Things to do in Mijas Pueblo
Mijas-Pueblo is located 8km inland from the bustling Costa del Sol resort of Fuengirola, and is one of the most charming white villages of Andalucia.
As you make your way up the winding roads towards this pretty village, you will notice the white-washed houses in the distance, almost clinging to the hillside.
Shops, bars, and quaint cafes sit around ornate squares and cobbled streets in the centre of the village. Mijas-Pueblo boasts stunning views over the coastline below which has inspired many artists and writers to relocate here.
Properties for sale in Mijas-Pueblo, including townhouses, apartments and villas sell quickly when they come on the market, as this location is very much sought-after.
The Muralla Gardens, which is well worth a visit, was cleverly designed to ensure flowers are in bloom all year round. The Mijas Bullring is one of the oldest in Spain, and there is a visitor centre within the main arena.
Local shops offer hand-made ceramics, leather goods, paintings and jewellery. A colourful fresh flower market and traditional flamenco are held in the village square each Saturday. Horse drawn carriages and donkey taxis can also be hired from the Plaza de Pina to chauffeur you around Mijas.
The Folk Museum illustrates the trades and history of Mijas-Pueblo through the years. The museum is also home to a reconstructed hidden room where Manuel Cortes, the former mayor of Mijas hid from Franco’s forces when they occupied the village in 1937.
Cortes fled to Almeria with thousands of other refugees but returned to Mijas in 1939. Cortes would have been shot if discovered and did not come out of hiding for 30 years. Granted an amnesty in 1969, Cortes was greeted jubilantly by the villagers.
Also above the village is the Shrine of the Calvario, built in 1710. The Shrine can be seen for miles around and you can gain access by climbing the winding path from the village. Although only open on Good Friday, each year, the stunning views from here are worth the walk any time of the year.
Mijas combines history, culture, a choice of restaurants, events and breath-taking views.
Properties for sale in Mijas-Pueblo include a number of typical village houses which are snapped up to be modernised and renovated while maintaining their old world charm.
Easter Week is one of the most popular festivals in Mijas and a large influx of visitors take to the streets to watch the moving processions and parades. Ornate floats depicting the story of the Passion of Christ are carried around the village by hundreds of men (brotherhoods) every day leading up to Easter Sunday.
The processions are accompanied by solemn drum beats and brass bands throughout the week.
The annual Mijas-Pueblo Feria takes place in honour of its patron saint, the Virgen de la Pena in the first half of September. With an extensive programme of activities, parades, processions and live music, the Feria is one of the highlights in the village’s event calendar.
The main square is the centre of the action, where bars and food stalls are set up, and the locals in traditional costume dance the Sevillanas to the delight of the crowds. Elegant Spanish horse-men ride through the village with the ladies riding side-saddle behind and the fun continues right through to the early hours.
Tourist Day is held on 14 September and celebrates the loyalty of tourists who visit Mijas-Pueblo.
