TRAVEL GUIDES DIRECTORY: COSTA DEL SOL SPAIN ESTEPONA

PLACES OF INTEREST

The Sierra Bermeja mountain range sets a stunning backdrop for Estepona. With this already beautiful natural surrounding, one can find one can find many interesting locales.

The Plaza de Las Flores is a lovely little square in the center of Estepona. There are many bars to be found here, and tables are set out in the open. This is a very nice place to relax and just bask in the rustic Andalucian environment.

The Paseo Maritimo is a long concrete path along the coastline, dotted with numerous open-air cafes and bars and refreshment stalls. The Paseo offers a lovely view of the sea, and to catch the sunset along this boardwalk is truly a breathtaking experience. At night, the warm glow of the streetlights makes for a very soothing setting for a stroll or just sitting down.

The La Ermita del Calvario ("Calvary Hermitage") is a hermitage which was probably built sometime in the 1800s. The actual date of its erection is unclear, but what is certain is that the hermitage was completed by 1829. This was supposedly an abode for lepers and plague victims, for them to live in humanitarian conditions and to concentrate them in one place sufficiently far enough from the rest of the population to avoid contagion. After 1875, the hermitage was considered a sacred place, and today is a place where the faithful can go to pray.

A holdover from ancient Roman times, the Torre del Rio Guadalmansa ("Guadalmansa River Tower") is the oldest remaining structure from the Roman town that supposedly existed on the banks of the Guadalmansa River. Here, one can also find the Castillejos and the remains of an ancient Roman villa.

The Iglesia de los Remedios ("Church of Our Lady of Los Remedios") is a church that was used as a convent in the years from 1725 to 1766. In the year 1835, the church was abandoned by the friars that occupied it because of a law that was confiscating church property. The façade of the church showcases the very ornate Rococo style.

The Castillo de Nicio is one of the most important ancient remains in Estepona. Nicio was the site of the most important Muslim center during their occupation of Spain. In fact, the castle, which was named Estebbuna, was the origin of Estepona's name.

Another religious structure to be found in Estepona is the Torre de Reloj ("Tower of Reloj"). This was supposedly the minaret (tower) of a mosque in Moorish times. When the Moors were driven away by the Christians, the mosque was transformed into a church, and the tower became its belfry. A dome was added to the tower giving it a neoclassical look.

The Castillo de San Luis ("St. Luis Castle") is the remaining section of a castle that was built by the Christian kings in the beginning of the 16th century AD. This castle was built to strengthen the town's defenses against invaders, ushering in a new age of settlement for Estepona.

The Plaza de Toros is a modern structure, opened in 1972. This is a giant bullring with a unique architecture unlike most other bullrings in Spain.

The Los Pedregales, or the Municipal Park of San Isidro Labrador, is the final destination of the pilgrimage on the feast day of St. Isidro of Labrador. This is a park located in the mountains, a part of the Sierra Bermeja environs. The park has a full range of amenities for tourists: toilets, campgrounds, restaurants, dance floors, open air entertainment areas, and parking space.

Finally, the Torres Almenaras is a collection of beacon towers that were built along the southern coastline to warn against invading North African or Turkish pirates. There are about seven beacon towers, situated at strategic points on the coast. These are the Arroyo Vaquero, Saladavieja (or Celada Vieja), Padrón (or Paredón), Velerín, Guadalmansa (or Desmochada), Saladillo, and the Casasola (or Banos).

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