Guide to the Costa del sol, Andalucia, Southern Spain.

One of the finest examples of the white villages (pueblos blancos), Mijas still has much of its charm with its little whitewashed houses perched on the hillside. The village has also managed to retain some of its quaint traditions, one of the most unusual being the donkey-taxis which line the central plaza. Mijas is a typical Andalucian village, perched high above Fuengirola and Mijas Costa with spectacular views of the coast and surrounding heavily wooded mountains. Mijas is a web of narrow cobbled streets complete with terraces overflowing with geraniums, red tile roofs, archways and of course, the occasional chirping canary. Like Ronda just over the mountaintop, the village dates back to distant times and there are two Mudejar churches here to prove it, as well as the sanctuary of the patron saint of Mijas, from the year 850.

One of the most interesting buildings in Mijas is the hermitage of El Puerto which can be spied just about everywhere in the village! Keep looking and you may just catch a glimpse of a hang glider wafting over the peak. Mijas has one of the country's few oval bullrings (it's also small) and some interesting churches and other monuments giving insight to its past: Roman, Moorish and Spanish. The journey along the old road between Mijas and Benalmadena, among the pines and little chalets that mark the route, is like a continuous balcony which overlooks the sea.

During high season the village can be crowded with tourists visiting from along the coast. Higher in the town the streets turn into flights of steps and the higher you climb the quieter it becomes, and the cheaper the cafés, restaurants and bars are. Also look out for the mineral water spring at the entrance to the village. There is a thriving arts and crafts movement in Mijas, particularly linen and wicker items, and the locally made bread and honey is definitely worth trying. For more information about these local trades visit the Mijas Town Hall.

Healing Hands, Massage and Reflexology, Costa del sol, Spain
Healings Hands, Massage and Reflexology, Costa del sol, Southern Spain.