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36-401: It is frequented especially by German and British tourists. The city itself is divided into sections: Torrox Costa on the sea and Torrox Pueblo, 4 km inland. Torrox Park, a housing section in between the costa and the village, could be seen as another division. Torrox is near Nerja . Torrox is a historic town with a rich cultural heritage dating back to ancient civilizations. Nestled along

72-569: 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

108-674: A fortified tower. This emplacement and a similar tower nearby were destroyed during the Peninsular War . In May 1812, the British vessels Hyacinth , Termagant and Basilisk supported Spanish guerrillas on the coast of Granada, against the French. On 20 May, Termagant or Hyacinth 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,

144-459: A long history, evidenced by the primitive paintings found in its famous Nerja caves , discovered in pedro sanchez 1959. These caves are now believed to be just one entrance to a linked series of sinkholes stretching many miles into the mountains between Nerja and Granada, and which may yet prove to be one of the most extensive unexplored systems in Europe . Visitors to the caves will be able to view

180-509: A natural resource that supports tourism. Additionally, rural tourism, mainly of German origin, thrives in Torrox, and local craft workshops offer activities such as silk and cloth painting, glass pottery, and woodwork. This article about a location in Andalusia, Spain, is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Nerja Nerja ( pronounced [ˈneɾxa] )

216-463: A thermal baths, villa, garum factory, and a necropolis dating from the 3rd and 4th centuries BC. The site's excavation revealed an established settlement. In 755, Prince Abd al-Rahman I ibn Mu’awiy, the last representative of the Umayyad dynasty, arrived in Torrox after fleeing Damascus. Here, he gathered an army and went on to become the first independent Emir and Caliph of Córdoba. This period saw

252-462: Is a municipality on the Costa del Sol in the province of Málaga in the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain . It is part of the comarca of La Axarquía . It is on the country's southern Mediterranean coast, about 50 kilometres (31 mi) east of Málaga . Under Islamic rule, its name was Narixa , which means "abundant source", and is the origin of the current name. Nerja has

288-428: Is a surviving example of this heritage. The town's urban design is characterized by contrasts, minimal space usage, and striking combinations of light and shade. Prominent landmarks include Calle Espadas and Calle La Bola, along with the 17th-century Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación, which incorporates a turret from the former fortress. Torrox has an average annual temperature of 18 degrees." Torrox's economy

324-606: Is divided into two main parts known as Nerja I and Nerja II. Nerja I includes the Show Galleries which are open to the public, with relatively easy access via a flight of stairs and concreted pathways to allow tourists to move about in the cavern without difficulty. Nerja II, which is not open to the public, comprises the Upper Gallery discovered in 1960 and the New Gallery discovered in 1969. In February 2012 it

360-469: Is driven by two major forces. Tourism plays a significant role, especially in coastal areas like Torrox-Costa, El Morche, and Peñoncillo. Traditional agriculture remains vital, with greenhouses near the town producing vegetables, fruit, tropical produce, and almond trees. Torrox's local countryside is home to a unique species, the monarch butterfly, which is now extinct in the rest of Europe. The town also boasts nine kilometers of relatively unexplored beaches,

396-604: Is here that concerts and festivals of dance are staged and there are about 100 seats set permanently in the cave. This large cavern has little to separate it from the Hall of the Phantoms ( Sala de los Fantasmas ) apart from some columns. The Hall of the Phantoms is named after an unusual speleothem . At the end of this cavern is a large rockfall which separates it from the Hall of the Cataclysm ( Sala del Cataclismo ) which

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432-653: Is not normally open to the public. Back through the Entrance Hall is the Hall of the Nativity ( Sala de Belén ) which is filled with columns of calcite. A skeleton recovered from the cave is on display in a glass case in this subsection. From the Entrance Hall a passage called the Hall of the Tusk ( Sala del Colmillo ) leads down to the Hall of the Waterfall or Ballet ( Sala de la Cascada o del Ballet ). It

