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Nerja holiday destination
on the Costa del Sol by Alan Congreave
Nerja is the most eastern
town on the Costa del Sol and is 55 km (about 35 miles) from Malaga. It
is only 50 minutes drive from Malaga's International Airport and an hour
and a half from Granada and the Sierra Nevada ski resort. Part of its beauty
comes from its magnificent geographical location. Within an area of 84
square kilometres and a population of approximately 17,000, it is one of
the two municipalities in the whole province of Malaga with the most protected
nature parks ('Sierra Tejeda-Almijara' and the 'Maro-Cerro Gordo').
Protected by the 'Sierra'
mountains from the winds of the north and bordered by the Mediterranean
Sea, Nerja enjoys an exceptional subtropical all year round climate.
From a tradition of fishing
and agriculture, the primary economic activity of today is tourism. Because
Nerja still conserves its culture, and together with its beaches, cliffs
and mountains, it is one of the more popular destinations for many people
looking to have a closer contact with nature; not forgetting, of course,
the fairs, traditional festivities and nightlife that the town has to offer.
Nerja boasts 16 kilometres
of beaches with powdery sand and sparkling clear water. All major water
sports are available here, including water skiing, scuba diving and sailing.
There are plenty of restaurants and cafes here to choose from, and the
visitor can hire a horse-drawn carriage to explore the most romantic corner
of the town. It is said that Nerja has about 600 tapas bars, cafes and
restaurants and as such will suit all tastes and pockets.
Flanked by a dramatic Sierra
Almijara mountain range to the east, the town has fortunately managed to
avoid being blighted by the concrete high-rise scenario, which has been
the inevitable result of the tourist boom in some of the coastal resorts.
The old quarter of the town is still virtually unchanged with narrow, winding
streets, whitewashed houses with wrought iron terraces overflowing with
geraniums and bougainvillea.
The heart of Nerja is its
spectacular Balcon de Europa, the "Balcony of Europe". It is a magnificent
promenade along the edge of a towering cliff, which once the site of the
great Moorish castle. There are sweeping panoramic views of the Mediterranean
and of the small coves and beaches below, against an awesome backdrop of
hazy mountain scenery.
The town's monuments include
the 17th century Church of El Salvador, in a style, which is a charming
mixture of baroque and Moorish, or Mudejar, and the beautiful Gardens of
Capistrano Playa, which descend to Burriana Beach.
Nerja's most spectacular
attraction is undoubtedly its fascinating caves, located just three kilometres
from the centre of town. They include archaeological treasures such as
paintings over 20,000 years old and other pre-historic remains. One of
the enormous natural caverns has been transformed into a concert hall,
where many performances are staged during the summer.
About the Author
Alan has been visiting Nerja
since 1982 and invites you to visit Andalucia
Villas ( http://www.andalucianvillasltd.com ) for renting holiday villas
in the Nerja area of Andalucia. http://www.andalucianvillasltd.com "> Villa
Management and Sales information for visitors to Nerja.
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