View source for Nerja

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{{ infobox settlement
| settlement_type         = [[Municipalities of Spain|Municipality]] and town
| image_skyline           = Nerja.jpg
| image_flag              = ETM Nerja.png
| flag_size               = 150 
| image_shield            = Escudo de Nerja.svg
| image_map               = Nerja.svg
| map_caption             = Municipal location in the [[province of Málaga]]
| pushpin_map             = Spain Province of Málaga#Spain Andalusia#Spain
| pushpin_label_position  = bottom 
| pushpin_map_caption     = Location of Nerja in Andalusia and Spain
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name        = {{flag|Spain}}
| subdivision_type1       = [[Autonomous communities in Spain|Autonomous community]]
| subdivision_name1       = {{flag|Andalusia}} 
| subdivision_type2       = [[Provinces of Spain|Province]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[File:Flag Málaga Province.svg|23px]] [[Province of Málaga|Málaga]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Comarcas of Spain|Comarca]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[Axarquía]]
| leader_title            = Mayor <ref>{{Cite news |url= https://www.nerjatourism.com/en/nerja-news/jose-alberto-armijo-proclaimed-mayor-of-nerja-for-the-new-corporate-period-3128 |title= New Mayor |newspaper=nerjatourism |language=en |access-date=June 17, 2019}}</ref>
| leader_name             = José Alberto Armijo
| area_total_km2          = 85 <!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
| population_as_of        = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_footnotes    = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
| population_total        = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
| population_density_km2  = auto
| population_demonym      = Nerjeños
| timezone                = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset              = +1
| timezone_DST            = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset_DST          = +2
| coordinates             = {{coord|36|44|49|N|3|52|44|W|region:ES|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes     = <!--for references: use<ref></ref> tags-->
| elevation_m             = 26
| postal_code_type        = Postal code
| postal_code             = 29780
| website                 = {{Official website|https://nerja.es}}
}}

'''Nerja''' ({{IPA|es|ˈneɾxa|pron}}) is a municipality on the [[Costa del Sol]] in the [[province of Málaga]] in the autonomous community of [[Andalusia]] in southern [[Spain]]. It is part of the [[Comarcas of Spain|comarca]] of [[La Axarquía]]. It is on the country's southern [[Mediterranean]] coast, about {{convert|50|km}} east of [[Málaga]].

Under Islamic rule, its name was ''Narixa'', which means "abundant source", and is the origin of the current name.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-16 |title=Cuento y leyenda de Nerja |url=https://www.malaga.es/es/laprovincia/tradiciones/lis_cd-7981/cuento-y-leyenda-de-nerja |access-date=2024-12-16 |website=www.malaga.es |language=es}}</ref>

== History ==
[[file:La ville de Nerja.jpg|thumb|[[Aqueduct (bridge)|Aqueduct]] of Nerja]]

Nerja has a long history, evidenced by the primitive paintings found in its famous [[Nerja caves]], discovered in 1959.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Nerja Caves, the LARGEST STALACTITE in THE WORLD |url=https://www.nerja-turismo.com/en/nerja-caves/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Nerja Turismo |language=en-US}}</ref> These caves are now believed to be just one entrance to a linked series of sinkholes<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nerja Caves - Interesting facts about the impressive Caves of Nerja, Spain |url=https://www.malagacar.com/information/nerja_cave_information.asp |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=www.malagacar.com}}</ref> stretching many miles into the mountains between Nerja and [[Granada]], and which may yet prove to be one of the most extensive unexplored systems in [[Europe]]. Visitors to the caves will be able to view the remains of one of the ancient inhabitants of Nerja.

The [[ancient Rome|Romans]] built three settlements here, including ''Detunda'',<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-09-04 |title=D is for Detunda {{!}} Nerja Today |url=https://www.nerjatoday.com/magazine/issues/d-is-for-detunda/,%20https://www.nerjatoday.com/magazine/issues/d-is-for-detunda/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |language=en-US}}</ref> of which now large remains can be seen. The area was later taken over by the [[Arab]]s in the early 8th century. Under the [[al-Andalus|Moors]], the town was known as  ''Narixa'', which means "abundant spring", from which the present name derives.

Its agricultural and silk products are said{{by whom|date=February 2012}} to have been famed throughout the Muslim world and in the markets of [[Damascus]] as early as the 10th century.

