The beautiful Spanish whitewashed town loved by celebrities where six in 10 are foreigners

Scattered across the hills of and along the sun-kissed Mediterranean coast of Malaga, whitewashed villages - pueblos blancos - offer more than just postcard-perfect views. With their narrow cobbled streets, sun-bleached facades and sweeping vistas of olive groves and sea, these picturesque settlements have long drawn visitors.

Once modest farming communities, these towns and villages have evolved into coveted retreats-home to carefully restored townhouses, boutique hotels, and a growing population of wealthy residents. Benahavis, a mountain between Marbella, Estepona and Ronda and 4.3 miles from the coast, has long been known as the wealthiest town in Andalusia. Now, it has been confirmed that it is also the municipality with the highest proportion of foreign residents in the whole of .

On the southern face of the La Serranía de Ronda mountain range, Benahavis is one of the most mountainous villages on the western . It is near many resort beaches and offers spectacular mountain views.

With such a picturesque setting, it's not hard to see why Benahavis has become so popular with foreign buyers. New stats from Spain's National Statistics Institute reveal that more than 60% of Benahavis' 9,256 residents were born outside Spain, mostly from other EU countries. , Germans and the rest now outnumber Spaniards.

What's more, most of them enjoy a comfortable income - the average resident earns more than €40,000 (£33,800) a year.

First established by Arabs at the end of the 11th century, Benahavis boasts luxury villas, a private golf course, A-list neighbours, and days of . The area experiences an average of 325 days of sunshine a year, with a July average of 22.2 hours.

Celebrities from to Boris Johnson have all been spotted enjoying everything Benahavis has to offer. Many of the ultra-wealthy are attracted to La Zagaleta - an ultra-exclusive residential resort now owned by the UAE's Modon Holding.

But it's not just celebrities that can enjoy the town. to Benahavis can visit one of the region's most iconic pueblos blancos, wandering through narrow cobbled streets among whitewashed houses adorned with colourful flowers and enjoy traditional Spanish tapas in sun-soaked plazas. There are so many choices, Benahavis has actually been dubbed the "dining room" of the Costa del Sol.

Benahavis is around a one-hour drive from Malaga Airport. Take the coastal route from Marbella along the through San Pedro, watching for signposts to Benahavis. From the AP-7 expressway or the old N-340, get onto the A-6205 just past San Pedro de Alcántara, and it will lead straight to the village.

For those relying on public transport, buses leave Bus Station for Benahavis at 6.30am and 6.20pm, with a journey time is 45 mins. The bus in the other direction leaves at 7.15am and another at 7.30pm.