Velez de Benaudalla is nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada and enjoys a privileged position being easily accessible from 3 different airports - Malaga, Granada and Almeria. With the completion mid 2014 of the new motorway, it now takes just an hour to drive from Malaga Airport, while Granada Airport is closer (c 40 minutes drive) and Almeria c 80 minutes drive. 

 

The village is located just half an hour away from Granada's famous Alhambra and Generalife, while an extra 30 minute drive up the mountainside will take you straight into the heart of Granada's ski resort. It's also just 15-20 minutes from the coast where the closest seaside resort is Salobreña where you can have a pleasant walk along to the nearby village of La Caleta (famed for being the last working sugarcane factory in Europe which still has a sweet smell as you walk through - and has a local baker who supplies nearby towns and villages). The sugarcan factory has since closed to make way for redevelopment and a possible marina in the future. You can also visit the nearby seaport and industrial town of Motril and take advantage of its golf course - where you're sandwiched between the sea on one side and snow capped mountains of the Sierra Nevadas on the other - with lush banana trees in between!. Motril is also home to Alcampo - the large superstore where you can do your weekly shop and buy everything you need (except pharmaceutical products).

 

Velez de Benaudalla is certainly an enchanting, unspoilt white village situated just on the outskirts of the Costa Tropical and boasts a beautiful tree lined boulevard, original washing stones of yester year where women used to wash their clothes, the famous 15th century Gardens of Nasari (second only in importance to the gardens of Generalife - and known to residents as 'el pequeño Generalife), a castle and beautiful neoclassical church (Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario - designed by Ventura Rodriguez who's thought to be one of the best Spanish architects of his time).  Velez has just under 3000 inhabitants and is located 70 meters above sea level and is also well known by climbers as it has some great spots. 

 

The marketplace, located close to the childrens park takes place every Monday morning.  The nearby fast flowing Guadalfeo (the ugly) river runs below the village, (it's even freezing in summer!) with a nearby picnic area close to the river which many locals use to while away some pleasant hours. There's also a local honey shop and olive museum (Museo de Aceite) and beautiful views of the nearby reservoir from Rules Dam.

 

Interesting notes:

 

• It last snowed in Velez de Benaudalla in the Winter of 2006 - the last recorded snowfall before that was 54 years ago!

• On 22 December 2010 many residents in Velez de Benaudalla won the Christmas Lottery worth around 49 million

• Local delicacies include veleños, desserts with Arab origins, such as pestiños (deep fried dough topped with sugar or honey) and roscos (doughnuts covered with sugar and cinnamon) are most famous