Banoo Villa, Nerja, Andalucia, Spain

One of the main attractions of Nerja is its coast line. Unlike the other zones of the Costa del Sol, here the mountains reach the shore, forming majestic cliffs between which nestle picturesque coves and beaches. As you travel eastwards, these cliffs become higher and more frequent.

The town its self is situated on a plain surrounded by the rising peaks of the last foot hills of the Sierra Almijara mountain range.

The beauty of these beaches and cliffs make it ideal for holiday makers. The local authorities have imposed a number of limitations on this zone in order to protect it from the impact of mass tourism.

The municipality contains a large number of springs forming rivers and streams. Indeed, Nerja must have had many waterways since the earliest times, for the name of the town during the Moorish occupation was Narixa, which means "abundant spring".

To the west of the town the river Chillar reaches the sea, swollen by the the Higueron and the Seco.

Nerja town centre has preserved the traditional style of the Andalucian village. In many tourist resorts, economic development has taken place and changes have been made in order to accommodate the arrival of mass tourism, transforming the houses and streets of entire towns, and almost always for the worse. Nerja however, has not only conserved its original structure, but all new constructions have been adapted to the traditional Andalucian style of whitewashed houses, windows with grills, roofs with two slopes etc.

The nerve centre of Nerja is the Balcón de Europa, a favourite site with local people and visitors alike. The promenade, flanked on the left by lovely arches and on the right by hotels, bars and restaurants, ends at a semi-circular viewpoint at the cliff-top, commanding magnificent views over the Mediterranean and the surrounding mountains.

Sunset seen from the Balcón de Europa is unforgettable. The promenade is lined with palms and plane trees, and two ancient cannons form a reminder that until 1812 there was a fortress at the top of the cliffs. At the opposite end, turning left, is a square containing the church of El Salvador.

Between the Calahonda and the Carabeo beaches runs the Paseo de Los Carabineros, a delightful natural pathway amongst the rocks of the coastline. Further east are the Jardines de Europa, charming botanical gardens which slope down to the Playa de Burriana.

Nerja enjoys a Mediterranean climate, these benign conditions combine with a number of unique features to bless the area with a splendid climate. The surrounding mountains protect Nerja from the cold north winds, whilst the influence of the sea makes for milder temperatures, both in summer and in winter.

These climatic conditions, combined with the abundance of water, have allowed a rich agricultural industry to grow up here, famous for over one thousand years.

In ancient times, sub-tropical fruits such as sugar cane and the chrimoya were introduced to the area, and in recent times exotic fruits such as papayas, mangoes and avocados have been added to the list. Vegetables such as batatas are also grown here, as well as traditional Mediterranean products like grapes, almonds and olives.

You will find all of this local fresh produce in the town markets and of course in the numerous restaurants.

Temperature table is as follows:-