cathedral-like and so big that concerts are given there from time to time. Open daily 10 am-2 pm and 4 pm-6.30 pm, during July and August 10 am-7.30 am. Entrance fee is 15.50 €.

To the west

Gaucín is a mountain village situated on the road between Algeciras and Ronda. The easiest way to get there from Costalita is to follow the coast road A7 westwards and then turn off in direction of the mountains roughly ten kilmetres after passing Estepona (Sabinillas).

The vineyard covers roughly 10 acres..

Also sheep can be found here..

..and of course a wine shop

Rickard sampling his wine

In the mountains overlooking Gaucín, at a heigth of almost 800 metres above sea level, Swedish wine farmer Rickard Enkvist (click for more information) is cultivating his own wine and on agreement the possibilities of visiting his wineyard and sampling his wines are good.

Castle entrance

The Castle is situated at the very top of the rock

Please note Gibraltar in the background

Castellar de la Frontera is a very interesting place, but not one of the most common tourist destinations. The village is dominated by an enormous rock with the modern part of Castellar de la Frontera built at its foot. The place of major interest, however, is the old town, built at the top of the rock and completely surrounded by a Moorish castle. The old town was, due to its strategic location, settled as early as the Paleolitic and Neolitic periods (around 35000 years BC), which is documented through cave paintings. To visit Castellar de la Frontera, take the coast road (A7) westwards to San Roque, where you make a right turn up the road A405. This road follows the eastern outskirts of the Alcornocales natural park, housing Europe's and one of the world's largest populations of naturally grown cork oak. For those of you planning a visit to the top of the rock, a word of warning about the narrow and winding road taking you up there. It is a real alpine-like road, sometimes with heavy traffic, including a number of tourist buses.

The rock seen from the airport

A lot of things remind one about England

Rock view of Algeciras Bay

Gibraltar. By car, you take the coast road westwards to the Spanish town of La Línea, which forms the border with Gibraltar. Take the first La Línea exit; the old road down to the town has fine views of the Rock. Continue through the industrial area to a roundabout where you will see a tiny sign indicating that you should turn left. Drive along the beach road around old La Línea. It is best not to bring your car into Gibraltar because of very long delays in passing through Spanish customs to get back into Spain. It is normally better to park your car in La Línea and then walk over to Gibraltar. There are many parking spots close to the border. You can also get there by bus (leaving from the bus stop at Costalita, transfer to the Gibraltar bus at the Estepona Bus Terminal). An interesting fact: as Gibraltar consists solely of a rock the only possible site to construct an airport was the so-called "neck" connecting the Rock with Spain. When entering or leaving Gibraltar you will therefore have to pass straight across the airport runway. When planes are landing or taking off, the road is simply closed to pedestrians as well as to cars. It is possible to go into Gibraltar by car, but often queues are long and finding parking spots is not the simplest thing.

The Hercules' Pillar Monument

Moorish Castle from the 8th century

Charles' the V wall from the 16th century

Gibraltar is like a small part of England, but with a Spanish touch. You can eat and drink the British way:, eg. fish and chips and warm beer (Emmet's comment). There are several ways to explore the town and its points of interest, all of which will involve a lot of walking. The simplest one, and possibly the one giving you the best experience within a limited timeframe, is to take a guided taxi tour. For this there are several options, but the one we have found the best is to take one of the tours offered by the Tourist Information bureau situated right after the border. Their shortest option is a one-and-a-half hour tour with four stops. At each of these stops there is time to get out of the taxi and explore the area on your own. The duration of the stops vary between 10 and 20 minutes. Places included in the tour are: The Hercules' Pillars monument, St Michael's Caves, the Apes and the tunnels from the "Great Siege". The price for this tour is 30 Euros per person which also includes the entrance fees to the different places. After the tour you will be dropped off downtown, usually at the cathedral square, from where you will have to find the way back on your own, which can be done by foot, bus or cab.

