Mijas Pueblo .. 
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One of the finest examples of the Costa del Sol ‘white villages', Mijas Pueblo still retains much of its charm, despite a large growth in residential zones and vast numbers of visitors. With its little whitewashed houses perched on the hillside it has managed to preserve some of its quaint traditions, one of the most unusual being the donkey-taxis which line the central plaza. The journey along the old road between Mijas and Benalmádena, among the pines and little chalets that mark the route, is like a continuous balcony overlooking the sea. During high season the village can be crowded with tourists visiting from along the coast. Higher in the town the streets turn into flights of steps and the higher you climb the quieter it becomes and the cheaper the cafés, restaurants and bars are. Also look out for the Mineral water spring at the entrance to the village.
Once in the village, experience the spectacular views of the coast and surrounding heavily wooded mountains from 490 meters above sea level. There are no main roads here, instead a web of quaint narrow cobbled streets complete with terraces overflowing with geraniums, red tiled roofs and archways. Simply stunning!
Like Ronda just over the mountaintop, the village dates back to distant time and there are two Mudejar churches here to prove it, as well as the sanctuary of the patron saint of Mijas, La Virgen de la Peña. According to legend the image of the virgin remained concealed for eight centuries, until June, 2 1586, when it appeared before two shepherd boys who had been led there by a pigeon. Another story says that an image of the Virgin was found concealed in a recess in the tower where it had been hidden for 500 years. In 1656 work started on the sanctuary cave, which is nowadays always decorated with flowers and pictures as offerings from thousands of people.
Mijas has the country's only square bullring as well as some interesting churches and other monuments giving insight to its Roman, Moorish and Spanish past: The Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción, a 16thcentury church built on the former site of a castle, The Ermita del Puerto, constructed in 1875 after a promise made to God by an older woman, who said that she would build a shrine if God gave her a son. God did indeed give her a son and the woman fulfilled her promise!
The Mijas Town Hall has recently commissioned a building, Plaza de la Libertad, 2, as a 'House Museum', showing how various rooms used to be furnished in old Spanish houses. Not only that, but there are other rooms filled with various machinery from the local area, some used for wine making, and other tools and machinery used in general agriculture. It is well worth a visit, and there is no entrance fee.
Re-discovered in the 1960's, Mijas Pueblo has become home to people of many different nationalities and the impact can be appreciated via the international cuisine on offer, cosmopolitan clubs and the influence of foreign culture and the arts in general.
There is a thriving arts and crafts movement in Mijas, particularly linen and wicker items and the locally made bread and honey is definitely worth trying. It is also renowned for its artisans who make baskets and plates with ‘esparto' (a type of straw) and miniature figurines made out of matches.
Cadiz , Ceuta , Cordoba , Gibraltar , Granada , Grazalema Natural Park , Istan , Malaga , Marrakesh , Mijas Pueblo , Morrocco , Ojen , Ronda , Seville , Tangier ,
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