Frigiliana Holidays

Frigiliana is perched high on a ridge above Nerja on the Costa del Sol. This whitewashed village is navigated by a maze of steep cobbled streets – at its centre is the Moorish old town, where floor mosaics narrate the story of the Moors’ uprising. Here you’ll find authentic restaurants where tapas and sangria reign. And for nightlife and sandy beaches, Nerja is just down on the coast.

The nearest beaches are in Nerja, 15 minutes’ drive away. Here you get nine beaches spread along nine kilometres of coastline, taking in secluded coves and big sweeps of sand. On most beaches, there’s jet-skiing and water-skiing, and the gently shelving shoreline is great for paddling. Eastern Burriana Beach is the Blue-Flag crowd-pleaser, with fine sand-and-shingle stretches and authentic chiringuitos, or beach bars.

The Moorish old town has lots of ornate floor mosaics that tell the story of the Christians and Moors in the town, going back to the 8th century. The El Fuerte hill that overlooks the village was the site of the Moors’ last stand in the 1569 rebellion – parts of the old fort where they took refuge still stand, and hikes to the peak offer incredible views towards Nerja.

Nerja has more up its sleeve than just great beaches. There’s the 17th-century El Salvador Church, and the Caves of Nerja – with cave paintings and the world’s biggest stalagmite. Andalusian capital Granada is 90 minutes from Frigliana by car. The Granada Science Park is worth a look, and so are the tapas joints in the Bib-Rambla district. From here there are hourly buses to the famous Alhambra Palace.