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Moving to Spain: Seven hill towns near the Costa del Sol

Just a stone's throw from the busy resorts of the Costa del Sol and a short drive into the hills and you can find authentic white-washed towns and villages that are perfect for those looking for a quiet life.

Published: 29 September 2020 13:17 CEST
Updated: 25 March 2021 10:07 CET
Moving to Spain: Seven hill towns near the Costa del Sol
The pueblo blanco of Casares. Photo: Peter Walkley on Unsplash

Lockdown taught us to appreciate peace and quiet and left many of us hankering after an outdoor space to call our own.

But tranquillity isn’t always easy to find on the overbuilt Malaga coastline, and unless you have stacks of money and can afford an isolated villa, a private garden is an almost an unheard-of luxury.

But look beyond the coast and a short distance inland, however, and you can find sleepy white-washed hilltiop villages known as “pueblos blancos” where you can find affordable homes with as much peace and quiet as you need, plus the great outdoors on your doorstep. 

In this article, Celeste Alonso, manager of The Property Agent and an expert on real estate on the Costa del Sol, shares her favourite seven towns just a stone’s throw from the coast for those looking to start a new life away from the crowds.

Casares


Photo by Francisco Moreno on Unsplash

One of the most spectacular white villages in Malaga, Casares is perched on top of a rocky outcrop and cascades down a hillside. A 12th-century Moorish castle sits at the top presiding over pristine streets lined with white cubic houses and quaint squares.

Fabulous views come as standard – from the Mediterranean in the south with Morocco on the horizon, to the north with views of the Sierra Crestalina mountains. This village has a good choice of traditional bars and restaurants plus a few little shops. Life moves in the slow lane (especially as you walk uphill) but Estepona is just 20 minutes away if you want a bit of action.

Population: 6,515

Foreign population: 2,018

Distance from Malaga Airport: 96km

Gaucin


Photo: Bagolina/Flickr

Further north and even higher than Casares is Gaucín, another stunning vision in white perched astride a rocky ridge. Commanding vistas are also a given – down the River Genal valley to the Mediterranean, across the cork oak forests to the Sierra de Grazalema and through the almond and olive groves.

A Moorish castle crowns the hilltop here too over a labyrinth of pretty streets and sparkling-white façades. There’s a sizeable artist community who open their studios every year for the Art Gaucín festival. The food is good and on the menu is traditional fare as well as more gourmet offerings. And for home cooking, the local shops sell excellent produce – the Payoyo goat’s cheese is incredibly tasty.

Population: 1,576

Foreign population: 301

Distance from Malaga Airport: 120km

Ronda


Photo by Nomadic Julien on Unsplash

As one of Andalusia’s signature white towns, Ronda needs no introduction. The Old Town clinging to the rocks over the vertiginous Tajo gorge is one of the most famous views in Spain. Down below, the vast river plain with cornfields and vineyards backed by endless lofty peaks stretches long into the distance.

In the town itself, feast your eyes too on fine mansions and ancient chapels as well as one of Spain’s oldest bullrings. Excellent local fare makes for some of the finest dining on the Costa del Sol accompanied by Ronda wine in a surprising variety. The town ranks as one of the most visited spots in Andalusia so you won’t be alone. But come nightfall after the daytrippers leave , the town returns to the domain of its inhabitants and life ambles quietly along again.

Population: 33,877

Foreign population: 1,990

Distance from Malaga Airport: 101km

Benahavis


Photo: Lourdes M. Montañez /Flickr

The glitz and glamour of Puerto Banús might be just a short drive away, but in Benahavís you could be in another world. Life almost stands still in this immaculate white village, famed as the Costa del Sol’s capital of gastronomy.

As well as fine food, the village offers snapshots of typical Andalusian architecture and some fantastic mountain and river walks. Canyoning down the waters adds some spice to daily life while more sedate leisure options are on your doorstep at some of the Costa del Sol’s most prestigious golf courses.

