Marbella Supplement May 2023

Mijas

THE SECRETS OF MIJAS

Ditch the

and

THEY turn up in their droves. On tour buses, or in cars, and stretch their legs for about 400 metres. Out come the cameras and the ticklists and, wait… there is the donkey statue (left), perfect for a family snap, the vista to the sea, ideal for a selfie, and the chocolate factory to while away an hour.

And then there’s the other side of Mijas pueblo for those who do their utmost best to avoid the above tourists like a plague!

What is striking about Mijas is its ability to satisfy both types of tourists and yes, there is so much more to this wonderful white village than at first meets the eye. Want a quick and easy morning or evening visit with the family while on your hols?

Well the village ticks plenty of boxes: It’s a simple 15 minute uphill drive from the coast, it’s pedestrian-friendly and there’s a giant multi-storey car park right in the heart of the village, costing just €1 a day.

Even easier, you walk out into a charming, leafy square with a big playground for the kids and the donkey taxis (or horse-drawn carts) waiting to ferry you away on a whistle-stop tour of the pueblo. On your return a host of pavement cafes offer a splendid place for a bite.

For the more discerning tourists looking for authenticity, history and charm, however, you just need to know where to look.

Continues on next page

donkey

get on Shanks’s pony, insists Jon Clarke, if you really want to enjoy Mijas

PRETTY AS A PICTURE: The pueblo in springtime and (inset) kids ride the donkey statue

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Culture vulture’s dream

My advice, just keep walking, Shanks’s pony, and aim to get to the far extremities of the village that spreads out like a ribbon along the southern slopes of the soaring Sierra de Mijas. It is in these much quieter parts of the white village where you will start to appreciate its history and finally find some peace. And for anyone looking to really stretch their legs you can continue out of the village and eventually up into the pine-

clad nearby hills. At each end of the village there is a proper hike, with the main ones - to the Puerto del Pino or the Ruta de los Duendes - taking about two to three hours. Alternatively you can go for the taster option of a half hour stroll uphill to the now defunct quarry, Cantera El Puerto, which promises a lovely view and a good spot for a picnic. Whatever you choose, particularly in Spring, you will find an abundance of wild flowers and the fresh smell of lavender and pine. Look up and you will most likely spot an eagle, European Short-toed or Booted, and highly likely a phalanx of Bee-eaters or a local Griffon vulture.

In contrast, the culture vultures among you mustn’t miss the municipal museum, a superb tour of local and regional history with some fabulous photos, to boot.

Whatever type of tourist you are, the town hall and tourist

Mijas Properties was established in 1984 by Susanne Terés

office make things incredibly easy. Maps and walking-tours are carefully planned and signposted, with excellent translations in English, which is almost unique for Andalucia. Each walk is colour coded, with the yellow tour snaking through the town, and guaranteeing the main sites. The first port of call is the shrine of the Virgin of the Rock, a cross-between a cave and a chapel carved out of the mountainside. This is the patron saint of Mijas and from its viewpoint, you can take in the phenomenal panoramic views all along the Costa del Sol. It’s a nice shady spot to linger, particularly as there’s a cafe providing cold beers, coffees or waters, but perhaps you’ll wait for the central hub, Constitution Square.

It’s always a hive of activity and from here streets radiate out, lined with craft shops - packed with ceramics and textiles,

Specialists in Mijas Pueblo and the surrounding areas for over 30 years!

Sales & Management – Holidays & Long Term Rentals

many of a very high quality. Next you head up towards the ancient bullring, which is unusual due to its oval shape, as well as boasting charming gardens.

Built in 1900 it has seen some glory days, with death in the afternoon provided by the great and the good of bullfighting, from Paquirri to Paco Oje-

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Located on the main street in Mijas Village, close to the Town Hall

If you are thinking of putting your property on for sale or rent, please do not hesitate to call us!

www.mijasproperties.com

Tel: 952 485 025 Mob: 605 381 317 info@mijasproperties.com

HISTORY TOUR: Virgin of the Rock, while (left) two street scenes and (right) an artisan shop

da and even the colourful faenas of British bullfighter Frank Evans, aka El Ingles, who famously fought in the ring at 71 years old.

