Page 393 - Lonely Planet Europe’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

1 Nerja DETOUR:
In a charmed spot sit- FRIGILIANA
ting at the base of the
Sierra Almijara peaks, Start: 1 Nerja
this former fishing After the cavernous gloom of the Cueva de Nerja,
village has retained its consider heading inland to Frigiliana, a pueblos blanco
low-rise village charm, voted as the prettiest in Andalucía by the Spanish
despite the proliferation tourism authority. It’s well signposted: take the M5105
of souvenir shops and inland from Nerja, passing groves of mango and
day trippers. At its heart avocado trees and follow signs to the casco historico
is the Balcón de Europa, and car park. Frigiliana is famed for its sweet local wine
one of the most beautiful and honey, which you can buy at small village shops. It
promenades on the Costa is an enchanting place with a tangible Moroccan feel;
del Sol, built on the site read the plaques around town to learn why – the village
of a Moorish castle. Grab stretches back to the time of the Moors.
a coffee at one of the ter-
raced cafes before head- SPAIN 28 COSTA DEL SOL BEYOND THE BEACHES
ing north of town to visit de Nerja (www.cuevade The Drive » Consider taking
the extraordinary Cueva nerja.es; adult/child €9/5; the slightly slower, but more
hunguided visit 10am-1pm & scenic, N340 to Rincón de
# \
\ # \ # la Victoria, then pick up the
4-5.30pm Sep-Jun, 10am-6pm
#\
Jul & Aug; guided visit 1-2pm & A7-E15 bypass to Málaga. This
5.30-6.30pm Sep-Jun, 11am-
#\ #\ meandering coastal road passes
#\ through pretty agricultural
noon & 6.30-7.30pm Jul & Aug), land. Look for the centuries-old
dating back a cool five watchtowers from the days of
million years: it’s a 4km Barbarian invaders. It’s a total
Alhama de
Boquete de # \ long theatrical wonder-
Zafarraya Granada drive of 58km (1¼ hours).
c Maroma #\ land of extraordinary
(2069m) Parque Natural rock formations, subtle
R Sierras de Tejeda, TRIP HIGHLIGHT
Almijara y Alhama shifting colours and sta-
R El Lucero
Cómpeta (1779m) lactites and stalagmites. 2 Málaga
Vélez #\
Málaga Frigiliana #H Almuñécar #\ Book a one- or two-night
# \ Torrox #\ p391 5 p397
/ · stay here to experience
A7
#\
# \ #\ # FG the city’s buzzing bar life
# 1
27
# \
Costa l
L
# \ Torre # \ # \
del Mar Torrox Nerja
Costa LINK
Tropical
YOUR
TRIP
r Mediterranean x Alentejo &
Algarve Beaches
Meander
Málaga is the start of this For more stunning coast,
east-coast ramble that head west via Seville to the
takes in several of the Portuguese border then
most stunning cities in on to Cacela Velha to do
Spain, including its final the Algarve trip in reverse.
destination: Barcelona. (349km).
20
# e 0 0 10 miles km 391