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Nerja | |
|---|---|
Municipality and town | |
 | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
 Municipal location in theprovince of Málaga | |
  Location of Nerja in Andalusia and Spain Show map of Province of Málaga Nerja (Andalusia) Show map of Andalusia Nerja (Spain) Show map of Spain | |
| Coordinates:36°44′49″N3°52′44″W / 36.74694°N 3.87889°W /36.74694; -3.87889 | |
| Sovereign state |  Spain |
| Autonomous community |  Andalusia |
| Province |  Málaga |
| Comarca | Axarquía |
| Government | |
| • Mayor[1] | José Alberto Armijo |
| Area | |
• Total | 85 km2 (33 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 26 m (85 ft) |
| Population (2025-01-01)[2] | |
• Total | 22,132 |
| • Density | 260/km2 (670/sq mi) |
| Demonym | Nerjeños |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal code | 29780 |
| Website | Official website |
Nerja (pronounced[ˈneɾxa]) is a municipality on theCosta del Sol in theprovince of Málaga in the autonomous community ofAndalusia in southernSpain. It is part of thecomarca ofLa Axarquía. It is on the country's southernMediterranean coast, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) east ofMálaga.
Under Islamic rule, its name wasNarixa, which means "abundant source", and is the origin of the current name.[3]
Nerja has a long history, evidenced by the primitive paintings found in its famousNerja caves, discovered in 1959.[4] These caves are now believed to be just one entrance to a linked series of sinkholes[5] stretching many miles into the mountains between Nerja andGranada, and which may yet prove to be one of the most extensive unexplored systems inEurope. Visitors to the caves will be able to view the remains of one of the ancient inhabitants of Nerja.
TheRomans built three settlements here, includingDetunda,[6] of which now large remains can be seen. The area was later taken over by theArabs in the early 8th century. Under theMoors, the town was known asNarixa, which means "abundant spring", from which the present name derives.
Its agricultural and silk products are said[by whom?] to have been famed throughout the Muslim world and in the markets ofDamascus as early as the 10th century.
TheBalcón de Europa, amirador or viewpoint which gives views across the sea,[7] is in the centre of the old town. Its name is popularly believed to have been coined byKing Alfonso XII, who visited the area in 1885 following a disastrous earthquake and was captivated by the scene. Local folklore says that he stood upon the site where the Balcón now stands, and said "This is the balcony of Europe". Local archive documents are said to show that its name predated this visit, but this has not prevented the authorities from placing a life-sized (and much photographed) statue of the king standing by the railing.
The Balcón area was originally known as La Batería, a reference to the gun battery which existed there in a fortified tower. This emplacement and a similar tower nearby were destroyed during thePeninsular War. In May 1812, the British vesselsHyacinth,Termagant andBasilisk supported Spanish guerrillas on the coast of Granada, against the French. On 20 May,Termagant orHyacinth opened fire and the forts were destroyed. Two rusty guns positioned at the end of the Balcón are reminders of these violent times. The huge lumps of rock, the remains of La Batería, visible in the sea at the end of the Balcón, are further evidence of this action.
Nerja has some of the best beaches in Costa del Sol. Many have been awardedBlue Flags several times. An example of this is Burriana Beach. The beaches are:
Enrique López Cuenca Sports Stadium is a combined Rugby and Athletics stadium, home to the local rugby (union) side Club Nerja Rugby. Local semi-professional soccer team C.D Nerja (Club Deportivo Nerja) used to play at the stadium, but now have a purpose built ground behind the Medico.
Sea-kayaking and scuba-diving are based at Burriana beach.[14]
Padel and tennis are based at Club de Tenis y Padel la Raqueta, a short walk from the centre of town.[15]
The closest airport to Nerja is Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP), which is 45 minute drive via A-7.[16]
Nerja is not integrated in theMálaga Metropolitan Transport Consortium.
As well as two local bus routes, around town (from the Riú Mónica Hotel), there are buses from the top of the High Street by the Alsa ticket office toMálaga,Caves of Nerja,Frigiliana,Maro,Almuñécar,Vélez-Málaga,Torre del Mar,Granada,Córdoba,Seville,Almería andMotril.
The town has a commercial Spanish-language pop radio station, Radio Nerja.[17]
Nerja has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters (8°C–17°C) and hot, dry summers (20°C–30°C). Winters are wetter, while summers are sunny with little rain. Average sunshine is 5–11 hours per day, depending on the season.
Pescia, Italy
San Juan, ArgentinaTorremolinos, SpainNerja has been a source of inspiration for expatriate writers and artists, such asScottish novelistJoan Lingard[18] and French-born authorAndré Launay;Jorge Guillén andFederico García Lorca were long-time visitors and residents of the town.[citation needed]The town was also the main setting for the filming ofVerano azul (translated asBlue Summer),[19] a popular Spanish television series later exported to several countries. A replica of the boat featured in the series can be found in a park of the same name as the series, near the centre of town.[20]
In popular fiction,The Enigmatic Mr Phelps[21] (pub.1997-2003-2005), which combines the first two international crime fiction novels in a continuing series, along with a screenplay,Mr Phelps, in 2016, are set in Nerja during the mid 1990s. Co-written by award-winning Canadian film director and screenwriter Jason C. Bourque, it was created for a film adaptation by Canada-based English international crime writer David B. Green. The stories include many references to Nerja and the Axarquia region, focusing on a fictional bar/restaurant located on c/Carabeo. The fictional character of Phelps is often confused with the real life of the author, who himself lived in Nerja between 1995 and 1998.
In October 2005, two episodes of the British television soap operaEmmerdale were set in Spain, featuring the characters ofEric Pollard,Carl King, and the Dingle family. Filming took place in Nerja.[22] Broadcast in November that year, the second episode was an hour-long special, and acknowledged the town on the end credits.[23][24]
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