Places To See
1.
Sabinillas
2. Sotogrande
3. Manilva
4. Casares
5. Estepona
6. Gaucin
7. Ronda
8. Marbella
9. PuertoBanus
10. Gibraltar
11. Granada
12. Malaga
Just about 1 km from Duquesa along the main N340 highway lies Sabinillas is the heart of the Western Costa del Sol for all native Spaniards and the many settlers who fell in love with its charm and traditions. Sabinillas still remains largely undiscovered by most tourists. However once visited its charm is embracing and you are hooked by its small town atmosphere with promenade cafes, local tapas bars and friendly 'Churinguitos' which are the Spanish beach bars serving freshly caught fish and local delicacies.
Less than 25 years ago Sabinillas was simply a small village with fishing as its main industry 90% of Sabinillas' workforce worked on the local boats that can still be seen dotted across the shoreline. Today with the development of the new golden mile Sabinillas has developed into a charming beachside town but one of the few that has not succumbed to mass tourism and over development. This can be most appreciated in early morning when the fishermen are pushing out their wooden boats ready to get the catch of the day. Families are out walking along the promenade watching the sun rise and the recently established bars, patisseries and cafes are opening ready to receive locals and tourists meeting for a relaxing day on the expansive beachfront promenades.
In 1990 there was a little car boot sale in the car park of the Moorhouse Pub in Sabinillas. For several years it was only supported by a few expats. Then it caught the attention of a wider group of people looking for a bargain. The Sunday morning Sabinillas market is now is one of the biggest on the coast and when the bullfighter Javier Conde dropped in for a bargain it only strengthened its reputation. Since its humble beginnings it has needed to change locations four times to accommodate its popularity. The busiest day by far in Sabinillas is Sunday when many people come to visit the Sunday craft market which has now moved again and is held just outside the town. This is one of the most popular markets along the coast and definitely one not to be missed.
Sabinillas beach is one of the few beaches in the Costa del Sol to be honoured with the prestigious blue flag beach award. This certifies that as well as exceeding European environmental, health and safety standards the beach also offers the best in facilities and activities. The weekend is when Sabinillas beach really comes to life. The beach volleyball courts and table tennis tables are popular with those keen to show off their skills. Beach lovers and sun worshippers gather to enjoy the ambience and facilities. You can walk from Duquesa Port to Sabinillos taking the beach front route along the promenade. (back to top)
Five minutes by car from Duquesa towards Gibraltar is the Port of Sotogrande perhaps the most beautiful coastal location along the Costa del Sol . This secured luxurious area is the home of royalty, celebrities and wealthy businessmen and once visited its beauty and diversity explains why. The multicoloured developments that surround the great marina are home to shops, services, restaurants and cafes and provide the perfect location to people watch or simply relax and enjoy this magical destination.
Particular areas of natural beauty include miles of undeveloped beaches enclosed by sand dunes and green fields and vast expanses of marshlands that border Guardiaro River and can be enjoyed by all as they stroll along its wooden walkways. The central attraction of Sotogrande is of course the marina. Tapas bars, cafe bars and restaurants are the focal points of the marina. When enjoying outdoor dining or a late night drink in one of the bars your eyes will be drawn across the marina filled with multi million dollar yachts, over the Gibraltar Straights where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic to the beautiful backdrop of Morocco and the Atlas mountain range.
Sotogrande is home to several world famous sporting facilities. Numerous Championship golf courses hold major PGA events such as the Ryder Cup and European tour events. Prestigious courses include La Reserve, Almenara, Sotogrande and the world famous Valderama. A tradition in Sotogrande is to attend one of the several Polo events at Santa Maria Polo club or experience a yachting regatta. These events are sure to be a fantastic day out and are well attended by local and international dignitaries. (back to top)
Manilva is a quaint village in the hills above Duquesa now easily reached from the new motorway as it is the exit for the Port. With a backdrop of the Sierra Bermeja Mountains, Manilva is nestled among vineyards and enjoys outstanding views across agricultural land to the coast and Mediterranean Sea.
Surrounded by vineyards Manilva boasts several wines that are unique to the area which form the main crop of its agricultural trade and add to the beauty of the area.
Although Manilva maintains a sleepy manana attitude synonymous with Spain there are numerous recreational activities that can be enjoyed in this spectacular location. The Roman sulphur baths are remarkably well preserved and provide several health benefits to its users. The Sierra Bermeja Mountains and surrounding countryside are the perfect setting for walking, mountain biking, cycling and motor cross (where permitted).
Manilvas tree lined
mainstreet is kept in immaculate condition. Each side street appears to
be the pride of its residents who tend to them. This village is a jewel
of the Spanish traditional way of life yet only minutes from the bustle
of the coast and its modern marinas and Golf courses.
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Casares located to the North of the motorway exit is the home of Bias Infante, the founder of Andalucia. This tiny village of only 3000 residents is deceptive at first but after closer inspection castles, churches, tapas bars, fountains and plazas are numerous, traditional and not to mention beautiful.
