Great things to do on the
Costa del Sol in southern Spain
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There is so much to see
and do on the Costa del Sol in Andalusia, Spain, it is sometimes hard to
decide what to do first. Here are some of the best, and maybe a little
out of the ordinary, attractions on offer in the area.
You've arrived on the Costa
del Sol for a well-earned holiday break. You've unpacked the suitcases
and settled nicely in your choice of the best Spain
villas available and now want to head out and explore your surroundings.
Let’s start with the city of Málaga where a collection of the most
amazing vehicles awaits.
Málaga and the Automobile
Museum
Lovers of unique classic
and vintage vehicles will be in sheer heaven when visiting the Museo
Automovilístico de Málaga, but it is also a fun outing
for the whole family.
The museum is housed in what
was previously a Tobacco factory, named Tabacalera. With a floor
space of 6,000 square metres available, the museum displays over 85 vintage
and classic cars. Each vehicle is contained within a thematic group
and by the years in which they were first built, including such exciting
themes are Belle Epoque, The 20’s, English Tradition, Eccentricity, etc.
To add to the vintage flavor,
another display has around 300 fashion hats in a collection dubbed “From
Balenciaga to Schiaparelli” and there is also a range of antique luggage
on show. |
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Worth around 25 million euros,
the car collection is owned by Joao Manuel Magalhaes, from Oporto, Portugal.
Apparently his father started the collection, Magalhaes kept up the family
tradition and now it is one of the most important vintage car collections
in the world. Málaga City spent around 9 million euros renovating
the old tobacco factory, making it suitable to house these classic beauties.
The video below takes you
a short tour of the museum:
Benalmadena, Calamorro
Mountain and the Cable Car
Next stop on our tour down
the Costa del Sol is Benalmadena Costa - a popular seaside resort town
with great beaches and an enjoyable Marina. However, just above the town
it is possible to get away from all those crazy tourist crowds, by travelling
right up to the top of a mountain.
Photo: View on Calamorro
Mountain CC-by-SA Yulia
Kuprina |
For a day out with a fabulous
view, Calamorro Mountain cannot be beaten. Situated at around 800
meters up above the town of Benalmadena, it is possible to enjoy not only
360 degree panoramic views, but also mountain walks, a visit to the Valley
of the Eagles and the occasional falconry exhibition or display of Andalusian
horses.
The Teleférico
cablecar takes visitors up to the summit of the mountain, where vistas
of the Costa del Sol can be enjoyed on all sides. On a clear day,
it is also possible to see across to the Sierra Nevada mountains and the
African coast, as well as Gibraltar in the far distance in the other direction.
Clearly marked hiking paths
lead visitors to various different viewing points, heading through the
rocks to where it is possible to see Mediterranean scrubland plants,
typical of the region, including Zahareña, Rockrose, Thyme, Lily,
Mastranto, Cantuero or Marjoram. |
The Valley of the Eages offers
daily exhibitions featuring owls, vultures, falcons and eagles, flying
free in a natural setting while experts offer interesting talks to the
public about the various species. A cafeteria offers light meals and refreshments
to end off the experience.
The video below takes a brief
tour on Calamorro Mountain and includes a fun eagle demonstration:
Mijas and the "Carromato
de Max" Miniature Museum
For an attraction on a much
smaller scale, the next stop is located a little inland, up on the hillside
above the coastal towns of Fuengirola and Mijas Costa in the charming white-washed
town of Mijas Pueblo.
The Carromato de Max is
considered to be the world's best miniature museum. It was started
by a successful hypnotist, Juan Elegido Millán, whose pseudonym
was Professor Max, who decided to settle in the town back in 1972.
The museum houses a total of 360 miniature works from over 50 countries,
which all go to show that some of the best things do, indeed, come in small
packages.
Housed in a gypsy-style caravan,
it is possible to see wonders like a painting of Abraham Lincoln on the
head of a pin, or a teeny-weeny sculpture of Winston Churchill carved from
a small piece of chalk, or view an excellent rendering of the Last Supper
on a grain of rice. As can be imagined, most of the exhibits can
only be seen with the aid of a magnifying glass or microscope, and all
are totally fascinating.
The museum is located close
to the main square in the town and can be reached either on foot, or with
the help of one of the traditional Mijas donkey taxis. |
Photo: CC-by-SA Tyk
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These, and many more, attractions
will keep you wanting to come back to the Costa del Sol every year. Have
a great holiday!
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