Bullfights are pretty unheard of these days, but you might catch a horse-show if you’re lucky.

Alternatively head off at a tangent into the backstreets as getting lost in the maze of alleyways is one of the best things about the pueblo.

You’ll be amazed by what you might find, from sleepy chapels to a hidden fountain and from random caves to one amazing vaulted ceiling spitand-sawdust joint, with a bank of ancient radios on the wall.

One of them could have been the ancient transistor that

the former mayor, the famous Mole of Mijas, listened to when he hid for five years during and after the Spanish Civil War (see page 10).

You can learn more about him at the municipal museum, as well as about the area’s traditional form of making money selling esparto products (a kind of wild mountain grass).

Traditionally collected from the nearby hills, it was weaved into a huge array of items including shoes, hats and bags, many sold to tourists over the years. There is a statue to an espartero worker in the main square and the museum explains well how it became an invaluable source of income during the tough times after the civil war and during the Franco dictatorship.

Beside an evocative photo of a grandmother stitching it to-

gether in the street, is a touching elegy to the trade. “One has to be born to the work in the mountains. Collecting esparto sounds easy, but it isn’t. The mountain changes every year. It is full of cracks and holes that are covered with weeds, one must know how to walk there.

“I have travelled as far as Granada and Cordoba to collect it. On these trips, you had to sleep under trees, even at Christmas when it was far too cold. In the end we managed to save around 300 to 400 pesetas. We were used to living with so little in those times.”

Life for Mijas folk was anything but easy in the previous few centuries, particularly for women, who often worked the land, while their husbands went off to find esparto or went off to work abroad, particularly during the Franco dictatorship from 1940 to 1975. People were so poor they had only one outfit for work and one for holidays. “It was a life of miseries a thousand times worse than I can explain,” explains one old timer.

The town today has ultimately struck an impressive balance between encouraging its thriving tourist industry and maintaining its authenticity.

The streets have been carefully looked after and the level of tatty souvenirs are kept to a minimum. But, without a doubt, Mijas is at its best after 6pm, when the sun starts to set and the tourist coaches

have gone. It is then that you will feel the ambience of the place and really sense its past. As you wander around, doors start to open and the locals come out with a chair and sit and watch the world go by, while children play in the street. Looking at photos past and present, it is easy to feel yourself drift back half a century,

harking to a quieter life, when there were no emails, nor the internet and, best of all, no mobile phones. This is the time to hop in a bar, grab a cold Victoria beer, sit on a shady terrace and take it all in. I promise you’ll come back.

INDUSTRY: But the esparto grass made only 400 pesetas a month

CURVES: From the vaulted ceiling bar (left) to the unusual bullring and (inset) ‘El Ingles’ Frank Evens last flight

Life was anything but easy in the previous few centuries

DID YOU KNOW?

If you thought you knew all there was to know about Mijas, these 10 fascinating facts could make you think twice

WAR HEROES

In 1810 during the Napoleonic Wars not even the distinguished British General Blayney and his 2,000 soldiers were able to conquer Mijas. Under ferocious attack by sea and land, the defenders routed British and Spanish forces, captured Blayney and sent the troops scuttling north. It’s known as the Battle of Fuengirola but it was really Mijas as you’ll see below.

MARBLE-OUS MIJAS

Who would guess there are pieces of Mijas all over Spain.

Marble was its main export during the XVII and XVIII centuries when it was used to embellish many important places of worship, including the cathedrals of Malaga and Sevilla, San Pedro Church in Granada and Santa Tecla in Burgos.

BURIED TREASURE

Traces of Punic-Phoenician temples have been found in only eight locations throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Mijas is one.

During excavations in 2013 two bronze pieces representing the Eyes of Astarte the goddess were found within the old city walls, suggesting that the site was once a sanctuary to a healing cult.

During the 1960s Mijas was a much sought-after backdrop for movie makers for its the typical Andalucian charm.