St Michael's Caves are spectacular

Gibraltar's ape colony is a must

Cannon in the Great Siege tunnels

An alternative to the guided tours is to take a walk through the city and take the cable car from its southern part up to the rock to, among others, have a look at the famous apes living there. Gibraltar is a tax-free area where spirits, cigarettes, electronics, etc. are cheaper than in Spain (keep in mind that you can bargain on anything). As Gibraltar is not part of the European Union, the "old" import rules are valid when entering Spain again (one litre of liquor/200 cigarettes). You can use either Euros or Pounds here. Most goods are priced in both currencies, and you are mostly given change in the currency you pay with. You should be aware that change is sometimes given in Gibraltar pounds, at par with the British Pound Sterling, but mostly not accepted outside Gibraltar. Please Note! A passport is required to enter Gibraltar.

Photos from Tarifa: Torbjörn Boström

Kite surfers

The Atlantic coast houses hundreds of windpowered mills

Tarifa is the windiest place in Europe with hundreds of windpowered mills, and a paradise for windsurfers. Follow the motorway westwards (or the coast road, free of charge) towards Cádiz. After passing Algeciras the road shrinks into a narrow road climbing up the mountain side. At the summit, there is a small café offering splendid views over Gibraltar and Africa.

Aqueduct

The Basilica

Amphi Theater

Fish Salting Plant

Thermal Baths

Bolonia is a small fishing village on the coast, some 15 kms north of Tarifa. Its northern outskirts houses Baelo Claudia, one of the most intact Roman ruined cities in Europe. This city was thriving during Roman Emperor Claudius' reign (41-45 AD) and for roughly another hundred years. It was an important industrial town with, among others, fish (mostly tuna) and salt, and also an important port for the trade between Europe and North Africa. To get there, just follow the road from Tarifa and turn left at the sign "Bolonia" (just before arriving at a biiig Tio Pepe sign). Then follow the road leading down to the beach, narrow and winding, going up and down over the hills. A few decent restaurants are found there. This particular part of the coast, referred to as Costa Ballena, constitutes part of the larger and more well known Costa de la Luz and is very exposed to the Atlantic.

Excursions - whole day+

Granada was the last bastion of the Moors in Spain with the Alhambra fortress and the Generalife gardens. Granada is situated around 180 kms away and is reached via a good motorway system; even so, allow three hours for the journey. It's a possible one-day excursion, but for those of you who want to stay overnight, pre-booking of a hotel in (yes, it is possible!) or close to the Alhambra is recommended. At the Parador in the Alhambra, you live within the fortress area; it's expensive but a fantastic experience. After the visit to Granada, you can return over Almuñecar and the coast road back to Nerja.

Interior from Córdoba's Mezquita

Columbus and the royal couple before going to America

View of the ruined city Medina Azahara outside Córdoba

The Alcazar de Córdoba palace has beautiful gardens

Córdoba, situated roughly two hours (230 kms on good roads) north of Costalita, is well worth an excursion. It is possible to visit Córdoba in single day, but there is a lot to be seen, so staying over-night is recommended. The city, with a very rich and thrilling history, is also fascinating and beautiful. Among the sights to be seen is the Mezquita, Córdoba's mosque, beautifully designed, but also with an interesting history. A specific detail is that the Mezquita is the world's only mosque housing a Christian cathedral within its walls. Right next to the Mezquita lies the Alcázar de los Reyes Católicos, a palace that the "Catholic Monarchs" Ferdinand and Isabella completed and lived in during the years when the Moors were driven out of Spain at the end of the 15th century. Moreover, Christopher Columbus was received here before taking off for his (first) journey to America. If you have time left, you should definitely walk around the city and take a look at the beautifully decorated patios (backyards) that are one of Córdoba's characteristics. Finally, with an additional drive in Córdoba's outskirts, you should definitely visit the ruined city Medina Zahara, completed during the 10th century and that served during a number of years as the capital for the Muslims of Spain.

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A visit to Jerez de la Frontera is recommended for those of you interested in tasting sherry at a Bodega (bodega=sherry producer). There are a bit more than 30 of those to be found in Jerez, birth place of Sherry (and origin of its name). Besides the sherry the bodegas also produce brandy under their own names, brandy used in the sherry production as well. Examples of bodegas and their brand names are

Pedro Domecq (oldest) with La Ina and Fundador,

González Byass (largest) with Tio Pepe, Croft, and Lepanto and

Osborne with Fino Quinta and Magno and finally

Lustau also producing quality products under their own name.

All of these, except for Osborne, which is located in Puerto de Santa Maria, are centrally located and are open for visits and sherry sampling several times a day.

