Competa nestles in the foothills of the Sierras (Almijara and Tejeda) National Park in the north east of Malaga Province. Soaring alongside
is La Maroma, at 2,000m, the highest mountain in the area.

The village is typical of the Axarquia, with white painted houses closely intertwined and steep narrow streets more suited to mules than cars.

The focus of this large, lively village is the Plaza Almijara dominated by the church tower. It is an ideal place for cafe sitting and people-watching.

Competa has all the conveniences you may require on your holiday, including banks with ATMs, pharmacies, small supermarkets, gift shops, an internet cafe and many bars and restaurants.

Fiestas are a feature of life in Spain, and the two biggest here are Semana Santa (Easter Holy Week) and Noche del Vino (August 15th) which celebrates the grape harvest (and the famous sweet Competa wine).

Life moves at a slower pace here, keeping time with the goatherds walking their herds to grazing in the hills.

The surrounding countryside is wonderful for walking. The changing seasons offer visual contrasts from the almond blossom early in the year, through the wildflowers of spring and fruits of summer to the snow-capped peaks of winter.

There are many activities for you to try in or
around the village. They include horse riding,
4 wheel drive tours, guided walks, mountain bike riding, swimming and tennis. There are also artists workshops and language classes for those on longer stays.

The town of Nerja is around 30 minutes drive away and has some lovely beaches as well as the famous limestone caves. Malaga, with the new Picasso Museum and Granada, with its Alhambra, are an easy drive away for a day visit.

For general information about the area, please visit www.andalucia.com which has a wealth of information on this idyllic part of Spain.

To find out just how beautiful the weather is right now, visit www.bbc.co.uk/weather for a complete 5 day weather forecast!