AREA: 142,40 km² ALTITUDE ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 428 metres AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: 660 l/m²
AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE: 17ºC POPULATION CENSUS 1994: 34,598

History and Landscape

The municipality of Mijas, in the western Costa del Sol, extends its lands from the Mijas sierra in the Coastal Mountain Range, until the sea through a moved landscape of hills and undulations. The sierra offers a very abrupt panorama but softens by the pine groves which embellish these spots even more and enhances the presence of Mijas, which appears on the top like a white watchtower, looking out to sea and dominating the sierra. Traversing these lands by the old road which joined Mijas to Benalmadena is like walking by a large lookout open to the sea among pines and the ornamental plants in the chalets which mark out the route.

At the foot of the sierra, in a labyrinth of hills which offers the visitor a contrast between the traditional image of these lands and the strong transformation which the touristic activities are producing. On the western half, these lands are covered in scrub land, areas of pines and others of pastures with some olive groves, whereas in the southern and eastern border, the traditional landscape is experimenting a strong transformation because of the advance of the numerous urbanizations and tourist developments which climb the hills and enter through small valleys and watercourses.

In the central area of the municipality, the valley of the Fuengirola river opens large spaces which still conserve important agricultural areas, but the golf courses are also changing the traditional image.

The coast is eminently touristic, even in those stretches of coast where the closeness of the mountains to the sea hardly leaves room for a small cove. From the Punta de Calaburras until the limits with the municipality of Marbella, the architectural continuity is the dominant note.

The origins of the town go back to remote times, as testified by diverse remains found in the hills where the parish church stands and other nearby places. Tarnisa, the former name of Mijas in the Roman era, must have been a relatively prosperous nucleus, above all if you take in mind the nearness to the road which joined Malaga with Cadiz. Mijas was conquered early on in 714 by Abdalaziz, son of the leader Muza, by means of a pact with the hispanigode inhabitants.

During the rebellion of the muladí Omar Ben Hafsun at the end of the 9th century and beginning of the 10th, Mijas succesively belonged to the emirate and to the rebel's followers. Reconquered after the taking of Malaga by the Christian troops in 1487, it obtained the title of villa in the reign of Carlos I for remaining loyal to the emperor during the rebellion of the commoners.

---



Places to visit

Mijas has reached a great touristic development, as much for its coastal offer of beaches as for the location of the old part of a town, which maintains its traditionalism in spite of being 8 kilometres from the coast.

There are various interesting monuments to know, such as the tiny bullfighting ring of irregular shape. The town has two Mudejar style churches and the interesting sanctuary of the Virgen de la Peña, patron of the town. The church of the Inmaculada Concepción was built over the esplanade of a hill in the 17th century, occupying the space of an old castle of which some fragments of its wall subsist in the sourroundings. It is a temple with three naves and Mudejar coffering in the central one. Outside there is the solid square tower and some say that they could have used the old tower of the fort in building this tower.

From anywhere in the town, the white chapel of the Puerto can be seen, which is situated even higher than where the donkey-taxis reach.

---

Shopping

The variety of shops and commerces makes Mijas an ideal place to buy all types of articles and obtain "souvenirs" from the Costa del Sol.

The local handicraft goes from a very appreciated "cateto" bread to the preparation of honey, or even embossed silverwork. Other familiar handicrafts which are still conserved is works in weaving, esparto grass and cane.

---



Gastronomy

Besides the numerous international restaurants and some exotic ones or which have re-elaborated typical Andalusian dishes, the local tradition includes ‘salmorejo’ puréed soup or sauce, and a variety of soups such as ‘maimones’ with bread and oil, ‘cachorereñas’ with oil, garlic, paprika, salt,and vinager, garlic soup and soup with mayonnaise. Included in the sweets are ‘buñuelos’ sticky buns, and ‘hornazos’ buns with an egg inside.

---



Festivities and traditions

The local festivities take place on the 17th of January, the first half of September and the 15th of October. The January one is the fair of San Antón, with a pilgrimage to the saint's chapel with coaches and carriages bearing food. In September they pay hommage to the patron saint, the Virgen de la Peña. Formerly, during wedding or baptism ceremonies they danced the typical fandango of Mijas.