Malaga Sun, Routes and Excursions

Transcription

TOURIST BOARD
& CONVENTION BUREAU
COSTA DEL SOL TOURIST BOARD
Plaza del Siglo, 2
29015 MÁLAGA - ESPAÑA
Telephone: (+34) 952 12 62 72
E-mail: [email protected]
Malaga
Sun, Routes and
Excursions
Website: www.visitcostadelsol.com
Tourist Guide 13
Available online:
www.visitcostadelsol.com
Spanish, English, French and German versions
Costa del Sol Tourist Board
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Málaga, Sun, Routes and Excursions
. ROUTES AND EXCURSIONS
. CYCLE TOURING
page 4
page 235
. ACTIVE TRAVEL COMPANIES
page 329
COSTA DEL SOL TOURIST BOARD
Plaza del Siglo, 2
29015 Málaga
Telephone: (+34) 952 12 62 72
Website: www.visitcostadelsol.com
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TOURIST BOARD
& CONVENTION BUREAU
ROUTES AND EXCURSIONS
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. iNTRODUCTION
Dear reader:
The tourist guide that you are about to read,
entitled Málaga, Sun, Routes and Excursions,
has been created to enable visitors to the Costa
del Sol to participate in trekking, cycling and
hiking activities on their own. The routes chosen
combine the beauty of natural landscapes with
artistic and cultural sites scattered throughout the
province. There are other, more dynamic or riskier
active travel activities you can try in Málaga (e.g.
mountaineering or paragliding), but for these you
should contact a professional instructor.
MÁLAGA, SUN, ROUTES
AND EXCURSIONS
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pág. 48
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In the last section of this guide, you will see a
list of associated active travel companies.
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We hope you enjoy reading this guide.
Introduction
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Routes and excursions
Introducción
. Alcaucín
A
. lfarnatejo
. Canillas del Aceituno
. Canillas de Albaida
. Colmenar
. Cómpeta
. Cortes de la Frontera
. El Burgo
. Frigiliana
. Genalguacil
. Istán
. Málaga
. Monda
. Parauta
. Riogordo
. Ronda
. Salares
. Tolox
. Yunquera
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pág. 202
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This wintry scenery is in stark contrast with the
landscape of the surroundings, with the deepblue Mediterranean that bathes the Costa del
Sol in the distance.
ALCÁZAR
LA MAROMA TRAIL
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aLCAUCÍN
The peak is 2,065m high and from its summit
the best views can be seen, not only of the
Axarquía region but also of many bordering
villages of Granada. You can even see the
white tops of the Sierra Nevada range. As a
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Routes & Excursions
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Needless to say, the views from the highest
point of the province of Málaga are truly spectacular. From the top of La Maroma you can
see almost the entire Axarquía region, the city
of Málaga, several cities in Granada, the
Sierra Nevada range, and even, weather permitting, the African coastline.
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Continuing on the trail, going uphill, typical
mountain scrub vegetation will be visible.
After half an hour, the terrain becomes less
After about four hours on the trail, we reach
the summit of La Maroma peak. Here, we can
watch Spanish ibexes, eagles and wild boars.
Other species in the area include peregrine falcons, eagle owls, and several species of reptiles and amphibians.
Length: 7km
Estimated time: 8-10 hours.
Difficulty: strenuous to very strenuous.
Beginning of route: El Alcázar (Alcaucín).
End of route: La Maroma (Canillas del
Aceituno).
Itinerary: Alcázar (Alcaucín), Loma de la Víbora
hill, Ananás de Alcaucín, cliff of Peña del Águila
and Cerro del Mojón hill, and La Maroma peak
(Canillas del Aceituno).
From El Alcázar, we go uphill through a forest
trail until we get to the Loma de la Víbora.
There we stop to enjoy the view: to the northwest, The Sierra Gorda de Loja range with the
Zafarraya karst field at its foot; to the east, the
Sierra de Parapanda range; to the west, the
La Viñuela reservoir; in front, weather permitting, you will be able to see the profile of
Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park; and to the
north, the Sierra de Camarolos and Sierra de
Alhama ranges.
The climb becomes less steep after the cliff
and this is where it is possible - if you are
patient enough - to watch little mountain
birds and big eagles. A little further on there
are some rocks piled up that signal the border between the districts of Alcaucín and
Alhama de Granada. This is a good time to
catch our breath and enjoy the panoramic
views of two iconic places –the CazorlaSegura and the Sierra Nevada ranges. At the
foot of this range, to the right, you can see
the new rain gauge next to the mines of the
Casa de las Nieves.
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TECHNICAL DATA
The route we are going to detail here is the
former, which starts from a place known as El
Alcázar, within the district of Alcaucín. This is
one of the most frequented trails as there is a
camping area where you can prepare for the
ascent. The trail is shorter, but much more
complex than the one starting at El Robledal
Alto. Its difficulty ranges from strenuous to
very strenuous, it is seven kilometres long,
and can be completed in about 8 to 10 hours.
Now we leave behind the path to take a
rocky trail with scrub vegetation. This is the
cliff formed by the Peña del Águila crag and
the Cerro del Mojón hill, where people can
frequently come across large herds of
Spanish ibex goats. The vegetation in this
area includes hedgehog broom, Spanish
sage, and blackthorn.
Alcaucín
Alcaucín
ALCÁZAR - LA MAROMA
TRAIL
The highest peak in the province of
Málaga is La Maroma peak of the Sierra de
Tejeda range, one of the most beautiful places
of Sierra de Tejeda, Sierra de Almijara and the
Sierra de Alhama Nature Park, shared by the
provinces of Málaga and Granada.
But getting to La Maroma peak is no easy task
for people who do not go trekking regularly, as
almost all the routes are quite long and have
difficult stretches. Two routes are worth mentioning –the one from El Alcázar and the route
from El Robledal Alto.
steep and we come to Ananás de Alcaucín.
We carry on, leaving behind and beneath
us, the impressive Alcázar rocks, while
marvelling at the Peña del Águila crag in
front of us.
CONVENTION BUREAU
matter of fact, the presence of snow on the
summit is one of the beauties of this peak
during the colder months of the year, when the
temperatures drop considerably.
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ALCÁZAR-LA MAROMA TRAIL
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Alcaucín
Alcaucín
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Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
Province border
District border
Nature Reserve
border
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Although important archaeological remains have
been found in the area (pottery from different
periods and a Neanderthal jaw), the village of
Alcaucín was not founded until Moorish times. Its
name derives from Alcavzin o Alcautin, Arabic
word which means “the arches.”
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The Neanderthal jaw mentioned above was found
in 1983 in the Zafarraya Cave. The human
remains and tools found there are still being studied by different international organisations.
In the village, Nuestra Señora del Rosario church
(Our Lady of the Rosary) is worth a visit. It was
built in the seventeenth century and later restored. Although it was built during the Baroque
period, this church of two naves is surprisingly
simple in style; not the chapel, though, which is
definitely Rococo.
From the Chapel of Nuestro Señor del Calvario
(Our Lord of the Calvary), from the eighteenth
century, you can enjoy a vast panorama, the
farms in the surrounding areas so small they are
but white dots.
The Cinco Caños Fountain, located in the village,
owes its fame to its generous five waterspouts,
which, the locals claim, never run out of water, not
even during the worst droughts.
The festive schedule of Alcaucín is very busy.
Virtually no month goes by without a celebration.
The most important celebrations are Holy Week, St.
Isidore the Farmer, Las Candelarias, the August
Fair, and the Day of the Virgin of the Rosary.
During Holy Week, the majority of the villagers
take part in the customary representation called
“The Jews.” They dress up and wear masks, and
then half the town harasses the other half for a
couple of days. On May 15, a pilgrimage takes
place in homage to St. Isidore the Farmer. The
pilgrims go to El Alcázar, a place quite close to
town where the villagers share food and drink.
In early September, people gather in farms and
other places to celebrate Las Candelarias, which
is like a fire ritual where people enjoy sharing food
and keeping bonfires alive. They throw old clothes among other items onto the bonfires.
The August Fair includes a festival featuring
famous flamenco singers and guitarists. The Day
of the Virgin of the Rosary (October 7), the patron
of the village, is also known as the “little fair,” and
as events go, it does not differ greatly from the
August celebration.
FOOD
The culinary tradition of the Axarquía region has
undergone changes due to the introduction
–several years ago– of subtropical fruit (avocado, custard apple, mango, papaya, etc.).
Nowadays the traditional dishes coexist with
new specialties made with the new fruit grown
here. However, traditional fritters, kid prepared
with various sauces, fried loin with garlic, stews
and cod omelette with honey are still very much
in demand.
The Zalía Castle, not far from the village, is the
oldest monument in Alcaucín. According to
experts, certain elements of this fortress indicate
that it may have been originally built by the
Routes & Excursions
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The Autovía del Mediterráneo (A-7) towards
Vélez-Málaga leads to Alcaucín. However, you do
FIESTAS
The lands of Alcaucín and the bordering districts
are rich in archaeological sites, a logical consequence of a particular land feature of the area
–the Zafarraya Gap. This natural pass was a vital
link –especially in ancient times– between the
coast and inland Andalusia.
Surface area: 46 km2.
Population: 2,340.
Name given to the local people: Alcaucineños.
Location: North of the Axarquía region, 20km from
Vélez-Mála ga, and 45km from the capital of the province of Málaga. The district is 508m above sea level,
with an average annual rainfall of over 900 l/m2, and an
average annual temperature of 16°C.
