Spanish property - villa in Costa del Sol

Costa del Sol

Nerja

Nerja is a beautiful genuinely Spanish small Andalusian town, on the Costa del Sol in the south of Spain. Its settled between the shores of the Mediterranean and the Almijara Mountains. Nerja has an ideal climate with an average year-round temperature of 20º C. The town is located 55 kilometres east of Malaga's international airport.

Because of its privileged situation Nerja offers all the pleasures of marvellous beaches, picturesque countryside, exquisite Mediterranean cuisine and a dry sunny climate all year round, on average only 30 rainy days a year. The town is just minutes away from three golf courses, various aquatic, theme parks, and only a few hours-drive from the historic cities of Granada, Ronda, Cordoba and Sevilla.

Nerja is built on a ledge, affording a splendid view of the varied surroundings so typical of the area. Thanks to its special light and clear air, many artists have travelled here to find inspiration. Nerja is very easy to like, especially due to its welcoming atmosphere.

The climate is said to be the best on the whole Costa del Sol, thanks to the mighty mountains that surround and protect the city. Due to its planned slow development, the city has kept its genuinely Spanish character, with beautiful white buildings, small alleys, and cobble stoned streets.

You are not allowed to build houses higher than 3 levels, and the area around the city is reserved for agricultural use. Nerja and its surroundings are always marvellously green, due to numerous springs and wells.

During the Moorish Era, Nerja was called Narixa ('rich with water'). Exotic fruits, such as cherimoya, kiwi and avocado are grown here. If you prefer a night on the town, there are plenty of restaurants and bars to choose from.

Nerja also provides lots of shopping opportunities, and each Tuesday a local market is held. Tennis, squash, and golf (for beginners or intermediate players) are all within easy reach. You can go for a quiet hike in the nearby mountains and, here and there, you will find an Andalusian village with astounding views and tranquil peace. Should you feel a sudden urge for skiing, the Sierra Nevada's fine resorts are less than two hours away.

The caves of Nerja

Nerja's history goes a long way back. In the Maro caves, objects have been found that date from Early Stone Age to Bronze Age, and human remains from Cro-Magnon. In recent history, Nerja is mentioned for the first time during Arabic rule. In the east, Nerja was a site well recognized by Arabic travellers and historians. It was given over to agriculture, with rich gardens, and was known for its silk trade in faraway Damascus. Roman coins have been found within the present county borders.

One of Nerja's main attractions are the world famous Maro Caves, located only 5km from the city. They are called Costa del Sol's natural cathedral, discovered in 1959. In Spain, numerous caves have been found, but none can match the Caves of Nerja. It is the most magnificent cave system the country has to offer.

The caves are divided into different halls, which are joined, by stairs and stone floors. Four halls are now open to the public, and their combined length is almost 800m. Sala de Cataclismo measures 60m from floor to ceiling, and is situated furthest away from the entrance. By lime sedimentation over millions of years of dripping water, the magnificence of the stalactite and stalagmite formations set the imagination in motion. Added to that is the knowledge that this place was inhabited for almost 25 000 years, and that it takes about 180 years to make a 1 cubic centimetre stalactite or stalagmite!

top of page