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Place in Málaga, Spain
Photo: Tyk, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Vélez-Málaga is a town in the province of Málaga, Spain. It is the capital of the Axarquía comarca and an important market town and supply centre for the region. Perched on a hill 4 km inland from Torre del Mar — a seaside resort on the Costa del Sol — its Moorish old town is a low-profile touristic destination.
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A 10th-century fortification with walls and a tower, on top of a hill dominating the old part of the town. Together with the so-called Puerta de Antequera, it was almost completely destroyed during the French invasion and its remains used as quarry. The Torre del Homenaje was rebuilt in the 1970s and it surroundings were improved. It has views over Vélez and the Mediterranean sea and is sometimes used as a venue for concerts.
This pedestrian square is the centrepiece of the local life. It is lined by the city hall and the Baroque-style Convento de las Carmelitas. A few cafés and terraces can be found here.
A 15th-century church built on the remains of a mosque and modified in the 19th century. The tower and the roofs are Mudejar while the façade is neoclassical.
A 15th-century church in Gothic-Mudejar style, built on the remains of an old Arab mosque, as shown by the minaret turned into a bell tower. It has a Reinassance-style altarpiece. It hosts the Museo de la Semana Santa (Museum of the Holy Week).
Small church decorated with naïve-style frescoes, located on top of a hill with a garden and a viewpoint.
A 16th-century Mudejar-Renaissance-style church and former convent, founded by the Catholic Monarchs. It was part of the Real Convent of Santiago, which disappeared on the occasion of the confiscation of 1836 and of which only the church has remained.
So called because Miguel de Cervantes stayed in it while working as tax collector in the city, although this fact is not confirmed. The façade has large balconies of forge and the cover, Gothic elements. It emphasizes its interior patio with gallery of semicircular arches and columns of brick.
A 18th-century building consisting of two floors, one used as a barn and the other as a fish market. Nowadays, it holds art exhibitions and other cultural events.
Located in the former Hospital de San Juan de Dios —a 15th-century Mudéjar-style building. It has a permanent collection of over 800 pieces related to the history of La Axarquía, ranging from prehistory to the 20th century.
A Buddhist temple located in the hamlet of Triana and dedicated to the great lamas of the Kagyu lineage in Europe. The Kalachakra Stupa, a contemporary construction of 13 m of height, can be found here.
Largest theatre of the town, located in an old church. Holds plays, concerts and conferences.
Main venue for the flamenco circle Flamenco Abierto, an organisation that puts on regular performances across the Axarquía region.
Holy Week
March or April. A number of processions tour the city commemorating the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.
Mid August. Outdoor music concerts featuring top-tier flamenco singers and guitarists.
End of September and beginning of October. It is the most important event of the year, celebrated with parades and concerts.
Tapas and drinks in a modernised venue with a small terrace
Mediterranean and Moroccan cuisine, with a terrace in a pedestrian street
Fried fish, seafood and rice
Popular seafood restaurant.
Delicious and inexpensive seafood, fresh fish and Andalusian recipes with an international touch
Mediterranean and Spanish cuisine, specialised in meat.
2-star bed and breakfast in an 18th-century building near the old town.
3-star hotel in the residential outskirts of Vélez. Some rooms have a kitchen.
3-star hotel in an 18th-century restored palace next to the old town.
4-star resort located in a typical cortijo 5 km away from Vélez-Málaga. Has a restaurant and swimming pool.
By bus
Buses to Málaga, Granada, Torrox, Nerja, Periana and other villages in the area —mainly operated by ALSA— run from the Estación de Autobuses de Vélez-Málaga (C/ Explanada de la Estación) and the…
By car
The city is well connected to Málaga and the rest of the region via the highway and the , which goes directly along the coast.
By taxi
The journey from Málaga Airport to Vélez-Málaga has a fixed price of €69.22. A taxi from Málaga city to Vélez will cost around €45.
By car
Car is the preferred means of transportation for locals and tourists. This leads to frequent traffic jams and parking problems, specially in the summer season.
By taxi
Taxis in Vélez-Málaga are fitted with meters and have fixed rates for long journeys. They can be taken in taxi stops or booked by telephone. See this link for companies and phone numbers.
By bicycle
There are segregated bike lines along the promenade and through the Avenida Rey Juan Carlos, connecting Vélez-Málaga and Torre del Mar.
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Málaga · International · AGP
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