Nerja

 

Nerja is the easternmost town of the Axarquia and (together with Alcaucin) probably has the longest history of settlement throughout the region. Its name likely derives from arab "Narixa", which means "abundant spring". Nerja used to be well known for its silk products, famed throughout the Muslim world as far as to the markets of Damascus and as early as the 10th century.

 

Today Nerja's biggest attractions are the beaches and the Cuevas de Nerja (Nerja Caves), north of Maro. Discovered only in 1959, these caves are a series of huge caverns stretching for almost five kilometres and home to the world’s largest known stalagmite, a 32 metre high column measuring 13 metres by 7 metres at its base. However, these caves are believed to be just one entrance to a linked series of caverns stretching deep into the mountains between Nerja and Granada. They may prove to be part of one of the most extensive unexplored systems in Europe

 

The caves were inhabited from about 25,000 BC up until the Bronze Age. Cave paintings from the Paleolithic and post-Paleolithic eras have been discovered on the walls of the cave but are not accessible for the public. However, guided tours on well maintained, concreted pathways give an impression of the beauty of the underground world yet to be discovered. 

 

In the city itself the Balcon de Europa is one of the main attractions. Today just a mirador, providing spectacular views along the coastline, it is the former location of La Bateria, a fortified battery destroyed by British ships in 1812.

 

West of the city you will see an old aqueduct. While it looks roman in style, it was actually built only in the 19th century.

 

The beaches at Nerja are somewhat different from the wide beaches further to the west. While the Playa Burriana at the eastern end of Nerja provides several hundred meters of sandy beaches, rocky outcroppings cut the other beaches at Nerja into small bays with a more private feeling.