Areas we cover - Mediterranean Homes (2024)

Alhaurín el Grande is a beautiful, vibrant town and one of the largest villages in the Valle del Guadahorce, set in a privileged location with fabulous road connections to both the Costa del Sol and Málaga. It is the thirteenth largest city in the entire province of Málaga in population, second only to coastal municipalities, the cities of Ronda and Antequera and nearby Alhaurin de la Torre. It has a population around 25,000, but there is a large presence of foreigners settled in the town, estimated to represent nearly 15% of the total population.

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Alhaurín de la Torre was a town affectionately known as Alhaurín el Grande’s little sister, although now Alhaurín de la Torre has outgrown Alhaurín el Grande and is the third largest town in the province of Málaga, after Antequera and Ronda. Located to the south west of Málaga City in Andalusia, in the south of Spain. Alhaurín de la Torre became very popular in the 90’s when the metropolitan area of Málaga expanded. It begins on the slopes of the Sierra de Mijas and the entrance to the Guadalhorce valley. Inhabitants of Alhaurín de la Torre are called ‘Alhaurínos’.

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Referred to as the crown in the Valle del Guadalhorce, situated between three hills on the right bank of the Guadalhorce river and the railway route connecting Málaga with Seville, Córdoba, or Granada. Alora is 12 kilometres south of El Chorro and 40 kilometres north of Málaga on the road to Antequera, once referred to as Iluro by the Romans and Alura by the Arabs.

Alora is a town with a rich historical past and a never-ending list of tourist attractions, along with the abundance of natural features in the area, particularly the Desfiladero de Los Gaitanes; and the Lora Castle. The Phoenicians first constructed the castle and later expanded it under Roman control; traces can still be seen today, including the decorative steel door and the customary Arab mirador.

The landscape surrounding Alora is perfect for trekking, mountain biking, biking, hiking, camping, and in some neighbouring areas, rock climbing, with a new and inspiring view from every summit. Who says you cannot enjoy the Alora outdoors without exercising your muscles? You can also bring your digital camera and capture amazing images of the breathtaking surroundings inside and outside the town.

The municipality covers an area of 169 km2 and is 194m above sea level. It has a population of around 13,321, with a significant presence of foreigners, estimated to represent nearly 12% of the total population. Indeed, six out of ten newly arrived residents throughout Malaga province are foreigners. With 55,758 of them residing in the region, the British are once more the most significant international group and form most of the local foreign population.

Though the town has maintained its distinct "sleepy village" character despite the quick changes that have taken place in this formerly unflappably rural region of Spain. The stark contrast between the coast and the countryside is evident here, as well as the rugged beauty of rural Andalucia. Here the summertime bustle of the coast gives way to a much slower, more tranquil way of life, where older men riding donkeys and mules pulling a plough are still prevalent.

Property prices here are a lot lower too as more and more people are appreciating that although the coast is excellent for holidays if you want to live here in Spain, this area just inland has so much to offer.

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Alozaina is set in the foothills of the spectacular Sierra de las Nieves. A beautiful mountain range that forms part of the Serranía de Ronda ranges, located near Ronda inland from the Costa del Sol. The Sierra de las Nieves offers mesmerizing views of a unique landscape full of impressive shafts and caves, full of oak and fir trees. On the Sierra Pietra slopes, one of the most outstanding places is the “Ventanilla” window. This has been recognized and valued for its beauty. Alozaina is one of the eight “pueblos blancos” that “guard the Sierra de las Nieves”.

It is a classic Andalusian white village, full of pretty streets and lovely neighbours. It has held on to its wholesomeness over the years. The older people sit in the town square playing dominos and cards. People sit in their doorways chatting to the neighbours “al fresco” of the nighttime. There are also little supermarkets, butchers and bakeries for the necessities. It is only 20-30 minutes away from the surrounding villages and only 55 minutes to Málaga and an hour to Ronda.

Alozaina has just under 3000 inhabitants. It is known for its 1950s arch at the entrance of the town and the Santa Ana church. The most outstanding part of this is the front, where you can see an inscription in tiles that recalls the conquest of the town in 1484. In addition, the María Sagredo Castle, dating from the 15th century, has a beautiful lookout over the mountains. The whole of the countryside is covered with olive groves, avocados, mangos, and lots of other citrus trees and crops.

To take advantage of the countryside, there are hiking trails through the Sierra de las Nieves mountains and country walks. Also, Neolithic settlements and roman ruins. Sports, biological reserve, and much more.

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Cártama

Cártama, one of the inner towns of the province of Malaga, is in the Guadalhorce Valley, only 17 kilometres from Málaga. The Autovia del Guadalhorce or A-357 can take you there in about 30 minutes.