The approach to Casares is in itself spectacular. The vast expanses of undulating and rugged countryside begin the excellent view of the Sierra Bermeja Mountains and miles of coastline. Upon first sight of Casares you will be stunned by the beauty of such a village delicately perched on the mountainside. It is the epitome of a classic Spanish whitewash village setting and makes one wonder how it was ever constructed.
The battlements of the Arab castle are at the crest of the village. This, coupled with the "Mirador" viewpoint are the best vantage points to appreciate endless countryside rolling down the valley to the coast, Gibraltar and North Africa .
This truly is a
remarkable village. It is a pleasure to lose yourself within the network
of tiny streets and walkways whilst enjoying every detail of this unique
place. As yet this still remains another secret of the Costa del Sol.
This place is a must for all as it is only 9 miles from the coast yet
feels like another world and time. (back to top)
Estepona is the major town on the new golden mile. It enjoys every amenity and attraction of a city yet maintains the character and charm of a traditional Spanish town. The cobbled narrow streets create a quaint and atmospheric centre that is the home of several traditional Tapas bars and cafes.
Estepona is a remarkably well-kept town. Its main roads are lined with palm trees and display immaculately well tended flowerbeds throughout the central reservations and walkways making them a pleasure to stroll along. The pristine beach stretches for miles and is paralleled by an impressive and spacious promenade and is a popular and pretty area of the town.
Estepona has rapidly expanded to become a beautiful modern place, which with its interesting history and friendly community has succeeded in maintaining its old town charm.
A street market is held in Estepona every Wednesday in Avenida Juan Carlos a large new car park has just been finished by the promenade to ease parking problems. (back to top)
The once Roman settlement of Gaucin derives its name from the Arab word "Guazan" meaning strong rock and was perhaps christened as such due to its commanding position against the mountain range of Sierrania de Ronda. The contrast of this stark whitewash village enclosed by infinite countryside and nestled between olive groves, orange trees, a multitude of wild flowers and cultivated gardens provides a picturesque setting and clearly would be the pride of any artist's canvas.
The magnificent "Castillo de Aguila" Eagles Castle dates from the Roman era and was later expanded into an Arab fortress. The castle was named due to the eagles that could be seen circling the towers and more recently is home to kestrels nesting in the castle walls. This traditional and pretty setting steeped in history lends itself to several pastimes. Concerts, recitals and flamenco performances all take place within the castle.
Home to many
artists and enthusiasts Gaucin offers numerous opportunities to
appreciate the array of structures and colours throughout the winding
narrow streets that were once a haven for brandy and tobacco smugglers.
The magnificent mountain village of Gaucin is a beautiful place to visit
and offers spectacular and unique attractions. Seated 626 metres above
sea level Gaucin is a must for all visitors who will undoubtedly enjoy
the customs and traditions of this enchanting place.
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Ronda is a beautiful and impressive historic town famous for Spain's oldest bullring and "El Tajo" river gorge that divides the medieval from the 18th Century parts of town. Ronda's fascinating attractions and natural beauty due to its commanding position on an outcrop of the Serrania de Ronda Mountains is immensely popular with tourists.
Ronda's recently
built Parador walkway along the river gorge leads to the viewpoint area
littered with flowerbeds and is the perfect place to view the endless
countryside beneath. The gorge has a stone bridge that was once used as
a prison and is an idyllic place to peer down to the Guadalevin River.
Ronda is a popular and established tourist destination. It is an
interesting, charming and pretty village making it a pleasure to spend
time seeing the sights. (back to top)
Marbella is of course the most famous town on the Costa Del Sol . The mix of the old town in contrast to the new gives an atmospheric blend of traditions and cosmopolitan life.
Marbella has a very
high profile image that was established due to large investments in the
area and the development of expansive landscaped areas, an extremely
impressive promenade, three marinas, casino, clubs and world class
sporting facilities. These are clearly all chic, cosmopolitan and lively
destinations. Yet at its heart you still have traditional Marbella in
the streets surrounding the "Plaza de los Naranjos" ( Orange Square )
which is the centre of numerous small shops. bars, bistros. craft shops,
art galleries and boutiques that weave in and out of an area overflowing
with vibrant colours from exotic plants and trees set off against
traditional white buildings.
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Puerto Banus like Marbella is the other world famous destination on the Costa Del Sol and the place to be and be seen.. It is here that multimillionaires moor their mega yachts, park their Ferraris and spend their days shopping in the Jewellery boutiques and designer fashion houses.
Puerto Banus is atmospheric by day and buzzing by night. A must in Puerto Banus is to peruse the world famous fashion houses that line the huge marina, to relax by the enormous private yachts in one of the chic cafes and soak up the ambiance of this extremely luxurious environment. Do not miss a pizza at Picassos which is probably the most well known restaurant at the port but all at affordable prices.
Puerto Banus has several exciting attractions including a multi-cinema complex, huge shopping centres, casino and harbour cruises. As the sunsets over Puerto Banus the Alfresco bars, piano clubs, restaurants and nightclubs come alive making this a fantastic night time experience.
