ABOUT MANILVA

Manilva is located 97kms from Málaga and 13kms from Estepona.

The interior which is mainly agricultural is known as Punta Chullera and stretches inland for 8kms. The town consists of three distinct zones; Manilva, San Luís de Sabinillas and el Castillo de la Duquesa and covers an area of 35 square km.

The Sierra Bermeja mountain range forms an impressive backdrop to the town as does the view of Gibraltar and África.  The village itself, situated between the River Manilva and Calataraje stream, is 128 metres above sea level.

The origin of Manilva goes back to the end of the Neolithic period, as evidenced by remains found in the Sierra de la Utrera, as well as twenty archaeological sites from the end of the Bronze Age at Cerro del Castillo. Nevertheless, the exact moment of the first settlement was during the Roman occupation, as can be seen by the villa at San Luís de Sabinillas.

In addition to this villa there are also the remains of Roman baths and a tower on the hill known as El Hacho, as well as ceramic walls found at Haza del Casareño, Las Lagunetas and in the village of Manilva itself, all constituting further evidence of the passage of the Romans through this land of vines of muscatel grapes.

Medieval remains found in the area include those of La Alcaría, El Cerrillo de la Sepultura, El Cerro del Tesorillo, the Torre Almenara (Minaret tower) de Chullera, dating from before the re-conquest, and the Torre de La Duquesa. Later, from the sixteenth century, the history of Manilva went hand in hand with that of neighbouring Casares, since in those days it formed part of the county of Casares, which came under the protection of the Duke of Arcos. This situation arose from a military strategy to protect nearby towns, such as Marbella, Gibraltar and Ronda.
The request for protection and surveillance was dealt with by Charles V, who in 1528 issued the orders for a tower to be built, known as the Salto de la Mora (Moorish woman’s leap), where a few years later over 50 neighbours created a farm community on a hill called Los Mártires (the martyrs), which was to become El Cortijo, the origin of the present town of Manilva.

The majority of residents in Manilva live in the commercial centre which covers an area of approximately 2kms and there are currently 3,000 full time residents and a further 14,000 who live in the town on a part time basis.  

Despite Manilva’s coastal location there is a distinct lack of high rise building and even though tourism reached Manilva it managed to keep much of its Spanish character.  The economy is based mainly on fishing and agriculture; also tourism but to a lesser degree.  The area is also well known for its good quality local wines.

The town has several good fish restaurants and chiringuitos which are well worth a visit and there is also the Roman Oasis Bar Restaurant which specializes in barbecued food, amongst others. Manilva is a town which has retained its character amongst the onslaught of tourism along the coast and seems to have plenty to offer visitors.