Car hire and your holiday budget

On the internet car hire prices in Spain can be quoted in daily rates or in foreign currency, and it’s far from straightforward to work out what the final price is, particularly if there’s a queue waiting behind or you don’t speak the language. Many people don’t find out the total cost of the rental until the credit card statement arrives after the holidays are over.

However, the more encouraging news is that car hire in Spain, like everything else to do with travel, has shifted towards the low cost airline model of instant quotes, so that anyone planning a trip can compare prices in advance, examine what is included and what extras are going to be required. With the click of a mouse you can compare what’s on offer and see how changing the travel dates, the pickup location or the vehicle type can shift the prices.

Depending on you travel destination the prices can differ a lot. If you went to Spain and picked up a car at Madrid airport, you could end up paying twice as much as for car hire in Malaga, Alicante or Mallorca. The competition in popular tourist destinations like Malaga, Alicante or Palma de Mallorca is huge and local car hire companies are competing with multinationals for their slice of the market.

The arrival of websites that bring together quotes from a range of car hire firms in Malaga is another advantage to bargain hunters. Most of these site work a a bit like insurance brokers. They gather together quotes from a range of providers saving you the hassle of visiting all these car hire websites yourself. These sites include www.spain-travel-car.com which compares the prices for you and enables you to book your car hire at the lowest prices. On top of this they are promising to match any other online car hire price this year.

Remember that cheaper does not always mean better. Make sure that you know which car hire company is going to offer the service before you book to avoid unpleasant surprises afterwards. By following these tips, you can get a better rate on car rentals and you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a great. There are discount car rentals to be had just about anywhere in the world, they just have to be found.

Ardales, el Chorro and the Desfiladero de los Gaitanes

The municipality of Ardales is situated between the regions of Antequera, Ronda and the Guadalhorce valley. It is a transitional zone and therefore its scenery and history are enriched by some of the characteristics that predominate in those three territories, which in many ways are so different from one another. The visitor who enters this region is presented with a wealth of tourism opportunities, since, except for beaches, one has practically all other tourism resources within a stone’s throw.

Perhaps the most arresting thing about this region is its scenic setting, made up of the reservoirs of the River Guadalhorce, to all intents and purposes, lakes, and the spectacular Desfiladero de los Gaitanes (Los Gaitanes gorge) with its “almost movie like” Caminito del Rey (King’s Little Road), an incredible early twentieth century work that travelled forward in time to the vivid imagination of Spielberg when he designed his awe-inspiring Indiana Jones scenes.

The Desfiladero de los Gaitanes is located in a region in the western part of the Cordillera Bética mountain range. In its entirety the gorge is over 3km long and in certain places is dominated by rock faces over 300m tall and less than 10m wide. It is hollowed out into Jurassic dolomites and limestone. Indeed rock formations from the Miocene era can also be found in the area. The most spectacular morphological feature is the vertical stratification of the limestone as fashioned by the river running through it.

It is considered to be of immense ecological importance. Its walls, which are up to 400 metres high, are home to a variety of plant and animal life, a clear example of adaptation to a vertical way of living.

El Chorro is one of the most famous rock climbing areas in Europe. With more than 500 bolted climbing routes in an area accessible on foot El Chorro is an El Dorado for climbers. Because of its location in the south of Spain rock climbing is possible throughout the winter even though it can sometimes be cold and there may even be snow. The routes are mostly hard climbs, which is why El Chorro attracts rock climbers from the whole world.

The beauty of these landscapes also includes the peculiar tafonis, caves in small sandstone promontories that can be seen between the gorge and reservoirs, and if to this is added, a more than respectable architectural heritage including a Roman bridge, medieval castles and Christian churches and some perfectly documented archaeological sites of the utmost importance, it cannot be denied that the municipality of Ardales has some attractions that place it in an enviable position within and beyond the province of Málaga.

The first human settlement in Ardales occurred during prehistoric times, as was the case in so many villages of Málaga, but in this region there is firm proof of it: the cave paintings discovered in the Cueva de Doña Trinidad Grund (Doña Trinidad Grund Cave) five kilometres from the urban district. Cave paintings more than 20,000 years old are preserved here.

The Roman historian Pliny states in his chronicles that Bastulos and Celt Iberians settled next to the Turón castle in a nucleus of population called, according to Pliny, Turobriga. The Romans, for their part, built the La Peña castle, around which, the beginnings of an urban area took shape. It was only with the Arabic conquest, however, that Ardales truly took on an identity as a village, an event that occurred in the year 716. As of that date it was called Ard-Allah, which means land or garden of God.

