{"id":6696,"date":"2017-02-24T15:14:17","date_gmt":"2017-02-24T14:14:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sunsetbeachclub.com\/blog\/?p=6696"},"modified":"2025-09-10T16:30:24","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T14:30:24","slug":"50-things-you-may-not-know-about-benalmadena","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sunsetbeachclub.com\/blog\/tourist-guides\/50-things-you-may-not-know-about-benalmadena\/","title":{"rendered":"50 Things You May Not Know About Benalm\u00e1dena"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Benalm\u00e1dena<\/strong> is one of the Costa del Sol\u2019s most popular holiday resorts welcoming visitors from all over the world. Located just 22km from M\u00e1laga city centre and a short 20-minute drive from M\u00e1laga Airport, Benalm\u00e1dena offers visitors a wide variety of attractions, beaches, hotels, restaurants and activities which make it the ideal holiday destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are so many interesting facts about Benalmadena which we\u2019re sure many visitors \u2013 and even locals \u2013 might not be aware of, that we decided to put together this comprehensive list of 50 Things you may not know about the municipality. Let\u2019s see if we can surprise you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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General Information<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

#1<\/strong>: The municipality of Benalm\u00e1dena is made up of three different districts or urban centres: Benalmadena Pueblo, Arroyo de la Miel and Benalm\u00e1dena Costa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#2<\/strong>: All three districts together occupy a little more than 27 square kilometres of land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#3<\/strong>: The official number of inhabitants (as of 2016) is 67245, although the real number is probably closer to 80,000 people. This figure triples in the summer months when thousands of holiday makers visit Benalmadena for their holidays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#4<\/strong>: 17,345 of the inhabitants of Benalm\u00e1dena are foreigners with 34% of these being British.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#5<\/strong>: Benalm\u00e1dena is twinned with Finale Ligure, a municipality in Savona, on the Italian Riviera. This is because it was the birthplace of Felix Solesio, the man responsible for the first urban settlement which later became Arroyo de la Miel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#6<\/strong>: The highest points on the map of Benalm\u00e1dena are Cerro del Castillejo<\/em> (967 metres above sea level), Cerro del Moro<\/em> (959 metres above sea level) and the more well-known Monte Calamorro<\/em> (771 metres above sea level) and the final destination for the Cable Car<\/a> which leaves from the Tivoli World car park.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The views from Monte Calamorro… stunning!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

#7<\/strong>: Benalm\u00e1dena Pueblo, the old town nestled in the hills, originates from the Moorish occupation of Spain when defensive walls and a fortress were built to protect the village.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#8<\/strong>: The Arroyo de la Miel area of Benalm\u00e1dena originated from an old country house (cortijo) around which, in the 18th<\/sup> century, six paper mills were built to produce playing cards as well as various farming businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#9<\/strong>: Arroyo de la Miel (Stream of Honey) got its name thanks to the vast number of beehives spread over the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#10<\/strong>: Whilst there is no definitive explanation of how Benalm\u00e1dena got its name, one of the most popular hypothesis amongst historians relates the name to the Arabic word Ibn al-ma\u00b4din (sons of the mines) <\/em><\/strong>due to the existence of iron ore mines in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#11<\/strong>:  There are quite a few famous celebrities who come from Benalm\u00e1dena including, Real Madrid footballer, Isco; heartthrob singer, Pablo Albor\u00e1n and politician, Celia Villalobos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A few historical facts about Benalm\u00e1dena<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

#12<\/strong>: The first human settlements in the area of Benalm\u00e1dena date back 20,000 years to the Upper Palaeolithic or Late Stone Age. Proof of this can be found in the archaeological remains found in three caves located in the municipality; Cueva del Toro<\/em>, Cueva del Botijo<\/em> and Cueva de la Zorrera<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#13<\/strong>: The 7th<\/sup> and 8th<\/sup> Centuries BC saw the arrival of the Phoenicians who were interested in the mineral resources of the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#14<\/strong>: The Phoenicians were replaced by the Roman Empire who were keen to capitalise on the area’s resources. Today we can still see the remains of the Roman occupation with various sites including, the Benal-roma ruins (an old salt factory), the ruins in Torremuelle as well as archaeological artefacts recovered from the sea floor and now exhibited in the Museo de Benalm\u00e1dena<\/em> (Benalm\u00e1dena Museum).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#15<\/strong>: During the 11th<\/sup> century \u2013 after the Moorish invasion<\/strong> \u2013 life in Benalm\u00e1dena took place within the enclosed walls of the town and fortress which were built to protect the town from attack. During this time the Moors developed agriculture with the introduction of products like sugar cane, figs and grapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#16<\/strong>: The fortress and town were destroyed in 1496 by the Christian armies under the command of Henry IV of Castilla. The villagers sought refuge in neighbouring Mijas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#17<\/strong>: In the 17th<\/sup> century the municipality of Benalm\u00e1dena was practically reduced to rubble by a devastating earthquake and the tsunami which followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#18<\/strong>: In the 19th<\/sup> century Benalmadena experienced considerable growth thanks to the production of \u2018moscatel\u2019 grapes to make wine. However, a devastating plague ruined all the crops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#19<\/strong>: The 1950\u2019s saw the start of the tourism boom which resulted in Benalm\u00e1dena becoming one of Spain\u2019s most popular tourist destinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Benalm\u00e1dena\u2019s Economy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