Of interest in Jerez is the castle Alcázar Jerez de la Frontera from the 12th century. Similar to several other monuments in southern Spain this castle was originally built by the Moors and included a mosque and a minaret which were, after the Christian conquest in 1261, rebuilt to a Christian church and a bell tower. The castle also houses arabic baths of a very beautiful architecture.

The San Salvador Cathedral, from the 17th century, is built in a mix of Gothic, Baroque and Neoclassical style.

The San Miguel Church, from the end of the 15th century, is centrally located and can be seen from most parts of the town with its characteristic blue-white bell tower. The church was probably inaugurated by the "Catholic Monarchs" Ferdinand and Isabella, at their visit to the town in 1484.

Jerez also houses one of the best equestrian schools for the Andalusian horse breed, Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art, the "Spanish Riding School" (click for more info).

So, although there are plenty of things to do and to be seen in Jerez, those of you that just want to take it easy can simply stroll around its old town and enjoy the surroundings and soak up the athmosphere of the "Cradle of Flamenco", this aristochratic town with its first class architecture, unusual museums, mood gypsy quarters and a lot more.

Alcazár Jerez de la Frontera

The Cathedral

San Miguel Church

Beach walk in Puerto de Santa Maria

Puerto de Santa Maria, Jerez de la Frontera's "port" is situated by the coast, just 20 kilometres away. Also here there are bodegas to be visited, but the most interesting is its location by the sea with beautiful beaches and restaurants with a tasty offering of fish and sea food.

Seville, Spain's fourth largest town and the capital of Andalusia with 700.000 inhabitants is situated around 250 kms eastwards, beyond Gibraltar. The trip to Seville is nowadays quick and comfortable thanks to the new motorways A48, connecting Algeciras and Cádiz, and A4 (toll road) onwards to Seville. A good way to move around Seville and also to get a quick overview is to board one of the Sightseeing Buses that tour the city and allow you to jump on or off at any of the 14 stops that are part of the tour. The complete tour takes around one hour and a one-day bus card costs 26€ for adults, 13€ for children (two-day bus cards are also available. Of special interest in Seville, as in many other Andalusian cities, is the way Muslim/Arabic and Christian cultures have come together in many ways. Among things that one must see in Seville are the Santa Maria Cathedral, the world's oldest (and largest) Gothic cathedral, built in the 15th century on the ruins of the previous mosque (from the 12th century), while in the middle of Seville's historic centre, neighbouring the cathedral, you will find La Giralda, a clock tower, originally built by the Moores in the 12th century as a minaret that, with a height of 97 metres, remains the highest building in Seville. Also Torre del Oro, the Gold Tower, is something not to be missed. The Moores erected the tower by the river in 1220 as part of their defense strategy. From the tower, a chain could be stretched across the 11-metre-wide Guadalquivir River in order to stop enemy ships entering via the sea. Plaza de España, built in the 1920s, resembles a mini-Venice and is where the tradition invites newly-weds to take their wedding photos. All the above-mentioned places are within easy walking distance of each other. Those looking for a luxury place to stay should go to hotel Alfonso XIII (see above), but it is expensive. Seville is also the city where the Tapas offerings are bigger than any other place in the world. Eat and enjoy!!

Huelva is located 60 kilometres beyond Seville, just before the Portuguese border. Personally, I find the places surrounding Huelva more interesting than the city itself. To the south of the road connecting Seville and Huelva, you will find La Doñana, one of the largest National Parks in Europe and around twenty kilometres before entering Huelva, in the area called El Condado there are several vineyards open for touring and/or wine sampling. In this area, wines that are produced are not just of the sherry type but also good-quality white and red wines. Some kilometres north of the Seville-Huelva road, between El Condado and Huelva, you will find Rio Tinto, Europe's oldest open-cast mine, still in operation. In the mine, where principally ferrous ores and copper are extracted, guided tours can be arranged.

Excursions - More than one day

Below you will find listed a few ideas for excursions for those of you who want to know parts of Spain outside Andalusia. By ourselves, we have, especially on our trips by car between Sweden and Spain, discovered many interesting sites around Spain, and we would like to share some of those experiences with you. We commence on a small scale and hope to be able to add more places and details as time goes by.

