Velez-Malaga is a historic town on Costa del Sol , located 4 kilometers from the sea. The city is the capital of the beautiful region of Axarquia.

The Velez River has made the area very fertile. Olives, vines and sugar cane are grown here, among other things. The Velez area is known for its olive oils and wines of very high quality.

Velez-Malaga has managed to stay free from tourist invasions. Many foreigners who want to move to a more authentic place on Costa Del Sol have therefore become more and more interested in the city. There are an estimated 3,000 people living in Velez who do not have Spanish citizenship.

There is plenty of historic architecture and fine old palaces in Velez-Malaga. Among them:

• The castle Fortaleza Built in the 13th century, it stands firmly on top of a hill in the city's oldest district, Arrabal de San Sebastian, as a symbol of the Moorish period.
• Palacio de los Marqueses de Beniel in the old quarter of San Sebastian now serves as a municipal building.
• Santa Maria Church (Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor) was built in the 16th century and is best known for its amazing ceiling!
• San Juan Bautista is another famous church in the Mudejar style, from the 15th century.
• The Hospital of San Marcos was built in 1487 by the Catholic Monarchs and is, like so many other buildings in this city, a must-see.

The most important festival in Velez Malaga is San Miguel Festival which takes place at the end of September each year. Other important festivals include Veladilla el Carmen, Santiago and Santa Ana.

The city offers a lot in terms of shopping and activities. For shopping you can visit the shopping center The Ingenious, or any of the shops in town center . In addition, there is a market in Velez every Thursday. If you like sports, there are plenty of tennis courts and swimming pools in the city. In the park Central Park there are several cycling and jogging paths. Near the city is the water park Aquavelis, and the very popular golf course Bavaria.

Facts Velez-Malaga

• Population: 68000
• Belongs to Malagaprovince
• Area: 156.36 k sqm
• Airport: Axarquía airport
• The city was called Menoba under Roman rule
• Vélez-Málaga is one of the few places in Europe where public cockfighting is held.

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