What to see: Church of Nuestra Señora del
Rosario (Our Lady of the Rosary), Chapel of
Nuestro Señor del Calvario (Our Lord of the
Calvary), Cinco Caños Fountain, Castle of Zalía.
Tourist information: Town Hall, Plaza de la
Constitución, 1 (29711). Tel.: (+34) 952 510 002;
Fax: (+34) 952 510 076.
HOW TO GET THERE
WHAT TO SEE
USEFUL INFORMATION
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The earthquake of December 25, 1884 was particularly devastating for this village –besides the
enormous material damage it caused (it changed
the course of underground streams, destroyed
buildings, and lifted motorways and roads), many
people died. To make matters worse, there was a
heavy snowfall that year, which made the arrival
of help to the village more difficult.
Phoenicians and later renovated by other civilisations. The story goes that Ulysses stayed in this
castle while sailing the Mediterranean Sea. What
is indeed unquestionable is that the fortress was
occupied by Moors and later by Christians.
Alcaucín
Alcaucín
The narrow winding streets, the whitewashed
houses, the indoor patios bursting with plants and
flowers, the problem of drops in level resolved
with steps, and the steep sloping streets, confirm
the Moorish origin of the village. Most probably,
local people joined the Moorish uprising in the sixteenth century, though there are no records to
support this hypothesis. What is known, however,
is that in 1569, the Moor Andrés de Xorairán
attacked Alcaucín, but this revolt, like many
others, was quickly crushed by the Christians.
not need to go via Vélez, as from the A-7 you can
take the A-355 which will lead you to a detour at
the Cruce de Don Manuel. From this point, take
the MA-128 which leads straight to Alcaucín.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Alcaucín, in the north of the Axarquía
region, shares a border with the province of
Granada and stretches between the imposing
Sierra de Tejeda range, the rugged Boquete de
Zafarraya –a natural pass between the coast and
the inland areas– and the Corredor de Periana,
an area of rolling hills. This district, therefore, has
incredibly varied and amazing geographical features, altogether a strikingly rich landscape.
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In fact, the cattle troughs will be our
guide so we do not lose our way and
get safely to the pass between the
Heights of Doña Ana and Del Fraile
Hill. Just beyond the pass is the first
reward for our efforts -the magnificent
views of the village of Riogordo and
the Gómer ravine.
THROUGH THE DOÑA
ANA AND GÓMER
RAVINES
.
aLFARNATEJO
Then we go south round De la Hiedra
Hill, when it will become clear that we
are going uphill until we get to the
Heights of Doña Ana. After this stretch,
the more difficult part of the trail lies in
front of us –the ascent is steep and
there is no marked trail.
The road MA-157 towards Alfarnatejo goes up
by the Sabar River, next to the Heights of Doña
Ana, one of the key points of our route.
The secret lies in not losing our bearings, which is actually not a very difficult task. Once at the top, the views
are spectacular –from here we can see
the villages of Comares, Casabermeja,
and Periana, and also the shores of
Torre del Mar.
TECHNICAL DATA
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To go down, the best thing to do is to
follow the same way we came up.
Length: about 5km
Estimated time: 2 hours, 30 minutes at a
steady pace.
Difficulty: easy to moderate.
Beginning of route: MA-157 towards
Alfarnatejo (Alfarnatejo).
End of route: top of the Doña Ana ravine
(Alfarnatejo)
Itinerary: The MA-157 towards Alfarnatejo,
the Sabar River trail, the Tallón and Del
Fraile track, pass between Doña Ana and
Del Fraile Hill, De la Hiedra Hill and Doña
Ana (Alfarnatejo).
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This is one of the nicest routes of the
province, as its difficulty seems just right, the
environment is very pleasant, and there are
excellent panoramic views from different
points.
Alfarnatejo
Alfarnatejo
THROUGH THE DOÑA ANA
AND GÓMER RAVINES
CONVENTION BUREAU
The best plan is to arrive by car and
take the detour to the left which leads
to a sign indicating you have reached
the Tallón track and the Del Fraile
Heights. You should follow this track,
which comes to an end approximately
1,500m from the road next to an old
cattle trough.
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THROUGH THE DOÑA ANA AND GÓMER RAVINES
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Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
District border
Alfarnatejo
Alfarnatejo
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Thanks to its proximity to the village of Alfarnate,
which has been a natural pass between the provinces of Málaga and Granada since ancient
times, human settlements occurred very early in
this area. This was revealed by the archaeological remains from the Neolithic period found in the
ravine of the Sabar River, and also by the 5,000
year-old utensils found in the Gómer ravine.
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The route to get to Alfarnate is also good to get to
Alfarnatejo, as the distance between the two villages is less than 5km.
The most characteristic celebration of this village
during Holy Week is the so called cencerrada
(from cencerro, cowbell) which takes place on
Holy Saturday. That day, upon hearing the church
bells ring, the youngsters of the village go out in
the streets equipped with cowbells and go around
the village making a happy racket.
For a few years now, on the first Saturday of
August, the villages have celebrated the Fiesta
del Gazpacho with great attendance, honouring
the most traditional dish of the village.
On April 15, and May 15, there are pilgrimages in
homage of St. Mark and St. Isidore, respectively.
The best Málaga chickpeas are grown in
Alfarnatejo, so it’s not surprising that the bestknown dish of this village is chickpea stew, apart
from the gazpacho mentioned above.
But it is on September 29, Day of St. Michael and
Cristo de la Cabrilla, when the town celebrates
with all the trimmings. There are games, sports
and cultural activities, all in a tight schedule. The
whole town takes part, as there are options for all
ages and tastes. Among the religious ceremonies, the most prominent is the procession, in
which instead of carrying a statue of the saint, the
locals carry a canvas with the image of the saint
painted on it, which is reverently worshiped.
Routes & Excursions
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FOOD
The cachorreñas soups –a typical dish in all the
province– make a good starter. Then, we can
have kid fried with garlic or migas (a dish made
with fried breadcrumbs). Alternatively, we can
have a salad with mint and garlic, watercress
salad, mushroom morrete (a kind of stew), and for
dessert, some delicious roscos de San Marcos
(ring shaped biscuits).
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The best way to get to Alfarnatejo is from the city
of Málaga, where you have to take the A-45 (N331). After leaving Casabermeja behind, take the
A-356 towards Colmenar, and after 10km, take
the A-6118. 6km ahead on this road, take the MA157, which will lead you straight to Alfarnatejo.
The celebration of La Candelaria, on February 2,
starts the festive year in Alfarnatejo. It is very
similar to other fiestas celebrated the same day
all over the Axarquía region in its ceremonial form
–basically a fire ritual.
This special landscape gives rise to heavy average rainfall in the area –compared to other sout-
HOW TO GET THERE
FIESTAS
Surface area: 20km2.
Population: 542.
Name given to the local people:
Alfarnatejones.
Nickname: tejones.
Location: Northwest of the Axarquía
region, 50km from the capital of the province and 36km from Vélez-Málaga. The
village is 858m above sea level; it has an
average annual rainfall of 1,000 l/m2 and
an average annual temperature of 13°C.
What to see: Church of Santo Cristo de la
Cabrilla, route of the ravines.
Tourist information: Town Hall, C/
Pósito, 2 (29194). Tel.: (+34) 952 759
286. Fax: (+34) 952 759 360.
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Although other villages in the province of
Málaga are at a higher altitude than Alfarnatejo,
the first impression the visitor has when approaching this village is that this is a perfect place for
eagles. Closer to town, the road opens up and
gives way to a small basin where this picturesque
village sits. The presence of the mountain,
though, still makes a strong visual impact. The
view is blocked towards Antequera by the
Chamizo Peak (1,637m), while to the south, in the
distance, the Sierra del Rey range is another formidable barrier.
The few extant records do not amount to sufficient data on the history of this particular village,
which must have been a stage for the comings
and goings of troops in the Middle Ages. In the
eighteenth century, the village gained autonomy
from Alfarnate, and this is well recorded. Like in
Alfarnate and Periana, guerrillas from the
Spanish Civil War took refuge in the mountains of
this district until the late 1950s.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Besides the ruins of a Moorish castle on the
mountain slope very close to the village, the most
interesting monument in Alfarnatejo is the Parish
Church of Santo Cristo de Cabrilla, located in the
upper part of the village. It was built in the eighteenth century, and rebuilt in the 1970s. The church
has a quadrangular floor plan divided in two
naves. Its most salient feature is a square tower,
as plain as the rest of the temple, but of some
architectural elegance.
Alfarnatejo
Alfarnatejo
There are some remains indicating that in the
Muslim period there was a castle, The Sabar
Castle. Around the castle, there were farmsteads,
and some historians believe that this may have
given birth to Alfarnatejo.
WHAT TO SEE
CONVENTION BUREAU
hern villages– thus the landscapes of Alfarnatejo
are lush green. Not surprisingly, some people call
this area “the Pyrenees of the South.”
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The trail starts at the town’s main square, next
to the Town Hall and a fountain where the first
sign of the itinerary is found. We then ascend
through several town streets, where we can
admire their Moorish legacy, until the signs
direct us out of town. At this point, we will stop
for a short while in order to enjoy the landscape of the Axarquía region before us.
CASA DE LA NIEVE TRAIL
(CANILLAS DEL
ACEITUNO – MAROMA)
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cANILLAS DEL
(CANILLAS DEL ACEITUNO –
MAROMA)
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TECHNICAL DATA
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At this point, the trail joins the path described
at the Alcázar Trail-La Maroma, which reaches
the summit of the spectacular peak of the
Sierra de Tejeda range.