Puerto Banus is
centred by the marina, lined with streets of designer boutiques and
cafes and expands to beautiful white sandy beaches that are home to
several trendy bars and is backed by imposing mountains. It is for this
reason that it attracted the rich and famous and remains a millionaires'
playground. (back to top)
Gibraltar is one of the last outposts of the British Empire. Only a short drive from Duquesa (30 to 45 minutes) it is imposing but small. By car you take the N-340 and turn off at San Roque for La Línea. The route to the border is well sign-posted. Unfortunately, lengthy queues can form for cars wishing to go onto and leave the Rock. It is often better to park your car in La Línea and walk across the frontier. To check on the queues at the border call Frontier Queue Information - Tel: 42777
It measures less than six square kilometers in total. It is inhabited by around 30,000 people made up of Gibraltarians, British, Moroccans, Indians and Spanish. There is also a colony of the famous apes, the only ones in Europe to run free in a semi-wild state. It is however renowned for its selection of duty free shopping and English shops so if you are longing to see Marks and Spencer's or Tesco's then here is where to go (although be warned these are not the biggest versions of these famous stores)
You will need a valid British or EU passport to enter and visitors entering from Spain, who require a visa to enter Spain, should beware. By going to Gibraltar you will be deemed to have left Spain and so may well require a new visa to cross back into Spain.
There is certainly no lack of things to do or places to visit during your visit in Gibraltar. Detailed information on all these can be obtained from the Gibraltar Tourist Office, Duke of Kent House, Cathedral Square, Gibraltar. Tel: 74950. Fax: 74943.
The most important sites are The Upper Rock and St Michael's cave. Although these can be reached by yourself it is wiser to take one of the Rock tours on the Island. These enable you to visit the Upper Rock Nature Reserve ( giving magnificent views of North Africa and the meeting of the Atlantic and Mediterranean ); St Michael's Cave, the Apes Den, the historic Siege Tunnels plus Europa Point. The Nature Reserve is open daily from 0930 - 19.00. There are a host of other attractions such as the Casino, the Gibraltar Museum and the Glass Factory which is one of the few glass factories in Southern Europe producing hand-made glass. Using methods which are over 2,000 years old, the glass blowers will create and shape the glass objects as you watch. A shop at the factory sells these objects at factory prices. At the marina you can go on an organized boat tip to see the dolphins. (back to top)
Granada lies in the foothills of Spain's Sierra Nevada Mountains. Many visitors to Spain believe that if there is only one place to visit then it should be Granada. A two to two and a half hour car drive away from Duquesa it can be visited in a day if you leave early. It can be very hot in July and August with 40C plus temperatures. It's most famous feature and the object of any trip has to be The Alhambra:
This is the Moorish Palace of the rulers of Spain when the Moors ruled Southern Spain and Granada was their Capital. It is considered by some to be one of the 10 wonders of the world. The Alhambra is a massive castle constructed over many centuries. It consists of gardens, fortifications and sumptuous palaces. All are beautifully preserved so you can see how life would have been like during those centuries. It receives 8000 visitors per day and is Spain's most visited monument. These is a limit to the number of visitors allowed so if you want to be sure of entrance it is wise to book in advance or go on a tour.
The City itself is a University Town with a good nightlife and various points of interest including the Albaicin Quarter which is the old Arabic Quarter ( although the Arabs were removed after the reconquest) but you will not have time to visit them in one day if you go to the Alhambra It is a large town and not easy to find your way around without detailed tourist information so if you want to see more you will need to book a hotel for the night and contact local tourist information offices.
Malaga is the Capital City of the Costa Del Sol . Because of the Airport most people assume it is an industrial town and not worth visiting but they are wrong. It has attractive streets and shops and buildings of architectural interest. It has 3 main points of interest
The Alcazaba - The kings' palace, Alcazaba, which was built starting in 11th century, is Malaga's most important building of the Moorish epoch. In its interior you may visit the very interesting Archaeological Museum. Worth visiting are as well the beautiful gardens with several fountains, and the rests of a Roman theater. Very close to it there is the Castillo de Gibralfaro . Originally it was a palace built probably by Phoenicians, but in the 14th century Caliph Yasuf I had built over it the fortress which is preserved until today. Two of its towers are connected by ducts with the Alcazaba.
The Cathedral - After conquering Malaga from the Moors, the Catholic Kings ordered in 1528 a cathedral to be built over the original mosque. Construction was not finished until 1728, and the façade is mainly of this later period. Among the highlights are the chapels, Capilla Mayor and Capilla del Sagrado Corazon, and the beautiful choir-stalls.
The
Picasso Museum – This is located at Palacio de Buena Vista,
Calle San Agustin. This is a new museum with works from all periods in
its permanent collection. This museum is very close to the house were
Picasso was born, in Plaza de la Merced. For more information on the
museum visit
www.museopicassomalaga.org Picasso is of course Malaga 's
most famous son. Although he only lived there for his 1st 14 years he
always retained connections with the town. (back
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