Colomares Castle, Benalmádena's monument to Columbus
It looks medieval, but it was finished in 1994. Colomares Castle is one of the most unusual buildings on the Costa del Sol, and about a 17-minute walk from the flat.
- From the flat
- About 17 min walk
- Where
- Benalmádena
Not a medieval castle
Colomares was built between 1987 and 1994 by Dr Esteban Martín Martín. He began it as a personal project and built it over about seven years with the help of two builders from the nearby village of Mijas, using brick, stone and cement.
His aim was to honour Christopher Columbus and the voyage of 1492, around the time of its 500th anniversary in 1992. The building covers some 1,500 m², and it is often described as the largest monument dedicated to Columbus.
A history told in stone
The castle mixes several architectural styles, including Byzantine, Romanesque, Gothic and Mudéjar, the style developed by Muslim craftsmen in Christian Spain. Its carvings and sculptures tell the story of the discovery of the Americas, with references to the Catholic Monarchs and to men who sailed with Columbus on his first voyage.
There is also an empty mausoleum. It represents the idea that, when Columbus died, he set off on one last voyage, to eternity.
The world's smallest church
Inside the castle is a tiny chapel dedicated to Saint Elizabeth of Hungary. It measures just 1.96 m², and in the early 1990s the Guinness Book of Records listed it as the smallest church in the world.
It has an altar and has been consecrated, but there is barely room for the priest, so services there are very rare.
Planning your visit
There is a small entry fee, with reduced rates for children and pensioners. Opening times change with the season, and different sources give different hours, so confirm them before you set off.
Getting there from Atma
Booking.com estimates the walk from the flat at about 17 minutes. The castle is a short distance from the Stupa, so the two fit easily into the same outing.
Combine it with
The Stupa and Monowa Butterfly Park are both five minutes from the flat. And if the Columbus story catches your interest, the Felipe Orlando museum in Benalmádena Pueblo has a collection of pre-Columbian art from the Americas.
Questions
Is Colomares Castle really medieval?
No. It was built between 1987 and 1994 as a monument to Christopher Columbus.
What is the smallest church in the world?
The chapel of Saint Elizabeth of Hungary inside Colomares Castle, which measures 1.96 m².
Is there an entry fee?
Yes, a small one, with reduced rates for children and pensioners.
How far is Colomares Castle from Atma?
About 17 minutes on foot, according to Booking.com.
Stay nearby
Atma is a three-bedroom sea-view apartment in Stupa Hills, Benalmádena. Colomares Castle: about 17 min walk from the flat.