Brigitte Bardot (above), Raquel Welch and the Spanish actress and singer Marisol respectively strolled its romantic streets in Les Bijoutiers du clair de lune (1958) Fathom (1967)” and Solos los dos (1968).

SHAPE-SHIFTING

Most bullrings are round but Mijas has one of the few oval plazas de toros in Spain. Built in 1900 by popular demand, it’s not easy to pick out, so well is it camouflaged among the white village houses.

STYLING FOR YOU

Your Home Styling

different from traditional furniture stores

KITTING out a new home with furniture is an exciting but perhaps daunting experience which is where the team at 'Your Home Styling' in Mijas can give you all the help you need. Whether it is a whole property or just a single room the company, which has built up a great reputation since it opened over three years ago, will provide ideas for all budgets.

'Your Home Styling' is the brain-child of owner and CEO Martin Rance.

“We are very different from traditional furniture stores with our team of interior designers acting as personal shoppers for customers,” said Martin.

“You can just go to our Mijas showroom and have a no obligation chat with one of the designers to see what we can do for you,” he added. The business offers tailor-made furniture packages to suit your style and your budget as it offers a variety of brands at all prices starting with the top range 'Nordic Home' and 'Boho Home' packages. Martin Rance said: “We will get hold of

anything for a client because it is about helping them get the furniture they want. If it is not in stock, we will order any item.”

“We pride ourselves in having very honest and fair prices coupled with our personal bespoke service,” Martin added.

'Your Home Styling' delivers to any address in Andalucia and if customers are waiting to move into their new home, there is free warehouse storage for up to six months.

It's not just furniture but there's help to get curtains, bedding, towels, kitchen utensils as well as the full decoration and style of a new home. Even if a client just wants a single-room makeover or to buy just one or two items, then 'Your Home Styling' can assist.

“Service is absolutely key,” commented Martin. “English-speaking purchasers are very important and everybody, including our delivery drivers, speaks English.”

The showroom is at the Centro Nordico in Mijas and is open weekdays between 10.00am and 6.30pm.

SIAMESE TWIN

Once upon a time Fuengirola didn’t exist - it was all part of Mijas, including the castle on the coast. In 1841 the two towns were separated although one still merges into the other so that the difference is almost imperceptible, like identical twins.

SMALL WORLD

The Professor Max Museum of Miniatures is a dinky-sized delight. Inside what may be Spain’s quirkiest attraction you’ll find curiosities

like a shrunken head, the seven world wonders sculpted from a toothpick and Abraham Lincoln’s portrait painted on a pinhead.

SIZE MATTERS

Although the pueblo is petite, the tourist slogan ‘Mijas Inmensa’ is no lie. With an 89,000 population and an area of 148km2 it’s the third biggest municipality in the province of Malaga, after Malaga City and Marbella.

Y our Home Styling

COST A DEL SOL

MIRACULOUS MIJAS

Visitors are often curious to know why there are two sculptures of the Roman God Hercules flanking the entrance to Mijas Ethnological Museum of Mijas.

MAKING AN ENTRANCE

They were put there to symbolise the burden of responsibility of the old Mijas political leaders. Clearly they had a Herculean task.

One of the treasures of Mijas is the Virgen de la Peña sanctuary where, according to legend, the Madonna appeared to two shepherds. As a tribute, a hermitage was hollowed out in stone which has become a point of pilgrimage.

Mijas

PIC CREDIT: golfelchaparral.com

PHYSICAL THERAPY

Helping Costa del Sol patients achieve pain free lives

Mijas Costa was declared a Community Interest Area (CIA) in 2006 for its valuable marine ecosystem.

Scientists have found 170 different species of molluscs along its shoreline, close to where the Mediterranean meets the Gibraltar Strait, a rich ocean habitat.

led a revolt against King Ferdinand VII’s regime in 1831 as well as the history of other coastal watchtowers, and the traditional fishing customs of the Mijas Costa. It was only four decades ago

that the village consisted of little more than the watchtower and half a dozen fisherman’s cottages. Even up to the 1970s, almost all transport was by donkey and back in the late

1950s most of the land in the area was split between two big families, the German Berne family and the wealthy Cotrinas, from Malaga. Their land stretched all the way to Fuengirola and inland to the pueblo.

