After joining again the A340, we follow our way to Torre del Mar, in order to get into a magnificent area full of olive trees and vineyards. We have now passed other centres of population and residential areas such as Chilches, Benajarafe, Valle Nievo and Almayate. Situated in the fertile valley of the river which carries its name, Velez-Malaga, with its more than 53.000 inhabitants, is the capital city of the Axarquia, and stands 35 km. away from Malaga. Although it was of Muslim origin, beside the mouth of the river Velez remains of Phoenician, Carthaginian and Roman settlements have been found.

Its name was Ballix-Malaca during the Arab domination. At that time, the town was set over a walled hill with four exits, and at its peak was the fortress. The Mezquitilla was situated in the northern part of the town.There still remain some walls from the fortress or Alcazaba; the Royal Door, the Antequera Door and the Donjon, which has been recentrly restored. The Church of San Juan Bautista and Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación. Another building whose foundation was a mosque is the Church of Sta. Maria la Mayor (XVI century.), in the Mudejar style. A beautiful tower with three bodies leans on the church.

Returning to History, on April 27, 1487 Fernando the Catholic conquers Velez, thus dividing in two the Nazari kingdom. From this and later periods date some of the monuments in Velez, such as the Convent of San Francisco, built in the XV century. and modified in the XVIII. It was erected over the old Jewish Quarter, and to get there we have to ascend through winding streets which are still clearly Muslim in design. Very interesting is its cloister with double arches. Other monuments representative of the religious architecture are: the Convent of Las Claras, called Nuestra Sra. de Gracia, from the XVI-XVIII c. the Convent of the Carmelitas (XVII), or the Sanctuary of the Virgen de los Remedios. As for its civil buildings, we cannot forget the Palace of the Marquises of Beniel (XVI century), the Hospital of San Marcos (XVI century), the Fountain of Fernando VI or Cervante’s House. The whole area has been declared Protected Monument, but unfortunately many buildings were pillaged and destroyed during the withdrawal of Napoleon' s troops.

Nowadays, Velez-Malaga, apart form its monumental set, has an arm which reaches the coast and bears all the tourist infrastructure; naturally we are referring to Torre del Mar, one of the main tourist resorts of the Sun Coast.

Besides its magnificent Holy Week, Velez celebrates its Feasts of the Cross on May 3rd, the celebrations of the Virgen del Carmen during the third week of July, and those of its Patron San Miguel at the end of September.

Within its rich gastronomy, it offers us dishes like the Holy Week ajo-blanco, the sopas cachorreñas, tortas, fried fish baked sardines, etc.