Costa del Sol is Spain's premier resort region

During one of the port stops on a Mediterranean cruise we took a few years ago we spent a  delightful day visiting Malaga and Mijas, Spain. These two cities take advantage of the beautiful Mediterranean coastal region of Andalusia where they are located.

Malaga: Southernmost large city in Europe and one of the oldest in the world, Malaga lies on Costadel Sol (Coast of the Sun).

Beautifully Spanish city of Malaga

Thanks to surrounding mountains, temperatures are moderate. With a summer season that lasts eight months—from April to November, and a history that spans 2,800 years, there is plenty to draw visitors here. Archaeological remains and monuments from Phoenician, Roman, and Arabic civilizations, make Malaga an open museum. If you enjoy Pablo Picasso’s style of cubist art (he was born in Malaga) you should visit a small museum that contains 200 of his works.

Resort view in Malaga, Spain

As the capital of Andalusia, Malaga is the economic and financial center of southern Spain. To aid the tourist industry, the government built Avenue Andulasia and lined it with ficus trees brought from American more than 110 years ago. Together with a waterfront park, this has become a popular resort area.

As more people discovered the charms of Costa del Sol, little fishing villages were transformed into fancy resorts. Not all developers were honest which led to prolific corruption in 1950s to 1970s.  But the city and its beaches (all of which are free and topless) are booming now, with expensive high rise apartments lining the coast.

Blue flower pots contrast with
white houses.

Mijas: I’ll always remember Mijas as the place where I bought a gorgeous red leather jacket. How could I resist with vendors selling a variety of handmade goods scattered all through the shopping section of this lovely town. The capital of Costa del Sol, Mijas attracts upper class visitors, many of whom come here to shop for high quality leather, porcelain, and jewelry.

Overview of Migas, which is built on a hill.

A typical Mediterranean town, it is built on a mountainside with winding roads that lead to beautiful homes and resorts. Seven churches, two museums, and only one hotel grace this small, clean town, so it feels more relaxed and casual than a city like Malaga. Many small restaurants attract visitors to the beach area for delicious seafood cuisine.



Purple jaranda blooms profusely
in Migas, Spain.

Most buildings are painted white because of the heat, which gives the town a pristine appearance. Olive trees grow everywhere (50 percent of the world’s olive oil production is from Spain), with citrus fruits like oranges and lemons grown a little more inland. Many of these are use to produce sweet dessert wines like sherry.

We thoroughly enjoyed this refreshing slice of Spanish Mediterranean landscape.

Photos by Larry and Beverly Burmeier