The Fast Ferry from Tarifa

The Atlas is snow covered most of the year

Former king Hassan II's tomb in Rabat

The big Mosque in Casablanca

Plenty of ceramics can be found

Mobile phone mast disguised as a palm tree

Carpets can be a bargain in Morocco

Skin colouring in Fès

A camel ride is within reach

Morocco. The simplest way to get there is by taking a ferry across the Gibraltar Strait (you could also get there by plane). There are two types of ferries to choose from, the "ordinary" ones and the fast ferries. The ordinary ferries all leave from Algeciras (beyond Gibraltar), to which you can travel either by car or by bus (change at the Estepona Bus Station). There are ferries to Ceuta (a Spanish enclave) or Tangiers in Morocco. The crossing takes approximately one hour up to 2,5 hours, depending on which ferry you take. The fast ferries, leaving either from Tarifa or Algeciras, all take 35 minutes. The simplest access to Tarifa from Costalita is by car. There is usually plenty of room on the ferries except at beginning/end of the holiday season (turn of the months July/August and August/September). Information on the crossings is best obtained from the shipping companies themselves, Trasmediterranea for the ordinary and FRS for the fast ferries. More information about visiting Morocco is available on the web site Visit Morocco. A day trip to Morocco will take you to, your choice, either Tangiers or Ceuta, which both offer interesting sightseeing. For longer visits, there are many interesting places further south, eg., one of the old imperial cities Fès (300 kms) or Marrakech (600 kms). The easiest way to Marrakech is to drive southwards along the Atlantic coast; this route also takes you through Morocco's capital Rabat (250 kms) and the interesting old city of Casablanca (350 kms).

The pilgrim route is easy to follow

The Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela

The chest containing Saint James' remains

Santiago de Compostela, capital of Galicia, is found in the far northwestern corner of Spain, roughly 1.100 kilometres from Costalita. It is known especially as being the endpoint of the so-called Pilgrim Route, El Camino. The "real" route starts in Le Puy, south of Lyon, and ends 1.600 kilometres later at the apostle Saint James' grave in the Santiago de Compostela cathedral. However there are a number of alternative routes, including those coming in from the south. Common to all of them, though, is that the final destination is the same regardsless of from where the walk is started. This route has for several hundred years been one of the three most important goals for pilgrims from all over the world. Among well-known pilgrims can be found Saint Birgitta from Sweden. Many of the wanderers continue the route, after having reached Santiago, out to the coast and Cap Finisterre (Latin: end of the world).

The "Pilgrimage" can be made in a number of ways

""La Compostela" - the certificate

The route passes, among others, old Roman bridges

El Camino, The Pilgrim route, with final destination Santiago de Compostela, is well worth trying. This can be done in a number of ways. Of course by foot, but also by bike or by horse. After completing the pilgrimage and arriving in Santiago, the tradition is to attend the special Pilgrim Mass, held every day at noon. Thereafter, a visit to the so-called Pilgrim Office is required in order to get the certificate, the proof of a completed and approved pilgrimage. The minimum requirement for this is a distance by foot or by horse of at least 100 kilometres or by bike a minimum of 200 kilometres. Upon starting the walk, a so-called Pilgrim Passport (which can be found in most convents, churches or shops along the route) has to be obtained and should be stamped at at least two locations per day along the route in order to prove that the walk has been correctly carried through. Most hostels, restaurants, churches, and cafés along the route provide stamps. A suitable place to start from, for those who want to comply with the minimum requirements, is Sarria, situated roughly 120 kilometres east of Santiago. A recommended daily distance to walk is between 20 and 30 kilometres, which means that Santiago will be reached in five days. There are maps and guidebooks (not to mention Internet) with suggestions and descriptions of suitable intermediate places to stay, including information on where to eat and sleep. The best time to make your Pilgrim walk is during the spring or the autumn. In the summer, it is generally too hot, and, during the winter, it tends to rain a lot (and can be chilly).

