If you find it hard to choose between the beach or the countryside, leisure or culture, tradition or modernity, Velez Málaga brings it all together. With 15.5 miles of coastline, a unique historical and monumental heritage and with entertainment alternatives for all tastes and ages, the capital of Axarquia región has all the attractions to make your trip a success. A municipality in which more than 1,300 Britons live.
Torre del Mar: beach, leisure and fun
Velez Malaga extends from the mountains to the sea. On the shores of the Mediterranean you will find the area of Torre del Mar, known for its beach, its promenade and its variety of bars, restaurants and beach bars. Here you can taste the typical “pescaito frito” (fried fish) and the tasty skewers of sardines, small fish stuck in reeds and roasted. It also has a lively nightlife in its numerous pubs and nightclubs.
Velez-Malaga has beaches that offer all kinds of services, ideal for enjoying the sun and the sea as a family. There are also some less crowded beaches for those seeking tranquility, such as those of Valle Niza, Bajamar or Almayate.
If you come to Torre del Mar with your family during the summer, do not miss the Aquavelis water park. Just next door is the shopping centre Ingenio, where you can enjoy an entertaining afternoon of shopping. Although if you are looking for another type of fun, in the Caleta de Velez you will find the fishing port and marina and Baviera Golf, an excellent pay&play field designed by Jose Maria Cañizares.
Velez-Malaga, a city with history
Velez Malaga was founded in the tenth century. From that time we have the Fortress and some remains of the wall, which will immerse you in the Andalusian past of a city that became one of the most important medinas of the Nasrid kingdom.
Declared Historic Artistic Complex, the old town houses important architectural jewels, such as the Palace of the Marquises of Beniel or the churches of San Juan Bautista and Santa Maria la Mayor. This last one houses the Museum of the Holy Week, with a display of pieces that explain the celebration of this Christian festival.
Other unmissable visits are the Mudejar courtyard of the hospital of San Juan de Dios and the convents of San Francisco, Nuestra Señora de Gracia and the Carmelitas. And without forgetting the Teatro del Carmen or the Casa Cervantes, where the famous writer of "Don Quixote" once stayed.
Festivities and traditions
The Semana Santa (Holy Week) of Velez Malaga is one of the most remarkable in Andalusia, due to its history and artistic value. Almost a score of confraternities take their saints to the streets, offering a spectacle worth seeing.
Other important dates are the Carnival, the procession of the Virgen de los Remedios, in May, and the Royal Fair of San Miguel, in September. Special mention should be made of the magical San Juan’s Night in Torre del Mar, characterised by the bonfires on the beach to welcome the summer and the procession of the Virgen del Carmen, where the image of the virgin is shipped, crossing the coast followed by the faithful in their boats.
How to get around Velez Malaga and Torre del Mar
Velez-Malaga is easily reached by car from Malaga, capital of the Costa del Sol, by the Mediterranean Motorway (A-7) or by the N-340 road, which runs along the coastline and runs through the centre of Torre del Mar.
Several bus lines connect Velez Malaga with Almayate, Caleta de Velez and Torre del Mar, and with other cities such as Malaga or Nerja. There is also a tourist train that runs every Friday through the historic centre of the city.