Routes & Excursions
Contents
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On the next cliff, the rock changes colour from
pale gray or white to dark brown, where the
trail has frequent changes of direction until the
white rock starts again. When the slope loses
steepness, we find the remains of what used to
be the old Casa de la Nieve (House of Snow),
where the inhabitants of Canillas del Aceituno
that devoted themselves to keeping and
tapping of the snow of the summit used to take
shelter.
Estimated time: 10 hours.
Difficulty: very strenuous.
Beginning of route: Canillas del Aceituno.
End of route: La Maroma (Canillas del
Aceituno).
Itinerary: Canillas del Aceituno’s main square, De la Rávita Spring, De la Rávita Pass,
De la Gitana Spring, Casa de la Nieve
(Canillas del Aceituno).
The trail continues on the edge of the ravine
until we turn left to get to the De La Gitana
Spring, which may or may not have water
depending on the year’s rainfall.
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The Casa de la Nieve route is very strenuous
and takes ten hours to complete. It starts from
Canillas del Aceituno, a town that can be
accessed via the road that joins Vélez-Málaga
with the Viñuela Dam going towards the
Zafarraya Gap.
After one hour climbing through pine woods,
we will arrive to the De la Rávita Spring, where
we will be able to rest and drink some water to
continue climbing to the De la Rávita Pass, an
area with spectacular landscapes, both of La
Maroma itself and of the Almanchares River
ravine.
Canillas del Aceituno
ACEITUNO
The challenging La Maroma climb (the
summit of the Sierra de Tejeda range being at
2,065m) can be done via different routes: the
Alcázar Trail-La Maroma, the El Robledal TrailLa Maroma; and Casa de la Nieve Trail, which
will be detailed here.
From then on, the trail is very easy to follow, as
it still has part of the original cobblestones of
earlier times, when the villagers of Canillas del
Aceituno made use of the snow of the surrounding areas of La Maroma.
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Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
Province border
District border
Nature Reserve
border
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Arriving in these lands, visitors find themselves
immersed in a simply spectacular landscape,
both for the mountains themselves and the panoramic views that can be enjoyed from everywhere. The northern area is covered by pine woods
that give way to rocky terrain in the upper levels.
While the southern area, although not any less
rugged, is more like the typical landscape of the
Axarquía region, has hills with vineyards and
olive groves, occasionally mixed with fruit
orchards and market gardens.
To the twenty-first century mind, the location of
this town must seem arbitrary. The fact is that its
location is due to two factors that were crucial in
the Middle Ages - an adundance of water and,
should the need arise, a possible safe haven or
natural stronghold.
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Routes & Excursions
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HOW TO GET THERE
From the Autovía del Mediterráneo (A-7; N-340),
take the A-335 (the main road that crosses the
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The village was repopulated by Christians from
Archidona, Antequera, Lucena, and Cabra, and
apparently also from Andújar. This would explain
the devotion to the Virgen de la Cabeza, who is
the patron of both Canillas del Aceituno and
Andújar.
According to the chroniclers, a Moor called Al
Muezzín – who had fought in the famous
uprising of Alpujarras in the sixteenth century
– arrived at Canillas in search of his wife,
who had been enslaved by a Christian. Al
Muezzín encouraged a revolt in Canillas del
Aceituno, and some of his men, inflamed by
the cause, killed eight Christians who happened to be at an inn. When informed of the
act, the Judge of Vélez, imprisoned an unknown number of Moors, tortured them, and
stripped them of their possessions. This
prompted wide-spread revolt. After the uprising was crushed, the Moors were expelled
from the village and the castle was destroyed
on Philip II's orders.
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However, the foundation of the town as such
took place during Arab rule, when the first settlement was established – Canillas Azzeitún – a
name the town still keeps, with a slight variation.
It is known that it was part of the kingdom of
Granada, but the exact date in which it was conquered by the Christians is unknown. The
Moorish rebellion, however, is very well documented, especially one event involving romance, politics and war.
Population: Around 2,300.
Name given to the local people: Canilleros.
Location: Northeast of the Axarquía region, at
17km from Vélez-Málaga, and 51km from the
capital of the province. The town is 650m above
sea level and has a rainfall of 670 l/m2. The annual
average temperature is 17°C.
What to see: Nuestra Señora del Rosario
Church, Casa de los Diezmos, medieval water
well.
Constitución, 1 (29716). Tel.: (+34) 952 518 002.
The remains found at the area known as La
Fájara indicate that the primitive man inhabited
this region, which is relatively close to the
Zafarraya Gap, a natural pass from the coast into
the interior of the peninsula used since ancient
times. It is more than likely that Phoenicians and
Romans also roamed this region, as they were
present in other areas nearby.
USEFUL INFORMATION
CONVENTION BUREAU
This amazing and picturesque town of
the Axarquía region stretches over one of the
sides of the imposing massif of the Sierra de
Tejeda range, although the district limits extend
to the vicinity of La Maroma peak (2,065
metres high), considered to be the roof of
Málaga.
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TOURIST BOARD &
WHAT TO SEE
.
FOOD
The kid roasted in a firewood oven is considered
one of Canillas del Aceituno’s most traditional dishes and it is certainly one of the tastiest. Other
usual dishes include ajoblanco (a cold soup),
migas (a dish made from fried breadcrumbs),
gachas con mosto (a soup made basically of flour,
spices, and in this case grape juice) and fennel
stew. Also worth mentioning are the tomato soup
and the pan romano (Roman bread). Traditional
pastries include roscos “tontos” and roscos de vino
(kinds of ring-shaped pastries) and tortas de aceite (oil cakes). The local sweet wine goes well with
any dessert.
24
Routes & Excursions
Contents
.
.
The carnivals, in February, are the first celebration of the year, and then there is a break until the
last Sunday in April, when the Día de la Morcilla
(Black Pudding Day) or Fiesta de la Virgen de la
Cabeza is held. On that date, visitors are treated
to the excellent black pudding produced in the
area, usually eaten with bread and wine. In the
middle of May, the St. Isidore pilgrimage takes
place, and during the second week of August, the
Virgen de la Cabeza is once again the attraction
of the fiesta, in this case the village fair, when the
image of the Virgin is borne in a procession. The
Candelarias celebrations (September 8 and 9)
are also deeply rooted in village tradition.
The Casa de los Diezmos (House of Tithes),
also known as the Casa de la Reina Mora
(House of the Moorish Queen), is a Mudéjar building with an elegant tower in the same style.
From this place, the production and sale of white
mulberry leaves and silkworms of the entire
region was checked.
FIESTAS
.
Located in the upper part of town, its construction dates from the sixteenth century, although it
underwent many alterations in later times. The
masonry is built on a Muslim mosque following
the style prevailing in Andalusia at the time – the
Gothic-Mudéjar style. Like almost any middlesized temple, its interior is divided into three
naves, 40m long and covered by a wooden framework. Two eighteenth century baroque chapels not lacking in artistic merit still survive.
There is also an image of the Virgen de la
Cabeza and a Pieta oil painting dated at the end
of the seventeenth century. On the exterior, a
square section tower with an octagonal second
body stands out due to its size.
Given the abundance of water across almost all
the land there are several water wells, among
which there is the Aljibe Medieval (medieval
water well) which stands out as it is the oldest
(sixteenth century). It is located on Huertezuelo
Street. Other more modern ones are the El Pilar
Grande and El Chico wells.
The best advice to give a traveller that comes to
Canilla del Aceituno would be to walk down the
streets of the village without a set course, particularly in the upper part of town, which is a
superb viewing point for the whole Axarquía
region, where in the distance the land joins the
Mediterranean. However, there are a few buildings that are worth visiting, such as the Virgen
del Rosario and San León Magno Parish
Church.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Axarquía region) towards Vélez-Málaga. After
10 kilometres, there is a detour towards the MA125, which will take you directly to Canillas del
Aceituno.
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TOURIST BOARD &
The surrounding area of Canillas de
Albaida is suitable for rural tourism and trekking. One of the best-known spots is the La
Fábrica Brook, located where the De la Cueva
and the La Turvilla Brooks meet. The entire
footpath is approximately 5km long, moderate
in difficulty, and it takes around 3 hours to
complete. Water is very abundant along the
route. The water contains calcium and magnesium bicarbonate.
.
cANILLAS DE ALBAIDA
We turn left and continue climbing for a short
while. In this stretch of the trail, there are
several springs. Then we enter a marble
gorge; this marble is very pure and used to be
mined. As we go further, we will find the
remains of the old de la Luz (Factory of Light)
where the waterfalls were used to generate
electrical power.
Water abounds in the surroundings, as there
are many springs surging from the cracks between white marble and dark schist on both
sides of the De la Cueva de Melero Brook,
resulting in the trail showing lush vegetation.
Access to the Fábrica de la Luz-Cómpeta Pass
trail is from the village of Canillas de Abaida.
We take the dirt track that goes to the right at
the entrance of the village towards “La
Fábrica” and the Sierra de Tejeda Range. We
pass the pretty St. Anne’s Chapel, built in the
sixteenth century with a single barrel-vaulted
nave and a hemispherical dome-roofed sanctuary. From this place, a spectacular view of
the nearby range can be enjoyed. The trail
continues towards the mountains where we
Once in the recreational area, we will walk
along a footpath that crosses the brook from
behind the Fábrica de la Luz building. Half an
hour later, we reach the Cortijo del Chato, in
front of the Del Melero Cave, at which point we
leave behind the water and start a rural track to
continue climbing until we reach the Cortijo del
Chaparral.
.
.
We go ahead and cross the De la Teja Spring
ravine, where we leave the track and take a
forest trail until we reach Blanquillo Pass.
