East Costa del Sol

East Costa del Sol

Torre del Mar (30km from Málaga), is one of many towns along the coast which takes its name from the many 'atalayas' or watch towers that used to guard the coast in Roman and Moorish times. Torre del Mar has undergone considerable improvement over the last few years and is a quiet resort with wide sandy beaches flanked by a lovely, new promenade. Inland from Torre del Mar, the beautiful Axarquía region with its spectacular scenery, sparkling villages and abundant wildlife is a nature lover's paradise.

Nerja, (56km from Málaga), once another sleepy fishing village is now home to a population which exceeds 12,000; many of which are foreign residents. The Balcón de Europa, a natural palm lined belvedere winding its way along the towering cliffs was once the site of a Moorish Castle and affords spectacular views of the sparkling Mediterranean and the sandy coves below. In the town itself, sights include the charming 17th Century Church of El Salvador and the beautiful Jardines de Capistrano Playa which descend to Burriano beach - one of Nerja's finest. Undoubtedly the biggest attraction in Nerja is its labyrinth of caves situated 3km from the town and dating back as far as 30,000 years. The caves are a natural wonder and as well as housing the world's largest known stalactite - a staggering 63 metres long - one of the larger caverns has been transformed into a concert hall where many performances including ballet, flamenco and opera are staged during the summer months.

Travelling East from Nerja, the road leaves Málaga province and the Costa del Sol and enters the Costa Tropical. Entering the province of Granada, the N340 launches into one of the most panoramic stretches of its entire length. Climbing hairpin bends the road then runs along sheer cliffs high above the jagged coast.

Almuñecar (80km from Málaga and 90km from Granada) has made every attempt to preserve its Andalusian character and boasts ruins from the Phoenician, Roman and Moorish periods. Other historical landmarks include the two-level Roman aqueduct and the remains of a Phoenician necropolis. For flora and fauna; Almuñecar's Loro Sexi bird park is home to over 1500 birds representing 120 international species and the Parque del Majuelo houses Europe's largest collection of subtropical plants with over 400 species. The beaches, the promenade behind them with its palm roofed bars and restaurants, the old part of town and the general laid-back atmosphere of Almuñecar has made it not just a popular holiday destination but also a firm favourite for residential tourism.

Granada (which also has an International Airport), is an ancient city steeped in history and culture. The incredible Alhambra Palace built by the Moors is the "ruby set above" the city with the snow covered Sierra Nevada mountains completing the canvas behind. Home to Europe's southern most ski resort, the Sierra Nevada offers great skiing late into the season, and during the summer months the resort is a haven for outdoor sporting enthusiasts. The inland region around Granada with the cave dwellers of Guadix, the impressive Calahora Castle and the Alpujarras, is another world just waiting to be discovered.