Mijas

The earliest traces of human activity in Mijas go back to the Upper Palaeolithic, with further evidence from the Bronze Age. The arrival of Phoenician traders on the Málaga coast brought significant change: they settled at river mouths and opened up inland trade routes, and two Iron Age sites in the Mijas area — Finca Acebedo and Roza de Aguado — point to a Phoenician presence at the mouth of the Arroyo de la Cala. The most striking discovery from this period is a Phoenician-Punic sanctuary found within the old town walls, containing two plaques known as the "eyes of Astarte," along with terracotta figures and pottery.

Roman influence followed, and a road linking Malaca (Málaga) to Gades (Cádiz), recorded in the Antonine Itinerary, passed through what is now Mijas territory. Archaeological finds suggest the Roman town of Suel stood somewhere near the mouth of the Fuengirola river. Several rural Roman villas have also been identified across the municipality, and the Sierra de Mijas was actively quarried for marble during this period.

The most unusual religious site in Mijas is the Ermita de la Virgen de la Peña, a cave hermitage carved directly into the rock by a Carmelite brother between 1656 and 1682. A stone sacristy was later added, built to look as natural as the cave itself. The exterior has a rounded doorway and a small bell gable, and a rough niche cut into the front face holds the figure of the Virgen de la Peña, patron of Mijas.

The Iglesia de San Sebastián dates from the late 16th century and has been altered many times since. Inside, a single nave sits under a timber roof, with a square chancel topped by a hemispherical vault and a side chapel featuring painted murals of angels. The municipality also has a long coastline with several distinct beaches: Calahonda is a 4.5 km stretch of fine golden sand with calm water suitable for diving and fishing; El Bombo is a shorter dark-sand beach beside cliffs, good for scuba diving; El Chaparral stretches 4.4 km and is used for windsurfing and sailing; and El Faro is a quieter rocky area of small coves with low visitor numbers, used mainly for fishing.

From Fuengirola's main bus station, bus 122 runs to Mijas village (continuing to Coín as bus 221) for €1.30. For Mijas Costa and La Cala de Mijas, take bus 220 (the Marbella service), which also stops at Calahonda, Riviera del Sol and Miraflores; the fare is approximately €1.50. Mobile coverage as of December 2024 includes 4G from MasMovil, Movistar and Orange, and 5G from Movistar.

Restaurants worth noting include Mirlo Blanco and Restarante Los Arcos. The Boveda del Flamenco bar, housed in the former village jail, has outdoor seating. Cruzcampo beer and Spanish wines are widely available.