Matching the splendour of the natural surroundings are luxury developments with some of the most expensive property on the Costa del Sol. Benahavís is one of the wealthiest municipalities in Spain and the quiet life here comes pretty but not cheap.

Population: 8,085

Foreign population: 5,173

Distance from Malaga Airport: 71km

Monda 


Photo: yoyopopo/Flickr

To the north of Marbella (a 20-minute drive away), Monda sits at the gateway to the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park (soon to be Spain’s 16th national park). The sleepy town itself includes an imposing castle, tidy squares, a working olive oil mill and row upon row of white houses boasting wrought-iron grilles and vibrant geraniums and bougainvillaeas.

A smattering of bars and restaurants add to the traditional feel to Monda while the Marbella Design Academy, celebrating its silver anniversary in 2020, brings a touch of creative, cosmopolitan flare. On the doorstep, Sierra de las Nieves, a natural treasure trove and home to some of the best walking and mountain biking routes on the Costa del Sol.

Population: 2,594

Foreign population: 574

Distance from Malaga Airport: 47km

Mijas Pueblo 


Photo: Marbella Escapes/Flickr

Mijas officially divides into three: Mijas Costa, Las Lagunas and Mijas Pueblo, but it’s this last one you should look at for peace and quiet on the Costa del Sol. Perched midway up the high Sierra de Mijas, the small town has stunning views over the Costa del Sol coastline. Famous for its donkey taxis (now animal-friendly), cobbled white streets, Picasso ceramics at the CAC Mijas art museum and warm welcome, Mijas draws tourists in droves.

But stray slightly off the beaten trail, and life slows right down. And most streets and alleyways look the same as they ever did. Dine on tapas with the locals at tiny bars or join the (slight) bustle at the local restaurants. And then be sure to take part in the year-round calendar of festivals, traditional and modern, but all celebrating the Andalusian joie de vivre.

Population: 55,304 (Mijas village 5,528)

Foreign population: 31,646

Distance from Malaga Airport: 28km

Frigiliana 


Photo: Jake Johnson/Flickr

Part of the Axarquía region in the mountains to the east of Malaga city, Frigiliana ranks among the most beautiful of all Andalusian white towns. Just a short drive from the popular resort of Nerja, Frigiliana has commanding views of the Mediterranean and imposing mountains. This is the land of muscatel grapes for raisins and dessert wine and sugar cane for molasses.

But as well as sweet, Frigiliana is also beautiful. Pristine street after pristine street wind their way up the mountainside dotted with tiny alleyways, ancient fountains and imposing arches. White dominates of course punctuated by a riot of flowers and Moorish mosaics while the scent of jasmine lingers in the air. You won’t be alone in the visual feast – Frigiliana attracts plenty of tourists – but choose the spot for your home well, and it’ll be just you, the views and tranquillity. Who’d have said this is the Co del Sol?

Population: 3,009

Foreign population: 938

Distance from Malaga Airport: 71km

This article has been written by Celeste Alonso, who runs The Property Agent specializing in real estate on the Costa del Sol. If you are looking for property on the Costa del Sol contact her for HERE. 

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PROPERTY

Q&A: What to do if you buy a property built illegally in Spain

Buying an illegally built property in Spain is fairly common but can have several consequences down the line. Here's what you need to know, how to make it legal, whether you can sell it, and the benefits of doing so.

Published: 25 April 2024 09:35 CEST
Q&A: What to do if you buy a property built illegally in Spain

Unfortunately, over the years, many properties have been built illegally in Spain, not adhering to local rules and regulations. Foreigners who don’t know the legislation can easily fall into the trap of buying one of these properties, only to find out later down the line.

Maybe it’s when they come to sell or perhaps it’s when they want to do works or improvements on the property.

There are several reasons a home could have been built illegally in Spain. Firstly, it could have been built on the wrong type of land. This is it could have been built on suelo rústico, rural land where residential properties are prohibited, also called no urbanizable. 

