Costa del Sol Spain
General Information on the Costa del Sol, Spain
The Costa Del Sol, or ‘Sun Coast’ in English, is a region of southern Spain renowned for its glorious weather and numerous tourist attractions.
It is also sometimes referred to jokingly as the ‘Costa Del Golf’, due to the huge number of premium golf courses that have sprung up in the area around Marbella, and which attract golfing enthusiasts from all over the world.
The Costa Del Sol used to be a loose collection of fishing villages and small settlements along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, spanning both Málaga and Cádiz provinces.
But the exquisite climate and culture of the region led to its development over the latter part of the 20th century into a hotbed of luxurious resorts and sprawling towns like Marbella, known as a playground for the rich and famous.
Other popular destinations in the region include Torremolinos, Fuengirola and the city of Málaga itself. While much of the newer tourist accommodation can be found in the town of Nerja, famous for its incredible caves where the locals hold a music festival every year.
Much of the charm of the Costa Del Sol region of Spain comes from its varied and colorful history. The coast was at various times populated by Roman, Moorish and Iberian residents, and their influence can be seen in the ancient classical architecture and traditional craft of the region, including the local production of olives, olive oil, goats milk and cheese, fruits and vegetables, all in the traditional ways.
Off the beaten track of the popular resorts, one can find a veritable wealth of local charm and communities unspoiled by the excesses of the larger tourist centers.
A great example, though by no means the only one, of the cultural melting pot exemplified in the history and culture of the Costa Del Sol, is the Andalucian town of Antequera, which houses all at once a Moorish Castle, Roman baths and Gothic churches, as well as fountains and many other features from the Renaissance period. The town is overlooked by a limestone cliff over 800 meters high, known locally as La Peña de los Enamorados, ‘The Lovers’ Cliff’, with a predictably tragic tale attached to it.
Málaga itself has a beautiful castle and cathedral, relics of different aspects of its war-torn past, and some of the most beautiful gardens you are ever likely to see. The city houses a number of fine museums, charting the tale of the coast and its people, and art galleries displaying amongst other treasures the work of Pablo Picasso, himself a Málaga native.
Marbella, sheltered by the Sierra Blanca mountains and bathed in the warm sunshine and cool waters of the Mediterranean Sea, is a fine blend of traditional and contemporary delights. Ancient buildings and sights of historical interest, such as the ‘Old Town’ district of the town, sit comfortably with modern tourist attractions such as the the Exhibition and Conference Center, a wide variety of fashionable bars and restaurants, and state of the art sport and leisure facilities such as those at the world-renowned Puerto Banus port.
Nerja is the newest of the Costa Del Sol’s sprawling coastal resorts, and has escaped the temptation to build upwards as well as outwards, with most of Nerja’s accommodation comprised of traditional whitewashed houses along winding streets. The old part of the town is largely unchanged from a century ago, and an excellent place to take a quiet stroll and soak up the atmosphere of old Spain. Nerja is famed for its Balcón de Europa (Balcony of Europe), a majestic promenade along the top of a towering cliff, with unparalleled views of the Mediterranean and surrounding mountains.
Nerja also houses one of the Costa Del Sol’s most ancient tourist attractions, the Nerja caves, where pre-historic cave paintings tens of thousands of years old can be seen, along with other remnants of the ancient societies that once lived there.
The weather in the Costa Del Sol, Spain, is exceptional, with average temperatures of 18 degrees celsius (65 fahrenheit), and over three-hundred and twenty days of sunshine every year.
This, combined with its extensive natural beauty and lush grassland, make it an ideal location for golfing.
It is little wonder then that the Costa Del Sol is home to around 55 of the most beautiful golf courses not only in Spain, but throughout the world. Tens of thousands of people visit every year to play a few glorious holes in the sunshine, and then perhaps unwind with some of the other leisure activities that the Sunshine Coast has to offer, such as scuba diving, sailing and horse riding.
In a nutshell, the Costa Del Sol in Spain is rightly regarded as one of the world’s premier tourist destinations, the luxury of its natural surroundings being matched by the decadence of its leisure and recreational facilities.
A fusion of old and new, bathed in sunshine, and a particular paradise for golfers all year round.
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Costa del Sol Spain |