“It was beautiful back then, the land was so unspoilt and the fields were full of life. We had an incredible time growing up here,” a former gardener for the Berne’s told me.

“If you had a little bit of land you could live very well, but if you lived in the town of Fuengirola with no land, you would be pretty poor,” he explains.

STAN: I LOVE LA CALA!

Scouse comedian Stan Boardman told the Olive Press why he has loved living in La Cala for years.

“It’s one of the few places left on the coast that still has a local village feel,” he said.

“There is still a very Spanish feel and people are very friendly.”

Live a Stronger Life

Welcome to our physical therapy clinic! Our primary objective is to help our patients achieve a pain-free and healthier lifestyle as quickly as possible.

We take pride in discussing the possible causes of your pain, injury or ill health, and work diligently to identify and eliminate them.

FIVE years after arriving in Costa del Sol, Strong for life has become one of the most successful physical therapy clinics in the area.

Founder Marcel Salazar is a qualified physical therapist with over 20 years of experience who has also worked in the UK and the USA.

Those suffering from any kind of joint or muscular pain can live pain-free lives after a course of six sessions at the clinic.

Some clients have experienced life changing improvement after just one session!

Key to Marcel’s therapeutic success is to fully investigate the cause of the pain. Once identified, he will provide long-term solutions.

The goal is to free patients from their pain and significantly improve their quality of life.

Strong for life maintains a 5-star rating across various review platforms.

An example from Google reviews:

“Having suffered neck stiffness and developing long lasting headaches I visited Strong for Life. Marcel is a thoroughly professional physiotherapist, he identified the problem immediately and after a one-hour-session, I left his surgery absolutely relaxed and I have not had more headaches ever since.”

One session is €60 and you may only need a few of them, or even just one, to walk out of the clinic as a pain-free and much happier person.

Services include back pain, personal training rehab and nutritional advice.

For readers of the Olive Press a special deal of buy five get six sessions is available until June 30 2023. Use Code “Olive”.

For further information please visit www.strongforlife.me

You can also call or whatsapp 633540609 or email marcel@strongforlife.me and visit the clinic at Centro Comercial Valdepinos Local 16 & 17A, 29649 La Cala de Mijas, Málaga

LEAFY: Mijas costa and (left) a hidden beach near El Oceano restaurant

BYGONE TOWN

MIJAS workers created an industry around the weaving of esparto grass, men picking it in the high mountains and women folk creating a range of baskets, hats and even shoes.

Everything was tranported by donkey and men always wore hats, while on the hardly developed coast fishing made more money than tourism.

ALPARGATERIA LOS ABUELOS

Espadrille Shop offering classic, modern, latest trends and custom painted models

alpargateriamijas@hotmail.com

LITTLE CHANGE: At Mijas Pueblo’s main church

GRAND ENTRANCE: Amazing Hercules doorway at the Municipal museum today and (below) in the 1940’s

Calle Malaga 1, Mijas Pueblo, Mijas

BESPOKE ISN’T EXPENSIVE AT WHITE DESIGN COMPANY

Helping Costa del Sol patients achieve pain free lives

HERE at White Design Company, we have many clients with busy lifestyles. Let’s face it, who wants to spend precious holiday time going from shop to shop, selecting furnishings and decoration for their new or existing property? And then coordinating the delivery or fitting That’s why we are here to help.

Most of our work takes place when you, the owner, are back in your home country. You can turn the key when you arrive, assured of a relaxing holiday.

Our experienced staff will help with your bespoke furniture package, largely by email, allowing you to avoid any stress.

Whether your favoured look is contemporary, classical or a minimalistic Scandinavian design – to name a few ideas – we’ll create a package to suit your tastes.

