Nerja, scarcely at 50 km from Málaga city, beautiful and fisher little town, can be proud of  it location, where sea and mountain join, resulting in a unique coastal scenery in the whole province  of Málaga: Maro Cliffs. Their singularity has earned them the condition of protected  natural area, with the name of Natural Park. These cliffs, in spite of being somewhat deformed in some place because of road N-340's presence, still keep their magnificent quality, that becomes outstanding at Cerro de la Caleta and at Loma de la Torre de Maro, as well as in the numerous and pretty little coves very often watched by old watchtowers that give them a unique flash of history.
What we find first where the mountain goes apart from the sea is the small orchards and then  Nerja's plain, that smoothen the scenery with plots of land that are continuously being invaded by  touristic building and second residence houses.  The leisure-focused architecture which is commonest on the surroundings of Nerja town on both sides of the main road N-340  is already going up the first slopes of a mountain range that covers the main part of Nerja's territory with deep ravines, slashes, scarps, and crests as tall as Navachica (1.832 metres high) and Cielo that with its 1.508 m. is the highest of the municipal territory.
The presence of man on this land is confirmed by the rests found at the Caves of Nerja and that correspond to the Upper Palelithic. From the Roman domination, the settlement of a town called Detunda is known in the area of the actual village of  Maro. There are also remains of a roman road called Sexi-Caviclum at Maro's Gully, or as it is also known, Coladilla de Cazadores a bit further up the Acueducto del Águila (Eagle's Acueduct) and close to it, there is the Coladilla pathway.
Very likely, Nerja's origin is pre-roman, as the names given to the town by the arabs Narixa, Naricha or Narija seem to be related to that time. Anyhow, it is under arab domination when the first news regarding the town's past are known. Between the end of IXth and Xth centuries, it is known that there was already a quite large town where women worked silk in such a beautiful and skilled way that their produce was well-known in the whole Mediterranean area. Some vestiges of the fortress where the old Narixa laid can still be seen at the place which we call Castillo Alto, near Frigiliana road.
When King Fernando the Catholic's troops conquered the coastal malagan towns and villages at the enf of the XVth century, the inhabitants of Nerja accepted it willingly, so as a reward, they could keep their lands and properties. After the Moor upraisal, they were expelled from the land, which was re-populated with “Christian of Old Faith” that were brought from other Castillian provinces. In fact, the depopulation of the area was not only caused by the expelling of the Moor, but also by the too frequent attacks from the Berber pirates on the coast. These attacks made the inhabitants migrate inland more than once, causing the reinforcement of the coastal fortresses with new watch towers.

Visits that are a must

The Caves of Nerja were discovered in 1.959 by five friends and have been called, very reasonably Prehistory Cathedral. It has 22 paintings that are dated, most probably, from aurinacensis era and that have been declared Historic-Artistic National Monument. Access is very easy following  the main road N-340 from Nerja. It is said that it is one of the most beautiful Caves in Europe because of the karstic cavities that water produced on marble. We must remark amongst all, the great central column at the Cathaclism Lounge, with its impressive 32 metres tall and that it is deemed that the fall of more than one thousand billions of water drops were needed to is formation. The visitor can feel overwhelmed at the Sala de los Fantasmas (Ghost Lounge) and at  the Sala de la Cascada (Waterfall Lounge). Next, there is a plain called “los Órganos” (The Organs), decorated with prehistoric signs, which gives us an insight of the primitive human playing primal music at the Caves.
Not less famous and visited is the Balcón de Europa (Europe's balcony), which name was given by King Alfonso XII on his visit to Nerja because of the terrible earthquake that destroyed it on  Christmas day 1884. The terrace, former Guard Tower during the Arab domination, is a wonderful balcony to the Mediterranean on the very heart of the town. There, the visitor can admire as well as the panoramic views, a statue of the monarch and two old cannons aiming east and west.
Nerja has also other places well worth seeing such as El Salvador parish church, consisting of three naves and of latter Baroque style  near the Town Hall. This church was built in 1697, on top of the foundations of Nerja's Castle old chappel, that is, the actual Balcón de Europa. It was thenenlarged on XIX's century. Its central nave impeccably keeps its wooden armour, offering the visitor a the sight of a wall painting of artist Francisco Hernández and a bronze Christ made by sculptor Aurelio Teno.
The Ermita de las Angustias, built to honour the patroness of Nerja, Our Lady of Angustias, is also of baroque style, with its temple dome in granadan style, offers a very nice but simple belfry sticking out from the chapel's body.
We must also remark Verano Azul Park, on the west side of town. There a fisher boat can be seen, “la Dorada”, which belonged to “Chanquete”, one of the most important characters in the well-known Spanish TV series of the 80's, that is Verano Azul. The street that goes along the park has the name of the late actor Antonio Ferrándis “Chanquete”. Also, Nerja wanted to give tribute to the series director, giving his name to the promenade in Burriana beach, Paseo Antonio Mercero.  We must say that both Burriana beach, on the east side of Nerja, and La Torrecilla beach, on the west, have been awarded with EU's Blue Flag, that show the excellence of our beaches.
Maro, the beautiful and small village 3 km away from Nerja, proudly shows its church Nuestra Sra. de las Maravillas (Our Lady of Wonders), built at the beginning of the 17th century and refurbished later on. Also, Maro posesses one of the most beautiful protected areas in Andalucía: the Maro-Cerro Gordo Cliffs Natural Park.
We cannot forget the magnificent Acueducto del Águila (Eagle's Aqueduct), built on the 19th century and that, as well as the Caves of Nerja, are located in Maro area.
Frigiliana or "Axarquía's pearl", as it is also known, is one of the most beautiful towns in Andalucía and malagan Axarquía. Its moorish-styled archtecture shows whitewashed houses, ornamented with multi-coloured flowers that pose a major contrast with the orange coloured roof tiles. Its cobble-stoned streets have awarded Frigiliana with many embellisment prices of andalusian towns in the autonomous region. From Frigiliana an astonishing panoramic view can be seen, from the coastline, the valley and the mountain range. Typical local produces that deserve remarking are wine and raisins.

Shopping

Nerja offers the visitor a large variety of handycrafts, from which we can outstand leather and pelt as well as cane and esparto-grass. Also, there is a great number of shops where any sort of items can be found.

Gastronomy

Here we must remark the great offer on international cuisine, but without forgetting the high quality or our Nerjan traditional cooking, where fish and seafood is mixed with orchard produce: red pepper with fish and clams; migas (breadcrums) with broth and clams; noodle and fish cassoulette; ajoblanco (cold Andalusian soup made with garlic, water, olive oil and salt) with grapes, ajocolorao (soup made with cod, bread, garlic, lemon, red pepper, boiled egg, olives and olive oil), grilled Burriana sea-bream, and many other deliciuos dishes. When talking about sweets, we find the traditional torta sanjuanera (St. John's cake) made of flour, olive oil, sugar, eggs and cummin; glased sweet potatoes in cane honey or sugar. For wines, one must not forget that this town is included in the Sun and Wine Route from Axarquía region.