AGUILAS

Well off most foreigners' routes, Aguilas is one of the most southerly of the resorts in this area, lying on the Golfo de Mazarron. This arid stretch of coast is a popular Spanish holiday area that has kept much of its character, and escaped the worst type of development. First inhabited by the Phoenicians, followed by the Romans and Arabs, Aguilas's modern appearance dates largely from the 1780s when the present grid patterned town was built to serve as a port for the local mines. The older fishing quarter, overlooked by the castle of San Juan and the Cope watchtower, still survives; Aguilas is still an important port with a daily market. A fine British built locomotive near the seafront commemorates the importance of the railway in Aguilas's economic heyday. Two excellent beaches and a string of virtually undiscovered coves lie on either side of the town, making it a good base if you're looking for a tranquil beach holiday.