A cave with the largest stalagmite, listed in the Guinness Book of Records, an aqueduct, crystal clear water. Take the route inland and you won’t regret the views! Plan a trip to the town of Nerja, just 40 minutes from Malaga.
White houses, mosaics on the streets
In Nerja you will immediately feel like you are on holiday. Here, almost every corner looks like it’s from an advert for the best travel agencies. Between the white arches of the buildings you can see the Mediterranean Sea and the mountainous coastline, palm trees. Flower pots hang in the windows of the white small townhouses, and the streets are lined with tiny stones, in various shapes. For one of the most beautiful views of the Costa del Sol, head to the Balcón de Europa lookout point.
A cave from ancient times
Nature is a brilliant architect – as can be seen by visiting the Cueva de Nerja – or cave. Inside is the world’s tallest rock column – 32 metres high! (that’s about 10-11 floors!). The view inside is breathtaking – the rock formations take on all sorts of shapes, rocks “trickle” down the walls, forming fanciful figures. The interior sometimes resembles the most fantastic Gothic cathedrals. The whole is gently but beautifully lit, for conservation reasons. Inside, the temperature is 19 degrees Celsius. Museum of the cave and the region People inhabited the cave at Nerja as early as the Palaeolithic period – that’s when the light came in. Findings by archaeologists indicate that hyenas also lived in these caves. The museum, which is in the centre of town, displays artefacts excavated by scientists during the excavations. The same ticket is required to enter the cave and the museum. There are concerts, performances, children’s workshops, poetry recitals and temporary exhibitions.
Águila Aqueduct
The Águila Aqueduct, or Eagle Aqueduct, was built in the 19th century. It was built in a style reminiscent of the mudejar, a style of Moorish architecture (12th-17th centuries) (link to blog article). It is a grand building, built in red brick, with characteristic arches and a small turret. Surprising in its lightness, the structure was built to supply water to the sugar factory. The most beautiful view of the aqueduct is from the side of the road from Nerja to the Cueva de Nerja cave.
Beaches and romantic coves
And after sightseeing, head to the beach, such as the small settlement of Frigiliana. On the Costa del Sol, thanks to its mild climate, you can be on the beach basically all year round! The warm winters also encourage sports – the golf season lasts all year round here. Straight from the beach you can also go skiing in the Sierra Nevada. Many people choose to live here and work remotely, choosing the sunny terrace of a luxury villa in Spain instead of working in a glass high-rise. And all this takes place in the peaceful rhythm of an Andalusian afternoon.
