Torre del Mar and Velez Malaga are situated in the eastern area of Malaga in the Axarquia region.
Those looking for property in Torre del Mar will probably not be the same potential purchasers of property in Velez Malaga. Although Torre del Mar is the beach resort closest to Velez Malaga, each offers property buyers a different range of options. Those preferring Torre del Mar properties will like the town’s beach and Marina developments and will enjoy the feeling of a mini-Marbella.
Those heading inland and preferring Velez Malaga properties will appreciate the village houses, whitewashed town houses and the relative peace of the surrounding countryside.
Whether you are looking for beach or town, marina or countryside, Torre del Mar and Velez Malaga have a huge variety to offer the property buyer. Torre del Mar is located 35km east of Malaga on the coast and is the beach resort of Velez Malaga, capital of the Axarquia region.
Torre del Mar is best known for its 4km of sandy beaches lined with restaurants, bars and apartments; the latter catering mainly for summer visitors. Torre del Mar also features the Marina of Caleta de Velez which has over 200 berths and offers sailing and a variety of other water sports. Like Velez Malaga, Torre del Mar also has a history of Phoenician and Carthaginian origins. Tombs of both races have been found at the mouth of the river Velez which reinforce the theory that the old city of Mainake was originally located here.
The market town of Velez Malaga is approximately 5km inland from Torre del Mar and, with an excellent climate, is surrounded by subtropical vegetation. Capital of La Axarquia, Velez Malaga is the centre of an agricultural region known for its strawberries and vineyards, which produce the muscatel grapes from which the famous Malaga wines are made.
Velez Malaga, under the name of Menoba, was important in Roman times, and again, as Ballix-Malaca, when under Moorish occupation. It has always had an important role in subduing an historically turbulent region. In 1487, Ferdinand conquered the town and the Christian flag was raised on the castle’s battlements as the Moors were ejected. There are also several remains of Phoenician cemeteries and tombs which hint at a still older history.
Today, aside from the activities of real estate in Torre del Mar, the area is a centre for the processing of olive oil and sugar cane. One of the main features is the 13th century Moorish castle which has been well restored and offers good views of the surrounding countryside. The oldest part of the town, known as Arrabal de San Sebastian, is a picturesque area of narrow streets. You will also find attractive mansions built during the 16th and 17th centuries, including the recently restored Palacio del Marques de Beniel, which houses the International Summer School of the Axarquia.
