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The Local Area - The Costa Tropical The Costa Tropical lies in Granada Province between the better known
Costa del Sol to the west and the Costa de Almería to the east.
It has particularly picturesque beaches that are less crowded than
many others in Southern Spain. The sugar cane plantations in the area
confirm the name Costa Tropical.Much of the coastline is a series of promontories surrounding isolated sandy coves, with the mountains running right down to the sea. The coastal town of Nerja is popular with tourists and boasts excellent beaches, water sports, a magnificent promenade, an old quarter with narrow streets, and a water park. Nearby are some fascinating caves, which include archaeological treasures such as paintings over 20,000 years old and other pre-historic remains. One of the caverns has been transformed into a concert hall. The fishing village of La Herradura lies in an impressive, large bay dominated by the two large promontories of Punta de la Mona and Cerro Gordo. The beach is popular with the young and old alike and is a bastion of national tourism, although not well known to foreigners. In a protected cove to the east of Punta de la Mona is the impressive Marina del Este yacht harbour. Water sports and scuba diving are popular here, thanks to the variety of the marine life and clarity of the water. Further up the coast, the white village of Salobreña, with its 10th Century Moorish castle is worth a visit. Becoming increasingly popular among foreign residents are the numerous attractions of the town of Almuñécar.  Almuñécar Almuñécar is an attractive costal resort that is particularly popular in the summer with Spanish holiday makers. The interesting seafront promenade is divided into many sections by the small coves and headlands that are typical of this part of the Costa Tropical. Among the numerous attractions is the Loro Sexi bird park which has some 1,500 birds of 120 different species. The pretty botanical gardens of the Parque del Majuelo contain Europe's largest collection of subtropical plants, with more than 400 species, the majority from Brazil and Cuba. In the park you will also find the ruins of the fish salting "factory" which was founded by the Phoenicians in 4th Century BC. Above this is the San Miguel Castillo with commanding views of the area. It contains an interesting archaeological Museum (Cueva Siete Palacios). The Museo Historico is also worth a visit. The town's last existing pottery (Alfarería del Castillo) is also in the San Miguel area and preserves the tradition of Almuñécar pottery style, which consists of fish and chicken shaped pots and other objects similar to those found in archaeological excavations. Entry is free. About 4km inland from the town up the river valley is a first century Roman aqueduct, which remained in use until a few decades ago. Some stretches are truly impressive, so it is well worth the effort to find them.  SalobreñaSalobreña is the nearest coastal town to Casa de las Flores. The centre of the town, which is built on an impressive rock outcrop, is a maze of white houses. On the summit of the rock at 105 metres above sea level is the Moorish fortified castle, the Castillo. From this vantage point you will obtain the best views of the area. Just below the castle is the parish church, built on the site of an old mosque and distinguished by a Moorish style arch. The beach is the other main attraction in Salobreña and is a 10 - 15 minute walk from the main town. It is in two parts, split by a large peninsular known as Peñon rock. There are several “chiringuitos” (beach bars), restaurants and bars. The fresh sea food that most sell is highly recommended. There are many concerts and shows held in Salobreña, many of which take place by night. A “must see” event is the “Lucero del Alba” flamenco festival held at the Castillo during the summer.  back |
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