Puerto de la Duquesa

Puerto de la Duquesa has become a showcase for a new concept in costal development, as a result of dramatic changes in recent years, characterised by well-planned, quality development which maintain the integrity and character of the area. New visitors will quickly discover what locals already know - Duquesa offers an ideal balance within an idyllic region of the western Costa del Sol.

One of Duquesa’s greatest assets is its near perfect location, merely 30 minutes from Gibraltar airport and 45 mins drive from Malaga international airport. Finding something to do is a also a simple affair being only 10 minutes from Estepona with its shopping centre and fishing marina and Sotogrande, offering world-class golfing with courses such as valderamma and san roque.

Puerto de la Duquesa’s pretty 328-berth marina is almost a small-scale version of Puerto Banus with a friendly, intimate atmosphere, which can only be maintained on a modest level, and more importantly houses boats and yachts from all walks of life.

Fortunately new development here has only seemed to enhance and not spoil the unique ambience of the area, a result of planning and demand for quality by the town municipality of Manilva, an authentic unspoilt 'white Andalucían village' within a 5 minute drive. It is also home to the historic roman baths, renowned for their curative properties and within walking distance is the traditional fishing town of Sabinillas, which offers good local amenities.

Marketed as 'the Costa del sol's best kept secret' it hits the nail on the head, the port offers beautiful front-line marina property, low-rise, sea-facing, Andalucían-style apartments all within a stone's throw from the beach or perfectly situated to enjoy prime front-line golf positions, with some fairways offering panoramic views along the coast. Duquesa's very own 18-hole championship golf course, was designed by Robert Trent Jones, is apparently a popular haunt for golfers and is beautifully designed with its own luxury hotel and country club.

Despite its relaxed setting, Duquesa's lively collection of waterfront restaurants decorate the port and offer something to please any discerning palet, from Chinese, Italian to Indian and of course typical Mediterranean cuisine not to mention a traditional fish and chip shop! There are also a number of quirky pubs, live music bars and friendly cafes to compliment them during the day and if you fancy a historic setting, meander over to the old village where a handful of beachfront, Spanish seafood restaurants offer mouthwatering cuisine under the setting of the majestic Duquesa castle.

Places to visit

Urban route
A route through the town centre can begin with a visit to the tourist office itself, the Villa Matilde, which once belonged to Ignacio Infante, uncle of the father of Andalusian nationalism, Blas Infante. It has recently been restored and houses a number of Roman remains found in the Manilva area. Following the road from here, one can see the parish church of Santa Ana, dating from the 17th century, the calle Mar and the calle Iglesia. The route of the Molino del Duque begins with the mill itself, currently lived in.

One can then visit El Ignenio, the 19th century La Bodega, la Charca de la Mina, with Roman and medieval remains, and finally, Los Baños (the Baths) and the Canuto de Manilva. The El Castillo (Castle) route begins in Sabinillas with the Torre de la Sal and the Colonia, which is sometimes referred to as the Factory, an agricultural centre and sugar factory. From here one can visit the Castle, an 18th century fortress, the Ingenio and the towers of La Chullera.

Castillo de Sabinillas
The task of keeping watch on the coast, with its eight kilometres of beach, has not ceased with the passing of the years. For this reason, Castillo de Sabinillas or Castillo de la Duquesa (the Duchess's Castle) was, until very recently, the police and Civil Guard headquarters. The reason for this is that the coast is very straight here and so the whole stretch can be seen from the castle. The current castle is not the original one, either, and replaced an earlier edifice, a fortress that was used for defence in the first half of the eighteenth century, when the British took Gibraltar during the War of the Spanish Succession.

La Cala de la Sardina
La Cala de la Sardina is one of the most tranquil and least crowded beaches along the seven kilometres of Manilva coastline, and is an ideal place to fish from.

What else is there?
Manilva is well known for its many festivals throughout the year. The carnival takes place in February, finishing on the last day of the month, the Day of Andalucía. The Romería of Nuestra Señora la Virgen de Fátima is on June 27th, with the traditional procession to the Hermitage of San Adolfo en los Baños de la Hedionda. In July there is the festival in honour of the town's patron saint, the Virgen del Carmen, which takes place in the Castillo de La Duquesa area, and the Festival of Santa Ana is held on July 26th. The Festival of San Luis de Sabinillas, in honour of its patron saint, takes place in August with the image of the saint carried through the streets in procession, and as soon as this event is over, another begins. This is the traditional Grape Harvest Fair, with horse racing, competitions of various types, a special mass and the procession of the Virgen de Los Dolores. The traditional stamping of the grapes takes place during this festival, and the first wine of the new season is tasted.

The cuisine of the area is typically Mediterranean: simple and healthy, with ample use of olive oil and fresh fish and seafood. The products of the earth are extensively used too, such as grapes, honey, cheeses and local wines. Of special interest to gourmets heading for Manilva is the asparagus soup, the fish cooked with almonds, the cod cakes, the fried anchovies, squid and other delicious fish dishes. Also made locally are the various pastries and grapes in aguardiente.

