| Information about Maro |
 The very pretty and charming village of Maro is situated on the coast, 3 kilometres to the east of Nerja, and 53 kilometres to the east of Malaga in the region of Andalucia called Axarquia.
The Nerja Caves are located close to Maro. Few visitors knew anything about this part of the coast until 1959, when five young boys, out hunting for bats behind Maro discovered a remarkable system of caves and ancient cave paintings. Now the caves attract visitors every day who come to wonder at this underground cathedral with its strange, melting-wax rocky architecture and what is reputed to be the largest natural column in the world.
Maro`s whitewashed buildings are a good example of the common domestic architecture in towns and villages on this part of the Mediterranean coastline. The village dates back to the early Christian era, its first structure being the Roman fortification known historically as Detunda, meaning "defence." This is now the site of the Plaza de la Iglesia, the Casa Granade and the begining of Calle Ancha.
It is a genuine pleasure to stroll through the village streets, with flowerpots on balconies and all the charm of a true Andalucian coastal village. One of the most beautiful streets is Calle Maravillas, where one can look out over the sea from the vantage points. There are also wonderful views from here of the surrounding countryside. Beside the Balcón de Maro, one finds the Iglesia de Nuestra Séñora de las Maravillas, dating from the 17th century. Here also is the Casa Grande and the ruins of the old sugar works, the building of which began in 1585, financed by the then Lord of Maro, Luis de Armengol.
Not far from the village centre, beside the N-340 road going towards Nerja, is another famous monument, the Águila Aqueduct. This was built between 1879 and 1880, to ensure that water would reach the San Joaquín sugar factory. There is a section of old Roman road beside the sugar factory, on the way from Antonino de Cástulo to Malaca, on which the Detunda fortification was built.
Maro has a population of 800 and is still unspoilt, yet boasts excellent tapas bars and popular restaurants from where the views across open fields to the sea are quite spectacular.
The Cliffs of Maro-Cero Gordo, a natural space located in the area where the Sierra de Almijara mountain range submerges into the sea, has been shaped due to the action of erosion into a spectacular coastline full of cliffs, sandy coves and small beaches, which covers a surface area of 395 hectares on the borderline between Granada and Málaga
Flora
Comprising of Mediterranean scrubs of Junipers, Oxicedro, Ephedra vulgaris, Holm oaks, Lentiscus, Kermes oaks, Carob trees, members of the Cneorum Triccocum family and Palmettos. Along the coastline, extensions of “Posidonia” are abundant
Fauna
It is worth mentioning sea birds such as: black-headed gulls, herring gulls and larus fuscus. There are also migrant species, such as: birds of prey, falcons, goshawks and sparrow hawks.
Nearby places of special interest
La Herradura.
The Caves of Nerja.
Frigiliana.
 Donde la Sierra de Almijara se sumerge en el mar, la erosión ha modelado una espectacular costa de acantilados, calas y pequeñas playas que se extiende a lo largo de 395 ha de superficie, en los límites de Granada y Málaga, el Paraje Natural Acantilados de Maro-Cerro Gordo
Flora
Matorral mediterráneo con presencia de enebro, oxicedro, canadillo, encina, lentisco, coscoja, algarrobo, olivilla y palmito. En la franja marina abundan las praderas de "posidonia".
Fauna
Aves marinas como la gaviota reidora, gaviota argéntea y gaviota sombría, así como especies itinerantes de rapaces, halcones, azor y gavilán
Sitios cercanos de interés:
- La Herradura (Almuñecar)
- Cuevas de Nerja
- Frigiliana
|
|
|