We’re frequently asked, at the start of the design process, how much a package will cost. This really depends on your budget, as well as the quality and style you’re seeking. With some elements, you should consider spending a bit more to allow for comfort and longevity. With others, you can economise.

We can boost your chosen look with inexpensive, decorative pieces - such as pictures, and mirrors. These will stand the test of time and keep the cost down. Together with your larger items, we can install a few decorative pieces for you to see ‘in situ’ before committing to their purchase.

Remember that White Design Company can provide everything you desire, from your sofa to one-off curtains and bedding. Bespoke doesn’t need to be expensive!

We look forward to helping you soon.

For more information, please call on 952 494 155, email info@whitedesignco.com, visit www.whitedesignco.com, search White Design Company on Facebook or _whitedesigncompany on Instagram.

SKIP THAT: Apart from the rubbish container, what else has changed in Plaza los Siete Caños since 1960?

Mijas

I PULLED MY OWN TEETH OUT

IT is one of the most remarkable stories to emerge from the Franco era.

Now best known as ‘The Mole of Mijas’, Manuel Cortes Quero was the last Republican mayor of the pueblo, from March to November of 1936. However, when the town fell to dictator Franco’s nationalist troops during the Spanish Civil War he was forced to abandon his wife and newborn daughter and flee the town under the cover of darkness.

However he returned in 1939, willing to sacrifice his freedom in exchange for living under the same roof as his family, making himself a prisoner in his own home.

For 30 years - YES you read that correctly, THIRTY years - the Mole stayed hidden, tucked in a cramped space under the stairs behind a false wall.

“I pulled out my own teeth, as soon as I got an ache,” Cortes

said later. “I would work at the tooth until it was loose and then I would yank it out with my fingers, without any pliers or tongs. I pulled out nine or ten teeth this way.”

In 1960, after 21 years of hiding, Cortes’ daughter Maria got married. “I had to make do with watching her come out of church through a little hole above,” he said.

“The wedding procession left the house and after the ceremony Maria scurried away to come to my room and kiss me, just as we had planned.”

Listening to the radio on March 28, 1969, with his ear pressed to the wall, Cortes heard the news that he had been waiting 30 years to hear.

The government had granted amnesty to those people who had committed crimes from July 18 1936 to April 1 1939.

“I got a lump in my throat because of the emotion of

the moment,” said Cortes. “I couldn’t think straight.”

The then mayor of Mijas, Miguel Gonzalez, accompanied Cortes to the headquarters of the Guardia Civil in Malaga, where the world’s press waited to hear the confirmation that he was finally free.

“Was it worth it?” asked Cortes. “I never lost faith in democracy. The tyranny of the dictatorship could not last forever.”

Today, his amazing story has been given an added tribute, with the addition of an excel-

lent new attraction in Mijas. The Escape Room, available in English or Spanish, takes between an hour and 90 minutes and costs just €66 for six people.

Unlike other Escape Rooms around Spain it has a fantastic twist.

“Instead of escaping you must remain in the game and each find a hiding place before the Guardia Civil come knocking on your door,” explained a spokesman. “Oh and don’t leave anything around that could raise suspicion.”

To book or for more information telephone +34 647 679 345 or visit the website at www.secretplacemijas.com

ENTHRALLED FROM THE START!

Olive Press’ new member of staff, Matt Jones, has been in love with Mijas for well over a decade

MY first visit to beautiful Mijas Pueblo was 13 years ago. A number unlucky for some, but as I’m still a regular visitor all those years later, it’s the very opposite.

The impact was immediate and I was totally enthralled with the atmosphere of the place, its nearby mountains, its closeness to nature and, of course, the amazing views down to the twinkling Mediterranean below.

I’ll admit I’m a little bit biassed with my family owning an apartment in the village, but how could anyone tire of visiting this little white gem of a village nestling securely onto the hillside with unrestricted vistas? There is a great range of restaurants and bars served by friendly staff who speak English to help those visitors who are not that confident with Spanish.

