The ´Pueblos Blancos´ or ´white villages´ of Andalucia attract thousands of visitors to this scenic part of southern Spain every year. June is the perfect time to tour the inland villages, before the temperatures soar in July and August.
Visitors can book excursions around the ´white villages´ from most major towns on the Costa del Sol, or you can buy a map and explore inland Andalucia at your own pace. Mijas-Pueblo, Istán, Ronda and Benahavis are all within easy reach of Marbella and Puerto Banus, and visitors can enjoy stunning countryside, excellent restaurants and a wealth of things to see and do in the rural towns of the region.

Istán was originally a Moorish settlement and as with its near neighbour Ojen, survived where others didn’t -  largely because it was away from the coast. After the Reconquest, the Moors were not allowed to live near the coast to stop them communicating with sympathisers in nearby North Africa.

The village  lies beneath the Sierra Blanca in the valley of the Rio Verde about 15 km from Marbella and the Mediterranean coast. It is also near the large reservoir created by  the Presa de la Concepción Dam, which was built in 1972 to provide drinking water to towns all along the Costa del Sol.

After a gentle walk around the narrow streets of this pretty white town, perched at the head of the valley of Rio Verde and beneath the Sierra Blanca, visit the Entresierras Restaurant, where you can enjoy Argentinian steak, a great range of salads, and stunning mountain views.

A large interior restaurant is ideal for the cooler months, and you only need to pass by on a Sunday to realise just how popular this eaterie is.  Locals and tourists alike often queue for tables, and booking is highly recommended. The road up to Istán twists and winds its way through the Andalucia countryside, and visitors can enjoy stunning views of the coast and down to the reservoir. Istán is a Mecca for walkers, hikers and cyclists, particularly in winter and spring.
Mijas Pueblo  is perched high above the bustling resort of Fuengirola, and is one of the most charming white villages of Andalucia. Only ten minutes by road from the coast, as you make your way up the winding roads towards this pretty village, you will notice the white-washed houses in the distance, almost clinging to the hilltop.

Shops, bars, and quaint cafes with the most stunning views abound in Mijas, and there are plenty of resting places and view-points dotted around the cobbled streets.  The Muralla Gardens is well worth a visit – this has been very cleverly designed so that flowers are in bloom all year round.  The Mijas Bullring is one of the oldest in Spain, and there is a visitor centre within the main arena.

Local shops offer beautiful ceramics, leather goods, paintings and jewellery and there is also a wonderful fresh flower market in the village square every Saturday.  Horse drawn carriages can also be hired during the Summer months from the Plaza de Pina to chauffeur you around Mijas for approximately 12 Euros.

The Folk Museum is also worth a visit, showing the trades and history of Mijas.  Also above the village is the Shrine of the Calvario, built in 1710.  The Shrine can be seen for miles around and you can gain access by climbing the winding path from the village.  Although only open on Good Friday, each year, the stunning views from here are worth the walk any time of the year. One of the most charming of the ´white towns´, Mijas-Pueblo attracts visitors from all over Europe.

Founded by the Moors at the end of the 11th century, Benahavis has evolved into a stylish village, while retaining much of its original Andalucian charm.

Benahavís derives its name from the Arabic ‘Ben’, son of Havis,  which was the name of a remarkable Arab who reigned in the castle Montemayor and whose son had the idea to build a series of defences, protecting the Guadalmina River at the outlet of Las Angosturas, and the left flank of the Montemayor Castle.

The castle was built prior to the construction of Benahavis and because of its strategic position it played an important role in the various battles between the Moorish kings of Andalucia. Its prominent situation, overlooking one hundred kilometres of coast, and even the coast of Africa, made controlling this castle strategically very useful.

Well known in Andalucia for it´s fabulous restaurants and local art and pottery, many tourists and locals flock here for an evening of fine food and entertainment. The main square and the narrow, cobbled streets play host to most of the restaurants, and there are several good hotels and cottages offering bed and breakfast in the village. Not one of the more expensive areas, Benahavis is situated inland between San Pedro and Estepona, and self catering accommodation is also available close by with a limited selection in the village itself.

Situated so close to the coast, visitors can reach the beach from Benahavis in ten minutes, and enjoy the beauty of the surrounding Ronda mountains.  There are many intriguing places to visit in and around the village, including the fresh water rock pools at the foot of the mountains, where locals go to picnic and relax during the summer months.
Visitors also take advantage of the many walking trails that lead out of Benahavis Village, and explore the local countryside. Right next to the entrance of El Casar you can walk up to the top of the hills for superb views to Gibraltar and the African coastline.

Famous for its spectacular 100 metre deep gorge, El Tajo, Ronda is one of Andalucia´s most visited towns. Split between the old Moorish town and El Mercadillo, a more recently built section, Ronda continues to attract visitors from all over the world. The two parts of town are linked by the Puente Nuevo (New Bridge), which was built in 1751, and took 42 years to complete.

But aside from the oldest bullring in Spain, some of the best tapas bars in Andalucia, and a stunning parador which seems to cling to the side of the gorge, Ronda´s rich history is both colourful and intriguing.

Not so different from the tales of Robin Hood, where Robin would hide in the dense undergrowth of Sherwood Forest, the bandits who operated around Ronda as far back as the 9th Century, were well hidden among the ravines, caves and valleys of old-time Andalucia.  Now only an hour´s drive from Marbella and Puerto Banus, many years ago it would take several days to travel between the mountainous Ronda regions and the coast.  And the aristocrats and royalty who braved the journey were often held up by the bandits before they reached Ronda.

One of Andalucia´s most important and traditional events is the Feria Goyesca de Pedro Romero, held in in the beautiful town of Ronda each year in September.

Held at the Real Maestranza Bullring, the Goyesca tradition began in 1954 when Antonio Ordóñez, a great friend of Ernest Hemingway, and also a great bullfighter, decided to celebrate the birth of Pedro Romero, the founder of modern bullfighting.

Traditional 18th century costumes are worn by the fighters, which are typical of the dress worn during the times of the great Aragonese painter, Francisco de Goya, and continue to be a major part of this event.
Culturally, this is one of Ronda´s highlights, and features bullfights, a dazzling costume display and an exhibition of beautifully decorated carriages.

Take a trip around the ´Pueblos Blancos´ of Andalucia, and enjoy the history, culture and incredible sights of rural Spain, less than an hour´s drive from Marbella.