I visited Mojacar and the surrounding area including Vera and Garrucha some 12 years ago ( 1995 ) and subsequently revisited in 2005 and apart from some major developments that have been built ( mainly in the neighbouring town of Vera rather then Mojacar itself ) there was little change to this picturesque and tranquil part of the Costa Calida and I wished I had been back more often over the past decade.

Mojacar is located in south east of the province of Almeria in Andalucia enjoying excellent protection behind the Cabrera mountain range and is one of the those old Spanish villages that once found just begs to be explored. The old town ( Mojacar Pueblo ) itself is situated about 2 kms from the beach ( Mojacar Playa ) and impressively clings to a rocky hillside with privileged views over the surrounding mountains, countryside and Mediterranean sea.

Mojacar has a long history stretching back over 4000 years. It has been populated by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, Greeks, and Moors and still remains an intersection of many cultures. It was under Moorish rule that Mojacar really began to flourish. The castle was built and the town walls were expanded and fortified, during those occupations Mojacar was witness to many a bloody battle. Around the middle of the 19th century Mojacars fortunes began to change when its population started to decline, mainly because of the severe droughts it suffered due to its geographical position in the region ( technically the only dessert in Europe ) . This was to continue until the 1960s when the local leaders of the time decide to give away land to anyone who promised to build on it, this offer as you would expect, eagerly accepted and once again its economy soon started to flourish. The town soon became a magnet for the artistic community who through their work would spread the word of the areas beauty which in turn attracted tourists to the village thus bringing in much needed foreign investment with the beach area becoming a great favourite of many a traveller. Over the last 30 years it has attracted many oversees buyers and currently has one of the highest expatriate populations in Spain. A local tale and hotly disputed assertion is that Walt Disney was born in Mojacar. The story goes that he as the illegitimate son of a local washerwoman who fled to America to escape the disgrace, however she was unable to provide for the baby and gave him for adoption to Flora and Elias Disney, the rest as they is history. The story can neither be proved or disproved as no records have been found either in Chicago where the adoption took place or the archives of Mojacar which where destroyed during the Spanish civil War. The symbol of Mojacar is the Indalo, originally a prehistoric cave drawing found near Velez Blanco, it shows a main holding a rainbow over his head and is said to bring luck therefore this unique icon can be found all over the area. If you are like me though and relish the idea of discovering every nook and cranny of an oldie worldly charmfull town then you will find the old town of Mojacar irresistible as it is a delightful labyrinth of winding, cobbled streets ,you never know what your going to find around the corner or down the next alleyway.

Mojacar has some 17 kilometres of shoreline offering some of the best beaches in the region from virgin and empty to bustling and busy. It stretches from the Marina de la Torre coastline located in front of the Golf Course to the Sopalmo and Granatilla beaches. The following have wisely been protected from development and include Las Macenas, Cala del Peñon, Cala del Sombrerico, Bordenares. El Cantal is the most popular of all Mojacas beaches and offers a large variety of installations, beach bars and the like to suit all tastes. Similarly, the Cueva del Lobo and Ventanicas beaches are always popular with visitors, although the sand here is courser and not to everyone's liking. For true beach enthusiasts a visit to the Virgin beaches of Mojacar is a must. These are situated to the west of the town and can be located by driving towards Carboneras, look for the sign of the two towers of Macenas and El Pirulico , the Macenas tower is the gateway and leads onto the Bordeneras, Sombrerico ( nicknamed Manaca Beach after the beach bar of that name which was built from the film set of Orsen Wells,s treasure Island filmed in 1971 ) and Granatilla.

Places of Interest

If you arrive by car it is best to leave it in one of the car parks near the entrance to the village.

La FuenteMora (The Moorish Fountain) The fountain dates back to Roman times and still remains a focal point in the everyday life of the village. People come from all over the area to fill up their containers with the fresh spring water which the fountain has provided for many a century, some locals can also still be found washing by hand . A history of the village is also written upon the fountain's walls.

La Iglesia de Santa María (The Church of Santa Maria) La Iglesia de Santa María dates back to the 14 th century and was originally a fortress. It became a church years later and still remains the religious centre of Mojacar life.

La Plaza Nueva (The New Square ) The view from the Plaza Nueva is one of the best in Mojaca, there's an impressive view which extends far over the beautiful deep blue Mediterranean sea and ut over the rocky landscape and local farmlands of the area. You can also see the Valle de las Pirámides and the Mojácar la Vieja, the first prehistoric settlement of Mojácar, which was built on the side of the river "Aguas" whose estuary is found on Mojácar beach.

Puerta de la Almedina (The Old City Gate) This was the traditional entrance to Mojacar which dates back to Moorish times. You can still see the coat of arms of Mojacar which was engraved above the arch sometime in the 15 th century.

Casa del Torreón (The Old Customs House) Just inside the old city gate is the 18th century Casa del Torreón which acted as the customs house for Mojacar where visitors were taxed for the privilege of entering Mojacar. Its actual design dates back to 18C.