There is also a range of lovely shops to while away a few hours of retail therapy. These include many excellent artisan goods, such as hand made jewellery, traditional espadrille footwear, woven baskets, painted tiles and beautiful paintings and textiles to enhance anyone's home.

Mijas Pueblo also has a bus service to be proud of. They are cheap, clean and reliable so a car is really not necessary. Just hop onto a bus - or take a taxi if a quarter of an hour really matters - and after just a short drive you’ll hit the coast with all its beaches and a charming town of La Cala. This lovely spot boasts a wealth of places to eat whether one's preference is for tra-

ditional tapas, a more formal dining experience or everything in between. All of this with the added benefit of a beautiful coastal backdrop.

The recently completed boardwalk is a great addition for either taking a stroll or for a more energetic walk, and, of course, there are plenty of beach bars along the way!

HIDEOUT: The Mole’s room in the heart of Mijas

KEEPING AN EAR TO THE UNDERGROUND: Manuel Cortes

The remarkable story of the Mole of Mijas who hid underground during the Franco dictatorship has now been turned into an ‘escape room’ experience… with a twist!

The tyranny of the dictatorship could not last forever

THE Secret Garden is a little gem tucked away behind Aroma Café which, in turn, is situated in one of the most picturesque streets in the heart of Mijas Pueblo.

It is a BBQ style Argentinian restaurant serving high quality steaks cooked to individual perfection as well as a range of other meats and fish all accompanied by delicious Mediterranean vegetables and a choice of tasty chips or jacket potatoes.

They also offer an excellent wine and drinks selection and if you still have room, a selection of tasty desserts.

All of this at a very reasonable price for a fine dining experience.

As soon as customers enter the garden the natural beauty of the environment is there to see.

A range of tables is set amongst an extensive and natural garden with a backdrop of mature orange and olive trees, many in blossom when I visited, and all festooned with fairy lights providing a typical Andalucian vibe.

As the area is large there is plenty of space between tables, providing an intimate and very special atmosphere. As beautiful as the surroundings may be, any restaurant is only as good as the food it serves.

The Secret Garden can boast an extensive menu, an excellent and competent chef who, along with a team of polite and professional staff, all work to make the overall dining experience enjoyable and memorable for all the right reasons.

If you are ever in Mijas Pueblo seek out the Secret Garden. If your time is limited, you can enjoy just a coffee or a glass of wine or even add a few tapas from their excellent selection. You will be well looked after and not be disappointed.

For more information or to make a reservation, telephone or text to

+34 604 423 230

FOODIE REVOLUTION

IT was in Mijas pueblo during a summer holiday as a child, that one of Britain’s top chefs made one of his first formative foodie memories.

“I remember I got a great big chunk of honey in the comb and was baffled as to how to attack it. I ended up just scraping and sucking it,” recalled Michel Albert Roux (right) of his trip to the Costa del Sol resort in the 1970s.

“I had orange juice, too – made with fresh, real squeezed oranges.”

One of the true golden boys of British cuisine, the former star of Masterchef and Hell’s Kitchen , added in an interview with the Times :

“We drove all the way to Mijas. That’s a heck of a long drive - two days, with my sister next to me being a real pain and

Mijas is developing a decent restaurant scene, writes Jon Clarke

constantly whingeing - but I remember tasting things I’d never tasted before.”

Oh to have been on that holiday with the two Michelin starred chef, who owns London’s leading Le Gavroche. His father, also Michel, is credited with revolutionizing the British food scene in the 1970s with his (still) three Michelin star temple of dining, the Waterside Inn. It would have been an amazing time to be in Mijas Pueblo and, chances are, he might have just stumbled across the Secret Garden , hidden at the back of a nondescript white house in a narrow side street. Today, it is one

of the definitive dining secrets of the coast, an oasis, tucked away behind its sister restaurant Aroma

It is exactly what you would expect from the name, but a lot, lot more, a beautiful hidden garden in the heart of the village.