The Guggenheim Museum is situated down by the river

Maman, by Louise Bourgeois, next to the Guggenheim

Bellas Artes, art museum

Bilbao, with a little bit more than one million inhabitants, suburbs included, lies in Baskia up by the Bay of Biscay in the far north of Spain. Bilbao is one of Spain's most important ports, but has also a history of being an important industrial city, mostly in iron and steel production. At the beginning of the 20th century, however, demand for those products decreased drastically, mostly due to increased competition from Asia. The citizens of Bilbao soon realized that the unemployment rate was increasing rapidly and that they were living in a filthy industrial city. For these reasons, the city's leaders decided to invest in tourism and transform Bilbao into a cultural capital. Streets were to be cleaned up, parks to be designed and constructed, and so forth. The first important step was taken in 1997 when the Guggenheim Museum, which was later to become part of Bilbao's profile, was inaugurated. The museum is housed in an impressive building, welded out of 3-millimetre-thick titanium plates, similar to the ones used to build aircraft, and designed to resemble a vessel on the Nervion river.

...and along the banks of the river there stands a spider created by Louise Bourgeouis, originally created and made out of steel for Tate Modern in London, but later complemented with six units of bronze construction, of which one was brought to reside here below the Guggen, as the museum is referred to locally. The spider, attaining a heigth of a little more than nine metres, is named Maman (mother in French) and carries a basket of 26 white marble eggs below her stomach.

Bilbao now has a modern infrastructure: new airport, new metro, and new city trams. Among other sites in Bilbao deserving mention is the Museo de Bellas Artes housing works by such internationally known artists as El Greco, Goya, Gauguin, Francis Bacon, Picasso, and Velazquez. It is worth mentioning that Bilbao is a city suited for exploration on foot. Distances are short and there are plenty of pedestrian streets and green parks to rest in.

The beach walk

San Sebastián cathedral

Villas with wonderful views

San Sebastián lies just 100 kilometres east of Bilbao, but the distance between the cities is more than that. While Bilbao's background is as a port and industrial centre, San Sebastián has a history as the city of the "beautiful people", and to some degree this is still the case today. This is where the royal family and the court went to spend their summers at the beginning of the twentieth century, and to some extent they still do. Along the Beach Promenade are luxury hotels, posh bars, and popular night clubs. San Sebastián is also a paradise for gourmets, with its food culture closely connected to farmers and fishermen, and its local markets offering a wealth of fish and seafood of the highest quality. This is where the refined Basque kitchen originates, with its innovative details of delicate, tasty food. And it is here you find restaurants ranked by Michelin as among the best in the country. Besides just strolling along enjoying the beautiful city, a visit to the new impressive Gothic-style cathedral, situated close to the beach promenade, is recommended.

L'Hemisfèric

Museu de les ciències

Valencias coming football stadion

Valencia, with its 800.000 (1,6 millions in "greater" Valencia) inhabitants, is Spain's third largest city and its second largest port, handling around 20% of the country's exports. Those intending to go there from Costalita by car will travel around 700 kilometres on good roads. Alternatives are to go there by the AVE train, change at Madrid, or fly direct from Malaga airport. In addition to traditional sights, such as the Old Town, Valencia offers a number of very special experiences. The first thing that hits you when viewing a map of Valencia is something green, winding like a river through the city. You will also notice that several bridges cross this "thing". But green! Could the river be that dirty? The explanation is that a river, Turia, once flowed here but, after a flood in the fifties, a decision was taken to drain it and divert the river to a new bed outside the city. The site of the river bed has since been used to house many of Valencia's new sights. One of these not to be missed is the Art and Science City, inaugurated in 1998, made up of no less than six futuristic creations, housing museums and other cultural institutions, several of which are designed by Santiago Calatrava, a native of Valencia and well-known for many landmark works around the world. Among the buildings to be seen in this project are l'Hemisfèric (a building designed in the shape of an eye), housing a planetarium and an IMAX cinema, and the Museu de les ciències, an interactive science museum housed in a building in the shape of a dinosaur skeleton. The city's opera house is also located in this area. Of special interest is the harbour, renovated as part of the city's role as host of America's Cup sailing races in 2007 and 2010. The city also has a 5-kilometres-long racing track, the scene of European F1 races. Valencia further boasts a well-designed and constructed Metro, for which reason there is no need for one to stay in the city centre in order to enjoy all the sights. In the northern outskirts of the city, the embryo of Valencia's new football stadium, Nou Mestalla, with a planned capacity of 74.000 spectators, is located and viewable. The project, delayed several times due to financing problems, is to be completed by 2019.

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