Information on the Costa del Sol - Information on Mijas, Things to do in Mijas, Restaurants in Mijas, Nightlife in Mijas

General information on Mijas

The village of Mijas can be found high on the hillside, some 8 kilometres inland from Fuengirola and 500 metres above sea level.  It sits on the lower slopes of the Sierra de Mijas Mountain and is surrounded by pine trees and wonderful countryside.  Tourists discovered Mijas in the 1960s and it is now the expatriate home of over 60 different nationalities.  The population of the Mijas municipality is actually around 55,000 but this is made up of three regions, Mijas Pueblo, Las Lagunas and Mijas Costa.  Mijas Pueblo itself has a population of around 7,500 people.

Mijas is one of the finest examples of the typical Andalucian ‘white villages’ which, despite the impact of tourism, has maintained its traditional charm.  It has an annual rainfall of 660 litres per square metre and an average temperature of 17 degrees Celsius.  Popular all year round, with a good variety of cafés, restaurants and gift shops, shady plazas and numerous vantage points called ‘miradors’ which have spectacular views to the sea and the surrounding countryside.

As you make your way up the winding road from Fuengirola to Mijas, you can see the whitewashed houses arranged in terraces above on the hillside.  This village, built on the lower slopes of a mountain, has many levels to explore and its steep winding steps are not for the faint-hearted.  However, the views are well worth the effort exerted by the numerous holidaymakers and give a lasting memory of this beautiful white Spanish village.

The village has so many attractive streets and the tiny tourist shops are all filled with local wares such as ceramics and leather, jewellery and a variety of art work by the many local artists who have settled here over the years.  The best way to view the village is on foot, since the distance from the western side to the eastern edge takes approximately 15 minutes from start to finish and parking is not the easiest thing in a village built with donkeys and horses as the main mode of transport.  Of course, an alternative, more leisurely way, to see the village is by means of the local ‘burro taxi’, or by horse and carriage.  The village is split into numerous levels, each connected by narrow roads or walkways and steps.

The Plaza de la Constitucion is in the heart of the village with a central bird fountain carved by Galiano, a marble cutter, with rocks left by the flood of the 2nd November 1884.  This plaza is surrounded by cafes and shops where the local atmosphere can be experienced at ones leisure.

The bullring in Mijas, built in 1900 and inaugurated on the 8th September the same year, still hosts a weekly bullfight and also various equestrian shows in the summer months.  It is unique in that it is oval in shape and one of the smallest bullrings in Spain.  There is also a bullfighting museum at the same location, dedicated to the history of bullfighting.

There is a tiny 16th century church ‘Virgen de la Pena’, which is carved from the rock and is a tribute to the patron saint of Mijas whose delicate statuette is housed here.  The shrine dates back to 1586 and holds an image of the Virgen in the rock, which was found by two shepherd boys who were led to the hidden location by a dove.  At various times of the year, including Semana Santa (Holy Week) the ‘Virgen de la Pena’ is taken from her resting place and the local men carry her through the streets on a gilt throne adorned with beautiful flowers.  The procession, led by local brass bands, goes through the whole village and takes a number of hours before returning the statue to her resting place.  The men take great pride in carrying her and consider the task an honour to execute.

The parish church known as the ‘Immaculate Conception’ was built in 1541 to 1565 on the site of the ruins of an ancient Moorish castle, one of whose towers was used as the church bell tower.  During its restoration in 1991, a series of frescos of the Apostles were discovered on the marble columns of the naves and it is said that they date back to 1632.  The remaining walls of the fortress, which protected the village in days gone by, have been artistically designed and planted with flowers which bloom all year round.  The rock faces in this particular area are well used by rock climbers to practise their skills, and the crevices are inhabited by many nesting pigeons and birds of prey.

Perched high on the hillside, well above the village of Mijas, is the ‘Shrine of the Calvario’ which was built in 1710.  It can be seen for miles, and from the shrine can be seen panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.  At night it can be seen from afar as it brightly lights up the night sky.  Access is by means of a steep winding path through thick woodland, following the iron crosses, from the upper by-pass road of the village.  The shrine is only open once a year, on Easter Friday, but many make the journey uphill on foot, to experience the breathtaking view.

The folk museum, which is housed in the old town hall building, tells the history of Mijas and the trades of yesteryears.  There are two antique olive mills, a wine ‘bodega’, a bakery and examples of traditional Mijas houses.

There is also a miniature museum in the village, established in 1972 by a world famous hypnotist called Juan Elegido Miranda, which is located in a caravan.  This miniature museum has pieces on display from over 50 different countries.

The most photographed street in the village, San Sebastian, is normally brightly decorated all summer long, by numerous pot plants of geraniums on either side.  At the top of the street is a village house with the same pot plants and it is locally known as ‘the flower pot house’. At the bottom of the street sits the church of San Sebastian, which was founded at the end of the 17th century.  In 1674, the church was rebuilt from ruin, enabled by donations from local charities.

The town hall, which sits in an imposing situation in the centre of the village, was designed by the architect Antonio Herrezuelo and inaugurated in 1987.  It has a beautiful marble patio with fountains.  Today, on a practical note, the foreigner’s department is located here.  A variety of languages are spoken by the staff and help is guaranteed to all the foreign residents and non-residents alike in matters to do with property taxes, health and a variety of  other issues that might come up.  Each week the town hall puts on a display of Flamenco dancing in the square for the tourists and a lively atmosphere is experienced, giving just a taste of how the Spanish people like to party.  The town hall also exhibits work of local artists and musical recitals are also frequently held there.  There are also free guided walks, also organised by the town hall, in the Mijas countryside, twice weekly, where the beautiful scenery, flora and fauna of the area can be appreciated.

So, Mijas is a typical example of the best the region has to offer, a place where time has almost stood still for the past 50 years.