Velez Malaga

Capital of the Axarquia comarca, Velez Malaga, also known as Velez, is a bustling market town and the supply centre for the regions farmers. Situated east of Malaga and 4 kilometres inland from Torre del Mar, Velez Malaga, despite its close proximity to the coast, is a traditional Spanish city which is not dominated by the tourist industry. Famous for its agricultural production of vines, olives, sugar cane, and an abundance of fruits and vegetables, it is one of the most important cities in the comarca. Velez Malaga is also home to a variety of intriguing architecture and ancient palaces, with origins dating back to the Pheonicians and the Carthaginians.

Attractions and Sightseeing

Sightseeing is bountiful in Velez Malaga with numerous places of interest scattered throughout the historic town. If you fancy tasting the regions most beloved wares, then a trip to the market cannot be missed. The weekly market takes place every Thursday without fail, and makes for an exciting sensory experience for all the family. Be sure to take your wallet as you will more than likely want to indulge in the incredible fresh, local produce.
For the history buffs out there, La Fortaleza is bound to inspire. Built in the 13th century, this monumental castle is perched high above the city providing breathtaking panoramic views of Velez Malaga and the Torre del Mar area. Once used as a royal residence, jail and courthouse, La Fortaleza is steeped in history. Other notable attractions in Velez Malaga include Palacio de los Marquesas de Beniel, the church of Santa Maria la Mayor, and the Convento de Las Carmelitas.


Famous Fiestas of Velez Malaga

Anyone who has not experienced a Spanish fiesta has not truly experienced Spain! If you are looking to a true taste of Spanish life, joining in with the celebrations and local fiestas is simply a must. With that in mind, it is a great idea to time your visit to the town to coincide with one of the many vibrant, colourful and exciting fiestas. The biggest celebrations are held in Semana Santa, which is the week preceding Easter, with the main festivities being played out in the Axarquia district. Other important times to note down if you are looking to join in with some fiesta fun in Velez are July, when there are two fiestas, and late October, which is another large scale celebration in honour of the towns patron San Miguel.


Getting Around

Velez has been a rapidly expanding for a number of years now, and to cope with the increased demand lots of work has been done to improve the local and regional transport systems. There is a tram system in place which carries passengers from Velez to Torre Del Mar every 30 minutes or so, and this makes a trip to the beach extremely convenient and cheap. Torre Del Mar also has an abundance of shops and restaurants to explore and enjoy, with an especially eclectic atmosphere at the seaside resort. The bus station has been expanded upon in recent times offering more local and national services. It is now possible to get coaches to lots of the major Spanish cities directly from Velez Malaga, enabling much more varied day excursion options.

Subsequently one of the best and most economic ways to explore the region is by car hire. There are some great car rental deals, starting from as little as 9 Euros a day.


Traveller's Tips

Spain is considered to be a very safe place to visit on the whole, and the quaint and charismatic city of Velez Malaga is an ideal location for a family holiday. General advice given to travellers is simply to be aware of personal possessions when in public places, such as beaches and shopping centres as pickpockets do operate in the larger city complexes where there are lots of people around. This is not a major problem in Velez, but is something to be aware of if you are visiting Malaga or any of the other larger cities. It is always advisable that you take out travel insurance, especially if you are going to travel with medical conditions, as it gives you an extra level of security and makes the process of getting treatment hassle free. An absolute minimum requirement is that all travellers carry their European Health Insurance Card as this entitles you to receive free treatment in Spanish hospitals and doctors surgeries.