Mijas is a group of whitewashed houses perched on the mountain with magnificent views of the Mediterranean. Although we are going to focus on Mijas Pueblo, you should know that it is really divided into three nuclei: Mijas Pueblo, Mijas Costa and Las Lagunas.
The old area of Mijas is located 424 meters above sea level, sharing its name with the mountain range that surrounds it. Although remember that it is a mountain town, just seven kilometers separate it from the beaches of Fuengirola.
The pretty town is distributed in winding slopes that go up and down, full of colorful pots overflowing with flowers that contrast with the white of the facades they decorate.
Furthermore, the Historic Centre of Mijas was declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1969, due to the union of historical, cultural and artistic elements in terms of its urban structure.
Climate in Mijas
The excellent climate that it enjoys throughout the year, as well as the quality of its waters, make Mijas an ideal destination for all those looking for a place that allows them to enjoy the coast without missing all the attractions that the Malaga Mountain range hides.
How to get to Mijas
Like the entire Costa del Sol, Mijas is very well connected. From Malaga you can go by bus M112 which completes the route in just one hour. However, by car it will only take thirty minutes.
Beaches in Mijas
Although the closest beach is Fuengirola, the town has its own stretch of beach known as Cala de Mijas, located just 15 kilometers away. In addition to visiting the places of interest, taking a route along the sea is the ideal thing to do in Mijas in summer. La Cala de Mijas has 12 kilometers of beaches, among which are: El Ejido, Piedras del Cura, Playa del Faro, Playa el Caharcón, Playa el Chaparral, Playa de las Doradas, Playa de la Cala, Playa el Bombo and Playa de Calahonda, these last three being the most famous.
Likewise, the beaches of Mijas have 9 Q flags for Tourist Quality and three Blue Flags, while the rest of the coastline has the ISO 14,001 Environmental Certification, thus guaranteeing the conservation of the natural values of the coast. The Costa de Mijas contains a seabed that is home to great biodiversity, with European, African, Atlantic and Mediterranean species.
What to visit in Mijas
Although there are not so many vestiges that make us aware of the passage of all these cultures through the population, the tour of its main enclaves is still very interesting. There are many charming corners to visit in Mijas, but one of the most sensational features of Mijas are its alleys full of flowers. Examples of this are Gitanos or Flores, but also Plaza de los Siete Caños or Coín Street.
Therefore, below, we are going to discuss the different places you should visit if you go on a trip to Mijas:
La Plaza Virgen de la Peña
La Plaza Virgen de la Peña is the nerve centre of the town. Here we find its Town Hall, the hermitage that gives its name to the square, many restaurants, souvenir shops and the famous Mijas donkeys.
La Ermita de la Virgen de la Peña
This hermitage is most characteristic, since legend says that in the 16th century some children were guided by a dove to a small statuette of a virgin that was hidden in the undergrowth. The event was considered a miracle and a friar from Mijas dedicated thirty years of his life to excavating the rock next to which it was found to display the sculpture. Today, it continues there.
In addition, the weddings that are celebrated in this hermitage and its beautiful gardens are famous, where both the bride and the guests are dressed as faralaes.
La Casa-Museo de Mijas
The old town hall of Mijas houses an ethnographic museum of the town. Admission costs one euro and is open every day of the week. Inside we can find many farming instruments, everyday utensils from the past, machinery and many interesting objects.
Perhaps the element that most attracts the visitor is the representation of the hiding place of Manuel Cortés, the last republican mayor of Mijas in the 20th century, who acted as a mole and was forced to seclude himself in a small hole behind the wall for thirty years. His story inspired the famous film The Infinite Trench.
Ermita de San Sebastián
In front of the House-Museum is the hermitage of San Sebastián, very small, dressed in the brown marble characteristic of Mijas. It is a very simple place of worship, but with many devotees.
Plaza de toros
At the confluence of Málaga Street with Plaza de la Constitución we come face to face with the Mijas bullring. Regardless of whether you like bullfighting or not, I recommend that you visit it because it is the only one with an oval shape in Spain. This is a consequence of the lack of space in the chosen location which led to the stands around the arena having to be built only at the ends.
Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción
Right next to the bullring we can see the Church of the Immaculate Conception, which is really a converted Mudejar mosque, mixing this style with many baroque details.
Los Jardines de la Muralla
To have beautiful views of the sea and discover some remains of the defensive wall of Mijas, there is nothing like a leisurely walk through the Gardens of the Wall. At its beginning, in the Cuesta de la Villa, the botanical route of Mijas also begins, where you can enjoy the aroma of many plants.
La Fuente de los Siete Caños
On Agua Street is the Fuente de los Siete Caños, a very beautiful square full of flowers; with the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios and a beautiful recently restored fountain that looks like a postcard.
Fests, gastronomy and leisure
The local festivals take place in the first fortnight of September, paying tribute to the Patroness, the Virgen de la Peña. January 17 is the festival of San Antón, patron saint of animals, where people go with their pets to be blessed and the day of Carmen (July 16) with the procession in La Cala. Also worth highlighting is the Villa de Mijas Theater Festival, one of the main summer events in Mijas. In addition to the events mentioned, throughout the year you can enjoy many more activities throughout the municipality such as open-air dances, pilgrimages, concerts, exhibitions, theater.
Regarding crafts, silver embossing work, esparto and wicker are the ones that still last. In the gastronomic aspect, apart from the many international restaurants that exist, we can highlight local cuisine dishes such as salmorejo, maimones, cachorreñas and gazpachuelo, and typical sweets such as garpiñadas, buñuelos and hornazos, all inherited from the Arab era.
So, both the climate and the landscape of Mijas offer us countless sports activities: paragliding, hang gliding, signposted hiking routes in the Sierra de Mijas and mountain sports in general. It also has numerous golf courses where you can play and enjoy an unforgettable day in its water park, Aquamijas.
