Malaga has a charming pedestrianised city centre with excellent shopping facilities, smart restaurants and cosy tapas bars as well as its own castle, cathedral and beach. The atmospheric Casa Antigua with its barrels of local wine has an unrivalled reputation and has been open for more than a century. In the middle of Alameda Principal, it still attracts locals and tourists alike and is usually bustling at all times of the day. Not only can you try the different wines but you can also take a bottle home to share with the family or friends. As far as the food goes, some seafood tapas or "pescaito frito" (little fried fish, famous in Malaga) should help you enjoy the experience and is a good start to the day before your sightseeing or shopping begins. The streets behind the cathedral are lively in the late evenings with locals and tourists all enjoying the balmy summer evenings, al fesco dining and lively tapas bars.
This historic, charmng town is about one hours drive from the villa. It is famous worldwide for its dramatic escarpments and views, and for the deep El Tajo gorge that carries the rio Guadalevín through its centre. Stand on the 18th century Puente Nuevo 'new' bridge, which straddles the 100m chasm below, for its unparalleled views out over the Serranía de Ronda mountains.
Marbella is a thriving modern city, the playground of the rich and famous and reputedly the adopted home of many old criminals. It also has some beautiful tree lined squares and avenues where one can sit and enjoy a glass of your favourite tipple while celebrity spotting. Peurto Banus has a very upmarket marina with classy and expensive shops to match, as well as great restaurants and bars. Enjoy a day there and see how the yachting types really live!
If you have time, this is a wonderful city to visit, and the exceptional mosque / cathedral is a real “must-see”
Now the motorway is completed it is little more than a one hour journey. If visiting Gibraltar, it is better to leave your car near the frontier (parking is relatively cheap in La Linea) and walk over the border. Parking here also saves queueing if the Spanish border control decide to check every vehicle thoroughly as they sometimes do. Take the taxi tour up the mountain with a visit to the caves , battlements and famous apes – the tours all seem to be roughly the same price. Alcohol, cigarettes and perfume are cheap but may not be the bargain they seem. Check out the prices in the supermarkets of Fuengirola before you go to make sure you really get a bargain. Anything else in the shops is probably out of date or expensive.
If you've the time, go to Morocco for a day or two. Ferries leave regularly from Algeciras and take less than an hour.