Thanks to Robert for the photos and "pueblo" for the text
Benalmadena
Pueblo dates back to Moorish times. The village still retains the
Benalmadena town hall and mayoral office. The Pueblo sits on a hillside,
280 metres above sea level with marvellous views across Malaga bay. On a
clear day, vivid views of the Sierra Nevada mountain range can also be
seen. Over the years the developers have moved up the hillside from the
coast, but the Pueblo has still managed to retain its character as a
typical Andalucian village, with its whitewashed houses, narrow cobbled
streets and balconies decorated with flowers according to the season.
Whilst walking around the streets you will come across natural springs
which were put to many uses in days gone by, for example the spring at
Calle Chorrillo fed the stream where until the 1960s the ladies from the
village did their laundry. The main village square in the centre of the
pueblo is Plaza de Espana and contains the statue known as Fuente de la
Nina. This is of a young girl who has become the symbol of Benalmadena,
and her outline is on all official tourist information and websites.
There
are many places of interest to visit in the village, including the
Archeological Museum with its many artefacts and collections of
Columbian relics. Castillo Colomares commemorates Christopher Columbus's
arrival in the New World. Built by a father and son and completed in
the early 1990s, to some it looks like a fairy castle as you approach,
but it is not what you imagine a castle to be. Just outside the village
is the Benalmadena Stupa with its golden copula. This is the largest
Buddhist monument in the western world and is well worth a visit even if
it's just for the fantastic views towards Fuengirola and beyond.
Returning to the Pueblo itself, a visit to the Church of Santo Domingo,
sitting high on a promontory with magnificent views in all directions is
another highlight not to miss.There are many tapas bars and restaurants
to visit here where you can take refreshment and people watch. After a
while you too will become to understand why the Pueblo, even with all
the tourists is still just a village at heart. On leaving the Pueblo,
and as you head down the hill towards Arroyo de la Miel, you will pass
the sports centre with outdoor swimming pool and fitness centre. Next to
this is the municipalities bullring. A frequent bus service operates
from Benalmadena Costa and Arroyo de la Miel to the Pueblo, and takes
around half an hour.
Interactive map of the pueblo with the location of the main places of interest can be found here