Other interesting towns

Estepona: Estepona is located at the 'quiet' end of the Costa Del Sol but there is plenty to see and do. The marina is a great place to stroll around, admire the boats or sit in one if the many bars and watch the world go by. There is a craft market every Sunday morning with all the usual and some unusual and interesting items. It seems the marina has become the weekend meeting place for just about everyone. In the 'old town' of Estepona you will find many street cafes and tapas bars down some charming narrow cobbled streets that are more used to horses than cars!

El Cristo beach, near the marina, is perfect for children being situated in a delightful sheltered cove with lots of water sport activities; there are also two new beach chiringitos that serve mouth-watering snacks and seafood. The golf is also excellent in this area with many well known courses close by ... Valderama, San Roque, Duquesa, Estepona, Monte Mayor to name a few.

Marbella & Puerto Banus: Home to the rich and famous. Marbella itself has a lovely shopping and historic area centred on the Orange Square. Puerto Banus marina with its mega-yachts and celebrities is a 'must' place to visit. The entertainment and people watching is great fun but the prices are slightly less entertaining.

Gibraltar: The queue at the border to get in (and out) of Gibraltar can be horrific due to a permanent 'go slow' by customs and police. It is far better to park your car (convenient), walk across the border (don't forget your passport), hop on one of the many regular buses and in 5 minutes you will be in Main Street. You can do a rock tour by minibus with a guide of the lower areas of Gibraltar including the tunnels and Europa Point and a visit to St.Michael's Cave. On the way down the rock, enjoy the fabulous views of Africa, Gibraltar and Spain whilst visiting the famous Barbary apes.

Morocco: If you wish to visit Morocco, it is probably best to take one of the many organised day trips available from Fuengirola. You will go by coach to Algeciras and then take the ferry across the Straits to Tangier. A guide will then give you a tour of the Kasbah and other sights; lunch is usually included. My opinion is it's certainly different. It's dirty, smelly and you will probably be hassled quite a lot......but it's an experience. I always seem to come back with a rug.

Tarifa: Known as 'The Windy City' and Europe's windsurfing capital ... the locals claim 365 windy days per year ... and I believe them! Mile upon mile of pristine beaches and white sand dunes, very different to the Costa del Sol ..... this is now the Atlantic. There are plenty of places offering windsurfing lessons, or for something more leisurely perhaps horse-riding in the sand dunes. Maybe a trip to Tangiers, this is the shortest crossing to Morocco from Spain.

Ronda: One of the most spectacularly located towns in Spain. Its position made it one of the last Moorish settlements to fall to the Christians in the late 15th century. Ronda is famous for the "Puente Nuevo" (new bridge) - built across the Tajo gorge in the late 18th century- and the Plaza de Toros, one of the oldest and most important bullrings in Spain.The town, with its cobbled alleys and whitewashed walls, is steeped in history. The drive is scenic and dramatic and the surrounding countryside is ideal for walking, riding and mountain biking.

Granada: Situated in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, Granada was once the capital of a Moorish kingdom. A visit to Andalucia cannot possibly be complete without seeing the famous Alhambra Palace, a Moorish royal palace straight out of One Thousand and One Nights. Try to get there early ahead of the coaches and crowds. Nearby is the entrance to the Generalife - the country estate of the Nasrid kings. These gardens were begun in the 13th century, they have been continually modified over the years. There is a lot more to Granada than just the Alhambra palace - the city offers many smart shops and a mouth-watering choice of good restaurants and tapas bars.

Seville: The capital of Andalucia and steeped in history and culture. The city is compact and most of the sights can be found in or near to the city centre. The most popular sights are the cathedral and La Giralda, the Museo de Bellas Artes, the Plaza de Toros (Seville's 18th century bullring) and the area along the riverfront known as El Arenal. El Arenal was once the home to the port of Seville. In this area you will find the bullring, the Torre del Oro and many bars and restaurants. The Santa Cruz district, the old Jewish Quarter, is a warren of narrow alleys and patios. It has long been regarded as the most picturesque part of Seville. You will find many of the better known sights in this barrio (district). Please note that the city can become very hot in the summer months and it is probably best avoided in July and August.

Sierra Nevada: The mountain range above Granada where there is the ski resort of Sol y Nieve (Sun and Snow). Skiing is possible between the months of December and April. I've been myself at Easter and have felt very silly standing sweltering in the heat of Malaga airport in all my ski gear! The resort is very laid back and Spanish - not a bit like the chic French or Swiss resorts. You can either make your own way there or book one of the many 2 or 3 night excursions from a travel agent in Fuengirola. Our favourite hotel is the Kenia Nevada which is located close to the ski lifts. Boots, skis etc can all be hired in the resort.