Mijas
"Breathtaking views of the Med"
You can visit Mijas using the amazing road which crosses Mijas mountain. Winding down the mountain with Pine Forests to your left and the Mediterranean coast to your right, you are in for the drive of your life!
Despite being one of the most popular tourist destinations in the area, Mijas remains one of the finest examples of the Andalucían ‘white villages’. Mijas is perched high above Fuengirola and Mijas-Costa with spectacular views of the coast and surrounding forest covered peaks, in the foothills of the Cordón Montañoso del Litoral Mountain Range. The village is a web of narrow winding lanes with sugar-cube houses and echoes of the past still ring around the cobbled streets.
There is a large, thriving arts and crafts movement in Mijas with items ranging from wicker baskets and leather goods, to locally produced honey and gazpachuelo (an egg soup.) The village houses several significant monuments including two Mudejar churches and the Sanctuario de la Virgen de a Peña, carved out of solid rock and a tribute to the Patron Saint of Mijas. The shrine dates back to 1586 when an image of the Virgin is said to have miraculously appeared there.
One of the most interesting buildings in Mijas is the Shrine of the Calvario, built in 1710 which can be spotted from just about everywhere in the village and is situated halfway up the mountain. From here, wonderful panoramic views are to be had. Access is gained by means of a winding path from the village. There is a bullring of oval construction dating from 1910 which is still providing entertainment in the form of bullfights and horse displays and a museum in the old town hall with a wealth of exhibits and a gallery of work by local artists. Also look out for the mineral water spring at the entrance to the pueblo.
The main attraction of the village is that despite its popularity, it has managed to retain some of its quaint traditions, one of the most unusual being the donkey-taxis which line the central plaza. Thankfully, legislation has recently been passed to ensure that these animals are not exploited and we can hope to see them ‘working’ happily for many years to come. Since this village was first discovered by tourists in the sixties, an incredible range of nationalities have made the pueblo their home and this has resulted in a cosmopolitan mixture of international cuisine, clubs and associations and in general, the influence of foreign culture and the arts.
The best way to see Mijas Pueblo is on foot, its winding streets and alleys are often only accessible this way. If you arrive in a car there is a large car park in the centre of the town.
Over a hundred different nationalities have chosen Mijas as their home, whether temporary or permanent. Nearly a third of the population is foreign.