Villages on the Eastern Costa del Sol. Manilva, Casares and Estepona.

Manilva

This is a small village of farmers and stockbreeders ha with the years developped tourist facilities and services. It is perfectly located only 30 mins by car from Sotogrand (Cádiz) and Marbella, Manilva was growing towards the sea and the mountain at the same time, being now more of a tourist destination on the Costa del Sol.

Of special interest of this borough are the Golf courses, the Marina de La Duquesa, its monuments like the Iglesia Parroquial de Santa Ana, the aqueduct of the 17th century and the Roman ruins next to the Castillo de San Luis.

Of its festival calendar we take the 16th July, festival of the Virgen del Carmen who is the patron saint of the fishermen; the 26th July, Santa Ana; the virgin of Agosto en San Luis de Sabinillas and the festivities of the Vendimia on the first weekend in September.

Casares

Casares is a small town divided in two quite different parts: Casares-Costa y Casares pueblo. The fist one longside the Mediterranean and the second one has all the enchantment of arab heritage on the Costa del Sol and the traditional of an Andalusian village. Casares is a town of magnificient alleyways which are declared a historic-artistic combound.

Well worth seeing in this town is the castle of Roman origine and the “baños de la hedionda”. Moreover, the village has a beautiful natural surrounding with the Sierra Bermeja y Los Reales. Its patron saints festivals are held during the first two weeks in August when all of the village is celebrating its patron saint Virgen del Rosario.

Estepona

Estepona is called the new golden mile of the Costa del Sol, its parish facing the sea and at the same time the mountains, Sierra Bermeja, and one of the most important pinsapos forests in Europe, categorized as a Natural Park. Estepona, is the touristic place par excellence with its fantstic beaches, great Marina where one can practice many different water sports. Moreover, Estepona counts on a great infrastructure of hotels and is only 20 km from Puerto Banus and 25 from Marbella.

With regards to its heritage, apart of its Natural heritage which is the pinsapos forest of Sierra Bermeja, there is also the historic heritage to mention: the recently restaured Torre del Reloj, the ruins of the castle of the 15th century and the Iglesia Parroquial de la Virgen de Los Remedios. Also found in the area where in the last few years important archelogical remains lime the Castillo del Nicio.

In what regards leisure time in Estepona, you must know, that this town has importent cinema festivals, one of them is the Festival of the Cine Español in May and the Festival of the Cine Fantástico and the Terror in September. During the summer, many activities are taking place in Estepona; the Marina and the Old Town where many clubs and tapa bars are situated will wecome you with a vast gastronomical offer.