Background

The climate istypically Mediterranean, with mild temperatures all year round, no frost in thecolder months and an average of 19 degrees centigrade. Its climate and itslocation on the southern coastEurope areimportant factors for the tourism industry is the main industry of themunicipality.

It has a populationof 60,000 and has experienced tremendous growth since the 60s due to tourismdevelopment. However, it is estimated that around 80,000 regular residents, anumber that triples during the summer.

The population isdistributed around the three main towns in the Borough distinguished as Benalmadena Pueblo Benalmadena Pueblo is known as the old part of town and its surroundingneighbourhoods. Situated on the slopes of Pico Mijas, where there was once awalled town and a fortress of which there is no longer any remains. This is theaesthetic of the white villages of Andalusia and theMediterraneanis home to the central units of the City Council. The post code is 29639Benalmadena Pueblo.

Benalmadena Costa The coastal area of Benalmadena is known by this name, "Coast" is thetourist heart of the town and here is concentrated the bulk of the hotels. Itis built on the old road of Cadiz (now the Avenida Antonio Machado and Avenidadel Sol), which runs parallel to the coastline, the Puerto Deportivo deBenalmádena and the beaches, which are accessed from a promenade that crossesthe town from the border with the neighbouring towns of Fuengirola toTorremolinos. The zip code is 29630 Benalmádena Costa. Several authors have presented theories on the origin of the name of the town,but none has been proven as true. The first documents in which references toBenalmadena date of the fifteenth century in the context of the struggles of recapturingthe crown ofCastileagainst the Nazari Kingdom of Granada.

The assumption onwhich most historians agree is one that relates the Arabic name Ibn al-ma’dinwith "children of mine" by the existence of ocher and iron depositsin the area. Another theory, also related to the mining industry, says thecurrent name of Benalmadena comes from the Arabic word al-Bina ma’din whoseCastilian translation would be "the construction or building of themine."

Among the theories are less meaning thatthe claim that the original name of the place means "people from springs,whose voice would be Arabic Ena Bena-A. Furthermore, it is believed that thepotential Madina al-Bina name could refer to "the wealth of the familyal-Madina", which historical data was a wealthy Muslim family fromMalaga who may have ownedland in the area. Finally it has been suggested that the name of themunicipality referred to a lineage where Arabic "al-Madan Ben would liketo refer to the lineage of the Madan.

Benalmadena is a town that is part of themetropolitan area ofMalaga, in the judicialdistrict of Torremolinos and in the region of theCosta del Sol. Under this territorial division, Benalmádena is pooledtogether with other municipalities within the Commonwealth of Municipalities ofthe Costa del Sol. The township of Benalmadena is situated in the coastal strip between the Sierrade Mijas and the Alboran Sea, just over 100 km from the Strait of Gibraltar. Itis built on a mountain beside the sea, which makes up its geography. Moreover,it is crossed by creeks and streams and adjoins the municipalities of northeastTorremolinos, Alhaurín de la Torre to the north, Mijas and Fuengirola to theeast, as well as theMediterranean Sea to thesouth.