Sunshine Coast Attractions
(MA), Cádiz (CA)
The Costa del Sol ("Sunshine Coast") extends along almost the whole of the Mediterranean coast of Andalusia, from Cabo de Gata, where the Costa Blanca ends, to the most southerly point in Spain at Tarifa, where the Costa de la Luz begins. The mild climate of this region (with an average annual temperature of over 18°C/64°F) has led to the development of a densely populated holiday and tourist region almost 300km/190mi long which attracts hosts of foreign visitors. The stretch between Málaga and Manilva is particularly developed but in 1993 sewage plants were installed to improve the water quality and other measures were introduced to clean up the beaches. This is not the place to come for peace and quiet as the night life comes right up to the beach and there is no shortage of discos and bars. Inland the vivid coloring of the landscape and the luxuriant flora give the Costa del Sol its particular stamp. With its whitewashed houses, its agaves and cactuses, its farms and its cheerful villages, it is the very image of Andalusia.
The Costa del Sol ("Sunshine Coast") extends along almost the whole of the Mediterranean coast of Andalusia, from Cabo de Gata, where the Costa Blanca ends, to the most southerly point in Spain at Tarifa, where the Costa de la Luz begins. The mild climate of this region (with an average annual temperature of over 18°C/64°F) has led to the development of a densely populated holiday and tourist region almost 300km/190mi long which attracts hosts of foreign visitors. The stretch between Málaga and Manilva is particularly developed but in 1993 sewage plants were installed to improve the water quality and other measures were introduced to clean up the beaches. This is not the place to come for peace and quiet as the night life comes right up to the beach and there is no shortage of discos and bars. Inland the vivid coloring of the landscape and the luxuriant flora give the Costa del Sol its particular stamp. With its whitewashed houses, its agaves and cactuses, its farms and its cheerful villages, it is the very image of Andalusia.
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Almunecar, Spain
To the west of Castell de Ferro, N 340 crosses the Río Guadalfeo, passes through Salobreña, a charmingly situated little town of whitewashed houses, and comes to Almuñécar, a picturesque town, originally a Phoenician foundation, which is now a popular seaside resort. Its main features of interest are a ruined Moorish castle, the remains of a Roman aqueduct and its principal church, which was built by Juan de Herrera.
Castell de Ferro, Spain
The coast road (N 340) leads east from Motril through the fishing village of Calahonda to Castell de Ferro, a village dominated by the tower of a Moorish castle which lives by fishing, vegetable-growing and now increasingly - thanks to its long beach - by tourism.
Costa de Almeria
The Costa de Almeria refers to the stretch of coastline between Cabo de Gata and Motril. Here, away from the tourist hordes, deserted and clean, often pebbly, beaches can be found in rocky inlets.
Motril, Spain
N 323 continues south from Sospiro del Moro by way of Beznar, where a very beautiful road goes off on the left into the wild hill scenery of the Alpujarras, to Motril, beautifully situated at the foot of the coastal hills, with a fishing and boating harbor. It has two fine churches, one of which, on a hill, occupies the site of a Moorish castle in which Boabdil's mother lived.
Pass of the Moor's Sigh
Leave Granada on N 323, which runs south through the suburban district of Armilla and the fertile countryside beyond, with fine views of Granada to the rear, and then climbs to the Puerto del Suspiro del Moro (865m/2838ft), the "Pass of the Moor's Sigh", where the last Moorish king of Granada, Boabdil, is said to have wept as he took his last look at the city he was leaving.
More Spain Resources
- Costa del Sol tours and day trips by Viator