#20<\/strong>: Benalm\u00e1dena\u2019s economic activity centres around tourism, construction and activities deriving from both of these areas.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Sunset Beach Club hotel with 553 rooms!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

#21<\/strong>: There are almost 13,000 hotel beds in Benalm\u00e1dena, making it one of the Costa del Sol\u2019s municipalities with the highest number of hotel rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#22<\/strong>: Agriculture and traditional Industries are practically non-existent in Benalm\u00e1dena with a mere 16 hectares dedicated to the cultivation of avocados, ornamental flowers and olive trees. Fishing is also limited due to the fact that the Marina is strictly used for leisure boats and there is no fishing fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Interesting facts about Benalm\u00e1dena\u2019s main tourist attractions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

#23<\/strong>: The Colomares Castle<\/u><\/strong><\/a> (Castillo Colomares) was built as a tribute to Christopher Columbus and the Discovery of America. Its 1500 square metres make it the largest monument dedicated to Columbus.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Colomares Castle<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

#24<\/strong>: The Cueva del Toro<\/strong> (Bull\u2019s Cave) located in Mount Calamorro was discovered in 1969 and is Benalm\u00e1dena\u2019s most important prehistoric site. It was occupied more than 15,000 years ago and contains cave paintings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#25<\/strong>: Along Benalmadena\u2019s coastline you can find three old watch towers<\/strong>: Torremuelle, Torrequebrada and Torre Bermeja. Some of these formed part of the defence system built in Western Andalucia to protect against the attacks of the Moors, and later to protect the Mediterranean coast from pirates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#26<\/strong>: The Torrequebrada Casino<\/strong>, located just minutes from the hotel, was built in 1979 and was the Costa del Sol\u2019s first Casino.  It\u2019s one of the most visited Casinos in Spain with 130,000 people passing through its doors every year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#27<\/strong>: La Ni\u00f1a de Benalm\u00e1dena<\/strong> is a bronze sculpture which has become one of the city\u2019s icons. You\u2019ll find her in the centre of the fountain in the centre of the Pueblo\u2019s Plaza de Espa\u00f1a. The sculpture represents a young girl with her hair in a ponytail offering water in a shell.<\/p>\n\n\n

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La Ni\u00f1a de Benalm\u00e1dena Bronze Sculpture<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

#28<\/strong>: Paloma Park<\/u><\/strong> <\/a>located in the centre of Arroyo de la Miel is a 200,000 square metre green area with gardens, trees and a large lake. One of its most distinctive characteristics is the fact that you\u2019ll find wild animals (rabbits, chickens, ducks, swans, peacocks and more!) running around freely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#29<\/strong>: Tripadvisor recently included Paloma Park in its list of the 25 Most Beautiful Parks in Europe<\/a>. <\/u><\/strong>It shares this honour with world famous landmarks such as Hyde Park in London and El Retiro in Madrid!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#30<\/strong>: Towering high above Paloma Park is the largest flag pole in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Paloma Park has The largest Flag Pole in the region!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

#31<\/strong>: Tivoli World<\/strong><\/a> is the only amusement park on the Costa del Sol and another of Benalm\u00e1dena\u2019s most emblematic tourist attractions. Until its recent closure, it had been open to the public since 1973 and the park\u2019s popular concert hall has featured world-famous artists including, James Brown, Boney M, Julio Iglesias, Montserrat Caball\u00e9, Antonio Mach\u00edn and Alejandro Sanz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We found this old video of Tivoli World in the 1980\u2019s which shows what the park was like in its early days…<\/p>\n\n\n\n