Mijas Pueblo

A Short History of Mijas

Mijas is one of the largest municipalities in the Malaga region spreading across roughly 150km2 of land. It is made up of both a stunning shoreline and a luscious mountainous area. The municipality is divided into three separate parts – Mijas Pueblo, Las Lagunas and La Cala however, it also contains a few small, rural hamlets such as Valtocado and La Alqueria.

Mijas pueblo stands at around 430m above sea-level which would have been of strategic advantage back in the olden days when the threat of conflict and being conquered were high.

Roman and Arabic Influence

The village has been dated back to Roman times. Remains and artefacts have been discovered along the hillside near the church and in other locations nearby. It was then captured by the Arabs in the early stages of the Moorish invasion in around 714 A.D and, the name “Mijas” was only given to the village when the town was recaptured by the Spanish in 1487. Prior to this it had been known as Tarnisa under Roman rule and Mixa under Arab rule.

There are many ancient artefacts to be found in and around Mijas including some well-preserved watch towers at Calahonda, Calburra and La Nueva along the coast.

Iglesia de la Inmaculada

The Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción (the church of the immaculate conception) sits in the heart of the village and dates back as early as the 16th century. The church is unique in that it was built on the foundations of an old mosque and a castle. A lot of the Arabic architecture can still be seen today and it is clear upon seeing the bell tower which has kept its Mudjadar styling. During a reconstruction of parts of the church in 1992, eight portraits of the apostles were found and were able to be fully recovered. Experts later dated these portraits back to the Boroque-Renaissance period. In one of the church’s adjoining chapels, of which there are two, you can still see the old coat of arms of the town and a commemorative plaque dated 1705.

Hermitage Virgen De La Peña

Another interesting piece of religious history is located next to the Compas viewpoint and is called Hermitage Virgen De La Peña – a small worship area carved into the side of the mountain. It was carved out by monks in 1548 and houses an image of the Patron Saint of Mijas. It is said that the image was found in the walls of the old castle in 1586 and had been hidden there over eight centuries earlier to avoid it falling into Moorish hands during the invasion. An old legend says that the image was discovered by two shepherds who were guided to its resting place by a dove.

Mijas Bullring

Mijas is also home to a very unusual bullring – this bullring stands out from the crowd because it’s oval, rather than round. It was built on the top of a rock known as La Muralla in 1900 and has been home to many performances from famous bullfighters over the years such as Miguel M. Camarita, Puquirri, Angel Teruel and Palomo Linares. The first bullfighting ever in Mijas took place on September 8th 1900 and beautiful ceramic plaques can be found throughout the walls of the bullring commemorating past performances. It closed for the construction of a medical wing, chapel and slaughterhouse in 1968 and again in 1977 before being reopened and, was previously owned by bullfighter Antonio Jose Galan until his death in 2001. There are no running events at Mijas bullring these days but you can still soak up the history and culture in the museum that is housed in the same building.

Mijas is an area rich in history and you’re never too far away from catching glimpses into the past in this area of the Costa del Sol.

All in all, Mijas is a great place to live whether you’re looking to retire to the area, have a young family, are a single person looking for a change or anyone in between. It is a place of not just sunshine and beaches but opportunity for a life rich with experience.

As an estate agent in Mijas with over 30 years of collective experience, the team at Mediterranean Homes would love to help you find your dream property in Mijas. If you have any questions please just get in touch.