Scenery
by doreenellen
Everywhere we wanted to visit was in easy reach of Mijas, and apparently there are buses every 20 mins Fuingerola and Marbella was around 10 -15 minutes drive away. We saw some really lovely little ports and harbours and lovely coastlines. The food everywhere was excellent, english or spainish. We really enjoyed are lunches or dinners out. The golf courses were beautiful too with great views and great food at good value. We have never met so many Expats either which may not suit everyone when going on holiday but we had some very interesting chats and got lots of information from them.Fuingerola port was one of our favourite places to eat. Gracies overlooking the boats and sea.Special on menu was 3 course english meal for 8 euros with glass of wine. The service, friendly English family who owns it and the whole situation wa lovely. Nice menu other than specials with spainish and english to choose from. Mountain backdrop, lovely coastline runs all along the area and the friendly spanish and English people and of course the food and wine.
As we were self catering, it was nice to try out the different restaurants and little bars.
Views of the Coast
by Geoff_Wright
Our visit to Mijas in mid-March was really as a result of the gales along the coast during the week. Carmen and Stacey kindly offered to show us some inland villages, where perhaps the weather would be more settled. Fortunately it was better inland, even if a little cooler due to being in the mountains.
Here is a view towards Marbella, and you can tell the weather isn't very great. Sorry the picture isn't that great.
La Cala De Mijas
by keeweechic
This is the centre part of Mijas municipality which is these days more built up that the fishing village it evolved from. There is a lot of entertainment on offer with restaurants, bars and a cultural centre. On Saturdays and Wednesdays there is a street market which sells everything from ceramics, clothing, plants and flowers to vegetables and fruit. It is open from 9.00am – 2.30pm.
Ermita de la Virgende la Pena
by suvanki
From the viewing terrace by the Tourist Info Office, I'd spotted this rock building - It is another of Mijas Pueblos attractions.
It was the The Hermitage (or cave) of the Virgin de la Peña, which is now a shrine to the Virgin of the Rock.
This cave holds two rooms-One is a chapel/church, the other holds an exhibition/museum of clothing and rich tapestries, candlesticks, a photo of Pope Benedict.
The chapel has an alter, above which is an image of the Virgin of the Rock, surrounded by flowers and foliage. To the right of the chapel is a niche where rosaries/offerings are displayed-It is requested that No photographs are taken of these-I respected this, as did the rest of our group.
So, We had found a different church/chapel-well it wasn't enough to be a different kind of church-there was a legend attached to this place.
Outside the church is an info board which explains a bit of the history of this place;
"This is in effect a 17th Century cave-cum -shrine which was excavated by a Carmelite monk between 1656 and 1682 and to the side of whose Epistolary a sacristy made of irregular stonework, attempting to give the impression that it is a natural formation, has been added. The Eastern front also made in a similar manner and for the same purpose, has a doorway with a round arch and a small belfry gable.
In a small irregular niche excavated at the head of the shrine is an image of Our Lady Virgen de la Pena, Protectress of Mijas, which enjoys a large devoted following among the towns people
and here's the legend......Pour yourself a glass/put on the kettle etc. This is copied from the plaque inside the chapel.....
"In the village of Mijas in the year 1536 lived Pedro Bernat Manrique and his wife. Asuneion Alcantara y Torreras, both born in the area of Trujillo. The couple had a son called Pedro who married Catalina Lamaire Sanchez in 1573; she being the daughter of Juan Linaire Herraro and Pilar Sanchez Estevez; iron merchants from Torrijos of Toledo, family of the parents of Saint Teresa of Jesus.
The couple had two children-Juan and Asuncian, both working age (he was 12 and she was10) Their Father bought them a few lambs for them to look after.
One Sunday, the 30th of May (being the day of Holy Trinity) at midday the two children were playing, when all of a sudden the most beautiful dove flew between them. The children ran to catch the dove. They caught it a while it was perched on the old tower where the heavenly queen appeared. They stroked and kissed the dove with tenderness and were lost for words.
They awoke thinking it had all been a dream, as the dove was no longer there.
When they returned home, they told their parents what had happened, but they took no notice of their child talk.
The next day, Monday the 31st May they returned to the same place, having forgotten that had happen to them the previous day. Once again at the same time and at the same place the same happened to them. Again they told their parents what had happened,. Their parents told them that they should not return to the site, as something could happen to them.
They did not return until Wednesday 2nd of June. They had once again forgotten everything that had happened to them . It was midday and the children were looking after their lambs when they heard a voice "look at me than" ; they turned their heads to see who was calling them, there they saw the dove perched on the window of the tower. All of a sudden a beautiful light of colours shone around the dove, and amongst the light appeared a lady with a child in arms.
The dove flew down and settled on the breast of the heavenly lady.
The children knelt to see so much beauty. The little girl exclaimed " What a Beautiful Lady" "Who are you?" asked the little boy innocently. " I'm the Mother of God" said the lady "What do you want from me and my sister?" said the little boy. " I want to talk to you" answered the lady. The little girl warned the lady "Careful you are going to fall off the tower" " No my girl, I won't fall" answered the lady.
" Now go home, tell your parents what has happened and also tell the authorities of the village and the priest. Tell them that I have been hidden here for over 500 years" Having said this, she disappeared,
The children told their Father of the vision, he then informed the authorities and priest and then went with the children to the castle. The father, who was a builder, climbed the tower to the place the children had seen the dove. He knocked on the area the children had said and it sounded hollow. He began to break away the wall. He then exclaimed in a shocked voice " Jesus it's Here", and then fainted.
Later the Priest of the village presented the Holy Virgin to the villagers. The whole village knelt to pay their respects.
Inside the cavern where they found the Virgin, they also found a strange shaped pair of candle sticks, two guardians relics a ciborium, and pieces of jewellery and the history of the virgin. The virgin was known from then on as the Virgin of the Tower
They gave then the image of the Virgin for him to carry it to the Parish Church.
The next day was Corpus Christi. The celebration was more serious than ever due to the fact of the discovery of the Virgine which happened the 2-6-1,586 at midday, in the region of Philip 11. This is the Encarnacion, who appeared to the children Juan & Asuncian Hernal.
Mijas gained fame because of this legend .
There was a plan to build a chapel in this spot, but for many reasons, this didn't materialise, until Diego, a pious hermit priest, took on the project. He continued excavating until the chapel was finished in 1682.
When he died, he was buried in the chapel.
Worth a visit-
Free entrance.
There is a gift shop attached to this rock cave - I just had a quick look around - plenty of tacky religious 'souvenirs' / post cards etc.
There is a shop near the entrance to the garden, selling higher quality souvenirs/gifts /crafts etc.
Festivals
- June 2nd....The Virgin is processioned around the town, and children offer flowers to the icon
Second week in September
Feria of Mijas -When the Virgin de la Peña is honoured by lights/ fireworks. Also a fair is held along with music, dancing, concerts, competitions etc.
wander the old cobblestone streets
by willy_wonka
the charm of the cobblestoned streets was definitely heightened as the day drew to a close, and there were not so many people around. the day trippers from the coastal resorts had gone, and only a few restaurants and shops were still open. carmen and stace took us to a beautiful restaurant for dinner, with a view over a small plaza. wandering around the old part of town was definitely a highlight, and i can see why it attracts people to mijas.
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Torremolinos Bus Station
Inside the shrine of the Virgin of the Rock
outside view
Mijas sign outside the Tourist Info Office