The ''Balcón de Europa'', a ''mirador'' or viewpoint which gives views across the sea,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Balcony of Europe (Balcón de Europa) Nerja and Málaga |url=https://www.nerja-turismo.com/en/balcony-of-europe/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=Nerja Turismo |language=en-US}}</ref> is in the centre of the old town. Its name is popularly believed to have been coined by [[Alfonso XII of Spain|King Alfonso XII]], who visited the area in 1885 following a disastrous earthquake and was captivated by the scene. Local folklore says that he stood upon the site where the Balcón now stands, and said "This is the balcony of Europe". Local archive documents are said to show that its name predated this visit, but this has not prevented the authorities from placing a life-sized (and much photographed) statue of the king standing by the railing.

The Balcón area was originally known as La Batería, a reference to the gun battery which existed there in a fortified tower. This emplacement and a similar tower nearby were destroyed during the [[Peninsular War]]. In May 1812, the British vessels [[HMS Hyacinth (1806)|''Hyacinth'']], [[HMS Termagant (1796)|''Termagant'']] and [[HMS Basilisk (1801)|''Basilisk'']] supported Spanish guerrillas on the coast of Granada, against the French. On 20 May, ''Termagant'' or ''Hyacinth'' opened fire and the forts were destroyed. Two rusty guns positioned at the end of the Balcón are reminders of these violent times. The huge lumps of rock, the remains of La Batería, visible in the sea at the end of the Balcón, are further evidence of this action.

== Main sights ==

* [[Caves of Nerja]]
* [[Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park]]
* [[Navachica]], highest peak in the [[Sierra de Almijara]]
* [[Chillar River]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://biglovelyday.com/walk-rio-chillar-nerja/|title=GREAT FAMILY WALK The Río Chíllar in Nerja – Big Lovely Day|website=biglovelyday.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-08}}</ref>
* [[Frigiliana]], a village on the nearby mountain that is famous for its sugar cane honey factory

== Beaches ==
[[file:View from Balcón de Europa in Nerja 2014.jpg|thumb|View from Balcon de Europa in Nerja]]

Nerja has some of the best beaches in Costa del Sol. Many have been awarded [[Blue Flag beach|Blue Flags]] several times. An example of this is Burriana Beach. The beaches are:
* Burriana<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 April 2025 |title=Nerja Beach Guide - Burriana Beach {{!}} Hola Nerja |url=https://holanerja.com/blog/burriana-beach-nerja |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2017-04-08 |website=Hola Nerja |language=en-UK}}</ref>
* Carabeillo<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nerjatoday.com/nerjabeachguide/carabeillo/|title=Nerja Beach Guide - Carabeillo beach {{!}} Nerja Today|website=www.nerjatoday.com|date=28 March 2009 |language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-08}}</ref>
* Carabeo<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nerjatoday.com/nerjabeachguide/carabeo/|title=Nerja Beach Guide - Carabeo beach {{!}} Nerja Today|website=www.nerjatoday.com|date=28 March 2009 |language=en-US|access-date=2017-04-08}}</ref>
* Chucho<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-03-29 |title=Nerja Beaches - El Chucho beach {{!}} Nerja Today |url=https://www.nerjatoday.com/nerjabeachguide/el-chucho/,%20https://www.nerjatoday.com/nerjabeachguide/el-chucho/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* Torrecilla<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-03-28 |title=Nerja Beach Guide - Torrecilla beach {{!}} Nerja Today |url=https://www.nerjatoday.com/nerjabeachguide/torrecilla/,%20https://www.nerjatoday.com/nerjabeachguide/torrecilla/ |access-date=2023-10-09 |language=en-US}}</ref>
* El Salón
* Playazo
* Calahonda
* Caletilla

== Sports ==

Enrique López Cuenca Sports Stadium is a combined Rugby and Athletics stadium, home to the local rugby (union) side Club Nerja Rugby. Local semi-professional soccer team C.D Nerja (Club Deportivo Nerja) used to play at the stadium, but now have a purpose built ground behind the Medico.

Sea-kayaking and scuba-diving are based at Burriana beach.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.explorenerja.com/things_to_do/water_sports.htm|title=Water Sports in Nerja {{!}} Explore Nerja|website=www.explorenerja.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-04-08}}</ref>

[[Padel (sport)|Padel]] and tennis are based at Club de Tenis y Padel la Raqueta, a short walk from the centre of town.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nerja {{!}} España {{!}} Club de tenis y padel La Raqueta |url=https://nerjapadelclub.wixsite.com/clublaraqueta |access-date=2022-03-15 |website=Clublaraqueta |language=es}}</ref>

== Public transport ==

The closest airport to Nerja is Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport (AGP), which is 45 minute drive via A-7. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Reina |first=Cristina |date=10 February 2024 |title=How to get from Malaga Airport to Nerja |url=https://mylittleworldoftravelling.com/malaga-airport-to-nerja/}}</ref>

Nerja is not integrated in the [[Málaga Metropolitan Transport Consortium]].

