View of a plaza in
Vélez-Málaga |
The best way to get to Vélez-Málaga by road is by
taking the Autovía del Mediterráneo in the Motril direction and turning
off as signposted. But it is also possible to reach this huge municipality
by sea and by air. La Caleta de Vélez has a large fishing port with a
section for pleasure craft, while the Royal Malaga Aeroclub uses an airfield
at El Trapiche.
Vélez’s climate is mild all year round, with an average of 23 ºC in
winter and 26 ºC in the summer months. This has attracted people from many
parts who have come to settle here. Since
it covers such a huge surface area, 156.40 square kilometres, the
municipality is dotted with towns and villages. The largest of these is the
town of Vélez-Málaga itself, just a few kilometres inland, while the
resort of Torre del Mar is on the coast, as is the port of La Caleta de
Vélez. All three are well linked by road: the Autovía del Mediterráneo,
the various older roads and the Avenida Rey Juan Carlos I, which links the
town centre with Torre del Mar. There are various explanations as to why the
main town, Vélez-Málaga, is not on the coast, as is usual with
municipalities which reach down to the seashore. (Mijas is another
exception.) One of these explanations refers to an earthquake in the year
365. The huge waves caused by seismic movement devastated the only
settlement on the coast. Remains of this town are to be found at the
Phoenician archaeological site of Los Toscanos and in the surrounding area.
After this catastrophe it was decided to build a town on the hill where the
fortress currently stands.
Another explanation, rather less scientific and more legendary, tells the
story of a shepherd who found an image of the Virgin Mary in the
countryside. He liked it so much that he decided to take it home for his
daughter but lost it on the way. The next day it was back in the same place
where he had found it and again he picked it up and tried to take it home.
Again he failed. The story spread like wildfire and all the local people
began to think that it was a miracle, erecting the present shrine at the
spot where the image had been found. The
countryside around Vélez-Málaga is scattered with small market gardens and
orchards, with an increasing number of tropical fruit trees as they grow
well in the micro-climate created by the Sierras of the Tejeda, Alhama and
Almijara Nature Park.
There are remains of several settlements in the municipality, such as the
Mozarab Eremitic Complex at Valle-Niza, the Phoenician remains at Los
Toscanos and the Cerro Mar y Jardín burial grounds, some of which go back
to pre-historic times. The architectural gems in the town earned it the
title of historical-artistic complex in the 1970s.
Places
to be visited
 |
Religious
architecture
One of the most important ecclesiastical buildings is the
sixteenth century parish church of Santa María La Mayor, (Great
St. Mary’s), built on the site of an ancient mosque. It was
around this church that the old town began to grow up. The tower
is worth noting for its square shape. It is made of manufactured
brick, making use of the previous Arabic minaret. The sixteenth
century church of San Juan (St. John) is decorated in rococo style
inside. The town also houses
several convents. There is the convent of Nuestra Señora de
Gracia, founded in 1503, and belonging to the order of the
Clarissa nuns; the convent of San Francisco, the seventeenth
century Carmelite convent, containing a variety of valuable works
of art; and the seventeenth century San José de la Soledad
convent. There are also a large
number of shrines in this municipality, including one to Nuestra
Señora de los Remedios (Our Lady of Remedies), one to the Virgin
de la Cabeza, from the beginning of the sixteenth century, the
Santa Rosalía shrine and the oldest of all, the one to San
Sebastián.
Moorish Fortress
Some remains of the defensive walls that surrounded the town,
built in the 13th century, still exist, and two of the
four gateways in these protective walls are still preserved: the
Puerta Real and the Puerta de Antequera, the former near the
eighteenth century fountain bearing the name of Ferdinand VI.
Family mansions
In addition to all these religious buildings there are also a
number of beautiful old traditional family mansions. The largest
of these is the Mudéjar-style seventeenth century Beniel Palace,
with Renaissance touches inside and a typical Andalusian interior
patio. It used to be the residence of the general captains of the
coast. Later it became the Town Hall and it currently houses the
municipal archives and the María Zambrano Foundation. It is also
the seat of the University of the Axarquía. Other civic buildings
worth a mention include the Casa de Cervantes, where it is said
that the writer lodged as he passed through the town during his
time as a tax collector; the Cruz del Arrabal, The Cruz del
Cordero, the Teatro del Carmen and the Fountain of Fernando VI.
