Marbella | Coín | Alhaurín | Majas | Fuengirola | Torremolinos | Málaga | Riogordo | Antequera | Nerja | Almeria | Mojácar

Mijas

Half way up the Mountains of Mijas, in a spot, which offers an extraordinary vantage point over both coast and Mediterranean, lies Mijas itself, a little town where artists, and others who are in general searching for peace and quiet, seek refuge.

The village itself, typically Arabic in appearance, is built like a balcony across the mountainside, its whitewashed houses contrasting sharply with the green of the pine trees, creating a picture postcard scene which is one of the coast's most beautiful panoramas.

It has been said that Mijas is the "essence of Andalucian", the essence of rural Andalucian town planning, characterized by snug little cobbled squares, whitewashed buildings, saddle roofing, wrought iron grillwork and lamps in wrought-ironwork, a profusion of flowers… All this is to be found in Mijas in the middle of leafy woods, whose colouring is not the least of the delights that the place has to offer.

In this village, absolutely typically, a peculiar tourist service was invented, then copied by other villages in the area: the donkey-taxi, transport with an old fashioned air, which is put at the service of visitors to go up and down the village streets or the shady mountain path of the surroundings. A unique square bullring, some remnants of the Arab walls, and the hermitage of the Virgin de la Peña (17th Century) are other attractions of Mijas, which cannot be ignored.

Mijas also boasts all of the facilities normally associated with sun and sand holidays, the coastal highlight being Calaburras beach.

Mijas' cuisine is based primarily on its rich and varied first courses, which feature a wide range of soups. Sopas cachorreñas (a soup made with cod, dried red peppers, croutons, baked garlic and plenty of vinegar). Sopas de ajo (garlic soup). Sopas de maimones (an oil-based soup). Salmorejo (thick chilled tomato soup with garlic, pepper, bread and egg). Gazpachuelo (hot egg soup seasoned with vinegar or lemon). Sopas de tomate (tomato soup).

top of page