Historical Mojácar: Loft City Mojácar is a place of great historical, cultural and natural value, and is perhaps, the most enchanting of the many towns along Costa de Almería's coast. The Village (Mojácar Pueblo), rests almost 175m above sea level; and from high up on the side of the Sierra de Cabrera mountains it enjoys a magnificent panorama over its surroundings below, the Valley and Mediterranean Sea. Its position as an unassailable fortress has made it a sought after location by many populations through history and has left a legacy steeped in tradition.Placed 90km South East of the provincial capital of Almería, with around 7,000 inhabitants, Mojácar has a rough area of 72 km², and a population density of less than 90 hab/km². Its beaches are situated by the foothills of the mountains and occupy a total of 17km of the Mediterranean coast. With more than 3,000 hours of sunlight per year, and average yearly temperature of around 20ºC; winter is practically inexistent and passes by within a few months. The sea temperature is warm enough to swim in from March until December - and is host to a rich marine life. The Greeks named this vantage point Murgis-Akra, the "Loft City". from whence came the latinized Moxacar, the Moorish Muxacra and finally the modern name of Mojácar. Many agree that “Old Mojácar” (Mojácar la Vieja), near what is now Antas, was occupied by civilians from as early as 2,000 BC. The Indalo or Mojácar man is a magical totem that is said to bring protection and good luck - keeping away storms and the evil eye - and in times past was painted on the front of houses to protect those within. The figure evokes a man holding a rainbow in outstretched arms and the original totem appeared among the prehistoric paintings in the caves of Velez Blanco, dating back around 4,500 years. The local people or “Mojaqueros”, as a result of continual mixing of cultures and religions, have the openness of a welcoming people who inherited the ways of tolerance, understanding and coexistence from their ancestors. In Mojácar, the most striking and compelling faithfulness to Arab past remains in the charming traditional architecture - unique dwellings and square whitewashed houses with arched town squares and narrow, winding cobbled streets that still reflect days past.		Mojácar Today: Corner of Enchantment Mojácar is a popular destination and over time, the village has flourished. Far from damaging the beauty of the town and its people, tourism has been harnessed to nurture the village whilst respecting its centuries old appearance and way of life. In 1966, the Ministry of Tourism granted Mojácar the award for “The Beautification and Improvement of Spanish Villages”. With its light spaces and protected environment; ample beaches and stunning panoramas, its deep alcoves and secluded corners to be explored - many with little road access; Mojácar Playa retains a warm picturesque personality and unique charm to offer a romantic and relaxed atmosphere. The community has become a prolific melting pot of people and cultures, and with one of the highest proportions of foreign nationals in Spain, it constantly provides many sources of inspiration luring artists, painters, writers and photographers alike who to regularly visit Mojácar and often return to settle here. One anecdotal mystery associated with Mojácar is its claim as the birthplace of Walt Disney around 1901. Apparently Walt was the illegitimate son of a member of the local Jose Guirao family who emigrated to America, and following his parents' death in Chicago the young boy is said to have been adopted by Flora and Elias Disney who then gave him the name Walt. Fiestas are important in Spain as a way of expressing identity and remembering the past, and they tend to be very social and participative. Los Moros y Cristianos is the most important celebration of the town, celebrating the battle and historical victory of Christians over Moors in the region. It takes place over 3 days of the weekend nearest the 10th of June each year, and is centred around the site of La Fuenta (the natural Roman spring water fountain), where the meeting for Mojácar's ethnic integration pact was held, and provides a decadent spectacle of key event re-enactments and mock battles staged against a background of music and gunpowder explosions is all cheered on by the crowds in full costume and dress. Other fiestas here include La Vieja´s Day or "Old Lady´s Day" on 27th March; San Juan Fiesta and beach bonfire night on 24th June; Saint Agustin - the patron Saint of Mojácar fiesta on 28th August, and the patron Virgin of Mojácar "Rosario" Fiesta on 7th October, as well as the usual Easter and Christmas festivities. Traditional rural dishes still found in Mojácar today embody the Arabic origins and nature of the village. Home-made recipes give life to a local cuisine which is simple, but exploits the rich harvest from sea and land and has an appreciation for food's natural quality and flavour. On the other hand, there is a varied choice of modern international cuisine; French, Chinese, Indian, Italian restaurants. and of course Spain's most famous dish - Paella. There are many entertainment and leisure options with restaurants, bars and clubs to provide a healthy choice of nightlife and live music; with beautiful open spaces, golf courses, and aquatic and theme parks to offer sport including golf, volleyball, football, bowling and tennis, along with Scuba Diving, Mountain Hiking, Horse Riding, Fishing, Sailing, and Water skiing provided by the landscape. There are many business and leisure opportunities which are financially secure, bring year-round income and ensure the area's popularity - however the government regulates to ensure that the village's architecture including the height, shape and colour of its constructions, is sympathetic to its surroundings to ensure visitors to the Costa de Almería will continue to admire the village's beauty and heritage long into the future.