Ask for directions anywhere in the picturesque coastal resort of Nerja – which is situated about 70 kilometres, or a 50-minute drive away, from Málaga Airport – and the “Balcón de Europa” is very likely to be mentioned.
There’s a good reason for that; the “Balcony of Europe” is very much at the heart of the town, serving as a powerful visual focal point.
As its name suggests, the Balcón is a literal balcony, jutting out into the sea about a hundred metres away from the town hall, between the two beaches of Playa El Salon and Playa La Calahonda.
Long one of the principal symbols of this jaw-dropping part of southern Spain, the Balcón de Europa is in a location steeped in history. For centuries, a castle of medieval origin, Castillo Bajo, stood here. The fortress was eventually levelled in 1812, to prevent it from falling into French hands during the Spanish War of Independence.
So, where does the name “Balcón de Europa” come from?
That is an excellent question! Although we can’t say for sure that he originated the phrase in reference to this area, it seems that the then-King of Spain – Alfonso XII – at least popularised it during a visit to the site in the mid-1880s.
He had come to the area to observe how the locality had been devastated by a recent earthquake, and had apparently remarked that it was the “Balcony of Europe” – a name that has evidently stuck ever since. It is perhaps no wonder, then, that a bronze statue of the King has since come to grace the Balcón’s eastern side.
The statue depicts the monarch looking out to sea, and he has hardly been the only one down the years to have been enchanted by what he saw. Even during the 2020s, thousands of people continue to visit the Balcón every day to take in the remarkable views of the Mediterranean Sea and the Sierra de Almijara mountain range.
A well-deserved facelift is on the way for this much-loved Costa del Sol viewpoint
The local town hall clearly appreciates the treasure that it has on its hands in the form of the Balcón, and is seeking to enhance it still further. As recently reported by SUR in English, the landmark is set to receive an €88,252 facelift.
The changes, the English-language news outlet has said, will include the restoration of the balcony area, as well as improvement of the whitewashed wall and circular benches.
The steps will also undergo renovation, and architectural barriers will be taken away to help boost accessibility in the 17th-century church of El Salvador, which is situated on the edge of the Balcón.
Setting out the upcoming works in a statement, Nerja mayor José Alberto Armijo hailed the balcony as “an indisputable tourist attraction of our town”. Here at Simply Shuttles, we can hardly disagree!
To experience the wonders of the Balcón de Europa and wider Nerja on your next visit to the Costa del Sol, why not arrange excellent-value, convenient, and comfortable Málaga Airport transfers with us?
It’s quick and easy to do so via our website – or if you have any questions or queries prior to committing, you are welcome to send us an email or to give us a call on +34 951 279 117.