The Phoenician roots of the name Cartama can be found, and they gave it the name "Cartha," which in English can be translated as "hidden city." The second group to live there, the Romans, changed the name to "Cartima." Cartama Pueblo, Estacion de Cartama, Doa Ana, El Sexmo, Sierra de Gibralgalia, Loma de Cuenca, Nueva Aljaima, Estación de Aljaima, Cortijo Paco Perez, Las Tres Leguas, Los Mondeos, and El Pilarejo are the 11 districts that make up the 105km2 municipality.

Two mountains, Espartales and Llana, collectively referred to as the Sierra de Cartama, surround and tower over the entire region. The municipality has a population of 27,443 people, made up of 13,886 men and 13,557 women, as of the 2021 census. The town has a rich architectural and cultural history and is now well known for producing meat and citrus products. The town celebrates many festivals throughout the year, beginning with the "Carnival" in February.

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Casarabonela

Geographically, Casarabonela is a part of the Hoya de Málaga valley and the fertile valley that descends to the coast. However, its' upper reaches border Ronda's mountainous region. The municipality is located 48 km from Malaga's capital (bordering Antequera and Ronda's regions). According to the Census of 2021, there are 2,539 residents there, 1,355 of whom are men and 1,184 of whom are women. The region is 113.7 km2 in size and is 514 m above sea level. The locals are known as "Moriscos" (translated literally as Moorish).

Although Neolithic artefacts have been discovered in the municipal area, the first permanent settlement and its original name, "Castra Vinaria" (which translates to "castle of wine"), are Roman in origin. With a backdrop of the mountain vegetation, the village and its surroundings form a picturesque scene of orchards, olive groves, and cereal fields. Although they were of Roman descent, the Arabs oversaw the design and layout of their homes and streets. Places of interest include the Town Hall, St. James Parish Church, and the caves at La Hoguera, Fuentequebrada, and Las Columnas are among the points of interest.

The winters are long, cold, and partly cloudy in Casarabonela, while the summers are brief, warm, arid, and clear. The average annual temperature ranges from 4°C to 29°C with very few days below 0°C or above 32°C.

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The vibrant town of Coín is a beauty with plenty of history and sights. As you arrive, you will drive through fields of orchards, oranges, lemons, olives, almonds and forests such as Alpujata, La Fuente, El Charco del Infierno and La Albuquera. You will feel a world away from civilisation and indeed Coín is referred to as the town of three hundred orchards.

Coín has a rich history having been occupied by the Romans, when the town was known as Lacibis, then later as La Cobin, in the 1st century B.C.
There are many lovely squares, known as Plazas, where you can relax with a coffee, listen to the fountains and watch the world go by. Try Plaza de la Via or Plaza Alameda.
When occupied by the Moors, Coín was known as Dacuan and was an important town in the region. Although Coín’s economy has largely relied on agriculture, it also has been a producer of marble and ceramics, perhaps you have heard the term ‘green Coín’?

Coin is located 36km south-west of Málaga, at an altitude of 210 metres above sea level overlooking the stunning Guadalhorce Valle. The climate has mild winters and hot summers and more than a third of the days of the year are sunny. Its municipality has an area of 128.4 km2 and welcomes its almost 22,000 inhabitants, who receive the name of coineños or coínos.

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Guaro

Guaro is a typically Spanish, pretty, white village. When you arrive, you truly feel like you are in the heart on Andalucía. There are small local shops, and some lovely restaurants and bars but what Guaro is famous for is hosting a festival called the “Luna Mora” (Blackberry Moon Festival) which is Moorish festival celebrating the village’s heritage and is held in the second or third week of September. This is when Guaro transforms into one of the most visited white pueblos in Andalucía. Thousands of candles light up the village during the evenings, and a host of big-name musicians come to play. A medieval Moorish market dominates the streets, and local sellers and craftsmen, dressed in ancient Moorish costume try to sell you their wares. Belly dancers sway to Arabic music and everyone is taken away with the beautiful, relaxed atmosphere and enjoy a glass or two of local wine, or a cool beer.

It’s not too hard to find the village, located just 3 km from historical Monda and 6 km from Coín. It is just 20 km from the coast and upmarket Marbella, and 50 km from Malaga and the international airport. The town, itself has a few Roman remains and evidence of Moorish settlements with some very attractive historical buildings, making the town worth a visit. The surrounding countryside blooms with almond trees, which help sustain the economy of the village. The village’s slogan is “The Natural Almond Paradise”.

There are a host of golf clubs close to Guaro driving down towards the coast, and in the Sierra de las Nieves natural park you can partake in Safari Jeep Adventures, quad biking, or follow some of the stunning routes by foot. Including climbing to the summit of La Concha, the mountain that backs Marbella.

Guaro enjoys the sub-tropical Mediterranean climate, which has hot summers and warm winters. Divided from the sea by the mountains means the heat can soar in summer, but it remains comfortable for the most part. Temperatures are an average of 32 ºC in summer.

