Nerja
Nerja is a popular coastal resort town some 50 kilometres east of Málaga city conected by the A-7 coastal highway. It marks the eastern limit of Málaga's province Costa del Sol. Once a sleepy fishing village, the town now has a resident population of over 25,000.
Flanked by a dramatic mountain range, Sierra Almijara, 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, on which a canary can sometimes be heard singing...
However, the heart of Nerja is its spectacular Balcón de Europa the "Balcony of Europe", a magnificent promenade along the edge of a towering cliff, once the site of the great Moorish castle, with sweeping panoramic views of the Mediterranean and the small coves and beaches below, against an awesome backdrop of hazy blue mountains.
MONUMENTS
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 mudéjar, and the beautiful Gardens of Capistrano Playa, which descend to Burriana Beach.
SIERRAS ABOVE NERJA
The Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Almara were 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. Accessible from Nerja and Vélez-Málaga on the Costa del Sol. Routes range from easy strolls to strenuous climbs. The mountains are largely limestone, with some summits reaching over 2000m.
NERJA RESTAURANTS
Nerja cuisine includes several specialities including De La Doncella (red mullet) and pescaito frito (fried fish) and ranging from top international cuisine to the ubiquitous sausage, eggs and chips! There is no shortage of restaurants to choose from.
GETTING AROUND NERJA
To hire a car is the best way to get around! Travel with ease and enjoy the beautiful views! Check under "links" about Car Hire for the best deals. There's also horse riding, the "cave-train" and bus services as well.
OTHER PLACES AROUND
Other places along the coast are Almuñecar to the East and Torrox and Torre del Mar to the West.