Climbing this pass, the trail will take us to the
end of our route –the Cómpeta Pass.
Routes & Excursions
Contents
.
Length: 5km
Estimated time: 2 hours, 30 minutes.
Difficulty: easy.
Beginning of route: Fábrica de la Luz
(Canillas de Albaida).
End of route: Cómpeta Pass (Cómpeta).
Itinerary: Recreational area of the Fábrica de
la Luz, Cortijo del Chato Farm, Cortijo del
Chaparral, La Mina Cliff Brook, Cortijo de
Camacho, De la Teja Spring Ravine, Blanquillo
Pass, Cómpeta Pass (Cómpeta)
This is an area of irrigated market gardens,
where we can find cork oaks and sweet chestnut trees. After the terraces, we reach the La
Mina’s Cliff Brook, which generally carries
water. Following the path, we reach the Cortijo
de Camacho, in which nowadays, they raise
livestock of the rubia malagueña and serrana
varieties; they also breed Spanish water dogs.
TECHNICAL DATA
The vegetation includes Aleppo pines, mastic
trees, strawberry trees, thyme, oleander, ferns,
fig trees, olive trees, and fruit trees, among
others. The fauna is especially rich in birds
such as hoopoes, eagle owls, little owls, partridges, skylarks, bee-eaters, and falcons.
.
26
We then reach the recreational area of La Fábrica,
a place surrounded by springs of crystal-clear
water and vegetation, prepared for camping, As a
result there are tables and benches, barbecues, a
public pool, showers, sinks, baths, car parking,
and places for tents, among other things.
Canillas de Albaida
Canillas de Albaida
ROUTE FROM CANILLAS DE
ALBAIDA TO CÓMPETA PASS
take an old ditch path that runs through shady
areas where there are plenty of moist corners
rich in vegetation. Then we get to a crossroads
known as “Los Alamillos” in which there are
signs for La Fábrica and the Sierra de Tejeda
Range.
CONVENTION BUREAU
ROUTE FROM CANILLAS
DE ALBAIDA TO CÓMPETA
PASS
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ROUTE FROM CANILLAS DE ALBAIDA TO CÓMPETA PASS
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
Province border
District border
Nature Reserve
border
Canillas de Albaida
Canillas de Albaida
Routes & Excursions
Contents
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.
.
.
28
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TOURIST BOARD &
.
.
Turn off the Autovía del Mediterráneo at
Algarrobo-Costa onto the A-6203. After leaving
Algarrobo and Sayalonga behind, there is a fork
in the road; one way leads to Árchez and the
other to Cómpeta. You can take either of the two,
as both villages are a few kilometres away from
Canillas de Albaida.
place on the first week of August and lasts for
three days, during which, on top of the typical
activities of these kinds of celebration, there is a
procession of the Virgin of the Rosary through the
village streets. The image is carried again in a
procession on its feast day, October 7. Also in
October, the Day of La Salve is held. On
September 7 and 8, bonfires are lit to celebrate
the end of the harvest.
WHAT TO SEE
The mazelike layout of the village, the pronounced unevenness of its terrain and its popular
architecture make a thorough tour of the town
worthwhile, including the Church of Nuestra
Señora de la Expectación (Our Lady of
Expectation), built in the sixteenth century, but
later rebuilt in the eighteenth century. This building of solid construction and quadrangular floor
plan is located at the Town Hall’s square. It comprises three naves, the biggest of which is covered by wooden framework. It has an enthralling
Rococo choir, and on the exterior, a robust twobodied tower can be appreciated.
of the village. On the outside, thick buttresses, the
atrium and a niche can be seen. Outside the village, on the road to Árchez, stands the seventeenth-century Chapel of San Antonio (St.
Anthony). Likewise, it consists of a single nave
covered by wooden framework.
FIESTAS
The Chapel of Santa Ana (St. Ann) – a plain building from the sixteenth century with a single
barrel-vaulted nave – is located in the upper part
St. Anthony’s celebration is held on January 17
and St John's fiesta, on June 24. The fair takes
Routes & Excursions
Contents
FOOD
Ajoblanco (a cold soup made with almonds, garlic and olive oil) and gazpacho (a cold vegetable
soup) are the quintessential summer dishes, but
perhaps more typical are fennel stew, corn flour
migas (a dish made with fried crumbs, in this case
corn flour bread crumbs), gachas (a soup made
with flour and spices), and specially fried kid. In
this region, a delicious muscatel is produced –in
dry, semidry and sweet varieties.
.
The town is likely to have originated in the thirteenth century, when it was a farmstead belonging
to Vélez-Málaga. According to chroniclers, the
name Albaida –which means white– seems to
have more to do with the colour of the flowers that
prevailed in the region back then than with the
HOW TO GET THERE
The southern slope of the territory has the typical
landscape of the Axarquía region –vineyards,
almond trees and olive groves start to appear at
the hillsides, and in the valleys near town, where
there is plenty of water, there are a few irrigation
farms.
Surface area: 33,20km2.
Population: Around 900.
Name given to the local people: Canilleros.
Location: In the Axarquía region, 50km from
Málaga City and only 2.5km from Cómpeta. The
town is 580m above sea level, the average annual
rainfall is 670 l/m2, and the average temperature is
17°C.
What to see: Church of Nuestra Señora de la
Expectación (Our Lady of Expectation), St. Anne’s
and St. Anthony’s Chapel.
Tourist information: Town Hall, Plaza
Generalísimo, 8 (29755). Tel.: (+34) 952 516 025.
Fax: (+34) 952 553 100.
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30
As the terrain loses steepness, and the torrents
become streams, like De la Cueva, Turvilla and
Ciguilias, the landscape fills with black and white
poplars, and oleanders, vegetation that, together
with the now tamed waterways, creates extraordinarily beautiful scenery. One such a place is La
Fábrica, where the De la Cueva and Turvilla
Brooks meet, which is an area very close to the
town and frequented by the locals, who enjoy the
camping facilities.
After the Catholic Monarchs conquered VélezMálaga in 1487, Canillas de Albaida capitulated
to the Christians, but that did not stop them from
joining the Moorish uprising of the sixteenth century. They suffered the same fate that befell the
surrounding villages after their defeat at the battle
of Peñón de Frigiliana, a well-documented historic event.
Canillas de Albaida
Canillas de Albaida
The district spreads to the north to the summits of
the Sierra Almijara range, and to the borders with
the Granada province. To the south, it extends
almost to Daimalos, which is located in the district
of Arenas. As a prelude to the mountain landscape, very near the village, we find the Secanillo
and the Cuevas highlands, which stand 800m
high and herald the considerable heights (over
1,600m) of the cliffs of Chapa, Albucaz, and
Carneros, which are surrounded by ravines and
torrents partly covered with pine woods.
USEFUL INFORMATION
CONVENTION BUREAU
Taking into account that “albaida” means
white in Arabic, we have to admit that the village
name could not be more appropriate, because if
you see the town from a distance, the whiteness
of the houses stands out brightly on the top of a
small hill on which the town sits.
colour of the houses, although nowadays, it refers
to the whitewashed houses in town.
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TOURIST BOARD &
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cOLMENAR
TECHNICAL DATA
.
.
We are now in the vicinity of the spring area,
the true source of the Guadalmedina River. We
continue our descent surrounded by springs
Routes & Excursions
Contents
.
Going westwards, we go through the northern
part of the range, and although some stretches may be a bit difficult, after climbing the
Sierra de Camarolos range we get a pleasant
reward –a mountain meadow, where weather
permitting, we can rest again if we have some
time.
32
We follow the route, this time downhill, until we
reach a point in which the Sierra de Camarolos
range actually meets the Sierra del Jobo. The
route can be tricky here as there are no signs
and we need to know how to go westwards.
This is the best way –not to say the only way–
to successfully complete our route, as further
ahead, the zigzagging paths, ascents and descents turn into veritable walls that can make
progress impossible.
.
Length: 10km
Estimated time: around 3 hours, 30 minutes.
Beginning of route: foot of the Hundidero at
the Sierra de Camarolos Range (Colmenar).
End of route: Hundidero de Camarolos
(Colmenar).
Itinerary: foot of the Hundidero at the Sierra
de Camarolos range (Colmenar), Cerro Pelado
hill, junction of the Sierra de Camarolos and
the Sierra del Jobo ranges, Sierra de
Camarolos range, De Casapalma brook,
Hundidero (Colmenar).
The first climb of the dirt road leads to the foot
of Cerro Pelado hill. We continue the ascent
on a footpath through a holm oak wood until
we reach a spring. This is one of the best spots
to stop for a break, as from here you can enjoy
a great panoramic view of the Hundidero mentioned above.
Colmenar
Colmenar
THROUGH THE SIERRA DE
CAMAROLOS RANGE TO
THE HUNDIDERO
The end of this route is the famous
Hundidero de Camarolos. This is actually the
part of the range that collapsed after heavy
rains three decades ago. The trail takes us to
the point where this mountain meets the Sierra
del Jobo Range, a place in which two different
landscapes combine –a pleasant scenery of
holm oaks with a panorama in which the stars
are the springs.
until we reach the Casapalma Brook. Here, the
holm oaks have given way to bushes. We
follow the trail until we reach a spring, the last
sign before we get to the Hundidero.
