Outlyling districts of Águilas: Calabardina

A picturesque beachside village in the shadow of Cabo Cope

Calabardina is a small town or village located to the east of Águilas, at the foot of the headland of Cabo de Cope on the south-facing coast of the Mediterranean.

It lies within the municipality of Águilas and is administered from the town of Águilas, although is technically a pedanía of the municipality with its own local community Mayor.

For many years this was nothing more than a tiny fishing village in what was a rarely visited corner of the Region of Murcia – in the early 20^th century there were no more than 20 houses - but since the 1970s its fame has spread and it is now home to around 1,000 people, many of them drawn here by its spectacular location and the beach of Calabardina in the shadow of Cabo Cope. As a result, most of the buildings are relatively new, and although the population is undeniably far smaller in winter than in summer there are quite a few northern Europeans and others all year round.

As an attractive seaside village with sandy beaches, it naturally attracts a volume of seasonal tourism and a percentage of the properties within the community are owned as second homes.

In consequence the village is well equipped with a medical centre, a chemist’s and a small supermarket, while at the same time close enough to Águilas to make far more facilities available just a short drive away.

Apart from its location on land, though, another of the reasons for the enduring popularity of Calabardina is the marine environment around Cabo Cope, where the clear water makes it an attractive destination for divers: in fact, the area is part of the protected area of Cabo Cope and Puntas de Calnegre which was created in 1992, and three of the nine natural habitats listed in the reserve are marine rather than terrestrial.

This same marine environment is home to a wide variety of fish and shellfish, with the prawns and octopus providing reasons for gastronomic tourists to visit too!

The main local fiestas of Calabardina are dedicated to the Santa Cruz (the holy cross) and take place on and around 3^rd May, and during the first weekend of the month there are a series of celebrations centering on music, sardines, the consumption of sardines and a procession featuring the Cross and the figure of the Virgen del Carmen. At the end of this Sunday morning procession the locals sit down and enjoy a large paella, before the afternoon’s musical entertainment begins.

There is also a Romería every 16^th July to celebrate the feast day of the Virgen del Carmen: as in all coastal towns in Spain, she is the patron of Calabardina, and the figure representing her is also paraded through the streets during the Cruz de Mayo fiestas.

In short, Calabardina is one of the most obviously attractive places to live on the coastline of Águilas, and its prestige is boosted by the fact that in the past it has been the home of illustrious “aguileños” (natives of Águilas) including international film actor Paco Rabal, who was born in Cuesta de Gos, and painter Manuel Coronado.