Cajíz
Near to Iznate is Cajiz, which actually belongs to the
municipality of Vélez-Málaga. This small urban area grew up
around the parish church of San José, a building dating back to
the 18th century that time has reduced to two thirds of
its original size. The houses in the area are low, with Moorish
tiles on the roofs. The surrounding land is mainly agriculture,
with many avocado pear plantations.
|
| Where
to eat |
Marisquería-Freiduría
La Marina. All types of fish and seafood. C/
Del Mar. Edf. Alsina bajo. 29740. Torre del Mar. Tel: 952 546 604.
Bar Fernando. Specialising in
potatoes stuffed with ham, summer fries, paella and all types of
fish and seafood. C/ Del Mar, 73. 29740. Torre del Mar. Tel: 952
542 174.
Bar-Restaurante La Cueva. Reservations
should be made for weekends and during the high season.
Specialising in fish and seafood. 29740. Torre del Mar. Tel: 952
540 223.
La Pergola. Specialising in
rice dishes. 29740. Paseo Marítimo, s/n (Edf.Antillas, 8).Torre
del Mar. Tel: 952 540 150.
Pirri. Specialising in fresh
fish and seafood, Malaga fries and prawns. 29740. Torre del Mar.
Tel: 952 541 170.
Los Migueles. Traditional
cooking. 29700. Vélez Málaga. Tel: 952 503 697.
Viña Málaga II. Specialising
in barbecued meats. Vélez-Málaga. Tel: 952 505 423.
Café-Bar-Heladería Buenavista.
Specialising in tarts and various-flavoured ice creams. C/Del Mar,
on the corner of the esplanade. Tel: 952 540 670. 29740. Torre del
Mar.
Café de Tacuba. Special
coffees and teas. Paseo de Larios, 7. 29740 Torre del Mar. Tel:
952 547 818.
|
| Where
to sleep |
Hotel
Molino de Santillán. Tel: 902 120 240.
Hotel Husa Mainake (4*).
Prolongación C/Copo, beside the Avenida Toré Toré. 29740. Torre
del Mar. Tel: 952 547 246 Fax 952 541 543.
Apartamentos turísticos Villas del
Mediterráneo. Caleta de Vélez. 29740. Torre del
Mar. Tel: 952 511 376.
Hotel Miraya. C/Patrón
Veneno, 6. 29740. Torre del Mar. Tel: 952 545 969 Fax: 952 545
515.
Hostal Generalife. C/Patrón
Veneno, 22. 29740. Torre del Mar. Tel: 952 543 309.
Hostal Esperanza. C/Ctra.
Málaga-Almería Km. 261. 29740. Benajarafe. Tel: 952 513 123.
Camping naturista Almanat. A.
del Mediterráneo (E-15) Salida 274. Almayate. Tel/Fax. 952 556
271.
Rural
Accommodation in the province of Malaga
(in
Spanish)
|
Façade of the Palace
of Beniel |
FIESTAS
Romerias to different shrines and spots
are organised frequently from May to September. On September 27th,
the San Miguel Feria – in honour of the town’s patron saint - is held
to coincide with the feast day of St Michael (and all the archangels). It
is a good time to pay the town a visit since there is so much going on,
with daytime and nighttime merrymaking, as well as a cattle fair.
The people of Torre del
Mar adorn the streets and give themselves over to having fun on July 26th
for the feast day of the patron saints, Santiago and Santa Ana. With its
maritime tradition, the town also celebrates the eve of the feast of the
Virgin del Carmen, on July 15th. In the
spring, the Cross Festival is held between April 27th and May 3rd, when
the conquest of Vélez-Málaga by King Ferdinand is remembered. As
everywhere in Andalucía, Holy Week processions are organised and in
Vélez-Málaga many remarkably beautiful images are carried through the
streets in procession.
GASTRONOMY
Oil and wine play an important role in the
local cuisine, a legacy of Phoenician and Moorish cooking methods, with
many delicious, original dishes.
Fish (especially fried
fish and sardines) is king of the local cuisine. This area is also notable
for its broths, stews (including one with potatoes, chick peas, green
beans, aubergines, pumpkin and meat), ajoblanco and ajobacalao (made with
salt cod), which is served in Holy Week. Another typical local dish is
called chambao. The ingredients are chopped tomato, peppers, onions, and
cucumber, drizzled with oil. Since this is a tropical fruit growing area
meals are usually finished off with mango, custard apple or pawpaw.
LEISURE ACTIVITIES
Many leisure activities in both
Torre del Mar and La Caleta de Vélez centre on the sea. There are also
numerous swimming pools and public sports installations. For lovers of rural
tourism inland accommodation abounds. Vélez-Málaga is also a good base for
exploring the rest of the Axarquía area.
|
