Adjacent to Estepona, it is the most westerly coastal village in the province of Malaga bordering Cadiz. The village of Manilva lies on the hill of Los Martires, and its history is largely linked to that of Casares, the locality from which it became independent at the end of the eighteenth century, although there exists ample proof that Manilva enjoys a history all of its own.

Remains of a Bronze Age settlement have been discovered at Cerro del Castillo, but the Roman occupation is of greater importance, as shown by the Roman villa in the San Luis de Sabinillas district, the remains of La Duquesa Castle, which also houses a large complex including some baths, a possible turret on Hacho hill, as well as wall-mounted ceramics found at Haza del Casereño, Las Lagunetas and many other places in the locality. Similary , several sites of interest from the Middle Ages have also been found. In the middle of the towns of Malaga, Marbella and Ronda, due to the lack of protection along the coast, the Duke and Duchess of Arcos, lords of the county of Casares, decided to build the present-day village to enable the area to be repopulated. By the beginning of the 1600 it had a stable parish and population. In 1796 it was awrded the Royal Privilege of Township, and after a long legal wrangle with Casares it achieved definitive separation from that town.

The monument of greatest interest is La Duquesa Castle, built in the times of Carlos III to safeguard the coast. The church of Santa Ana, started in 1776, is also worth visiting.

The local festivities take place on 26 July and 6 September in Manilva itself; on 16 July in the El Castillo area and in mid August in the San Luis de Sabinillas district.

Manilva has a fantastic marina at La Duquesa and water sports, sea diving, etc. can be practised in the locality.

From the gastronomic perspective, in this area dedicated to fishing, the local restaurants offer an extensive selection of fish, including the besugo (fish pan), salomete (red mullet), mero (dusky sea perch) cooked in many different ways as well as the typical fried fish or the sardine kebab.

You can savour these dishes whilst contemplating the peaceful sea in Castillo de la Duquesa, a small sea oriented urban nucleus in this most exquisite location within the Manilva area.

Among the traditional dishes, a large selection of creams of asparagus and tomato soups, shellfish and fish, soups etc.. is offered.

The Moscatel grape is delicious and renown as well as their wine called ..Vinos Mosto" one of the coast's favourite wine for its exquisite savour.

Manilva illustrates a nice typical Andalusian village. The SPA of sulphurous springs of la Hedionda is nearby as well as its 8 km long peaceful beach make this area a must.