CONVENTION BUREAU
THROUGH THE SIERRA
DE CAMAROLOS RANGE
TO THE HUNDIDERO
The journey begins at the foot of the famous
Hundidero of the Sierra de Camarolos range, a
favourite place among hikers and a well-known
mountain in the province due to the prehistoric
remains found on its slopes. In order to reach
this point, you Hill have to find a dirt road
coming after a detour to the left on the motorway connecting Colmenar with the De
Alazores Pass. If you go by car on the motorway before going hiking, you must take note
around the 500km point. The detour is just
after this point.
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THROUGH THE SIERRA DE CAMAROLOS RANGE TO THE HUNDIDERO
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
End of route
Itinerary
Road
District border
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.
Colmenar
Colmenar
Beginning of route
34
Routes & Excursions
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TOURIST BOARD &
Antequera. The landscape, therefore, somewhat
reflects these regions, with limestone areas
–typical of Antequera– in which the rocky terrain
predominates over vegetation, and other less
rugged areas with olive groves, grain field crops,
and low bushes.
The remains found in the district indicate that
humans had already settled in the region in
prehistoric times, which is only natural given the
location of Colmenar, which must have been one
of the ancient routes between the Axarquía and
Montes de Málaga regions and the Del
Guadalhorce Valley. This can be inferred from the
remains found in the De las Pulseras Cave
(Neolithic) and in the Cortijo de Gonzalo estate,
near the De las Zorreras Brook (Metal Age).
However, with the exception of a few coins and
some pottery, there are no remains that indicate
the presence of a city or fortress from the Roman
era, although it would not be surprising if sooner
or later some evidence of this kind came to light
–at least of a Roman villa– as there are a few in
places not far from Colmenar. There are no ruins
of buildings from the times of Arabic rule either,
although a very interesting relic was found –a
slate coin mould found in the Cortijo de las
Guájaras country estate.
Routes & Excursions
Contents
Colmenar
.
.
Unless the traveller is in the north of the province,
the best way to arrive is to leave Málaga City and
take the A-6103, commonly known as the
Carretera de Colmenar (Colmenar Road). It is the
old road that used to be the only way to get to the
inland of Andalusia (Seville, Córdoba, Granada)
and the rest of Spain. The road is an uninterrupted succession of curves, but it is worth taking it
due to the view of the Málaga Bay and the
Montes de Málaga mountains it affords. Another
.
HOW TO GET THERE
36
Later, it would become head of the judicial district of several neighbouring villages.
.
We do know, though, that in 1488, the warden of
Comares purchased the Colmenar farmstead,
and in the middle of the sixteenth century
(1558), the place is referred to in documents as
“Señorío de Colmenar,” meaning fiefdom of
Colmenar, the ownership of which was the
cause of many lawsuits for years, until the village managed to gain its independence in 1777.
Surface area: 65.50km2.
Name given to the local people:
Colmenareños.
Nickname: Tinajeros.
Location: Northern part of the Montes de
Málaga mountainous region, bordering with the
Axarquía and the Antequera regions. The village is almost 700m above sea level, 35km away
from the capital of the province and 44 from
Vélez-Málaga. The average annual rainfall is
765 l/m2, and the average annual temperature
reaches 16.5°C.
What to see: Santísima Virgen de la
Candelaria Chapel (Holy Virgin of Candelaria),
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Church (Our
Lady of the Assumption), De la Cruz Gate.
Tourist information: Town Hall, Plaza de
España, 9 (29170). Tel.: (+34) 952 730 000.
Fax: (+34) 952 731 068.
Colmenar
Colmenar's history did not truly commence until
Vélez-Málaga was taken by the Christians in
1487. According to the historian Vázquez de
Otero, “when the Catholic Monarchs took over
Málaga and its territories, Colmenar did not exist
as a village proper, it was an estate like many
others...”
USEFUL INFORMATION
CONVENTION BUREAU
The district stretches between the
Axarquía and the Montes de Málaga regions,
and also borders with the mountains of
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TOURIST BOARD &
WHAT TO SEE
In the highest part of town sits the chapel of the
shrine or Convent of the Santísima Virgen de la
Candelaria (Holy Virgin of Candelaria), patron of
Colmenar, which was built in the seventeenth
century and later renovated several times. It has
only one nave and a quadrangular presbytery
with a vault decorated with plasterwork, Inspired
by the Mannerist style, but undoubtedly a popular
creation. In the altar, there is a statue of the
patron of the district.
The Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Church (Our
Lady of the Assumption) dates from the sixteenth
The De la Cruz Gate welcomes travelers arriving
in Colmenar. The monument is a monolith placed
under a bell gable. Its simple architecture includes the coat of arms of the village, in which there
is a beehive and seven bees flying over it. The
handover of the town from Hamet el Zuque to
Francisco de Coalla –which took place on May
25, 1488– is also represented.
the fandango). Besides, a tapas route is set up
so that nobody leaves the village without tasting its produce.
After a few years of neglect, the Easter celebrations have taken new life in Colmenar. At the
moment, the only processional day is Good
Friday, when Jesus of Nazareth (a statue by
Palma Burgos, 1940) and the Virgin of Sorrows
(Anonymous) are carried by their respective fraternities, the latter having its seat in the Asunción
Church (Assumption).
FOOD
Several dishes can be considered typical of this
district, notably, kid in sauce, fried kid with garlic,
and naturally, the traditional plato de los Montes
(dish of the mountains), which is a combination of
pork loin, pork sausage, potatoes, pepper and
fried egg. The most popular dishes of Colmenar
include chickpea stew with bacon, broad beans
omelette, gazpachuelo (a soup made of angler
fish, clams, prawns, vegetables, cured ham and
hard boiled egg), porra (a cold soup made of
tomato, pepper, garlic, olive oil, bread and hard
boiled eggs), and migas (a dish made with fried
breadcrumbs). As for pastries, special mention
should be made of borrachuelos (small fried
cakes made with wine and dipped in honey),
carne de membrillo (kind of quince preserve), roscos de vino and roscos de huevo (kinds of ringshaped pastries), as well as homemade madalenas (kind of cupcake). In addition, there is an
excellent local must wine.
FIESTAS
.
.
Colmenar
Colmenar starts its festive calendar on February
2, day of the Virgin of Candelaria, the patron of
the village. On that day, the image of the virgin is
carried in procession to her chapel. On May 3, the
village has two festivities, that of the crosses and
that of the pipa, the name given to broad beans.
It is customary to go picnicking in the country on
that day. On the eve of St. John, it is the turn of
the Júas (rag dolls representing evil), which are
burnt, much to the joy of the younger ones. For
Christmas, it is still customary to organise pastorales, a choir of friends –men and women– who
dress up especially for the occasion and sing
Christmas carols, and other holiday songs.
Colmenar
.
The Fiesta of Grape Juice and Cold Cuts is
held in December as a tribute to the typical products of the district of Colmenar. Thousands of
people come to the village and are welcomed
with musical performances of all kinds, a flamenco recital and the dancing and singing of
verdiales (popular dance of Andalusia similar to
Routes & Excursions
Contents
.
38
and seventeenth centuries, and follows the usual
patterns –it is divided in three naves separated
with semicircular arches resting on square-section pillars. Of the three small chapels of the
church, the one on the Epistle Side stands out
due to its almost exuberant Baroque style (eighteenth century). On the exterior, the three-level
bell tower can be appreciated.
CONVENTION BUREAU
possibility is to take the motorway to Antequera
(N-331) and, after Casabermeja, take the A-356.
The landscape is also very beautiful, especially
after leaving the motorway.
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
The trip starts at the De Gaviarra Pass,
the junction of the Vuelta Grande,
Collado, and Casa de la Mina passes,
from where we go northwest until we
reach old Dolores’ Inn or María Tavern.
From this Inn, we follow the old muledriving road, which coincides with the
cattle track called Granada Road.
CASA DE LA MINA PRADILLOS TRAIL
.
cÓMPETA
.
It is advisable to take the firewall
path in order to enjoy the panoramic
views of the sea and the Del Mirlo
gully. We may also spot Spanish ibexes on the way.
Routes & Excursions
Contents
.
40
Length: 5km
Difficulty: easy.
Beginning of route: De Gaviarra Pass
(Cómpeta).
End of route: Pradillos (Cómpeta).
Itinerary: De Gaviarra Pass (Cómpeta),
Dolores’ Inn or María Tavern, De los Pradillos
Alley, De los Pradillos Inn, Cándido Inn, Del
Daire hillock and El Tejar, Pradillos (Cómpeta).
We then leave the main road and take
a path that leads deep into the province of Granada, and will take us through
the Del Daire hillock and El Tejar. Upon
reaching this point, we have two possibilities: we can either take the hillock
slopes following the firewall path or the
Juan Rojo gully.
.
.
TECHNICAL DATA
After a few metres from here, we
reach the De los Pradillos Inn,
recently acquired by the Town Hall of
Cómpeta in order to supply water to
the city. We continue to the Cándido
Inn –also unoccupied and almost in
ruins– and look for the spring source,
a few metres away, in order to quench
our thirst.
Cómpeta
Cómpeta
CASA DE LA MINA PRADILLOS TRAIL
The district of Cómpeta –on the slopes
of the Sierra de Almijara range in the northeast
of the Axarquía region– offers magnificent
trekking routes, such as the one we are about
to describe, from Casa de la Mina to Pradillos.
It is an easy trip in which we cover 5km in a
circular way, in about 2 hours.
After walking non-stop for 2 kilometres, we reach the De los Pradillos
Alley, where nature placed rocks at
both sides of the path making it look
like an alley. Here we take a break to
enjoy the view: the Juan Rojo cliff, the
Cerro Verde hill, and the Atalaya viewing point (which is a landmark from
many places).
