History of Nerja
Nerja has a long history, evidenced by the primitive paintings found in its famous Nerja caves, discovered in 1959, and now Spain's third most-visited tourist attraction (after the Prado in Madrid and the Alhambra Palace). These caves are now believed to be just one entrance to a linked series of potholes stretching many miles into the mountains between Nerja and Granada, and which may yet prove to be one of the most extensive unexplored systems in Europe. Visitors to the caves will be able to view the remains of one of the ancient inhabitants of Nerja. Once you decide to buy a house or an apartment from Irish-Nordic the Nerja cave is a place you will want to visit many times together with your family and visiting friends.The Romans gave the settlement the name "Detunda", and it was later taken over by the Arabs. Under the Muslims, it became "Narixa", which means "abundant spring", and is the origin of its present name. Its agricultural and silk products are said to have been famed throughout the Muslim world and in the markets of Damascus as early as the tenth century. This ancient names, such as Narixa, is often given to new urbanizations where it is quite possible that Irish-Nordic can help you find your dream house or apartment.
The Balcón de Europa, a mirador or viewpoint which gives stunning views across the sea, is in the centre of the old town. Its name is popularly believed to have been coined by King Alfonso XII, who visited the area in 1885 following a disastrous earthquake and was captivated by the scene. However, local archive documents are said to show that its name predated this visit. The Balcón area was originally known as La Bateria, a reference to the gun battery which existed there in a fortified tower. This emplacement and a similar tower nearby were destroyed by British led forces under Major General Blayney in 1810 to deny their use to French occupying forces during the Peninsular War. The balcony is a popular meeting place and visitors as well as property owners and visiting friends like to take their pictures by the side of Alfonso XII who stands statue there.
Modern Nerja
In more modern times, sugar cane production has given way to more valuable cash crops, particularly semi-tropical fruits such as mango and papaya and widespread avocado plantations in what is one of the major avocado growing regions in Europe. It is the eastern-most town in the area known as the Axarquía and has an official population of around 20,000 - a fifth of which are foreign residents, including around 2,000 British - although the true expatriate population is probably twice that. In the summer months, tourism swells the population several times more.Nerja has several beaches set in charming coves beneath cliffs and one of the best climates in Europe. It is also becoming a significant centre for walkers, thanks to the dramatic mountain scenery of the nearby Sierra de Almijara and Sierra Tejeda. The Sierra de Burno overlooks the town and provides an imposing challenge to climbers. Those who are willing to test their mountain skills to the full will find the southern route up this mountain especially rewarding. Nerja is also the centre of scuba diving on the Costa del sol, with the Natural Park of Maro - Cerro Gordo nearby. On the famous Burriana Beach which is one of few EU-classified blue flag beaches, you will find several opportunities for water sports. The number of resident foreigners who have bought their apartment from Irish-Nordic and other estate agents in the area. With lots of countrymen nearby, it is easy to fell at home in Nerja.
Costa del Sol
The Costa del Sol (English: Sun Coast or, more literally, Coast of Sun) is a region in the south of Spain, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, comprising the coastal towns and communities along the Mediterranean coastline of the Málaga province and the eastern edge of the Cádiz province. The name translates as "Sunny Coast" or "Sunshine Coast" in English. Formerly made up only of a series of small, quiet fishing settlements, the region has been completely transformed during the latter part of the 20th century into a tourist destination of world renown, with a near-continuous urban agglomeration of high-rise settlements and resorts running along the length of the coastline.
It includes the city of Málaga,and the towns of Torremolinos, Benalmádena, Fuengirola, Mijas, Marbella and Puerto Banús which are also the wealthiest towns, San Pedro de Alcántara, Vélez-Málaga, Nerja, Torrox, Estepona, San Luis de Sabinillas, the community of Sotogrande, San Roque and La Línea de la Concepción.
Settlement in the region dates back to the Bronze Age, and it has been colonised and ruled by many cultures such as the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Vandals, Visigoths and Moors, before the Reconquista.
Historically its population lived in the fishing villages, and in the "white" villages a little distance inland, in the mountains running down to the coast. The area was discovered and developed to meet the demands of international tourism in the 1950s and has since been a popular destination for foreign tourists not only for its beaches but also for its local culture. The area is particularly famous for its towns like Marbella, which provides the Costa del Sol with its reputation for being a playground for its super-rich and famous visitors.
During the late 1970s and 1980s, the region became known as the "Costa del Crime", due to the trend for British gangsters to escape from legal trouble at home by moving there to live their lives in luxury. Due to tense relations between the two nations over Gibraltar, extradition between the two countries was not followed. This phenomenon has been alluded to in television shows such as Auf Wiedersehen, Pet and in the more recent film The Business.
In recent years the Costa Del Sol has become known to golf enthusiasts as the "Costa Del Golf" due to the number of high quality golf courses, more than fifty, of which many are centred around Marbella. Attracting golfers from all over Europe and the rest of the world, the Costa del Sol has benefitted from the stimulation provided by this sport to growth in tourism and to the resulting increase in development of new complexes to house the number of golfers visiting the area.
The Costa del Sol is heavily urbanised, with a wide ribbon of densely-packed buildings running
along most of the coast. Architectural styles are a mixture of low-rise, whitewashed villas and
developments of high-rise apartment blocks concentrated in the tourist resorts. While many of
the villas and other single dwellings are designed and built in the local Andalusian-style the
purpose-built multi-dwelling blocks have little harmony with the geography of the area.
(Source Wikipedia)
Attractions and activities
Hire a car, scooter or mountain bike for your holiday transport in Spain's eastern Costa del Sol. We're near Supersol in Nerja center. Outdoor Activities: try an organised walk, cycle tour, horse ride, or Jeep safari. If we don't show what you need - please ask! If we can't help we'll find someone who can... Club Nautique Nerja
Adventura Nerja
...We offer the opportunity to try out a wide range of different year round activities including
horse riding, jeep tours, quad biking, paintballing, off road biking, sailing, kayaking,
fishing, aqua sports, power boat rides and tows, diving, wind surfing, country and mountain walks,
rock climbing, canyoning, abseiling and parascending. During the winter months we offer
winter sports including skiing, snow boarding and tobogganing as well as mountain
biking. Basically, if it is exciting and fun, we've got it covered! ...
Adventura Nerja
The Nerja Caves - La cueva de nerja
Is number three of the most visited sites in Spain, after Museo del Prado in Madrid and Alhambra in Granada. The enormous cave, which was discovered in 1959, has been inhabited at least 120000 years back and has enormous stalgmites and stalaktites that have grown together to form columns of up to 17 meters in diameter. More information at www.cuevadenerja.es (Spanish) and Tony Oldham (English)
Associations, courses, entertainment
AHN Nerja
Asociación Hispano Nórdica de Nerja har möte med underhållning varje måndag och
ordnar dessutom en mångfald aktiviteter såsom boule, bridge, bergsvandringar och annat...
AHN Nerja
Nerja Language School
Spanish courses all year round. In small groups with students of different nationalities, taught
by qualified and motivated native teachers. Andalusian school house and outdoor classes...
Language school (English)
Escuela de idiomas (Spanish)
The Nerja Owners Association Limited (NOAL)
... is a non-profit making company whose members own
timeshare weeks in one of fifty villas and apartments, which are to be found in one of three
El Capistrano urbanisations. Voluntary Directors, who are themselves owners and elected by
their fellow members, oversee its affairs. NAOL
Nerja Clubs and Associations
Where can you? How can you?
Farmacias, Pharmacies, Apotek (Nerja)
Gasolina, Petrol, Bensin (Nerja)
Callejero, Street map, Stadskarta (Nerja)