The locality acquired great importance in the ninth century when Omar Ben Hafsun established himself in Bobastro, some 4 kilometres from the modern location of Ardales, and founded his own rebel kingdom in order to de-stabilize the Caliphate of Córdoba. During that epoch the castles of Ardales, Turón, Teba and Alora constituted the best defence of Bobastro and its surroundings, and its inhabitants embraced the cause of Omar Ben Hafsun.

Ronda, city of the castles

This town in the Málaga region sits on either side of the Tajo de Ronda, a narrow gorge more than 150 metres deep. Celts, Phoenicians, Romans and Arabs all inhabited these lands, which were reconquered by the Catholic Monarchs. The historic quarter, reminiscent of the Arab age and with a medieval layout is scattered to the south of the Guadalevín, while more modern Ronda, the part which sprang up after the 16th century, unfolds to the north of the course of this river. Several bridges unite the two halves of one of the most interesting towns on the route of the Pueblos Blancos (whitewashed villages), in the heart of the the Ronda hills, only a few kilometres from the Costa del Sol.

The so-called city of the castles stands on a natural vantage point defended at its most accessible point by a citadel. It still preserves its walls and the most important gates which gave access to the city. The Almocábar Gate (13th century) provided access to the south side of the town, the Carlos I Gate dates from the 16th century, while the Exijara Gate led to the Jewish quarter.

The old citadel
Outstanding in these walled surroundings is the Gothic-Renaissance construction of the church of Espíritu Santo, ordered to be built by Fernando the Catholic to commemorate the reconquest of Ronda. Another major religious work is Santa María la Mayor, where Arab and Christian features combine. On the site of an old Roman temple, the Arabs built the Main Mosque of Ronda in the 13th century. Preserved from this period are the mihrab arch, decorated with stucco, and the minaret, transformed into a belltower. In the following centuries, its interior was enriched with Renaissance and baroque decoration, as can be admired in its Main Chapel, choir and altars. The Mudejar style, with stucco and horseshoe arches, can be clearly seen in the San Sebastián minaret, later used for Christian worship. Another Muslim legacy are the Arab baths, on the banks of the river. They date from the 13th century and are very well preserved.

The civil architecture of Ronda is reflected in its ancestral homes and aristocratic small palaces. The palaces of Mondragón and of the Marquis of Salvatierra, and the House of the Moor are some of the delightful examples to be enjoyed. The first of the palaces was for centuries the residence of Muslim and Christian kings, and today it houses the city’s Archaeological Museum. Outstanding in the former home of the Marquis of Salvatierra is a wrought iron balcony in the purest Ronda style. The House of the Moorish King, meanwhile, boasts Gothic-Mudejar decoration and some hanging gardens, declared to be an Artistic Garden. The Bandit Museum, the Hunting Museum and the Lara Museum are further attractions worth considering on this side of the Tajo de Ronda.

The Arab, Old and New Bridges
Three bridges span the ravine measuring more than 100 metres in depth and lead to the other side of the city. The Arab bridge was built in the 14th century and gave access to the Old Outskirts. The so-called old bridge is comprised of a single arch measuring some 10 metres across. But most emblematic of all is the New Bridge, a colossal feat of engineering which joins the neighbourhoods of Mercadillo and Ciudad. It dates from the 18th century and its foundations sit on the bottom of the ravine, at some points reaching 98 metres in height and 70 in length.

The old City Hall, now the Parador de Turismo, stands on top of the cliff and is an exceptional place to relax and take in the views. Its chef prepares tasty local recipes such as stewed partridge, roast kid and almond soup. Among the desserts, Ronda’s yemas, honey pancakes and almond cheese are some of the suggestions.

The Paseo de Blas Infante walk and the Viewpoint of the Catholic Monarchs, near the bullring (considered to be the oldest in Spain), are excellent spots to take in the landscape formed by the river Guadalevín. Outstanding in the most modern part of town is the church of Nuestro Padre Jesús and the Virgen de los Dolores Pavilion. The church is built in the Gothic style, with a prominent Renaissance belltower. The chapel of the Virgin, meanwhile, has an attractive series of mannerist sculptures which decorate its pillars.

Ronda is lavishly decked out for its festivals, ideal occasions to come and enjoy this area. The Fiestas de Pedro Romero, with old-style bullfights and a flamenco festival, are a major event, as are Holy Week, the festivals in memory of the Christian reconquest and the Pilgrimage of Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza.

