Places to Visit

Also known as La Cala, this area was once a small, charming fishing village ... but it has grown a bit since then. It has a blue flag for one of the cleanest beaches in Europe and there are several nice beach bars and restaurants. Just inland from here is La Cala North & South golf courses and the David Leadbetter Golf Academy.

10 minutes by car. Situated in the lowlands of the Sierra de Mijas mountain range and surrounded by pine forest, Mijas has managed to retain much of its "white village" charm, with narrow winding streets, dazzling whitewashed walls and breathtaking views. There are dozens of small shops with gifts made by local artisans and a large choice of tapas bars and restaurants. You can't help but see the famous Mijas (donkey) taxis, carrying scores of tourists around the village every day - they must be the most photographed donkeys in Spain! The village is ideal for taking an early evening stroll before dinner. Mijas is one of the friendliest as well as one of the prettiest pueblos in Spain.

5 minutes. A bustling town and popular holiday resort for tourists and Spaniards alike. There is a great aqua park for the kids (closed in the winter). Its beaches stretch for 8 km from Los Boliches. Fuengirola has been awarded the distinctive blue flag by the E.C. for the quality of its sandy beaches and clear water. You can hire the usual pedalloes, jet skis and "banana" boats from almost anywhere on the beachfront. Along the Paseo Maritimo are many places to eat and drink. This is the place to sip a beer and just "people watch". There is an attractive marina from where you can go sailing or take a boat trip to Benalmadena. The town becomes alive at night-time with its many bars and discos.

15 minutes. If you like boats you must visit this marina. It has been voted best Marina in the world for its beauty and striking architecture. There are over 1,000 berths for boats up to 40 meters long. This is also where the Sea Life Centre is located.

30 minutes. Estepona is located at the 'quiet' end of the Costa Del Sol but there is still plenty to see and do. The marina is a great place to stroll around, admire the boats or sit in one if the many bars and watch the world go by. There is a craft market every Sunday morning with all the usual and some unusual and interesting items. It seems the marina has become the weekend meeting place for just about everyone. In the 'old town' of Estepona you will find many street cafes and tapas bars down some charming narrow cobbled streets that are more used to horses than cars! El Cristo beach, near the marina, is perfect for children being situated in a delightful sheltered cove with lots of water sport activities; there are also two new beach chiringitos that serve mouth-watering snacks and seafood. The golf is also excellent in this area with many well known courses close by ... Valderamma, San Roque, Duquesa, Estepona, Monte Mayor to name a few.

1 1/2 hours. One of the most spectacularly located towns in Spain. Its position made it one of the last Moorish settlements to fall to the Christians in the late 15th century. Ronda is famous for the "Puente Nuevo" (new bridge) - built across the Tajo gorge in the late 18th century- and the Plaza de Toros, one of the oldest and most important bullrings in Spain. The town, with its cobbled alleys and whitewashed walls, is steeped in history. The drive is scenic and dramatic and the surrounding countryside is ideal for walking, riding and mountain biking.

2 hours. Situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Granada was once the capital of a Moorish kingdom. A visit to Andalucia cannot possibly be complete without seeing the famous Alhambra Palace, a Moorish royal palace straight out of One Thousand and One Nights. There is a lot more to Granada than just the Alhambra palace - the city offers many smart shops and a mouth-watering choice of good restaurants and tapas bars.

There is a market held almost every day in one of the coastal towns but the best two are the Tuesday market in Fuengirola and the Saturday market at Puerto Banus.

They call it the Costa del Golf - and with nearly 60 golf courses in Andalucia, including more than 30 are on the Costa del Sol, it's easy to see why! With year round sun the Costa del Sol is perfect for your golfing vacation. You can find courses at:

• Torrequebrada
• Monte Mayor
• Alhaurin El Grande
• La Cala North and South
• Valderrama, host to the '97 Ryder Cup and San Roque
• Mijas Los Lagos
  
  

There is no shortage of places to play tennis on the Costa del Sol. The two most famous clubs are the Manolo Santana Club in Marbella where the Marbella Open is held each summer and Lew Hoads Campo De Tennis in Mijas (tel. +34 952 474858). The Lew Hoads facilities include 8 tennis courts, tuition, beautiful landscaped gardens, bar, restaurant, pool, boutique and changing rooms. There are year round Tuesday and Thursday tournaments for all standards, plus another 5 major tournaments throughout the year. Ideal tennis playing conditions with an average daily temperature of 20 deg.C make it possible to play tennis all year round.

An excellent riding school is located at the Alhaurin Golf & Country Club (tel. +34 952 595800) which is about 15 minutes by car from Mijas. Horses are provided for experienced riders and lessons can be arranged if required. If you wish to see dressage demonstrations they are held every Thursday at The Andalucian School of Equestrian Art in Jerez. Many local tour operators have organised trips to Jerez include a visit to a sherry bodega. An Andalucian horse show is held locally at El Ranchito near Torremolinos every Wednesday at 5.30 pm. (tel. +34 952 383140)