Benalmádena is situated on the side of the Sierra de Mijas, at 280 metres above sea level, and easy to get to from Malaga, just 20 kilometres away, by the Autovía de Mediterráneo. There are also train and bus links to the town from Malaga. The climate is mild, varying between a minimum winter temperature of five degrees and 35 in summer. There's more to the great conurbation of Benalmadena sprawling midway between Malaga and Torremolinos than first meets the eye. The municipality is divided into three distinct parts, Benalmadena Pueblo, Benalmadena Costa and Arroyo de la Miel. It's where actor Antonio Banderas comes from, and he and Melanie Griffith often visit Benalmadena's attractive marina. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks, Romans, Visigoths and Arabs all passed left their mark on the area, the Romans and Moors in particular having a noticeable effect on its architecture. The Catholic Kings, Ferdinand and Isabel, also established a defence base there. Benalmadena Costa is the coastal strip of the municipality enjoying a 9 kilometer stretch of attractive beaches and all the sporting and leisure possibilities of a busy resort town. You can stroll down one of the most attractive promenades in Europe and enjoy the relaxing blend of sea and sand as you're drawn in to seafront restaurants and shops. You'll soon come across the Castillo de Bil Bil, an neo-Arab construction built in 1934. Inland destinations like Alhaurin, Coin and Cartama, not far from Fuengirola, offer a unique pueblo charm, ideal for those who like a more tranquil and cultural atmosphere. However, if you feel that this lacks excitement, not far down the coast is the party area Marbella and the world renown Puerto Banus and Sotogrande, from nights out, to golf, Polo and sailing, this is a fantastic location.