Mijas Pueblo – Perhaps The Prettiest Village In Andalucia

Mijas Pueblo is one of the prettiest white villages in Andalucia in Spain, possibly the prettiest. One of the big advantages is that it is a little off the beaten track, high up on the side of a mountain, giving it stunning views over the Costa del Sol as far away as Gibraltar. On a clear day, you can actually make out the shape of the mountains in Morocco.

Because Mijas is located where it is, it hasn’t become too "touristy" so is still largely populated by locals. The village dates from the Bronze Age and has been inhabited by Phoenicians, Romans, Moors, and latterly Christians. As a result, there is a huge conglomeration of different architectural styles, especially in the lower part of the village. As it is built on the mountainside it has an upper and lower part divided by the main square, the Plaza Virgen de la Pena.

There are lots of things to do in Mijas. The Muralla Gardens are in the lower part of the village and definitely worth a stroll because they have multi-coloured flowers growing all year round. The gardens have been built on the old Arabic fortress walls and as you walk along them you can see how the village developed over the years. You also get stunning views over the Costa del Sol.

You can also explore the grotto of the Virgen de la Pena. The story goes that in 1538 two children were playing outside the city walls when they saw a white dove which was different from the others and let them stroke it before flying away. The same thing happened the next day. Their parents then forbade them to go there as they feared something could happen to them. However, days later they did go back and heard a voice calling them. They followed the voice calling to them and then beside the tower of the castle the Virgin appeared to them asking to be let free from the rock. They told their parents, and the following day the whole village went to the tower. Here the father started removing the rocks and uncovered the statue of the Virgin which today stands above the altar in the chapel.

There followed years of plans to build a chapel in the same spot, none of which came to fruition, and eventually a local priest decided to build it himself inside the rocks, finally finishing it in 1682.

Malaga region is the oldest area in Spain involved in wine-making and at the Mijas Museo del Vino you can explore the history of the production of the sweet Malaga wine. The museum also has a small terrace at the back where you can sit and enjoy a glass or three while you browse through their selection of around 250 wines for sale. Mijas also has a contemporary art centre which boasts the largest collection of works by Picasso outside the Picasso Museum in Malaga with 130 different works by the artist.

Yes, Mijas is a very pretty village and once you have visited it you will want to come back for more. Indeed, you might even look to see if you can find Mijas apartments for sale so that you can return time and again whenever it suits you. It would certainly make a great holiday home because although it does get busloads of tourists, they only come and go, leaving the village in peace for most of the time. There are also plenty of cafes, bars, and restaurants and most of them are very reasonably priced.

BeckettHanlon is a Member of the Association of International Property Professionals Ltd and can always offer Mijas apartments for sale to investors wishing to purchase an overseas property in one of the prettiest villages in Spain. The company has been sourcing apartments in Mijas for clients for over twenty years.

BeckettHanlon is an international estate agent with a special interest in Southern Spain and has many contacts with local agents in this part of the country. This means that it can often find villas and apartments, including Mijas apartments for sale