The whitewashed villages, of Arab origin, in the Ronda mountains combine popular architecture with striking natural surroundings. Other towns, however, are famous for their Phoenician ruins (Jimena de Líbar) or Roman remains (Acinipo). A Moorish essence, among olive groves and vineyards, is the distinguishing feature of Algatocín or Atajate. The Ronda region is located in wet Andalusia, where the variety of vegetation makes for spectacular landscapes, such as the Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park, the Bermeja mountains or Sierra Crestellina hills. The area offers a wide choice of holiday accommodation in Ronda, with different kinds of holiday houses in Ronda like the typical Andalusian finca or cortijo. The Costa del Sol is a step away, offering us a coastline where Malaga, Torremolinos, Benalmadena, Fuengirola, Marbella or Estepona are the most lively places for recreation.

El Torcal de Antequera

El Torcal de Antequera is situated some ten kilometres from the town of Antequera which, with its eastern foothills, the Sierra Pelada, results in a spectacular view of majestic mountain ranges punctuated by intriguing rock formations and angles.

Observed from any direction, the heavy, solid form of the Sierras belies the morphological world which lies all but hidden between the mountain peaks. In order to enter this magical world, it is necessary to climb the steep inclines and delve far and beyond the mountain protagonist.

For millions of years, water has penetrated the rocks and chiselled out strange figures and formations like some crazed sculptor at work. This has been caused by that era, long gone, when the mountain ranged emerged from the depths of the sea.

All this can be discovered at the Torcal and, although its most marked characteristc is the bareness of the rock, the Spring and Autumn rains provoke the explosion of colourful plant life with the clay ground soil in the caves and passages covered with a green herbaceous carpet, pinpointed with lilies, nazarenes and vivid red peonies with their distinctive soft velvety texture.

The nearest town to this singularly beautiful spot is Antequera. The city has numerous historic buildings which are present on virtually every street of the town. For the traveller, Antequera offers an urban landscape which is characteristic of the larger towns of Andalusia and which brings together a sobriety, typical of such an historic city. Numerous church towers and convents can be spied peeking out from the whitewashed houses and striking for their Moorish architecture with tiles and limestone facades.

The best time for visiting El Torcal is during the Spring and Autumn although, in the cold winter months, the snow casts its immaculate veil over the landscape and it is almost worth putting up with the chilblains and cold, just to enjoy the close-up, the awesomely beautiful mountain vistas.

The charm of El Torcal and its magical beauty are increased still more at night. A particularly unforgettable sight is the August moon, for example, rising far above the peaks and best seen from the Las Ventanillas viewpoint. The harsh forms of the mountain soften in the distance while, in the foreground, the contrasts of light and shade are more defined. In all, the rocks take on an almost mystical appearance.

The easiest way to reach El Torcal de Antequera is via the motorway N331 which, departing from the west ring road just prior to Malaga, takes you through the winding highway. Pass by the gentle slopes of the fields planted with cereals which, little by little, climb to the summit and the first and inaccessible ledges which give a sense of the proximity of El Torcal itself.

Tourism in Malaga

Nature has been extremely generous to the province of Malaga. There are enormous topographic contrasts in this region, ranging from the lowlands of Antequera with their broad and fertile plains around the magic rock formations of El Torcal to the imposing mass of the Tejeda and Almijara mountain ranges in La Axarquia, including the legendary Serrania de Ronda (Ronda highlands) with the Genal valley and the Sierra de las Nieves mountain ranges as points of reference, and the immense orchard which is the Guadalhorce valley beginning at the natural marvel of the Los Gaitanes gorge.

Presented with such a panorama it is no wonder that Málaga leads Andalusia in the field of interior tourism. Most villages are, furthermore, very well connected with the main transportation routes that cross the province. Rapid travel is thus assured from any place to the capital or to the most important municipalities.

Practically the entire interior of the province of Málaga has been subjected to special environmental attention that has resulted in scrupulous nature conservation. This development has not gone unnoticed by the tourism industry. It has been creating, on a very different model from that followed on the coast, an infrastructure that is highly respectful of natural surroundings and is directed at a class of tourist that prefers to be in direct contact with nature or to simply get away from the fast pace inherent to more crowded areas.

Everywhere in the hinterland of the Málaga province, there are already comfortable hotels, generally of medium to low capacity, in strategic locations where the scenery is the primary feature. Quite a few of these hotels are simply former farmsteads or large houses that have been suitably adapted, and in which the client receives very personalised treatment. There are also numerous rural houses that have been converted into comfortable dwellings perfectly adapted to modern needs but that have not lost the charm of the traditional Andalusian architecture. Likewise, a number of historic and stately buildings, generally old palaces, have been incorporated into the hotel infrastructure of the province’s interior after being properly refurbished.

It should also be noted that the interior towns, especially those that are regional administrative centres, are heir to a historical legacy of the utmost importance. This, combined with their natural settings, increases their appeal in the eyes of visitors who, if they do not actually choose one of the non-coastal destinations, customarily make plans beforehand for one or more excursions outside the coastal area.