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CASA DE LA MINA - PRADILLOS TRAIL
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
Province border
District border
Cómpeta
Cómpeta
Nature Reserve
border
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has to agree that the nickname “Cornice of the
Mediterranean” suits the place perfectly well.
Indeed, the villages' whitewashed buildings
extend over a landscape crowned by the Tejeda
and Almijara ranges in search of the
Mediterranean through hills and vineyards in
which its famous wine is produced. One of the
most representative images of the Axarquía
region that will prevail in the mind of visitors is,
without a doubt, the one offered by this district.
As is the case with many other towns of the
Málaga province, there is no recorded history of
Cómpeta until the fifteenth century. Given the
characteristics of the land –the abundance of
water, mountain shelters, mild temperatures, and
connection routes to the Málaga and Granada
provinces– it is more than likely that humans settled here in prehistoric times, although there is no
evidence to support this hypothesis.
The first written record of the name Cómpeta
dates from 1487, when the mayor of Vélez –already under Christian control– urged the population
to surrender to the new owners. This indicates
that up until then, the region was no more than a
farmstead.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Name given to the local people: Competeños.
Location: Northeast of the Axarquía region, on
the slopes of the Sierra de Almijara range, at
28km from Vélez-Málaga and 52km from the
capital of the province. The village is at 640m
above sea level. The average annual rainfall of
the region is 630 l/m2, and the average annual
temperature, 17.5°C.
What to see: Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
Church (Our Lady of the Assumption), St. Anthony
and St. Sebastian chapels.
Tourist information: Tourist Office, Avda. de la
Constitución, s/n (29754). Tel.: (+34) 952 516
25. Website: www.competa.es.
CONVENTION BUREAU
All the advertisements and slogans of the
travel agencies respond to more or less verifiable
facts, and it is the traveller who has to decide to
what extent these advertisements or slogans are
close to reality. In the case of Cómpeta, everyone
HOW TO GET THERE
Routes & Excursions
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Cómpeta
.
.
.
A tour of the town centre is a must. Also here, the
popular architecture unabashedly shows the unli-
44
WHAT TO SEE
.
The village was virtually deserted and then repopulated by the Old Christians of Puente Genil,
Estepa, Baena, Seville and other places previously conquered by the Christians. The marriage certificate from the first Old Christians' marriage celebrated in the village is still kept in the
Parish Church. The year was 1573.
Of the three ways available to get to Cómpeta (all
from the Autovía del Mediterráneo motorway),
perhaps the most interesting one is the detour
taken at Torrox (A-6204). Going this way, the traveller will have the opportunity to visit Trayamar,
an archaeological site of Paleo-Punic graves
(seventh century B.C.) considered the most
important of its kind in the Mediterranean region.
You can also reach Cómpeta taking the road A6203 from Algarrobo through Sayalonga. Also,
from Vélez-Málaga, you can take the MA-117,
and after leaving Arenas, Daimalos, and
Corumbela behind, you reach Cómpeta.
Cómpeta
The Moors of Cómpeta –like most of the Moors
that populated the Axarquía region– joined forces
with the rebels who established their stronghold in
the Rock of Frigiliana –a place that would remain
forever linked to the history of the Axarquía region
for this reason– until they were defeated by the
Christians on June 12, 1569. Although the
Moorish rebels had many casualties, a few of
them managed to escape and continued to pose a
problem to the Christians for a while –but not for
long– from the most unexpected places.
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TOURIST BOARD &
The town’s most remarkable building is the
Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Church (Our Lady
of the Assumption), built in the sixteenth century,
and later restored. It has three naves divided by
octagonal pillars. Inside, there is an imposing
mural painted in 1972 by Francisco Hernández
–an artist from Vélez– depicting the Assumption
of the Virgin. The exterior was rebuilt after the
earthquake of 1884, and its most remarkable feature is its four-level tower in Neo-Mudéjar style
(1935). The uppermost level of this tower is a
domed gazebo-like structure.
The St. Anthony and St. Sebastian chapels –both
from the eighteenth century– are good examples
of the kind of religious buildings typical of their
time. The simplicity of their lines, in spite of the
prevailing Baroque style, and the lack of architectural pretension, enhance the religiousness of the
place to the detriment of ornamental exuberance.
starts at 7 a.m.. This celebration is also known as
the Procession of Men, because only men take
part in it. In the evening, It is the women's turn, who
carry the statue of the Virgin Mary in the so-called
Procession of Solitude or Procession of Women.
year knowing that they will have fun, with shows
and typical produce for everybody.
Finally, albeit not in chronological order, special
mention must be made of Wine Night (August 15),
a celebration that took shape in 1975, although its
origins are older. Back then, it was customary to
throw a goodbye party before engaging in grape
harvesting tasks. In the olden days, people used
to dance fandangos, drink wine and liquor, and
eat dried fruit until the early hours of the morning.
As it is a wine producing region, we have no choice but to mention wines first up in this section. The
muscatel, medium sweet and dry varieties are
known inside and outside the province of Malaga.
Nowadays, Wine Night is a full-blown folkloric festival to which thousands of visitors come every
FOOD
CONVENTION BUREAU
kely solutions to its problems, which gives it its
charm. A few of the houses still keep their basement levels, where they store equipment and
tools. Though using the car is never advisable in
these towns, in Cómpeta it is simply impossible,
as many of its streets solve the problem of changes in level with stairs.
As regards the cuisine, fennel stew and migas (a
dish made with fried breadcrumbs) are the most
typical dishes of the region. Loin fried with garlic,
kid, country style variety meats, and Easter stews
(made of chickpeas, potatoes, cod, and vegetables) round off the varied cuisine of Cómpeta.
FIESTAS
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Cómpeta
.
On May 3 –the Day of the Cross– the locals go on
foot to a place known as Mount of the Cross,
where a picnic is organised. In Cómpeta, St.
John’s Day is celebrated with a picnic in the country with relatives and friends. On September 6
and 7, bonfires are lit in different parts of town and
surrounding areas. This is known as Bonfire Day,
and ends with a small popular feast.
.
One of the highlights of Holy Week is the Stations
of the Cross enactment, on Good Friday, which
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46
Cómpeta
On January 20 –the day of the patron saint of the
town, St. Sebastian– a neighbourhood fair is held
next to the Saint’s chapel. The neighbours take
the image of the Saint in a procession after a picnic lunch. In February, on St. Blaise’s Day, the
Parish Church gives a blessing of the roscas (a
doughnut-like pastry). People still thread the
doughnut with a string after it has been blessed
and hang it around their necks because tradition
states that this will prevent throat disorders.
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cORTES
FROM LA SAUCEDA TO THE
VICINITY OF DEL ALJIBE
PEAK
CANYONEERING AT THE
DE BUITRERAS GORGE
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48
From this point, without straying
from the trail there is only an esplanade, only a thick bush area separates you from the Del Aljibe Peak,
1,092m high.
Length: 12km
Difficulty: easy.
Beginning of route: La Sauceda (Cortes de la
Frontera).
End of route: Del Aljibe Peak (Cortes de la
Frontera).
Itinerary: La Sauceda (Cortes de la Frontera),
Del Roble Pass, Sillita de la Reina, Del Aljibe
Peak (Cortes de la Frontera).
From here, you can continue in several directions, as you will have clear
esplanades in front of you that will
convince you it is an easy path.
However, as the path is no longer
marked, it is easy to get lost. It’s better to go on foot keeping to your lefthand side until you reach Sillita de la
Reina, a nice scrub area. If you want
to rest, this is a particularly good
spot to do so, as there is a beautiful
panoramic view.
.
.
TECHNICAL DATA
If you follow the path straight on,
you’ll reach the Del Roble mountain
pass, from where you will have to go
uphill a few metres more until the
trail starts going downhill.
Cortes de la Frontera
DE LA FRONTERA
The history of La Sauceda is a mixture
of fact and oral tradition. Nowadays, it is a
small place where there is a camping area and
a chapel that can be the starting point of several excursions, but in the past, it served as a
shelter for the local bandits. La Sauceda is
surrounded by lands belonging to the province
of Cádiz, and it is located at 58km from
Algeciras, but it is within the limits of the district of Cortes de la Frontera, which belongs to
the province of Málaga.
CONVENTION BUREAU
FROM LA SAUCEDA TO
THE VICINITY OF DEL
ALJIBE PEAK
The route starts at the houses of La
Sauceda, following a path along a
brook that serves as a water source
for the village. It is advisable to start
the trip at a leisurely pace enjoying
the surroundings, as this is one of
the most exciting ecological areas
that we will find along the way. If you
do not know the chapel, this is the
perfect time to visit it, but you will
have to take a detour to the right.
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FROM LA SAUCEDA TO THE VICINITY OF DEL ALJIBE PEAK
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CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
Province border
District border
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TOURIST BOARD &
Going down the canyon is feeling nature
to the fullest. Canyoneering combines techniques from mountain climbing and cave exploration, although water is a key element. When the
water level is low, this sport can include trips on
the river, but when is high, it can turn into a
veritable white water experience.
The De Buitreras Gorge is the result of the erosion of the Guadiaro River on the Sierra de
Grazalema and Sierra de Ronda ranges. This
place is part of the Los Alcornocales Nature Park,
which extends over territories of the provinces of
Difficulty: moderate to strenuous
Beginning of route: Estación de Gaucín
(Cortes de la Frontera)
Location: Cortes de la Frontera, Benalauría
and Benarrabá
Any time of year can be good (always taking
into account the rainfall and the river level), but
July and August are usually the sport fans’
favourite months and the most recommended
in the Costa del Sol.
Routes & Excursions
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.
