The Spanish Constitution of 1978 establishes that the Spanish state is non-denominational, and therefore allows complete freedom of religion for all its citizens. It did no more than normalise a religious-practice situation that had already existed for many years, due in large part to the massive influx of tourists to the country over the years, many of whom - although here for short periods of time - demanded their own religious services.

 As in many other European countries, Spain is fundamentally Catholic, although it has been fully respectful of other religious beliefs. Proof of this can be seen in the number of non-Catholic religious centres that have existed throughout the country for many years, especially in those regions that have large foreign populations, both residential and tourist.

On the Costa del Sol, and by extension, in practically the whole of the province of Malaga, almost all the various Christian denominations are represented. However, as tourism to the country became more international, the demand grew for religious centres that were not Christian, catering to the spiritual needs of Buddhists, Muslims and Jews.

It can thus be said that almost any tourist, whatever his or her religion, will find his corresponding religious centre to worship at on the Costa del Sol.
 As would be expected, and given the long tradition of the place, there are far more Catholic churches than any other religious centres in the province of Malaga. Every village, no matter how small it might be, has its church, and as the towns and villages get bigger, so do the number of churches and other religious centres there. These numbers can be surprisingly high in some cases.

For example, apart from the Catholic churches in these municipalities, there are six Evangelist places of worship in Marbella, two in Mijas, Rincón de la Victoria, Ronda, Nerja and Villanueva del Trabuco, as well as an Evangelical Christian Fellowship church in Fuengirola and Álora, and a Philadelphia Evangelist church in Alhaurín de la Torre.

The Jehovah"s Witnesses have centres of worship in Alameda, Alhaurín de la Torre, Álora, Archidona, Benalmádena, Coín, Cártama, Competa, Manilva, and two in Marbella, Ronda and Torremolinos.

There are Protestant churches in Alhaurín el Grande, Benalauría and Coín, while Antequera has a Springs of Life church and there is a Baptist church in Malaga. In recent years, Buddhist centres have been built in Vélez Málaga, Malaga and Benalmádena, where a magnificent stupa has been built.

The Muslim mosques are centred in Marbella and Fuengirola, which has two large mosques, and in Malaga, where there is no mosque, but there is an Islamic Centre. There is also a synagogue in Marbella.

In view of this, the visitor to the province of Malaga can enjoy his holidays in the region without having to forgo his religious practices, whatever they might be. All in all, it can be claimed that Malaga and the Costa del Sol takes cares of both the body and the spirit.