Cartama travel information and video

Cartama

Cartama is a pretty inland town, due east of Malaga, in Andalusia. A partly whitewashed town, it is situated at the feet of two peaks; Espartales and Llana, which together make up the Sierra de Cartama. It is at the frontier between the Guadalhorce valley and La Hoya in the Montes de Malaga.

The area is a fantastic agricultural location and is green and verdant. Produce from the area include, but are not limited to, olives, almonds and citrus fruits. The town overlooks scenic farmland, which blankets the rolling hills of the valley.

The city of Malaga is approximately 20 kilometres away, a journey time of 25 minutes. It is also equidistant from the towns of Coin, Alhaurin el Grande and Alhaurin del la Torre. Its nearest coastal resort is Torremolinos, 20 kilometres and 25 minutes drive to the south.

Cartama offers its visitors a unique southern Spanish experience, far removed from the traditional package holiday; with its sumptuous views and fascinating history you will experience real Andalucía; however it remains close enough to the coastline to offer the opportunity to explore the resort side of life too.

History
There are various locations of historical importance in and around Cartama, having been occupied by almost every invading and occupying force that came to the Iberian Peninsula. The area was sought-after for the regions fertility.

Possibly founded by the merchant Phoenicians and named Cartha it was later used as an important defensive location for the Romans who renamed it Cartima; during that time it was one of the main towns in the province of Málaga.

Where the chapel of Remedios is on the peak of a hilltop there are the ruins of the castle of Cartama; this site had also once been home to a mosque, built by the Moorish settlers, which is probably why, due to the religious politics of the reoccupation that the chapel was built there. The parish church of San Pedro is situated in the town square. Its inscription on the façade dates it to 1502.

Beaches
The nearest beaches are those of Torremolinos, a 25 minute drive away. However if these busy resort beaches are not to your liking there are various locations up and down the coast where you can find more secluded spots.

Golf
The nearest golf course is Lauro Golf, a course of 27 holes designed by Falco Nardi. It is one of the most reasonably priced golf courses on the Costa del Golf, and offers its player some of the most sumptuous scenery possible; you will be hard pressed to keep your head down whilst taking your swing.

Cuisine
Cartama's cuisine is typical of the area, with lots of seafood and rice on the menu. There are numerous tapas bars, restaurants and cáfes in Cartama and a diverse choice of what to eat. Some more traditional bars will often give you a small amount of tapas for free with a caña (small beer).

Climate
Cartama enjoys a sub-tropical Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and warm winters. Divided from the sea by the mountains means the heat can soar in summer, but remains comfortable for the most part. Temperatures average 32 ºC during the summer.