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It could have also been built too near the coast. This is down to the Ley de Costas or Coastal Law, which was brought into force in December 1989 in order to protect the costas from overdevelopment and high rises spoiling the landscape. 

The law defines different areas of the beach and dictates which is public land, owned by the state and which parts can be owned privately and built on.

If you buy or own a house in one of these non-buildable zones, there are many problems you could face down the line, often sooner rather than later. This is because there are several rules you have to abide by concerning works, reforms and extensions. In some cases, they may not be allowed at all and everything must be approved first by the local government by providing a detailed project.

Because of coastal erosion, this issue is getting worse as some shoreside homes that were once built outside of these areas are finding that they’re now illegal.

READ ALSO: 

The house may have also had extensions made to it that were built without a license, meaning that the extra parts are illegal.

Q: How do I know if my home is legal or not?

A: Unfortunately it can be difficult to know if your property is legal or not. You could have bought and signed for it with a notary and it could be inscribed on the Property Registry, but this still doesn’t mean it was built to the correct specification and on the right land.

The only way to truly tell is to find out if your home ever had a Licencia de Primera Ocupación or First Occupation license, also referred to as a Cédula de Habitabilidad or Certificate of Habitability. This means that according to the authorities, it is suitable to live in and has the correct licenses.

READ ALSO: How to get Spain’s certificate of liveability for properties

Q: What happens if my property doesn’t have a habitability certificate?

A: If your property has never had a Certificate of Habitability, you must regularise the legal situation. First you’ll need to start a legalisation file (expediente de legalización) and contact the town hall. Depending on the seriousness of the case (ie. where exactly it was built, if there’s any structural danger, whether the entire property is illegal or just an extension) the cost of making an illegal property legal can be considerable. As such, each case must be studied individually with the help of an expert to determine whether it is even feasible or worth the investment.

The next step is to bring in an architect and check whether the property complies with all the building regulations. If it does, you simply need present the expediente de legalización to your local town hall, who will confirm whether or not the property adheres to building regulations and can be made legal.

If it doesn’t, you’ll need to consider whether it will comply with the regulations after some renovations. If that’s the case, you’ll need to draw up a renovations project document (proyecto de reforma) outlining the proposed changes and how they will adhere to building regulations. It must be presented to the town hall along with your expediente de legalización.

According to law firm Acal, the legalisation process can be broken down into steps as follows:

  • Contact the town hall.
  • Begin with the expediente de legalización when the town hall confirm whether or not the property can be made legal.
  • Pay the corresponding fees and taxes (in this case it will be IBI) depending on your municipality and region.
  • If you need to make renovations, obtain the proyecto de reforma and hire an architect.
  • Obtain a building permit from the town hall.
  • Once completed, register the property in the Land Registry.

READ ALSO: What is Spain’s IBI tax and how do I pay it?

Q: Do I really need to make my property legal?

A: Yes, because it will benefit you in the long run. It doesn’t matter what the previous owner told you when you were originally buying the property, owning a property that isn’t fully legal (or legal at all) can create problems and even lead to fines worth up to 20 percent of the property’s value in extreme cases.

By going through the legalisation process and making the relevant renovations, if necessary, you gain a legal property for all purposes and with all the benefits that entails.

You will not have problems setting up, paying, or cancelling electricity, water or gas utility services. You won’t have to undertake reforms and renovation work unofficially, avoiding the eyes of the authorities. Instead you’ll be able to register your property in the Land Registry, which will make things much easier when you decide to sell it or pass it on.

In terms of selling it, perhaps that is the biggest benefit of legalising your illegal property: by registering it properly, you will be able to benefit from its full value when selling it. When a property is illegal, the appraised value will probably be no more than 40-45 percent of its real value at best.

The renovations needed to get your property in shape to meet the building regulations could be costly, but will they cost you half of the total value of your property? 

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