One of the most popular tourist destinations on the Costa del Sol is Torremolinos, a former fishing village that gained fame during the 1950s and 60s due to the showbiz personalities that flocked to the fashionable scene that once existed in the town. Torremolinos is conveniently located just 14 kilometres from Malaga and three kilometres from the Malaga Costa del Sol international airport, and the urban train line that runs from Malaga to Fuengrilo connects Torremolinos with several of the other popular resorts along the coast.
One of the town's greatest assets is its climate - winter tends to be very mild and sunny, and thanks to the sea breeze, summer is very agreeable, so the town retains its reputation for being the ideal place for fun in the sun.
Eight kilometres of sandy beaches, which stretch from Los Alamos to La Carhiuela, offer water sports and recreational pastimes, as well as numerous beach bars, chiringuitos, which offer the freshest seafood in the food in the area.
La Carhiuela was once a small fishing community and even though this charming enclave has been given over to tourism, it still holds on to its romantic maritime ambience.
Mediterranean-hugging walkways link the Bajondillo promenade with La Carhiuela and Puerto Marina in Benalmadena Costa, and the beaches that span theses areas are regularly awarded blue flags as a mark of excellence.
Away from the beach, the town of Torremolinos has it all, and a short stroll around the labyrinth of small side streets and plazas in the town centre will open up a trove of hidden treasures.
The main shopping area of Calle San Miguel and the surrounding streets are a maze of artisan shops selling leather goods, jewellery and local produce, and the area is famous for its abundance of tapas bars, bodegas, restaurants and cafes.
One must not overlook El Calvario, the old part of town, a typical Andalusian village that adheres to the laid-back ways of life of yesterday's Spain a trip back through the ages, where time has almost stood still.
Inviting taverns and bars offer tapas of all descriptions and wine served from enormous oak casks. This is where locals gather in the cool shade, just as they have done for centuries; yet they are only a few hundred metres away from the bustling town centre.
The centre of Torremolinos has a vigorous new image today - due mainly to the foresight of its socialist mayor, Jose Ortiz - and it has regained its status as a giant among the prime holiday resorts, not only in Spain, but also the rest of Europe.
This has been achieved by blending a modern outlook with a deep concern for the town's essentially maritime atmosphere.]In his ongoing campaign to regenerate Torremolinos, the mayor has turned the centre of the town into a multicultural stage, promoting visual and performing arts, and he aims to attract a generation of artists who will return Torremolinos to a place of artistic and cultural modernity.
The town is embracing up and coming artists from all occupations, highlighting their work in a series of exhibitions in the Plaza Costa del Sol, while also hosting nights of live jazz and flamenco, street theatre and dance spectaculars.
Of all the towns on the Costa del Sol, Torremolinos has always been the most famous for its nightlife and it has not lost its reputation for having an exuberant and exciting atmosphere.
Torremolinos offers almost every kind of entertainment, ranging from bars, nightclubs and flamenco tablaos, to the quaint out of the way establishments where the more mature set get together.
In addition to its tourism sector, Torremolinos is known for its vibrant and liberal nightlife, particularly its numerous bars and clubs.
Aside from the beautiful beaches, the night life and the atmosphere of the town centre, Torremolinos also boasts a crocodile park, botanical gardens, and a massive water park.
In the future a new 650-million-euro leisure and commercial centre, which is to be built on the outskirts of the town, will be devoted to recreation and outdoor activities. The complex will be the biggest in Andalucía and on-site facilities will include a boating lake and artificial ski slope.
This former maritime village finds itself ready to take the lead once more as a centre of cultural and touristic importance.