Costa del Sol

The Costa del Sol is the extremely popular southern coastal area of the autonomous community of Andalucía. The scenery is stunning, with mountains rising dramatically out of the sea creating sheer drops to the sea far below. It offers some 100 miles of glistening Mediterranean shoreline.  

The Costa del Sol is bordered by the busy towns of Nerja and Marbella, with Málaga as its centerpiece. Málaga is a compact city of half a million is sandwiched between the Mediterranean Sea and the rugged Montes de Malaga mountains. 

Pick a city highpoint and, on a clear day, you can see the coast of North Africa in the distance. This proximity must have played a part in the decision of the Moors to sweep across the Mediterranean and into southern Spain in the eighth century. 

It’s an episode of world history that often goes under the radar, even though it was far from a fleeting moment. The Muslim invaders weren’t in Spain for the weekend; they stayed until the end of the 15th century before being driven out… The cultural footprint of this period remains in southern Spain to this day.  

The Costa del Sol has got the best winter climate of all mainland Europe. This is undoubtedly one of the most appealing pieces of coast you will find anywhere in the world.