About Nerja
The town is in the most easterly part of La Axarquía ( pronounced Ashakia) region of Málaga. It is 30 meters above sea level and is 45 kilometres from Málaga. It records an average rainfall of 460 millimetres and the annual average temperature is about 20º C.
The Town
From Malaga leave the motorway at the first exit for the town centre (second exit for the large Burriana beach). Follow the signs to the town hall or ayuntamiento as there is a large municipal underground car park here which is right in the centre of the town. Once you have parked up you may find a street map useful.
The centre of the town is the Plaza de la Iglesia square lined bars and
restaurants. Just in front of this is the ‘Balcony of Europe’ which is a large
open public space built out over the sea proving some fantastic views.
Behind the Balcony is the oldest part of the town which formed the original
fishing village. This is now the town centre and provides lines of shops,
bars and restaurants however these street have managed to keep their charm and
are lovely to stroll along.
There is coastal walk way along the beach front called the Paseo de los Carabeo which cuts under overhanging rocks and takes you from the Balcony to the largest beach - Burriana. This is a spectacular walk .
The Beaches
There are nine beaches which front Nerja, including Blue Flag Burriana beach. There are several small coves below the centre of town and then a larger beach at the West end of town - La Torrecilla. It is possible walk along the coast and view them all in around 30 minutes and identify which one suits your mood.
Outside of town to the East at the mouth of the Barranco de Maro (Maro Ravine) are the cliffs of Maro and a selection if quiet (sometimes deserted) beaches. These small, untouched coves are difficult to access but worth the effort.
The Areas History
Traces of the of the first people who lived in this area have been found in the Cueva de Nerja and belong to the Upper Paleolithic period. However very little is known about the poeple who lived here until the period of Roman rule, when a small settlement (Detunda) was established at present-day Maro.
The Moorish poet Said Al-Mugrabi is the first person to have written about Nerja (Narixa) he described it as a city-sized farming community where fine silk products were produced. In 1487 Pedro de Córdoba took possession of the town in the name of the Catholic Monarchs after the Moorish rulers left. Under Christian rule, the town began to lose population, and in order to prevent greater abandonment Juana la Loca ordered Nerja to be repopulated with long-time Christians from the Basque Country, Valencia, Galicia and Málaga itself.
In the late
sixteenth century the first sugar mill was set up in Nerja and in the late
eighteenth century a paper mill was in operation here. During the War of Independence, the English levelled the fortress that
used to stand where the Balcón de Europa is today, and also destroyed the port
that had been adapted to handle coastal shipping.
Nerja retains its traditional festivals: the Fair, Holy Week (Easter), the San Isidro pilgrimage and the festivals of San Juan and Día del Carmen are also celebrated.