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Mijas Pueblo is the historical centre of the municipality of Mijas, situated in the heart of the Costa del Sol. It lies only 30 kilometres from Málaga Airport. It has a varied landscape that goes from the mountains all the way to the sea.

The area of Mijas is mostly mountainous with growing developments along the coast. The Pasadas and Ojen rivers cross this area, they join to form the Rio Fuengirola which flows into the sea almost on the limits between Fuengirola and Mijas.

The Municipality is one of the largest in the Province of Málaga, with 147 km² is divided into three different urban areas: Mijas Pueblo, conserving the charm of a traditional Andalusian "white village" perched on the hillside high about the sea and about 20 minutes from the nearest coastal resort of Fuengirola, Las Lagunas on the coast (the most modern area of Mijas where you can find industrial and commercial areas), and La Cala, a small seaside village in the centre of the 12 kilometres of beaches on the Mijas coast.

Inhabited since ancient times, the small village of Mijas was devoted mainly to agriculture and fisheries until the explosion of the tourist boom in the 1950s. Today it is a multicultural town with a high percentage of foreign residents.

The pueblo has managed to retain a very authentic Spanish feel and although now a major tourist attraction, it has definitely not compromised its charm. Many visitors who come here will admit to Mijas Pueblo holding a special place in their hearts.

If it’s fantastic views, to die for restaurants, and a bit of culture you’re after, then Mijas Pueblo is the place. To see everything that this beautiful little village has to offer you would need to spend a couple of days and nights here or become a local.

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Monda is a vibrant small town in the mountains just inland from the Costa del Sol.

Situated past Ojén, it lies in a valley at 365m above sea level and has a population of less than 2,000. It is well-linked by road with Marbella, just 15km away, as well as Coin and Cartama (for Malaga). Thanks to development on the nearby coast over the last few decades, the town has enjoyed new prosperity. It also hosts the famous Marbella Design Academy.

The village's dominant feature, which stands out for miles around, is the large stone building which stands atop the tree-covered hill above the village. Although this resembles a fortification, it is in fact a superbly-located and traditionally-styled modern hotel, Castillo de Monda, built on the site of the moorish Castillo de Al-Mundat.

The town was originally occupied by an Ibero-Roman fortified enclosure established in the 3rd to 1st Centuries BC by the Romans. This was to protect the indigenous Iberian population and to defend the road leading to the more important town of Coín.

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Pizarra

At the base of the 350-meter-high Sierra del Hacho, 30 kilometres upriver in the Guadalhorce valley, is a tiny town called Pizarra; located in the rich, irrigated lowlands full of citrus and other fruit trees; it enjoys a stunning natural setting that is ideal for those who enjoy being outside, it covers an area of 63.6 km²and has a population of 9,607 splits by 4,815 males and 4,792 females according to the census of 2021.

Despite the recent emergence of the two commuter settlements of Zalea and Cerralba on its western face, the community, which is still primarily agricultural, has so far avoided the threat of being absorbed by the expanding metropolis of Málaga.

Although there are not many hotels in the region or even in the nearby towns, there are plenty of bed and breakfasts, vacation rentals, and apartments, where you can stay for the duration of your holiday, plus you have a choice of restaurants, pubs, and bars for your evening outings.

The "sopa aplasta," a straightforward but tasty soup made of bread, tomatoes, and pepper, is the most well-known local dish. Pan de higo, gazpacho, empanadillas, rosquillas, and tortillas de patatas are additional regional foods that are popular throughout Malaga. Pizarra appreciates the warm winters and hot summers of the subtropical Mediterranean climate. The mountains that separate it from the sea cause the heat to rise in the summer, but it stays bearable. The average summertime temperature is 32 C.

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The town of Tolox, with between 1000 - 2000 inhabitants, is situated within the Natural Park Sierra de las Nieves and is a must visit location for lovers of hiking, potholing, climbing, cycling and other nature based activities. It is a small town in which the flowers, white houses and long streets come together to create a picturesque urban ensemble. The town offers various options allowing you enjoy a mix of activities, for those nature lovers, pretty nature trails on the outskirts of the town, and a spa for those in search of relaxation and wellness.

Tolox celebrates a variety of local festivals. Amongst the more unique of its festivals, the Día de los Polvos (Powder Day) stands out. It takes place the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and involves all the townspeople throwing flour over each other. In honour of the Patron Saint, San Roque, the noisiest and most popular festival of Tolox takes place, known as "Cohetá", it is celebrated the 16th August. There is also a festival in memory of Tolox´s Arabic past; this is the Día de las Mozas o "Día de la Cencerrá". All the young people of the town meet on the 8th December to blow conch shells and ring cowbells. Legend says that it was in this way that the town was able to remain where it was and scare away the Moors and defeat them.

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