The town of Manilva itself dates back to the 1700’s when, due to attacks from Barbary pirates who were a constant threat to the Southern coast of Spain, King Charles V ordered the erection of a watch tower around which this small community was formed. At this time Manilva was part of Casares but by 1796 it was given its autonomy.

The municipality of Manilva is divided into four distinct areas, San Luis de Sabinillas, Castillo de la Duquesa, Hondacavada and the town of Manilva itself. Although Manilva was not acknowledged as a municipality in its own right until the 16 century, it has a rich and diverse history dating back to Roman times of which there is still evidence.

One of the main structures which remain is the Hedonia Roman baths. Dating from the 1st Century BC it is rumoured that the mighty Julius Ceasar himself regularly took to the waters, and cured himself of a skin complaint, during his time as acting governor in Southern Spain.

The Roman baths are located in La Hedionda valley, just behind Manilva and is a lovely spot for a visit. We recommend you park the car somewhere nearby and take the walk up along the river, towards the baths. If you are feeling full of energy you can continue along the well signposted route all the way to the hilltop village of Casares, perched atop of a steep incline it’s one of the many charming white villages for which Andalucia is famous.

The Roman baths are well known to the area and so can be busy at the weekends, however if you go during the week you are more than likely to have them to yourself. Once you have had a good swim in the healing waters you can settle down for a swim and a picnic by the river, which providing you do not visit in the height of the summer, contains some deep areas and small lakes perfect for dipping into. There are also large flat rocks by the river bed which are great for sunbathing on.

There are a couple of good restaurants near the baths themselves, in particular the Roman Oasis which specialises in food cooked in a wood burning stove and offers a large selection of barbequed meat. You could also choose to head out into Manilva town and its surroundings where you will find a number of good restaurants specialising in seafood and tapas. The cuisine of the area is typically Mediterranean: simple and healthy, with ample use of olive oil and fresh fish and seafood. The products of the earth are extensively used too, such as grapes, honey, cheeses and local wines. Typical dishes include asparagus soup, squid stew, cod tortillas and morrocan style octopus which you will be able to sample in any of the more authentic restaurants. As far as seafood goes, an area which is easy to overlook is the tiny village of the Castillo, just by the Marina, which has some fantastic restaurants as does Sabinillas with fresh seafood on offer every day of the week. During the spring and summer months the chiringuito restaurants along the beach are also great for lunch and for more varied cuisine the Marina is probably your best bet, with Chinese, Indian and Mexican food on offer.