Must see cities, towns and villages in Malaga
22 July 2019
Note: The author's views are entirely his or her own and may not reflect the views of RetoxMagazine.com
Here are some ideas of what towns and cities to visit in the province of Málaga in southern Spain. If you're heading to Malaga city we've done a post on the capital of Malaga a little while earlier.
Ronda
This mountaintop city is best known for its deep gorge and the legendary bull ring.
The city of approximately 34,000 residents is set over and around the dramatic gorge known as El Tajo. For many visitors the views of the gorge is the highlight of Ronda.
Must see things in Ronda include:
- El Tajo gorge, as mentioned above – a popular attraction in the region of Malaga.
- Puente Nuevo – a historic 18th-century arch bridge over a 120-m. chasm, with a guardhouse museum.
- Bullring of the Royal Cavalry of Ronda – The Plaza de Toros de Ronda is an impressive 18th-century bullfighting ring with an arena of 66 metres in diameter surrounded by two 5-row layers of seating, 136 pillars and other features. There’s also a museum.
- La Cueva del Gato or The Cats Cave – this is a beautiful spot with caves, crystal clear river pools and canyons to explore, a treat for nature lovers.
- Puente Romano – The Roman Bridge, which is actually not Roman but rather was built by the Arabs.
- Puente Viejo – the oldest and smallest of the three bridges that span the 120-metre deep river chasm
- Baños Arabes - The Arab Baths are the excavated remains of a 13th-century bathhouse featuring rooms, vaults & portions of the water system.
- La Casa del Rey Moro – a palace featuring a water mine & hanging lush gardens that can be explored by visitors.
- Mondragon Palace - Public museum housed in a 14th-century home with gardens, courtyards, balconies and water features.
- Alameda del tajo - Popular 1800s park featuring tree-lined promenades & panoramic balconies suspended over a cliff.
- Museo Lara - Private collection of historic weapons, clocks, scientific instruments & witchcraft-related items.
- Puerta de Almocábar - Arched stone gate dating to the 13th century, giving entry to a historic walled enclosure.
- Jardines De Cuenca – a small pretty park along the gorge that is imaginatively terraced and offers a good viewing spot of the gorge.
- Iglesia del Espíritu Santo – a stone Gothic-style Catholic church that features a single nave.
There are other sites to see in Ronda that you might want to explore if you have extra time. However, this list should keep you busy for one or two days.
Torremolinos
The Mediterranean resort town of Torremolinos is a popular holiday destination in Malaga and the Costa del Sol. Here you can expect sandy beaches, a pulsing nightlife, dining and shopping among other things.
Things to see in Torremolinos include:
- The Beaches – Let’s face it, if you’re coming to Torremolinos you’re probably coming for the beach. Torremolinos' coastline is about 7km long and is divided into four main beaches. Playa El Bajondillo is Torremolinos' most central beach with beach bars, shops, restaurants day beds, palm trees, and plenty of free sand. Playa La Carihuela is the westernmost beach in Torremolinos and offers water sport rentals - parasailing, paddle boarding, kayaking, and many other kinds of aquatic equipment. Here you will also find shops and several restaurants. Playa Los Alamos is the most eastern and most secluded of the four beaches. This is a great place to avoid crowds during the day and enjoy lively evenings at some of the most popular beach clubs along the waterfront.
- Casa de los Navajas - built in 1925 it’s a mansion of Neo-Mudejar style with Mozarabic touches. The mansion belonged to the Luque-Navajas family who had ties to the sugar cane business. The house hosts exhibitions, concerts, theatre performances and has become a popular historic building in Torremolinos.
- Torre Pimentel - The Torre de los Molinos (Tower of the Mills), later renamed Torre Pimentel, gave the town its name. The tower was built around 1300s and is a historical attraction in the heart of the town.
- Parque de La Batería - La Batería park overlooks the sea and features a lake measuring more than 9,000 square metres, where you can also hire a boat. There’s also an exercise area, a bike lane, a running track, foot paths, children’s play area, and even an observation tower. Note, pets are not allowed.
- Molino de Inca Botanical Garden - Jardin Botanico Molino de Inca is a Tranquil botanical garden with an old flour mill, now a museum, plus a Japanese garden and aviaries. Expect to see lots of plants, trees, cacti, water features. Mind, you will see birds in cages.
- El Morro o Punta de Torremolinos - offers a unique coastline walk along the Mediterranean.
- The Senda Litoral de Malaga – The Coastal Path of Malaga is part of an ambitious plan to create a 160km path that connects the entire coast of Malaga province from Manilva to Nerja. Get ready for a decent hike!
- La Gran Senda – The Great Path is another super hike project in Andalusia that connects with the Camino Mozárabe de Santiago (Mozarab Way of St James) as well as Camino del Agua route that will join Senda Litoral (The Coastal Path) and the Gran Senda (The Great Path). The Spanish love their walks, that is certain.
Gaucín
With the population of approximately 2000 people this village is a hidden whitewashed gem located in the mountains. From Gaucín you can see mind-blowing views of Gibraltar and North Africa.
You can get there going inland from Marbella, Puerto Banús and Estepona. Gaucín is also not far from Ronda.
Why visit Gaucín?
The main attraction in Gaucín is its fantastic views.
There is also an opportunity to see artworks and meet the artists at Art Gaucín, which is an annual event that takes place over two long weekends, usually at the end of May and beginning of June. This is a known event on the Andalucian art scene, so if you happen to be there at this time of the year, it’s well worth checking it out.
Casares
Casares is a town and municipality in Spain, located in Málaga province, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. This is a small town with the population of approximately 6,000 residents and uniformly whitewashed buildings topped with reddish-brown tiles.
- Castillo de Casares – the castle or fortress of Casares is a noticeable historical attraction in this town from the Arab-Moorish period. Frankly, there’s not that much of the fortress left, it’s just a ruin on top of a hill, but what you do get is great views.
- Fuente de Carlos III – the fountain that was completed in 1785, under the reign of Carlos III to channel spring water to village. To this day the fountain continues to provide spring water from the mountains.
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