Plaza Cantarero
Plaza Cantarero, actually triangular in shape, lies at the junction of calle San Miguel and calle Pintada and has long been also known as ‘Orange Square’ due to all the orange trees around the edges. The square is named after Francisco Cantarero Rodriguez, son of Manuel Cantarero, the man who directed the building of the Eagle Aqueduct – acueducto del Águila – in the latter part of the nineteenth century.
Francisco Cantarero Rodriguez became Mayor of Nerja in the second decade of the twentieth century and in 1913 he built a family home in the square. Plaza Cantarero underwent a total renovation in 2010.
Cafe La Nube has a large terrace in the square and is a great place to sit, relax with a drink and watch the world go by.
Plaza Cavana
Plaza Cavana is a popular and, for much of the year, a quite vibrant square in the centre of Nerja, and is located behind the main church, the iglesia El Salvador on the Balcón de Europa. The square was totally renovated in 2010/2011 and, on this occasion, the changes were not so dramatic as to affect the character and atmosphere.
The square is reached via calle El Barrio (pedestrianised), calle Diputación (pedestrianised), calle Granada and from the Balcón de Europa. There are currently 5 cafes/bars: Kronox, Candela, Italica, Cafeteria Hotel Cavana, and Bar Cavana, one of the oldest bars in town. All have terraces in various parts of the square, certainly from April to November.
There are a couple of banks and ATM’s, Ale-Hop gift shop, a book store (also selling newspapers in multiple languages) and a few fashion-type shops.
Plaza de la Ermita
Plaza de La Ermita actually covers quite a large area, including a traditional square, and is located midway along calle San Miguel towards the western end of Nerja. At one end of the plaza is the Hostal La Ermita, then we have the small square, La Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Las Angustias (Chapel of Our Lady of Anguish), the old Sala Mercado (now mainly used for exhibitions) and a taxi rank.
Several cafes serve the area and, of course we have the lovely Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Las Angustias, well worth a look inside.
The square has many plants and trees, the Bottlebrush being a particular favourite of mine. It can be a very colourful square when all are in bloom.
Plaza de España
Plaza de España is a huge square located above the underground municipal car park in the centre of Nerja, and is about one minute from the Balcón de Europa. There are now half a dozen eateries in the square, including Hotel Mena Plaza Cafeteria, Oliva, Salamandra and Hermes, as well as a branch of Santander bank, an estate agent and, of course, it is the location of the Nerja History Museum.
The square plays host to numerous events, from concerts to crafts markets, residents day celebrations and fiestas. Marquee tents can very easily be erected in the square whilst still leaving space to move around, such is the size.
Plaza Fabrica de los Cangrejos
Plaza Fabrica de los Cangrejos – also referred to as Plaza los Cangrejos or even Crab Square – lies at the bottom of avda Castilla Perez, close to Torrecilla beach. It is a fairly large square with numerous restaurants on one side, a view out to sea, two (free to use) petanca courts/pistes and it is often used for local events. During the month of August there is entertainment every evening.
Plenty of seating and colourful plants and trees, including Bougainvillas. Just below the square itself is the Fuente de Europa, a commemorative sculpture made up of stones donated by various EU member states.
Plaza Fabrica de los Cangrejos is also the location for the Cueva Tren and (in summer) for carriage rides.