468-569: 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 opera Emmerdale were set in Spain, featuring the characters of Eric Pollard , Carl King , and the Dingle family. Filming took place in Nerja. Broadcast in November that year, the second episode was an hour-long special, and acknowledged

504-500: Is over 100 m (330 ft) long and dominated by the huge central column which is the biggest in the world, measuring 13 by 7 m (43 by 23 ft) at the base and standing 32 m (105 ft) high. Further down into the hall is the Organ Corner ( Rincón del Órgano ) where fluted columns can be struck to produce different notes. Some of the columns seem to have been intentionally altered to produce different notes by

540-744: The new galleries , whose spectacular formations and prehistoric remains, can not yet be contemplated by the visitor. Throughout all these years, the Fundación Cueva de Nerja has promoted the study and research of the Cave, constituting the Scientific Committee formed by geologists, biologists, archaeologists, paleontologists, etc., making congresses, photographic studies, improvements in equipment and cultural activities. In 2012 some organic remains associated with paintings of seals have been dated in 42 000  years which could be

576-469: The Hall of the Mountain ( Sala de la Montaña ). These two areas contain many of the cave paintings, but tourist access is restricted to specialised caving "speleothem tourism". Several expeditions have been made to fully know the cavity and its different galleries. In 1969 a narrow passage was discovered in the hall del Cataclismo. This step led to a magnificent find, the so-called high galleries and

612-639: The Mediterranean coastline, Torrox has witnessed the influences of Phoenicians, Romans, and Arabs, each leaving their mark on the town's history and development. Before the Roman era, the Phoenicians had established settlements in the region, much like in other parts of the Málaga coast. Torrox Costa, despite its modern appearance, has a history dating back to ancient times. Phoenician remains found along

648-461: The Muslim world and in the markets of Damascus as early as the 10th century. The Balcón de Europa , a mirador or viewpoint which gives views across the sea, is in the centre of the old town. Its name is popularly believed to have been coined by King 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

684-675: The Riú Mónica Hotel), there are buses from the top of the High Street by the Alsa ticket office to Málaga , Caves of Nerja , Frigiliana , Maro , Almuñécar , Vélez-Málaga , Torre del Mar , Granada , Córdoba , Seville , Almería and Motril . Nerja has been a source of inspiration for expatriate writers and artists, such as Scottish novelist Joan Lingard and French-born author André Launay ; Jorge Guillén and Federico García Lorca were long-time visitors and residents of

720-426: The cave, including the remains of a number of offshore species, along with stone and bone tools. By 4500 BC domesticated animals were being kept and the area around the cave was being used for farming and the production of pottery. By 3800 BC textiles and more advanced styles of pottery were being produced and parts of the cave were being used as a burial chamber. Each of the galleries has a number of halls, areas where

756-464: The chambers, which forms a natural amphitheatre . The caves were re-discovered in modern times on 12 January 1959 by five friends, who entered through a narrow sinkhole known as "La Mina". This forms one of the two natural entrances to the cave system. A third entrance was created in 1960 to allow easy access for tourists, just south of the Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park . The cave

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792-400: The coast suggest the likelihood of Phoenician settlements in Torrox. These may have laid the foundation for the ancient Roman town of Claviclum, which eluded archaeologists for years, was eventually discovered in the vicinity of Torrox and believed to have been situated on the site of today's Torrox Costa. Lighthouse keeper Tomás García Ruiz played a pivotal role in this discovery, unearthing

828-598: The first known work of art in the history of humanity. They could be the oldest paintings of humanity, possibly made by H11s . The enormous wealth of the Cave of Nerja made it, one year after its opening to tourism, declared Historical Artistic Monument , according to Decree nº 988, of May 25, 1961 and, subsequently, Bien de Interés Cultural , by virtue of the Law ;16/1985 of the Spanish Historical Heritage of June 25, 1985. In 2006,

864-576: The formation of the giant stalactites and stalagmites that can be seen in the cave. Skeletal remains found in the caverns indicate that they were inhabited from about 25,000 BC up until the Bronze Age . Cave paintings from the Paleolithic and post-Paleolithic eras have been discovered on the walls of the cave. For about 4,000 years from 25,000 BC the caves were used seasonally by a small group of humans, and were occupied by cave hyena during