The best place to relax and enjoy typical Spanish dishes alongside Argentinean fare – particularly steaks - thanks to co-owner Hugo German, from Buenos Aires. Part of a group of restaurants owned by Hugo and his Canadian business partner Thomas Weller, who's now in his third decade living in Mijas, it really is something extraordinary.

Argentinian Hugo, 59, first arrived in Mijas, via a short stint in Mallorca. An engineer by trade, he left Argentina during the deep 1990s recession, looking to make a new life in Spain. He had soon found his vocation working with fellow expat Thomas, with the pair opening a series of shops in Mijas pueblo.

Things went well but it was when they stumbled across this hidden overgrown garden in the heart of the pueblo that they knew instinctively to open a restaurant together. After clearing out mounds of rubbish and brambles they initially turned it into a tea rooms with tapas, but it wasn’t until they

changed the concept to an Argentinian-style bbq three years later that the place started to boom.

“It was certainly a very tough start,” explains Hugo. “And it wasn’t until we got the concept right that things started to work.

“Finally we created the bbq out of a recycled staircase and suddenly it went wild.”

Since then they have invested more and more in the remarkable gardens, which are a must-visit, if only for a glass of wine or coffee.

Thomas, who arrived in Europe as a ski rep in the 1990s, recalls: “We wanted to create a sensation, something visual, not just a place to eat.”

Simpler, but equally as tasty, is Weller’s

Continues on next page

& BRUNCH RESTAURANT

PLAZA VIRGEN DE LA PENA, MIJAS, SPAIN

tel: 952 46 19 12

thelemontreemijas@outlook.com

Mon, Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun: 9.30-16.00

AS

SEDUCTIVE: And Thomas and Hugo (above left) have also created a wonderful space with the Secret Garden

We created the bbq out of a recycled staircase and it went wild

AUTHENTIC: Charming Casa Navarro is where Lady Diana once ate

BREAKFAST

Well worth a visit

IF you want a great breakfast or lunch option, then the Lemon Tree in Mijas Pueblo will definitely have something to your taste.

Michael, Craig and Sarah and the team offer a range of fabulous choices to suit every palate… and served with friendly banter and good humour, all at very reasonable prices.

The breakfast bagels and full English breakfast are top picks… while their lunchtime baguettes are loaded and delicious.

The bread products and delicious cakes on offer are all sourced locally from an artisan baker a couple of streets away.

Pop in and see the Lemon Tree team at Plaza Virgin de la Pena or for more infomation and bookings call on +34 952 461 912

THE BEST ON THE COAST

Italian La Cucine di Nico , where the osso bucco is the best I’ve had on the coast.

The pizzas are also amazing, while the salad selection is also highly rated.

Heading downhill from the pueblo, a great place to stop is Casa Navarro , which has been serving the area for decades.

Everyone from Lady Diana to Julio Iglesias have dined there and it’s a true family affair, open since 1990 and with an amazing collection of wines in its cellar going way beyond that.

“We’ve had everyone eating here from Lady Diana to the Rolling Stones and both Julio Iglesias and his son Enrique on lots of occasions,” explains owner Carlos.

On the beach it certainly does not get any better than at wonderful El Oceano , a hotel restaurant which is glamour personified.

Luxurious in the extreme, its use of light and views across the Med are incredible.

The beef tartare is the ‘tete de cuvee’, marinated overnight, then rolled in peppercorns, seared for 30 seconds and rested in the fridge before being served. I also liked the tempura prawns with wasabi and the excellent scallops with ham while my winning pick

would be the original take on Manchego Arancini, rice balls seasoned with saffron. The restaurant offers front row seats right on the beach and, after a multi-million euro overhaul, is even more glamorous than before.

FOUR DECADES OF EXPERIENCE

Mijas Properties has been helping people with their property dreams since 1984

TOP DISHES: Artfully created at El Oceano

TAKING the leap to selling your beloved local property is a big decision.

We know that well having sold homes around Mijas for four decades.

Our team at Mijas Properties are well trained and trustworthy and know the town like the back of their hands. Founded in 1984 by Susanne Terés the agency also handles rentals for both holidays and long term stays.

