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Nerja has a very long history, dating all the way back to the Paleolithic age. Some of the town’s historical sites include the renowned Nerja caves, a network of caves where skeletal remains and artifacts were found, some of which date from 25,000 BC.
The first major settlers of the area were the Phoenicians, a trading people. They arrived in the area in about 800 - 1,000 BC. They established a trade route called the Bástulo - Fenicia. The trade route joined such places as Málaga, Cadiz, and Almunecar at the time.
Around 550 BC, the Carthaginians arrived and drove the Phoenicians out. Their stay did not last long as the Romans invaded in 200 BC. Nerja became known under the Romans as Detunda. The ruins of old Detunda have been found to the east of the modern day Nerja.
In the 7th century, when the Moors occupied the area, Nerja was named Narixa, which meant “abundant spring.” The old name is the origin of the present day name. Under Muslim control, Nerja flourished from agriculture and a booming silk trade with the east.
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The Moors ruled Nerja for 8 centuries, until Ferdinand and Isabella, the Spanish Catholic monarchs, drove the Muslims away for good. Fortifications were erected to repel any attempts by other invaders to control the land. The Castillo Alto was built to defend against attacks by the pirates of North Africa. Then the Balcón de Europa was built, formerly known as La Bateria. To the west of La Bateria, the La Torre de los Guardias was constructed. After these strong defensive structures were built, houses started appearing in the area, and the new town of Nerja was born.
In 1588, sugar refinery became one of Nerja’s industries. The first sugar factory was built at this time, and others soon followed suit.
At the turn of the 19th century, Nerja had more than 7,500 inhabitants and the local economy was based on exportation of sugar, raisins, wood, and wine.
Today, with the discovery of the Nerja caves and its rich treasure trove of antiquity, Nerja quickly became one of the leading tourist spots in Spain. Nerja currently has an estimated population of 25,000. About 25% of the total figure is foreign students.
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