Driving past Algeciras on the N340, a passer-by would never suspect that nestled behind Cepsa´s vast petrochemical plant is one of Andalucia´s most significant ancient heritage sites. Yacimiento Arqueológico Romano Carteia (Carteia Roman Archeological Site) is a strange theatre of juxtaposition, with Roman structures of varying preservation, medieval additions, and a backdrop of smoke-spewing chimneys. These fascinating contradictions alone make the site worth a visit, but its rich history remains the focus.

Torre Baños is also called Torre de Casasola is located in the Isdabe / Atalaya district of East Estepona. To be precise it is locate on the seafron just to the west of the Hotel Atalya. This is why the Hotel is named Atalaya. (Watchtower).

This important archaeological site dates to the Bronze Age, taking its name from the Argaric (or Argar) culture.

Montemayor is the name of a castle ruins and the hill it sits on overlooking the village of Benahavís and the Mediterranean coast

The Alcázar is of Muslim origin and was the residence of King Taifa of Carmona. It was restored several times after the re-conquest and Pedro I of Castile restored it in the thirteenth century. The earthquake of 1504 affected the palace and since then the ruin has been progressive and is now a gracious if expensive Parador. Located on Calle Los Alcázares.

This site is located below the Plaza del Reloj in Calle Villa. Excavations have been left open and the visitor can see the foundations of the roman building. The upper room was probably mausoleum with a funeral chapel. Inside the crypt debris has been recovered which would have been decorative element of the original building.

There are two Torres de Vigias Arroyo Vaquero (watchtowers) in Estepona, both named after the arroyo (small river) that runs nearby. The older one is also known as Torre Nazari Arroyo Vaquero or the Nasrid Tower Arroyo Vaquero.

Inside five small dolmens (standing stones) can be viewed. They are original and date from about 3,000 BC. Also on display are a number of pottery vessels, stone tools, arrowheads, axes, personal ornaments, necklace beads made of semi-precious stones and perforated seashells. The skulls and skeletons and other bones on display are reproductions as the originals are preserved.

Signposted off the road to Illora, about 7km east Montefrio, is an intriguing and unmissable archaeological site, the Peñas de los Gitanos, which has evidence of human settlement from Neolithic times to the Bronze Age.

There is little left to see of the great castle which once stood at the heart of Estepona, and what remains is not now readily apparent, but it is possible to trace the ruins around the high ground. Its construction followed the seizing of the town in 1457 by Enrique IV. He also built new defensive towers along the coast.

The tower is named after the Guadalmansa river which runs close by. In common with the majority of such towers, its one entrance is high up on its side and the only method of entrance and exit would have been by ladder or rope. Most of the towers along the coast are mediaeval and post-date the Christian reconquest.

There are about 100 different watchtowers (Torre Vigia or Torre Atalaya or Torre Almenara) along the coast of Southern Spain. Some are of Moorish origins others from date from the later Christian re-conquest period. All with the purpose of looking out for invaders from the South. They have lasted the centuries with remarkable strength.

Situated on a hilltop called Cerro del Castor, between the deep valleys of Rios Padrón & Castor, are extensive ruins dating mainly from the late Moorish and Christian periods. They have been called the least visited, least studied and least well known of the major archaeological sites in the province of Málaga.

This archaological site is located 20 kms north west of Almeria, between the villages of Gador and Santa Fe de Mondujar. The site dates back to 1800 BC, when it was probably the location of Spain's first metalworking culture. Pottery and jewellery were made here and crops grown in what must have then been a much more fertile landscape.

Villa Romana de las Torres, Estepona is located immediately beside the Torre Guadalmansa watchtower. There were excavations in 1915-16 and 1929 which revealed an extensive Roman villa complex. The first excavation uncovered the remains of a large building and several pools, which led the leader of the dig, José Martinez Oppelt, to conclude that it had been a termas, or bath house.

Torre el Saladillo was built in 1575. Torre el Saladilla is located in the El Saladillo area of eastern Estepona, near the sea and 300m to the west of Arroyo Saladillo. It is easy to reach from either Calle Sotavento or the coastal path.

This interesting Archaelogical museum is located in the Casa del Ajibe (still known as old Town Hall) on Plaza Blas Infantes. The museum houses over 400 pieces from several eras, including remains from the Palaeolithic era

This unusual tower is signposted on the southern extremity of Estepona. Turn off the main coast road road just west of the entrance to the Marina and go up the incline into the urbanisation.

Torre Velerin is named after the river located slightly to the west for the watch tower. It is a circular watchtower with single opening at high level similar to others in the vicinity.

This tower is now a feature within the grounds of the Kempinski Resort Hotel, east of Estepona by the Rió Padrón at km 160.