The great thing about owning or renting a holiday home in Marbella or anywhere else along the Costa del Sol is that there are so many wonderful attractions one never gets tired of the region. Away from the coast there are traditional hill towns like Ronda and further afield the Sierra Nevada Mountains with the ancient city of Granada as its star attraction.
From Ronda it is merely an 18 km drive to the beautiful Sierra de Grazalema Natural Park, which is situated between the provinces of Cadiz and Malaga. The park stretches across nearly 52,000 hectares of protected land and has enjoyed UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status since 1977 and National Park status since 1984.
The stunning mountains with their rugged foothills, deep gorges, turquoise ponds and lakes, rich flora and fauna are one of the best places to visit, when staying at the Costa del Sol. Just 1.8 km distance from the park explorers of the region will find the Cave of the Pileta, which was discovered in 1905 and boasts spectacular pre-historic paintings of animals like horses, goats, bulls and fish, the oldest of which date from 30,000 to 32,000 years BC and the most “modern” date back to around 4,000 to 5,000 years BC.
The cave boasts some amazing rock formations, a crystal lake, an eerie abyss and walls that are not just covered in yellow, red and black charcoal paintings of creatures but also mysterious symbols the Iberian hunter forbearers left millennia ago.
The area is a far cry from Marbella’s marina, bars and clubs, offering a totally different perspective on life to residents used to the busy beach life. Also a short drive from the Grazalema Natural Park is the mysterious Gato Cave at Crta - Ronda-Benaojan in the Malaga province.
As part of the complex of underground caves that belong to the Hundidero-Cat system, the Gato Cave boasts potholes, lakes and standing water, siphons and ponds for intrepid explorers to investigate.
Sloping some 219 meters down and stretching for around 4.5 km in a north-south direction, the cave’s waters eventually merge with the river Guadiaro. The caves are home to some unusual animals, of which different species of bats and invertebrates are just some examples. The main entrance to the cave is located approximately 15 km south of Ronda.
Just less than 5 km away from the Grazalema Park visitors not so keen on potholing and natural history will find attractions that are aimed more at culinary explorers than nature enthusiasts. The Descalzos Viejos Winery and farm boast a rather unusual setting in that they were created around the chapel and convent of S. Trinity XVI. Part of the restored chapel is used to store the wine barrels, which lie in “state” surrounded by beautiful frescoes. The farm itself is set against the backdrop of the spectacular Tajo de Ronda ledge.
At a time when the Spanish real estate market has still not recovered from the 2008 crash, property at the Costa del Sol has never been so affordable. Old favourites like luxury apartments and penthouses in Marbella may cost considerably more than property in Ronda or in any of the other white-washed hillside towns, but for anyone keen to get a foothold on the Spanish housing ladder, the Malaga region is perfect thanks to the great variety of landscape, established amenities and services, tourist attractions and sheer beauty of nature and climate.
In Marbella investors and potential homeowners realistically need around EUR 250,000 to get started but in other parts of the Malaga region a far smaller budget will suffice. Even in the greater Marbella region, particularly when heading east of town, it is possible to buy a decent sized property for under EUR 200,000.
For buyers with a pound sterling investment to make the currency exchange situation couldn’t be better. The Euro has been weak against the pound and that means at the present time buyers paying with Sterling will get far more house for their money.
For traditionalists Ronda and the other hill towns are perfect, offering a taste of rustic, real Spain away from the modern luxury apartments and condos at Marbella, Fuengirola, Malaga and Torremolinos.