TECHNICAL DATA
Going down canyons is not an activity in which
difficulty can be categorised as a constant value.
Although each canyon has its own technical difficulties, these can be intensified or diminished
according to the exact moment at which the activity is being done (the water temperature will be
lower in winter, the level of the river will be higher if it has been raining, and so on.)
.
The weather in this part of the Costa del Sol is
not an obstacle for canyoneering, but one of
the factors to be taken into account is the rainfall, as this can make the water level rise
adding unnecessary risks to the sport.
The so-called De los Almenares Bridge marks
the spot where the canyon walls gain height
and the trail can become more difficult. From
then on, the open galleries with almost direct
sunlight alternate with dark stretches in which a
headlight will be very useful. Along the route,
you will be able to rappel down the cliffs, swim
across the ponds and even jump off from one
level to the next.
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52
The De Buitreras Gorge is not particularly difficult, but nevertheless, a few basic precautions
have to be taken. The best thing about it is that
it allows you to enjoy both the sport and the
landscape. If you come to the canyon at the
exit of the first long tunnel we found on the
path, you’ll have to swim the first stretch, so it’s
useful to have your swimsuit at hand, if you’re
not already wearing it.
Access to the De Buitreras Gorge is gained
through El Colmenar, also known as Estación
de Gaucín. The actual entrance is located at
the stretch that connects this point with the
Cortes de la Frontera village. If you come by
car from Málaga, the best thing to do is to take
the motorway that runs along the coast up to
the Sabinillas village, and there, take the A-377
towards Manilva-Casares until you reach
Gaucín.
Málaga and Cádiz (to the west). The best village
to gain access to this area is El Colmenar.
CONVENTION BUREAU
CANYONING AT THE DE
BUITRERAS GORGE
At this point, you will start seeing narrow tunnels that connect straight to the canyon entrance, but it is forbidden to go through them
because it’s very dangerous. There are several
places from which you can access the canyon
and start the descent (one follows a path along
the river; another is reached after climbing the
mountain cut through by the tunnels...). In any
case, the guides will decide the best way to
reach the gorge, depending on the river flow
and the level of expertise of the hikers.
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CANYONEERING AT THE DE BUITRERAS GORGE
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
Province border
District border
Nature Park
border
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TOURIST BOARD &
50,000 ha, respectively) converge at the Cortes
de la Frontera district, giving the area an ama-
zingly rich environment, which to the visitor’s
eye means a truly remarkable landscape. The
great cork oak forests that cover a large part of
these lands extend to the province of Cádiz,
but before going beyond the borders of the province of Málaga, these woods have given
shape to places that, without over-exaggerating, are like paradise
The place called La Sauceda, the cliffs of Las
Buitreras, together with the area called El
Colmenar, are only a few examples of nature’s
generosity towards this district. La Sauceda is
perfectly equipped for camping, so you can take
your time to enjoy the environment, and Las
Buitreras –more difficult to get to– rewards your
efforts with a spectacular scenery: the Guadiaro
River encased by over 100m high walls.
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.
.
Due to its origins, the village has a strikingly different urban structure compared to the other highland villages, of Moorish legacy. Besides, Cortes
de la Frontera has the peculiarity of having three
town centres (something that is not an exclusive
trait in the province of Málaga, but it’s uncommon
nevertheless). There is a main centre, which is
Cortes de la Frontera itself, then there’s El
Colmenar, and thirdly, La Cañada or Estación de
Cortes.
.
The present location of the village is more recent,
having its origins in the seventeenth century. It
was then when cork extraction gained importance
–one of the main sources of income of the village,
and still today, one of the pillars of Cortes de la
Frontera’s economy.
56
in towns that have “de la Frontera” (of the border)
as part of their names.
.
The Moors fought the Visigoths in these lands in
711, in a place that can still be recognised, according to some researchers. When Almanzor died,
in 1002, Cortes belonged alternatively to the kingdoms of Seville and Granada, even to those of
Ronda and Algeciras. Ferdinand III the Saint, of
Castile conquered the village in 1248, but afterwards, the town was taken again by the Moors
until, in 1485, the Marquis of Cádiz, Rodrigo
Ponce de León, took it in the name of the Catholic
Monarchs. These oscillations weren’t uncommon
Name given to the local people: Cortesanos.
Location: At the western end of the province of
Málaga, on the Serranía de Ronda mountains,
bordering with the province of Cádiz. The village
is 600m above sea level, 30km from Ronda, 20km
from Benaoján, and 159km from the capital of the
province. The average annual rainfall is high
(1,160 l/m2) and the average annual temperature
is just over 16°C.
What to see: Town Hall, Nuestra Señora del
Rosario Church (Our Lady of the Rosary), Casa
de los Valdenebros, Bullring, Casa de Piedra.
Tourist information: Town Hall, Plaza Carlos III,
1 (29380); Tel: (+34) 952 154 000. Fax: (+34) 952
154 342.
Apparently, the origins of Cortes de la Frontera go
back to the twelfth and eleventh centuries B.C.
when the Phoenicians came to this area, and the
Tartessians were already settled. Centuries later,
the Greeks came, but only fleetingly so to speak,
as they generally did on the Andalusian coasts.
And after the Greeks came the Romans, from
whom we have enough evidence –the remains of
the town of Saepona, 28km from the village, and
the ruins of Cortes el Viejo, only 2km from the
village, in a place where a good stretch of the
Guadiaro River can be viewed.
USEFUL INFORMATION
CONVENTION BUREAU
L os Alcornocales and Sierra de
Grazalema Nature Parks (of 170,000 ha and
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TOURIST BOARD &
Holy Week and Corpus Christi religious celebrations follow. From August 23 to 27, the patron
saint celebrations in homage to St. Roch and St.
Sebastian are held, including contests, dancing, a
cattle fair and, most importantly, the release of the
“liquor bull,” one of the most popular traditions of
the village.
From the Costa del Sol, take the AP-7 (N-340)
motorway, and then the A-377 at Manliva, up to
Gaucín. You then have to continue on the A-369
and, after 7 kilometres, you take the detour that
leads to Cortes (A-373). If you start at the city of
Ronda, go south on the A-369, and after leaving
Algatocín behind, take the A-373.
Although there are records of the existence of the
Vera Cruz Fraternity (called the moraos or purple)
in the seventeenth century –from which the Padre
Jesús Fraternity (called the coloraos or red) stemmed– which curiously enough carried the same
Virgin in procession, the Holy Week of Cortes
doesn’t have a very long history. The most significant ceremony of the Passion Week in Cortes
takes place on Maundy Thursday, when the images of Jesus of Nazareth and the Virgin meet at
the Town Hall square, in an act in which the three
falls of Christ are enacted.
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.
The Casa de Piedra (stone house) dates from the
sixth and seventh centuries, and –as its name
suggests– was carved into solid rock. Being such
a primitive building method, its fine detail is
remarkable. The Del Paso Tower was built in the
thirteenth century to keep watch of the road the
goes from Gaucín to Ubrique through the Del
Espino Pass. It’s a simple watchtower of functional architecture.
FIESTAS
Carnival –attended by street musicians and masquerades from the province of Cádiz– is the first
secular celebration of the village, to which the
Routes & Excursions
Contents
.
The culinary tradition of this village is as varied as
it is tasty and, like in the majority of the mountain
villages, there are summer and winter dishes.
Nowadays, however, this distinction is observed
in the calendar rather than in the kitchen. The
delicious traditional cuisine of the region includes
venison stew, mountain lamb, asparagus sautéed
with eggs, veal cortesana, cod omelet, cocido
refrito (fried bread, tomato, garlic, pepper, and
onion), Swiss chard stew, migas (a dish made
with fried breadcrumbs), and Guadiar rabbit,
among many others. The sweet dishes here are
also numerous. Just to give an idea of the long list
of desserts that Cortes de la Frontera has to offer,
we can mention mille-feuille, meringue, roscones
(a kind of doughnut), suspiros (a pastry), quince
compote, homemade madalenas (a kind of cupcake), torrijas (type of French toast), and grapes
in liquor.
The Casa de los Valdenebros, also known as
Casa de las Tetitas, has a beautiful stone façade
dated 1763, with the coat of arms of its old
owner, a military man who ascended to nobility.
The mansion still has an underground passage
that goes to the old chapel of Valdenebros,
which has a Baroque-Múdejar façade built in
1760.
FOOD
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58
The Nuestra Señora del Rosario Church (Our
Lady of the Rosary) stands in the centre of town
and dates from the end of the eighteenth century.
It has three naves separated by semicircular
arches. The central nave is covered in a half-barrel vault, and the transept, by a lantern dome. On
the outside, two flat stone façades and the bell
tower, next to the sanctuary, can be appreciated.
The bullring opened in 1894 and was restored in
1921. With an arena of almost 30 metres in diameter, it’s the second bullring of the highlands for its
size, after the one of Ronda, of course. The reason why a small town like Cortes has such a big
bullring lies in its intensive stock-breeding activity.
WHAT TO SEE
In contrast to what usually happens in other
towns with less than 10,000 people, where the
main building is the Parish Church, in Cortes de
la Frontera, the most outstanding building is the
Town Hall. Its construction was commissioned
by Charles III in 1784. Its Neoclassic façade has
ten arches arranged into two storeys and
crowned by a big pediment with a clock and the
royal coat of arms. The modesty of the building
materials –sandstone ashlars– does not diminish the architectural elegance of the building in
the least.
