The Axarquia is a little-known area east of Malaga, with the coast to the south and the rugged rocky mountains of the Sierra Tejada to the north. The coast has many beaches with safe bathing, and relaxed bars and restaurants on the front, offering fresh fish and seafood caught by local fishermen. The inland area offers excellent walking, bird watching and wildlife – it is the last stronghold of the European chameleon – and remains very rural in character, with many attractive small villages. Restaurants away from the coast offer a range of mountain dishes, from the local Serrano ham to garlic soups and wild boar stews. The scenery is stunning with rocky mountains, olive and orange groves, banks of wild flowers and almond blossom in the spring, and the blue waters of Lake Vinuela at the heart of it all. Particularly attractive is the drive to Granada along the old coach route, which goes past the medieval village of Zalia up to the spectacular pass of Zaffaraya with its superb views of the distant Mediterranean, through the mixed woodland of olive and oak, and on to the delightful, scenically situated spa town of Alhama de Granada. The town has a couple of striking churches in a well preserved old quarter, and its baths, dating back to Roman and Moorish times (Al Hamma in Arabic means “hot springs”), still draw in numerous visitors during the season to take in the waters. The city of Granada is really worth a visit, having a great many interesting buildings especially the magical Alhambra Palace, one of the most beautiful buildings in Europe. ( It is advisable to book in advance to visit the palace). The town also boasts a very interesting old Moorish quarter, The Albaicin, whose narrow, winding streets offer a choice of tea shops and typical North African handicrafts. Malaga town, which is ignored by the majority of visitors to this part of Spain, is a rewarding destination for any day out. The birthplace of Picasso boasts a brand new museum and gallery of the painter’s work, as well as a large number of bars and restaurants serving local tapes and the famous Malaga speciality of mixed fried fish. In all, La Axarquia is a prime location to visit in that the area provides excellent access to anywhere along the Costa Del Sol. Only a 10 minute drive is the N340 motorway which offers the option of either heading west towards the more popular tourist resorts such as Benalmadena, Torremolinos, Marbella and Puerto Banus, or heading east will take you to some of the beautiful towns such as Almunecar, Nerja and Motril. By journeying east you will be able to enjoy spectacular scenery and see some of the Costa del Sol’s cleanest and prettiest beaches. Also, there are buses in operation from Vinuela that can take you down to the coast or to the nearest main town of Velez Malaga.