Málaga

Benalmádena is around 20 km (12.5 miles) west of Málaga. It is divided into three areas: right on the... coast is the tourist area known as Benalmádena-Costa, about 4 km (2.5 miles) inland and high above the coast is the old town of Benalmádena-Pueblo and, between the two, a new residential estate has grown up over the last decades. This old town has preserved the charm of an Andalusian village, with its whitewashed houses, narrow streets and people with all the time in the world. Sun and siesta determine the rhythm of everyday life. In the afternoon everyone disappears inside where there is shade. The contrast between the village and the bustling coastal resort can be wonderfully observed from the square in front of the neat little church - the bustle of the beach down below and up above the leisurely pace of village life. The main square in the village is the Plaza España with a lulling little fountain and a few cafés where one quickly forgets time. more

Mijas is a very beautiful whitewashed village around 30 km (18 miles) west of Málaga high up in the... mountains. Its beauty has not gone unnoticed and the village attracts a lot of visitors - there's no denying that. Nevertheless, it is worth a visit, as Mijas is clearly different from most of the other coastal towns. This place shows just how charming an Andalusian mountain village can be. The houses are whitewashed and sturdy, with wrought-iron bars and bright flowerpots decorating the façades. The streets and alleys wind their way, somehow usually upwards, through the village. A town map is superfluous, as you are bound to hit on the few attractions anyway, for instance the little bullring which, unusually for bullrings, is oval in shape or you will come across the almost 400-year-old village church. If walking is too strenuous, you can always do a round on a donkey taxi (burro taxi). more

Another white village? - Yes, and this one around 60 km (38 miles) east of Málaga should have no problem... at all winning the title of most beautiful village in the province. It is situated in the mountains barely 6 km (3.8 miles) from the coast, has around 2,500 inhabitants and has largely been able to preserve its architectural heritage dating from the Moorish era. This means it is best to leave your car down below and walk through the steep, narrow, winding streets. Frigiliana as a whole is a work of art with largely traditional architecture consisting of small, flat houses all dazzling white. Dotted around the village are a few bars and shops, which visitors stumble across more by accident. The more slowly you walk through the village, the more of its beautiful details you will notice. A town map wouldn't help anyway, so it's better just to follow your own nose. Ideally, you should continue right up to the highest point in the village, where the strenuous up-hill climb will be rewarded with a fantastic panoramic view. more