Benajarafe
Benajarafe isn´t a village as such, more a stretch of coastline located 14 kilometres from Málaga between Rincon de la Victoria and Torre del Mar. As you drive from the latter towards Málaga with the sea on your left the difference in terrain is extraordinary. Torre del Mar has numerous chiringuitos and beaches filled with sun beds and then from Almayate on the beaches are bare except for Spaniards who take their tents and go for the day. Just the beach, some sugar cane and the sea! Then suddenly the seaside resort of Benajarafe changes everything with its oasis of palm trees and banana plants, beach beds, chiringuitos and even a Bay Watch style lifeguard look out post! You can find everything on this beach including beach buggies which are parked up by the old bus station, now enjoying a new lease of life. There are bars and restaurants on both sides of the coast road and the 18th century lookout tower, named the Torre Moya or Torre Gordo (Fat Tower) stands silently watching from above, now useless and perhaps remembering its duty long ago when it warned the towns people of pirate attacks. Nowadays there are different types of pirates about, professional thieves who will grab your bag before you even notice its gone! So do be careful and keep your car doors locked when stopping at lights.
Sadly the 3 date palms that once stood majestically next to the bus station have been gobbled up by the evil red palm weevil, having eaten its way through the date palms in Egypt its now set to destroy those in Spain and it seems that nothing can be done about it. Only the fan palms seem to remain unaffected.
Although its now all fresh and modern, Benajarafe has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic era. In fact it is believed that the Greek colony Mainake used to be somewhere around this area although the exact location is still being seached. Archaelogical remains have been discovered next to the Velez river further along the coast at Torre del Mar. Benajarafe became a medieval farmstead after the Moors had settled there and named it.
Modern day Benajarafe is a good place to visit if you want fun on the beach or simply to enjoy its many bars and restaurants, there is also a very good garden centre that sells beautiful ceramic pots and well as plants and flowers.
