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www.theolivepress.es the olive press - November 13 - November 27 201321 1 ll about Benalmadena A SIGHTS: Colomares Castle, and (left), It’s not all the Pueblo about T is not every day you meet a man who owns his own castle – yet Car- los Martin, owner of Castillo de Colomares, is just one of the many lying on Isurprises awaiting visitors to Benal- madena. The castle, sitting on the side of a windy road on the way up to Benal- madena Pueblo from the coast, came as something of a shock. Built in 1994 by Martin’s dad - a gy- the beach necologist named Dr Esteban Martin Martin - it was constructed using four Liam Kirkaldy scales the heights to find the real different architectural styles and is meant as a slightly bizarre tribute to Benalmadena, which is full of many layers and Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America. some genuine surprises This quirky stop off aside, continuing the walk uphill into Benalmadena’s old town - or Pueblo - gave me my first glimpse of the Costa del Sol town’s cha- otic beauty. Built on the side of a steep hill, and at points actually on cliffs, Benalmade- na’s pueblo cascades down from the jutting Sierra de Mijas towards the sea. The traditional Andaluz-style white- washed buildings which compose the pueblo are dazzling – literally so when they meet the November sun – and it is easy to spend a morning getting lost in the intersecting courtyards and al- leyways. Its cobbled streets and plazas seem to jostle for space, while competing to outdo each other in terms of grandeur and charm. It is a surprisingly historic place (and well looked after to boot) and apart from the sudden appearance of a scooter or motorcycle, the pueblo doesn’t look like it has changed in hundreds of years. Though it was occupied by multiple civ- ilizations, including the Phoenicians, Byzantines and Romans, Benalmade- na’s development was kick-started by the arrival of the Moors from North Af- rica, leading to the architecture that is seen today. Turn to page 22 2 the olive press - November 13 - November 27 201322 www.theolivepress.es www.theolivepress.es the olive press - November 13 - November 27 2013 3 23 ll about A Benalmadena WHO’S THE KING OF THE CASTLE? AKEN aback by the existence of the At this point I began to fear that my trip, land he had so much affection for. VISTA: very eccentric 20-year-old Castillo to what I had originally believed to be a As such, the castillo is more monument Down below de Colomares I sought an explana- Moorish castle, was quickly turning into than castle, with the design deliberately towards the tion from a Spanish couple from a marital counseling session. spanning four different architectural styles TAlicante, who were in Benalmadena for a I decided to approach a member of staff, to tell the story of the New World’s discov- sea from holiday. Carlos, who introduced himself as the cas- ery. the pueblo When I admitted that I had only learned of tle’s owner. The work – carried out by Dr Martin him- church the castle’s somewhat limited history that He explained that his father, Dr Martin, had self with the help of two local bricklayers – day, a sly grin spread across the face of the lived in the US for many years and had de- was started in 1987 and took seven years husband, who began to laugh openly, shak- veloped a passion for the country’s history to complete. ing his head at my ignorance. and culture. It is well worth a visit, if only to see what That is, until his wife interjected, “don’t Upon coming back to Spain for his retire- a castle would look like if it was built to listen to him,” she said, “he only found out ment, he had set about building a tribute to represent four different historical eras at FAUX GOTHIC: The Colomares castillo yesterday.” Columbus, the man who had discovered the once. is actually 20 years old Where history unravels itself slowly From Page 21 part of town and the marina be- revealing a more typically golf courses and the cable watched as the town’s infra- town’s economy. well as investors from China And further more the yond. In-keeping with the way modern textbook definition car to the top,” explains Rosa structure has been trans- “There has also been a huge and the USA, who are looking Castillo is not the only the town adapts to the scenery, of the Costa del Sol. Gonzales, Benalmadena‘s formed over the last three growth in the number of lan- for places to settle.” surprise in Benalmade- At points the place can there is even a lift travelling In short, it is down below in President of Business Asso- decades. And, according to guage schools, with the Town Although prices are stable na. seem more like a bo- straight up a cliff face, to trans- Arroyo de la Miel and Be- ciations. her, it hasn´t just been clas- Hall giving out a lot more li- in the Pueblo, the coast has Perched on the edge tanic garden than a port visitors who cannot face nalmadena Costa that you The manager of local estate sic bucket and spade tourism censes.” been hit badly by the reces- of a cliff and looking real town, with the floral the climb. will find all the agent Alros Investments has that has helped to boost the Language skills are essen- sion, with property value fall- down on the coast, decorations outnumber- In many respects usual holiday tial to Bena- ing by up to 60%. you will find the big- ing the people. Flower Benalmadena is a At times the trappings and lmadena’s With the economic slump gest Buddhist Stupa FOCUS: A fountain in the baskets line the route up case study in the place can seem fleshpots one growth, with still ongoing, new develop- in Europe. the Calle Real to its spectacu- story of the Costa would expect money from ments like the marina and A must see, particu- Pueblo larly located church of Santa Del Sol. Like much more like a from a Span- foreign tour- golf courses have become larly at sunset, when Domingo de Guzman. of Andalucia, the botanic garden ish resort. ists and more and more important the fading light plays Constructed in 1621, the place was origi- that a real town But that said, investors in generating much needed brilliantly off its gold- church is thought to have nally shaped by once you thought revenue. As Rosa puts it, “It’s en top, it is a great been built on top of the foun- its Moorish rulers, start sniffing to ac- not all about lying around on place to make a wish dations of an old Moorish but has massively grown into a around there is a lot more count the beach!” (making sure you temple, and originally would modern – and some might say to be found, in particular in f o r As well as hosting luxury walk around it the have formed the centre of Be- – sprawling town. the quality of its local en- o v e r yachts (naturally), the marina right way) according to one WATERWORLD: Village foun- nalmadena. Looking down over the new tertainment and for a fam- 50% – which, with 1,000 moor- of its guardians, a Czech who tain and (left) church mural The quaint old building – town below – visible from the ily you are really spoilt for of the ings, the largest in Andalucia exuded inner peace. complete with play park for viewing point at the church - choice. local – is also the base for leisure Its positioning is no coin- sisted he would do it, as long those less interested in archi- the Moorish architecture and “Obviously there is the econo- and wildlife cidence. as ‘all the people could see it tectural history - occupies a old-style Spanish streets fade marina, which was a huge my. activities, The story in Fuengirola’, explained the spot overlooking the modern as the town moves downwards, change, and we built the But ac- with dol- goes that guardian.In the end they built cording phin and a Buddhist the biggest Stupa in Europe – to Rosa, diving trips teacher vis- and apparently on a clear day the market available ited from it is visible from Africa. is chang- from the his Span- Visitors are encouraged to ing quickly, port and at ish head- walk around the structure Join the club “These days the nearby quarters clockwise and make a wish, it is not all Sunset in nearby which Buddhists believe about the Beach re- Velez-Mal- could be granted. English, al- sort hotel. aga, and The interior contains a space though they The marina bumped for meditation, as well as still make up hosts con- into the prayer objects and a sign nearly 40% certs and then -mayor offering a ‘Teaching of the of the mar- food tasting of Benal- Week’. ket. Nowa- events and madena, During my visit, the sign days we have its bars and Enrique warned: “Stay away from Scandina- restaurants Bolin, while things that are none of your vians com- are lit up at night, reflecting having lunch in the port. business, and don’t make ing to Bena- off the water to stunning ef- The two fell into conversation them your business.” lmadena, fect. and the mayor suggested Perhaps good advice, but mainly be- So despite the attraction of that the town build a temple.

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