Colomares Monument: the strangest castle on the Costa del Sol

The Colomares Monument (Castillo Monumento Colomares) is a castle-shaped tribute to Christopher Columbus on the hillside below Benalmádena Pueblo, 6 km from Benal Beach Apartments — about ten minutes by car. Entry costs €3.50 for adults and €2.50 for children and pensioners, it is closed on Mondays, and a visit takes 30 to 45 minutes.

Quick facts

• Distance from the apartment: 6 km, about 10 minutes by car or taxi
• Tickets (2026): adults €3.50 · children and pensioners €2.50 · groups of 25+ €2.00
• Opening hours: closed on Mondays. Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–18:00 in autumn and winter, 10:00–20:00 in spring, and 10:00–14:00 plus 17:00–21:00 in summer
• How long: 30 to 45 minutes
• What kind of visit: you walk around the outside of the monument and through its gardens and terraces; there are no rooms to go into
• Official website: castillomonumentocolomares.com

Hours can change from year to year, so check the official website the day before you go.

What it is

Colomares is not a medieval castle. It was built between 1987 and 1994 by a local doctor, Esteban Martín Martín, with the help of two builders, as a personal tribute to Columbus and the discovery of the Americas. He used brick, stone and cement and mixed styles on purpose: Romanesque, Gothic, Byzantine and Mudéjar details sit side by side on the same walls.

The whole monument covers about 1,500 square metres and is often described as the largest monument to Columbus in the world. It reads less like a building and more like a sculpture you can walk around: every tower, arch and fountain tells part of the story of the voyage of 1492.

What to look for

• The three ships. The Niña sits at the top of the building, under an arch inspired by the monastery of La Rábida, where Columbus prepared his journey. The Pinta is on the main façade, with a winged horse honouring the Pinzón brothers. The Santa María stands apart, as a reminder that it was wrecked on Christmas Day.
• The smallest church in the world. Inside the grounds is a tiny chapel of just 1.96 square metres, often called the smallest church in the world. It fits one person at a time.
• Fountains and towers. Look for the Byzantine fountain, the Fountain of the Lovers and the tower styled as a lighthouse. The details reward a slow walk.
• The views. From the upper terraces you look down over Arroyo de la Miel and out to the sea.

Getting there from Benal Beach Apartments

• By car: about 10 minutes uphill towards Benalmádena Pueblo, following signs for Colomares. The last stretch is a narrow road. There are two small car parks, one before and one after the entrance gate, and they fill up at weekends.
• By taxi: around 10 minutes; ask for "Castillo de Colomares".
• By bus: take a local bus up towards Benalmádena Pueblo and get off at the Stupa (Estupa) stop, then walk about 15 minutes downhill to the castle. Coming back is uphill, so a taxi for the return trip is worth it on hot days.

Walking the whole way from the apartment is not practical: it is 6 km and most of it is a steep climb.

Combine it with

Colomares is small, so it pairs well with other sights in the hills above the coast:

• The Stupa of Enlightenment, often described as the largest Buddhist stupa in the Western world, just above the castle
• The Butterfly Park (Mariposario), next to the Stupa
• Benalmádena Pueblo, the white village, for lunch in the square

A good half-day plan is the Stupa and the Butterfly Park in the morning, Colomares before it gets hot, and lunch in the Pueblo. You are back at the pool by mid-afternoon.

Tips

• Go in the morning or late afternoon. The pale stone reflects the midday sun and there is little shade in the gardens.
• Wear good shoes. There are many steps and uneven paths.
• Pushchairs: possible in parts, but you will have to carry it on the stairs.
• Bring cash or a card for the ticket, and water in summer.
• Photos: the best light on the main façade is in the late afternoon.

Is it worth it?

Yes, if you like unusual places and have an hour to spare. It is cheap, quick to see and unlike anything else on the Costa del Sol. If you only have one morning in the hills, choose the Stupa first and add Colomares if you still have energy.

Hours and prices checked in September 2026 on the official website.