Colomares Castle, also called Castillo de Colomares or Colomares Monument, is one of the most unique and stunning pieces of architecture you’ll see in your life. Even though it looks like a fairy-tale castle, in reality, it’s a monument dedicated to Christopher Columbus and his discovery of America.
Colomares Castle is located in Benalmadena Pueblo, one of the most beautiful white villages in Andalusia. It awaits visitors only a few kilometers from busy tourist resorts on Costa del Sol. Stay with us and discover the history, facts, secrets, useful information, and our opinion about Colomares Castle in Benalmadena. Vamos!
This website uses affiliate links thanks to which we may earn a commission for purchases you made at no additional cost to you. If you like the content, consider using those links to support us. Thank you!
Explore remarkable Colomares Castle in Benalmadena
History of the Colomares Castle
Looking at Benalmadena Castle you would never guess that it was designed and built by a doctor, right? However, that’s exactly what happened and here is a brief history of the creation of this magical place in Spain.
Dr. Esteban Martin was a doctor in New York, a “bit” obsessed with the life of Christopher Columbus. When he discovered that nowhere in the world was a monument that properly honored his hero he decided… to build one himself! He gave up his practice and returned to his hometown in Benalmadena in Spain where he owned a piece of land.
The construction of Colomares Castle began in 1987 and it ended 7 years later in 1994. The most fascinating thing is that Castillo de Colomares was built with no outside financial support. Moreover, it was built only by the hands of three people: dr. Esteban Martin and his two friends who were bricklayers. Mindblowing!
Unfortunately, the sad thing is that the project ruined Dr. Martin. He passed away on February 8, 2001. Back then Esteban Martin was seen as “a little” weird but we guess now many people are glad for his weirdness. After all, thanks to this we can admire the stunning Colomares Castle in Benalmadena!
Colomares Castle architecture
Dr. Esteban and his friends transformed brick, mortar, and cement into elements related to Christopher Columbus and his journeys. While you wander around Benalmadena Castle you’ll find elements like the three ships Columbus traveled in, gargoyles, or stone maps. Castillo de Colomares takes inspiration from a mixture of different architectural styles like Gothic, Romanesque, and Mudéjar.
Also, Colomares Castle covers an area of 1500m2 which makes it the largest monument in the world dedicated to the explorer!
World’s smallest church in Colomares Castle
In the middle of the Colomares Castle world’s smallest church stands. It covers an area of just 1.96m2 and is listed in The Guinness Book of Records as the smallest church in the world. Moreover, dr Martin hoped that one day the remains of his hero would be buried there. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
Christopher Columbus is a big deal for Spain
Up to this day Spain celebrates the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus. La Fiesta Nacional de España (eng. National Day of Spain) or Día de la Hispanidad (Hispanic Day) is a national holiday in Spain. The celebration started in 1935 and takes place on October 12th. It commemorates the day in 1492 when the first Columbus expedition claimed the Americas for Spain.
Colomares Castle ticket prices & opening hours
A visit to Benalmadena Castle costs only €3.5 for adults, and €2.5 for children and pensioners (May 2026). Opening hours change with the season. Colomares Monument is closed on Mondays. For current ticket prices and opening hours, visit the castillomonumentocolomares.com website.
Our opinion about Colomares Castle in Benalmadena
Do we recommend visiting Colomares Castle? Absolutely! It’s a truly marvelous piece of architecture, and we loved it. While there, we felt for a moment like we were in some kind of fairy tale. What surprised us the most was the fact that only 3 people built it – that’s really admirable!
So if you’re traveling on Costa del Sol or staying near Malaga – be sure to visit Benalmadena Castle, you won’t regret it!
For us, it definitely was one of the coolest castles in Andalusia and one of the most interesting buildings we’ve seen during our travels. We also recommend checking out Bateria de Castillitos in Cartagena for similar vibes.
Travel tip. You can easily combine your trip to Colomares Castle with a visit to Benalmadena Pueblo, a charming Andalusian white village which is only a few steps away.
Our travel video from Benalmadena Pueblo & Colomares Castle
How to get to Colomares Castle in Benalmadena?
Castillo de Colomares is located in Benalmadena Pueblo only about 8km from Mijas Pueblo, 25km from Malaga, 80km from Nerja, and 35km from Marbella. The most convenient way to get to Colomares Castle is by car or by bus.
Where to park near Colomares Castle?
There is a small parking lot available on site, right beside the road. You can also park your car in this free Benalmadena Pueblo public parking located only 600m from Colomares Castle.
To Colomares Castle by bus
Your best option is to get to Benalmadena Pueblo by bus and then from a bus stop take a short walk to Colomares Castle. There are direct and usually cheap connections from many places like Mijas, Malaga, Marbella, Estepona, or Nerja. Please check the connections you are interested in on the rome2rio.com website.
Restaurants, accommodations, and map
Check out various recommended places below.
Where to eat in Benalmadena?
Here are your best, high-rated options in Benalmadena:
