The picturesque white village of Mijas is situated in the lowlands of the Sierra de Mijas mountain range, visible from the terraces of Villa Pilar and just a few minutes drive away.
Mijas has managed to retain much of its white village charm, with cobbled winding streets, beautiful flower displays, charming traditional tiling and breathtaking views. There is a profusion of Spanish cafes and restaurants and souvenir shops . Here you can buy genuine, traditional, hand made ceramics which are unique and of exceptional quality. There is a thriving art and crafts movement in the pueblo, particularly in jewellery, linen and wicker items with many small shops selling local wares in ceramic and leather as well as the paintings and photographs of local acclaimed artists. If you are interested in traditional Spanish sport and would like to see a bull fight there is The Plaza de Toros in Mijas Pueblo, open since 1900 and still used for occasional horse displays and genuine bull fights with magnificent displays of the matadors artistry and skill ; unfortunately the bulls do get killed! Its open most Sundays – check the posters in the village for the next event!
A settlement is known to have existed in Mijas for many centuries as archaeological findings have confirmed that an 8th century Moorish castle stood on the site of the village church “Iglesia de la Immaculada Concepcion”. Prior to this the Romans used Mijas, known then as ‘Tamisa’ as an important commercial and trading centre.
Legend
The patron saint of Mijas is the “Virgen de la Pena”, where, hidden in a quiet corner of the village is the hermitage which was built into a rocky outcrop overlooking the coast by monks in 1520. According to legend, two young boys were led to the spot by a bird where subsequently an image on the Virgin was found hidden in a recess of the tower where it had lain undiscovered for 500 years. Now it is a small and beautiful place of worship were locals leave flowers, offerings and supplications.
Weekly flamenco shows organised by the town hall are held each Wednesday at 12 noon in the main square of the village. The entertainers are the municipal dance group and spectators are offered a free glass of Malaga wine, courtesy of the Mijas Tourist Office. In the high season of July and August the show is also held at 21.30
Beyond Mijas there are many “white” villages in the mountains, most worth a visit if you feel like exploring. They usually have a pretty main square , church, beautiful views and one or two tapas bars or cafes. Alhora is one which has an old Moorish castle, now converted into a cemetery, overlooking the town and the river valley.
Malaga
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.
Granada
The historic town of Granada is less than two hours drive and has the wonderful Alhambra, a series of palaces and gardens built in the 14th C under the Nazari dynasty and one of the most brilliant jewels of universal architecture. This mighty compound of buildings – including the summer palace called Generalife, with its fountains and gardens - stands at the foot of Spain's highest mountain range, the Sierra Nevada, and overlooks the city below and the fertile plain of Granada.
The hill facing the Alhambra is the old Moorish casbah or "medina", called the Albaicin, a fascinating labyrinth of narrow streets and whitewashed houses with secluded inner gardens, known as "cármenes". The Plaza de San Nicolas, at the highest point of the Albaicin, is famous for its magnificent view of the Moorish palace.
Allow a full day for your visit and you will not be disappointed. If possible, book your entrance to the Alhambra in advance as there can be long queues at peak times.
Seville
Allow 3 hours for the journey to Seville and you will be welcomed by a very pretty old town with cobbled streets and beautiful flower laden courtyards. In Seville, you will want to visit the old city, with the Cathedral and the Giralda tower at its heart. (You can climb the steps inside the tower for a magnificent view of the City). Very close by are the royal Mudéjar palace known as the Alcazar with marvellous gardens and the Santa Cruz quarter, with cramped streets, flowered balconies, richly decorated facades and hidden patios and gardens and the loveliest garden restaurants you could wish for. If you are very lucky, you may find a bar with flamenco guitarists and impromptu dancing.
Ronda
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 / Puerto Banus
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!
Gibraltar
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.
Morocco
If you've the time, go to Morocco for a day or two. Ferries leave regularly from Algeciras and take less than an hour.
Remember to take your Passport !