900-559: The mid-19th century, Torrox boasted three flour factories, two oil factories, two pottery workshops, and factories producing liquor and sugar cane, including those owned by the Larios family. However, a series of earthquakes in 1884 and 1885 caused significant destruction, leading to an economic crisis. Many residents emigrated to Argentina, primarily Buenos Aires, during the early 20th century. Torrox retains its historical charm with remnants of its Andalusian past. The upper district of Almedina

936-599: The periods that the humans were absent. By 21,000 BC the human population had taken up year-round residence in the caves and had increased in number. A culture based on hunting in the local area had evolved, illustrated by first cave paintings found in the cave which date to around the time. Pine nuts and snails were also important elements of the diet. Up until around 10,800 BC the hunting culture continued to develop with more prey species being taken, including goats, rabbits, fish and marine mammals. A wide variety of animal bones, shells and fish bones from this time have been found in

972-648: The prehistoric inhabitants of the cave. High up in the far corner of this cave is the opening which allows access to the Upper and New Galleries. The Upper and New Galleries are each divided into two halls. In the Upper Hall are the Columns of Hercules ( Columnas de Hércules ) and the Hall of Immensity ( Sala de la Inmensidad ), while in the New Gallery there are the Hall of the Lance ( Sala de la Lanza ) and

1008-477: The promotion of culture, commerce, agriculture, and the arts in the region. Torrox was eventually conquered by the Catholic Monarchs in 1487, following the capture of Vêlez-Málaga . In 1503, it was awarded the title of Most Noble and Loyal Town of Torrox in a Royal Decree signed by Queen Isabella I . This decree also authorized the construction of a coastal tower to defend against pirate attacks. In

1044-542: 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 awarded Blue 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

1080-532: The remains of one of the ancient inhabitants of Nerja. The Romans built three settlements here, including Detunda , of which now large remains can be seen. The area was later taken over by the Arabs in the early 8th century. Under the Moors , the town was known as Narixa , which means "abundant spring", from which the present name derives. Its agricultural and silk products are said to have been famed throughout

1116-400: 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

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1152-642: The stadium, but now have a purpose built ground behind the Medico. Sea-kayaking and scuba-diving are based at Burriana beach. Padel and tennis are based at Club de Tenis y Padel la Raqueta, a short walk from the centre of town. The closest airport to Nerja is Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP), which is 45 minute drive via A-7. Nerja is not integrated in the Málaga Metropolitan Transport Consortium . Sientate en esta As well as two local bus routes, around town (from

1188-476: The town on the end credits. The town has a commercial Spanish-language pop radio station, Radio Nerja. Nerja caves The Caves of Nerja ( Spanish : Cueva de Nerja ) are a series of caverns close to the town of Nerja in the Province of Málaga , Spain . Stretching for almost 5 kilometres (3.1 mi), the caverns are one of Spain's major tourist attractions. Concerts are regularly held in one of

1224-449: The town. The town was also the main setting for the filming of Verano azul (translated as Blue Summer ), 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. In popular fiction, The Enigmatic Mr Phelps (pub.1997-2003-2005), which combines the first two international crime fiction novels in

1260-581: The walls, floors or ceilings close in to subdivide the main caverns. The Show Gallery is accessed by an 8 m (26 ft) flight of stairs leading to the Entrance Hall ( Sala de Vestibulo ) where archaeological excavations took place and where some of the finds are now displayed. Off to one side a passage leads the Mine Hall ( Sala de la Mina ), and Hall of the Sink ( Sala de la Torca ) where further archaeological excavations take place. This area

1296-571: Was announced that possibly Neanderthal cave paintings dated in 42,000 years had been discovered in the Caves of Nerja. Approximately 5 million years ago, during the Upper Miocene , water penetrated the fissures of the marble rock and dissolved it, forming a huge cavern. Seismic movement and landslides during the Holocene forced the water to find new pathways through the cave system and began

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