As well as two local bus routes, around town (from the Riú Mónica Hotel), there are buses from the top of the High Street by the Alsa ticket office to [[Málaga]], [[Caves of Nerja]], [[Frigiliana]], [[Maro, Nerja|Maro]], [[Almuñécar]], [[Vélez-Málaga]], [[Torre del Mar]], [[Granada]], [[Córdoba, Spain|Córdoba]], [[Seville]], [[Almería]] and [[Motril]].

== Media ==

The town has a commercial Spanish-language pop radio station, Radio Nerja.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Radio Nerja 103.3 FM|url=https://radionerja.com/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=Radio Nerja|language=es}}</ref>

== Climate ==

Nerja has a Mediterranean climate with mild winters (8°C–17°C) and hot, dry summers (20°C–30°C). Winters are wetter, while summers are sunny with little rain. Average sunshine is 5–11 hours per day, depending on the season.

== Twin towns ==

* {{flagicon|ITA}} [[Pescia]], Italy
* {{flagicon|ARG}} [[San Juan, Argentina|San Juan]], Argentina
* {{flagicon|ESP}} [[Torremolinos]], Spain

== Popular impact ==

Nerja has been a source of inspiration for expatriate writers and artists, such as [[List of Scottish novelists|Scottish novelist]] [[Joan Lingard]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tell the Moon to Come Out by Joan Lingard |url=https://www.fantasticfiction.com/l/joan-lingard/tell-moon-to-come-out.htm |access-date=2023-10-09 |website=www.fantasticfiction.com}}</ref> and French-born author [[André Launay]]; [[Jorge Guillén]] and [[Federico García Lorca]] were long-time visitors and residents of the town.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}
The town was also the main setting for the filming of ''[[Verano azul]]'' (translated as ''Blue Summer''),<ref>{{cite web|title=Localizaciones de rodaje de la serie Verano Azul|url=http://www.veranoazul.org/?page_id=2}}</ref> a popular Spanish television series later exported to several countries. A replica of the boat featured in the series can be found in a park of the same name as the series, near the centre of town.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nerjatoday.com/nerja/parque-verano-azul/|title=Nerja - Parque Verano Azul {{!}} Nerja Today|website=www.nerjatoday.com|date=26 December 2008 |access-date=2016-12-22}}</ref>

In popular fiction, ''The Enigmatic Mr Phelps''<ref>{{Cite book|title=The enigmatic Mr Phelps|last=B.|first=Green, David|date=2005|publisher=AuthorHouse|isbn=9781420853698|location=Bloomington, Ind.|oclc=948804742}}</ref> (pub.1997-2003-2005), which combines the first two international crime fiction novels in a continuing series, along with a screenplay, ''Mr Phelps'', in 2016, are set in Nerja during the mid 1990s. Co-written by award-winning Canadian film director and screenwriter Jason C. Bourque, it was created for a film adaptation by Canada-based English international crime writer David B. Green. The stories include many references to Nerja and the Axarquia region, focusing on a fictional bar/restaurant located on c/Carabeo. The fictional character of Phelps is often confused with the real life of the author, who himself lived in Nerja between 1995 and 1998.

In October 2005, two episodes of the British television soap opera ''[[Emmerdale]]'' were set in Spain, featuring the characters of [[Eric Pollard]], [[Carl King]], and the Dingle family. Filming took place in Nerja.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nerja |first=Fran Extremera |date=2005-10-13 |title=La serie británica `Emmerdale´ toma el relevo a `Verano Azul´ |url=https://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/municipios/2005/10/13/serie-britanica-emmerdale-toma-relevo-29230094.html |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=La Opinión de Málaga |language=es}}</ref> Broadcast in November that year, the second episode was an hour-long special, and acknowledged the town on the end credits.<ref>{{Cite episode |series=Emmerdale |network=ITV |date=23 November 2005 |number=4212}}</ref><ref>{{Cite episode |series=Emmerdale |network=ITV |date=24 November 2005 |number=4213/4214}}</ref>

== See also ==

* {{anl|Verano azul}}
* {{anl|List of municipalities in Málaga}}

== References ==

{{refs}}

== External links ==
{{commonscat}}
{{wikivoyage}}

* [https://esnerja.com Nerja] {{in lang|es}}
* [https://esnerja.com/que-ver-y-hacer/cuevas-de-nerja/ Cueva de Nerja] The Nerja Caves (Spanish only)
* [http://www.ctmam.es Malaga Area Metropolitan Transport Consortium]

{{municipalities in Málaga}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Nerja| ]]