This nearly 40-year business makes Mijas Properties the longest-serving agency in the area, and this brings with it invaluable expertise and insight into the market. Years of service have built this family-run business a reputation as well respected and honest, meaning you can put your home buying journey in their hands with total peace of mind.

Susanne and her husband, Ian, run the show alongside the brilliant Nina, who is now the office manager. Along with experience, passion is at the heart of Mijas Properties operation.

Susanne insists she herself would never live anywhere other than Mijas and finds every day waking in this beautiful part of Andalucia a blessing.

A TOUCH OF CLASS IN MIJAS

A calendar of colourful fiestas ramps up the movida in Mijas village year-round

HARDLY a month goes by without some kind of party animating the flower-pot strewn streets of Mijas Pueblo. And the residents have every reason to celebrate life in this quintessential Andalusian white village. Ingrained with southern Spanish traditions from a young age, the people of the pueblo celebrate with gusto

International People’s Feria - May

Mijas celebrates world cultures on this day every year by inviting local folk from more than 20 countries to set out their stalls with traditional food, drink, handicrafts and clothing. Many countries also stage music and dance performances, with everything from Brazilian beats to Irish dancing.

La Noche de San JuanJune 23

La Noche de San Juan sees coastal towns all over Spain lit up with beach bonfires to celebrate the longest night of the year. But landlocked Mijas Pueblo also gets in on the act, with a firework display and the burning of effigies held in Sebastian Street after sundown.

Flamenco Festival - July

This typically Andalucian art form is celebrated by Mijeños in July with a programme of flamenco guitar, singing and dancing by top local and national performers.

PARTY PUEBLO

Mijas Feria - September

Held around the first week of September, this is one of the highlights of Mijas’ packed cultural calendar. Held in honour of the town’s patron saint with most of the action taking place in her eponymous square, Virgen de la Pena Plazathe ladies get glammed up in flamenco dresses, Andalucian thoroughbred horses strut their carefully-choreographed stuff and the sherry flows into la madrugada.

International FestivalAugust 31 - September 2

A recent addition to the Mijas agenda, this is a blockrocking music festival that boasts a stellar line-up, and this year it does not disappoint. Attendees can get their groove on to headliners The Strokes from New York, the electrifying Florence + The Machine, and Arcade Fire. From the local scene, Foals, Metronomy, Amyl and the Sniffers, The Blaze, Delaport, Amaia, Cupido, Carino, Baiuca, and Judeline and Ballena are all present and accounted for.

THIS family owned and operated oasis of laid back luxury is more than ready to welcome you at their fabulous seafront location.

El Oceano’s restaurant is well known for offering top-class cuisine, with each dish created with imagination, flair and served with attention to detail.

The stunning waterfront terrace menu presents some a la carte favourites, plus some more relaxed daytime options! For those who simply want to unwind a little in a stunning location, the option is open to pop in to enjoy an expertly shaken cocktail or two.

Not forgetting their famous Sunday lunch with top class live entertainment all afternoon.

Apart from the fabulous restaurant, it is also the perfect beachfront hotel, situated between Marbella and La Cala de Mijas, and offers an outdoor pool, pool bar, VIP sunbeds and the Martini Lounge.

Plus it helps that there’s always friendly and highly trained staff ready to offer impeccable service.

Meanwhile, the stunning rooms, which were recently redesigned, are spacious and luxurious and give every guest a ‘feel good factor’

Most of them are Ocean-Front Mini-Suites offering stunning views of the coast.

But for those who prefer to self-cater, there are 15 beautifully appointed south-facing studio apartments offering a little privacy, away from the main hotel. And don’t forget the hotel’s penthouses.

They consist of four spectacular, private Penthouses, all with uninterrupted sea views.

Many of the rooms offer spectacular views of the North African coast, the Pillars of Hercules and the Rock of Gibraltar...and just under your nose, there’s a quiet, secluded beach, heaven!

El Oceano...where else!

Diners searching for a touch of class on the Costa del Sol will be delighted that El Oceano is now open for the 2023 season