San Roque · Spain

Population - 19,845
Distance from Malaga airport: 65 Miles (105KMS)

San Roque, 35KM south of Estepona in Cádiz province, was founded in 1704 by the people of Gibraltar fleeing the British whi had captured the Rock and looted their homes and churches. They expected to return within months, since the troops had taken the garrison in the name of Archduke Carlos of Austria, whose rights Britain had been promoting in the War of the Spanish successio, but it was the British flag that was raised on the conquered territory - and so this has remained. There are few sights, but C/San Felipe, which leads up from the main square to the main mirador, has some fine reja-fronted houses. From the mirador you can see the Rock of Gibraltar and the hazy coast of Africa beyond - you'll have to ignore the ugly oil refinery in the foreground.

Nearby in the adjacent Plaza de la Iglesia, the Museo Municipal inside the Ayuntamiento building has a collection of artefacts documenting the town's previous incarnation as the Roman Carteia as well as some powerful works y local sculptor Luis Ortega. The council chamber (which you should ask to see) in the same building has a banner given to the earlier Spanish Gibraltar by Fernando and Isabel. On the same square, the eighteenth century church of Santa María Coronada - built over the ancient hermitage of San Roque - has a fine image of the Virgin, also rescued from the Rock in the flight from the British invaders.

A handy place for a snack or a tapa is Cafeteria Don Benito, Plaza de Armas 10, adjoining the same square as the musem, with a charming patio and small restaurant.