Puerto Marina
pleasure port in Benalmádena Costa |
Benalmádena is situated on the side of the Sierra
de Mijas, at 280 metres above sea level, and easy to get to from Malaga,
just 20 kilometres away, by the Autovía de Mediterráneo. There are also
train and bus links to the town from Malaga. The climate is mild, varying
between a minimum winter temperature of five degrees and 35 in summer.
Over the past twenty years Benalmádena has become one of the key tourism
centres on the Costa del Sol, triplicating its off-season population of
30,000 inhabitants in the summer period. It is divided into three urban
areas: Benalmádena Pueblo, Arroyo de la Miel and Benalmádena Costa. The
first is at 280 metres above sea level, a typical mountain village with
narrow streets and geranium-potted windows. The second is between this area
and the sea, an urban area that grew up around the train station and the
main road between Benalmádena and the coast. The third, Benalmádena Costa,
is just what the name suggests: a coastal town with all the relevant
facilities of such a place.
There is plenty to do here all the year round, among the attractions being
the Puerto Marina, the Telecabina, the Casino in Torrequebrada and the golf
course of the same name. The marina, in Benalmádena Costa, can take up to
almost 1,000 boats of up to six metres long, and almost all types of water
sports are practiced here, including hang-gliding and underwater
snorkelling. The cable cars (telecabinas) link Arroyo de la Miel with the
peak of the Carramolo mountain, and from here, on a clear day, one can see
right across to Africa. Heading down from the town on the Torremuelle road,
one arrives at the Torrequebrada Casino, one of the best entertainment and
conference centres on the entire coastline. In the housing development of
the same name one finds the Torrequebrada Golf Course.
Places
to be visited
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Puerto
Marina
Puerto Marina is one of the most important recreation centres in
the municipality, with boats moored there from all corners of the
world. Apart from sailing, the sporting facilities here include
water skiing, canoeing and underwater diving. The harbour area has
plenty of bars and restaurants with terraces, where one can simply
sit and watch the activity of the port, if one so chooses.
Telecabina
This recently installed facility is the only one of its kind on
the Costa del Sol. It leaves from the Tivoli esplanade, crossing
high over the motorway to the peak of the Carramolo mountain, one
of the most spectacular natural balconies in the province of
Malaga, from where one can view the entire Costa del Sol and the
mountains of Africa across the Mediterranean on a clear day. There
are sign-posted pathways down from the mountain for those who may
wish to walk. For information, call: 952 575 038 Fax 952 575 061.
Church of Sto. Domingo
This church is in Benalmádena Pueblo, and to get there one goes
from calle Real through the Plaza de España, continuing to the
open plaza in which we find the 18th century church.
Benalnatura
There is a small cove in Benalmádena called Benalnatura, which is
a nudist beach. To get there, take the N-340 in the Fuengirola
direction and turn off at the roundabout between Torrequebrada and
Torremuelle. A concrete road leads down on the right to the beach
and chiringuito below.
Tivoli World
Tivoli World is the Costa del Sol’s best-known theme and
attraction park. Here there is something for everyone:
restaurants, theatre and shows in which the top performers in
Spain and abroad take part, from Isabel Pantoja to the Moscow
Ballet. Tel: 952 577 016 and 902 114 700.
Municipal Archaeological Museum.
Avda.Juan Peralta, 43. Tel: 952 448 593. From 10 to 2 p.m. and 4
to 7 p.m.
Sea-Life Aquarium,
Benalmádena Costa Pleasure Port. Tel: 952 560 150. From 10 to 8
p.m.
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| Where
to eat |
Restaurante Mar
de Alborán. Specialising in international cuisine.
Avenida del Alay. Benalmádena Costa. Tel: 952 446 427.
Restaurante la Reserva de Cantabria.
Considered one of the best for Cantabrian cuisine in the country,
offering the traditional dishes of this northern region. Puerto
Marina (Carretera Capintanía) Tel: 952 566 794.
Restaurante El Mero. Specialising
in dorada a la sal (dorada cooked in salt), seafood, fish and rice
dishes, clams, baby lamb and grilled steak. Puerto Deportivo de
Benalmádena. Tel: 952 440 752.
Buffet Self Service Tamarindos.
In front of the Puerto Marina, Benalmádena. Excellent quality.
Tel: 952 561 222.
Bar "Er Tapeo". All
type of tapas and Spanish wines. C/San Telmo. Arroyo de la
Miel. Tel: 952 567 478.
Bar Varelo. Varied tapas and
dishes of the day. Jardines de Gamonal. Arroyo de la
Miel. Tel: 952 443 228.
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| Where
to sleep |
Hotel
Alay (4 *). Avda Alay, s/n. Tel: 952 441 440 Fax:
952 446 380.
Hotel Torrequebrada (5 *).
Ctra. de Cádiz, km. 220. Tel: 952 446 000 Fax: 952 445 702.
Hotel Tritón (4 *).
Avda.Antonio Machado, 29 Tel: 952 443 240 Fax: 952 442 649.
Hotel Los Patos Sol (3 *).
Crta. de Cádiz, km 220. Tel: 952 441 990 Fax: 952 442 929.
Hotel La Roca (3 *). Ctra. de
Cádiz, km 221.5. Tel: 952 441 740 Fax: 952 443 255.
Hotel La Fonda de Benalmádena (3 *). C/Santo
Domingo, 7. 29639 Benalmádena Pueblo. Tel/fax. 952 568 273.
Rural
Accommodation in the province of Malaga
(in
Spanish)
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The cable cars that
go to the top of Mount Carramolo |
FIESTAS
There are numerous festivals in
Benalmádena right through the year, with cultural events, religious
events, competitive events and big festivals like Holy Week. In the Holy
Week celebrations, there are processions in Benalmádena Pueblo and Arroyo
de la Miel. The most emotional part of this festival is at dawn on Good
Friday, when the Passion of Christ, known locally as El Paso, is
represented by the people of the town. This is followed by a silent
procession of the Virgen de la Soledad, and the supports of the throne are
then auctioned off as tradition demands. At the end of June is the Día de
los Juegos (the Day of the Games) in the Arroyo de la Miel sports centre,
where the young people of the town, just out from school, have the chance
to enjoy a day of organised fun sports together. The Día de San Juan is
also celebrated in Arroyo, while the Día del Carmen takes place by the
sea. The Feria of Benalmádena Pueblo takes place in the middle of August.
GASTRONOMY
As in the case of nearby towns like Torremolinos and Fuengirola, the large
foreign population of Benalmádena has resulted in a local cuisine that is
part tradition, part import. Here, one can eat almost anything from any
part of the world, but the local traditional cooking is excellent too.
This is mainly made up of products from the soil and sea around the town,
with plenty of fried fish, seafood, and gazpachos, washed down by a
refreshing glass of sangria made from fresh fruit of the area.
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