The whitewashed villages of Costa del Sol are impressive historical monuments in themselves, and their people still live according to age-old traditions, inherited from their Iberian, Roman and Moorish forefathers.

Many of the villages near the coast have become fashionable resorts, while still conserving their ancient charm, whereas others, lost in the highlands, remain rough and ready olive-farming towns, with a special appeal for the adventurous travellers.

Most towns began as fortresses, and over the centuries, many have developed into thriving agricultural centres producing olive oil, fruit and vegetables and goat milk