At the beginning of July, the Pilgrimage of the
Virgin of the Rosary –the patron of Cortes– takes
place, and a few days afterwards, is the
Pilgrimage of the Horse’s turn. El Colmenar holds
its patron celebrations the last week of July, and
La Cañada, the first week in August, so the district
is rich in celebrations in the summer.
CONVENTION BUREAU
HOW TO GET THERE
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TOURIST BOARD &
FROM EL BURGO
THROUGH THE ROUTE OF
THE BROOKS
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eL BURGO
FROM EL BURGO THROUGH
THE ROUTE OF THE BROOKS
TECHNICAL DATA
Routes & Excursions
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.
The definite signal that our trail is coming
to an end are the olive groves. After walking on a straight line a few more metres,
we’ll have to take a wide bend along horticultural areas and then turn right until
we see the bridge of El Burgo.
A few metres further, we’ll start going
downhill and at the Cortijo de Buenavista,
the De la Higuera and Del Sabinar brooks
converge. We continue the descent until
we get to the Turón River bank, which
means we’re close to El Burgo again.
Length: 21km
Difficulty: moderate to strenuous.
Beginning of route: road C-344 from El
Burgo to Yunquera.
End of route: El Burgo.
Itinerary: road C-344 from El Burgo to
Yunquera (El Burgo), Turón River bridge, bridge over De la Fuensanta Brook, De La
Fuensanta recreational area, stone cross,
Cortijo de Buenavista, De la Higuera and Del
Sabinar Brooks, Turón River bank, El Burgo.
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60
The spring will guide us to a crossroads. We’ll see an old stone cross there.
We’ll turn right and start going uphill.
This climb is virtually the most difficult
part of the journey. Don’t miss the
panoramic views of the Valley of Lifa,
and on sunny days, look at the Peñón
de Ronda rock and the Peña de los
Enamorados crag, looking towards the
Sierra de las Nieves range.
El Burgo
El Burgo
LA FUENSANTA–TURÓN
RIVER TRAIL
It’s a long circular route that begins and
ends at the village of El Burgo. It’s a good trail
for hikers who are trained, though it can be
undertaken by anybody if taken calmly as a
long-day stroll. The panoramic views between
the De la Fuensanta Brook and the Turón
River are very pleasant and the variety of the
vegetation makes it a favourite route for mountain bikers.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Although there are several starting
points, one of the best is on the road C344, coming out of the village of El Burgo
towards Yunquera. This way, you cross
the bridge over the Turón River, and after
walking 2km, you cross another bridge,
this time over the De la Fuensanta Brook.
The path that goes along the brook,
which is surrounded by gorgeous vegetation, will be our reference point. We’ll
continue on it for about 1,500 metres until
we get to the La Fuensanta tree nursery,
and the recreational area that bears the
same name. As the route is quite long, it’s
recommended to take a break here: a
place by the river, with a pleasant water
spring behind, and numerous shady
areas, under poplar trees.
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FROM EL BURGO THROUGH THE ROUTE OF THE BROOKS
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
District border
Nature Park
border
El Burgo
El Burgo
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TOURIST BOARD &
This trail starts by the petrol station
located in the village of El Burgo, taking the
road A-344 towards Yunquera. It’s ideal to do
by bike, as it’s 21km long and can be done in
three hours by people who go cycle in the
mountains regularly.
TECHNICAL DATA
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Legend has it that the daughter of a Muslim
mayor of Archidona set her beloved free. He
was a Christian from Antequera who was
imprisoned for sullying her skin with Christian
hands. When he was free, they both eloped to
the mountains. The Muslim troops went after
them. When the lovers found themselves trapped, they decided that jumping off the cliff was
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64
From the same viewing point, but looking
towards the Sierra de las Nieves range, we
can see the Peñón de Ronda rock, the Tajos
de Palancar cliffs, and the Peña de los
Enamorados crag, and also the Turón River
flanked by pine woods. These river bank
woods are among the best preserved in the
province.
.
Length: 21km
Estimated time: 3 hours by bike.
Difficulty: moderate.
Beginning of route: El Burgo petrol station.
End of route: El Burgo.
Itinerary: El Burgo petrol station, Turón River
bridge, bridge over De la Fuensanta Brook,
tree nursery, recreational area of the old mill of
La Fuensanta, La Rejertilla environmental complex, De la Mujer Pass, road along the Turón
River, El Burgo.
From the De la Mujer Pass, we go downhill on
a trail full of big holm oaks, from which the confluence of two big brooks can bee seen –they
are the De la Higuera and De Sabinar brooks.
Further down below, the trail runs along the
Turón River, and eventually turns into the path
that leads to El Burgo, where you can enjoy
the farms and farmhouses of the market garden area.
El Burgo
El Burgo
After crossing the bridge over the Turón River,
we travel 2km until we reach a detour to the
right that crosses the bridge over the La
Fuensanta Brook, lined with willows, osiers,
and gall oaks. We then go into a field lined with
tall pines that runs parallel to the brook, with
lush bank vegetation.
Here, we have the alternative of travelling
about 3km straight ahead until we reach the
Los Sauces recreational and camping area,
and then come back. In any case, we have to
take a detour to the left, and climb a steep path
until we get to the De la Mujer Pass, an excellent viewing point from which we can enjoy
great panoramic views of the Turón River and
the wide De Lifa Valley, with an impressive
steep cliff crowned with an old Arabian tower,
which is surrounded by turpentine trees whose
leaves turn to beautiful reddish hues in autumn
and spring.
the only way of sealing their love. From then
on, that giant crag has been known as the
Peña de los Enamorados (the lovers’ crag).
CONVENTION BUREAU
LA FUENSANTA - TURÓN
RIVER TRAIL
After travelling 1.5km, we find a tree nursery
that produces the seedlings for reforestation of
public woodlands. Later on, we get to the
recreational area of the old mill of La
Fuensanta, which has been turned into a hostel and is located in a beautiful place full of
poplar trees where there’s also a country estate of the same name. If we follow the route, we
get to the environmental complex La Rejertilla,
and further ahead, to a fork in the road with a
Galician-style stone cross.
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LA FUENSANTA - TURÓN RIVER TRAIL
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Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
District border
El Burgo
El Burgo
Nature Park
border
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TOURIST BOARD &
With regard to the origins of the village, there are
a number of contradicting theories based on
information that no one can agree upon. For
some, the name of the village comes from
Paurgus, the Greek word for tower. Others are
inclined towards a Celtic origin, Baurgs. Some
are certain that the word comes from the Arabic
borch, which also means tower.
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In 1485, El Burgo surrendered to the Catholic
Monarchs, as did the other villages of the region.
Routes & Excursions
Contents
The most advisable way to get to El Burgo (there
are several) is from Málaga City, where you have
to take the A-357 towards Campillos. When you
get to Ardales, take the MA-446, which further
ahead is called MA-445 and will take you directly
to El Burgo.
WHAT TO SEE
The building of highest artistic value of El Burgo
is the De la Encarnación Church (Incarnation).
It’s located in the upper part of the village, where
.
From the top of the hills down, the rocky terrain
yields astonishingly beautiful landscapes, like the
Valley of Lifa cliff or Los Sauces, a place acces-
HOW TO GET THERE
gall oaks and pine woods that shroud the lower
half of the mountain slopes.
Under the reign of Philip II, the village was privileged with tax exemption, in recognition of the
courage shown by its warriors.
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68
One of the roads to Ronda passes
through El Burgo, a district on the Turón River
that is one of gates open to the highlands. The
lands close to the village are flatter, meaning
olive trees and grains can be grown, although to
a great extent, the district lands are covered by
During Muslim rule, El Burgo –together with
other villages of the area– was part of the
domains of Umar ibn Hafsun, who in the eleventh century fought against the Caliphate of
Córdoba. The fortress built back then, which
today is known as Atalaya de Cornicabra, was
one of the most important strongholds of the
area against the troops of the Caliphate, in
whose hands it fell after the death of Ibn Hafsun.
During the time of the Taifas Kingdoms, the village belonged to Ronda, and afterwards, to
Málaga and Granada.
Name given to the local people: Burgueños.
Location: in the region of Sierra de las Nieves,
bordering on both Antequera and the
Guadalhorce Valley. The village is almost 600
metres above sea level, lying 27 kilometres from
Ronda. Average annual rainfall: 621 litres/m2.
Average annual temperature: around 15º C.
What to see: De la Encarnación Church
(Incarnation), Church of the Virgen de las Nieves
Convent (Our Lady of the Snows), St.
Augustine’s Church, Bridge of Málaga, mill of La
Fuensanta, St. Sebastian’s Chapel.
Tourist information: Town Hall, C/ Real, 22 (29420).
Tel.: (+34) 952 160 277. Fax: (+34) 952 160 180
El Burgo
El Burgo
It’s very likely, however, that El Burgo was first a
Celtic citadel and then subsequently occupied
by the many civilisations that inhabited these
lands. In the course of history, the Carthaginians
erected a watchtower called Hannibal’s Tower,
and the Romans, in Trajan times –who had been
born in the neighbouring city of Italica– gave the
village imperial privileges, as it was an unavoidable route for their legions. At the De los
Empedrados Pass, there are still traces of the
ancient cobblestone road that linked Acinipo
with Málaga.
USEFUL INFORMATION
CONVENTION BUREAU
sible through the forest track of the Nuestra
Señora de las Nieves Convent (Our Lady of the
Snows), a name which alludes to the Sierra de
las Nieves range. This area, including the district
of El Burgo, was declared a Biosphere Reserve.
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TOURIST BOARD &
The Church of the Virgen de las Nieves, in the
Carmelite Convent of the Virgin of the Snows,
outside the village, was built in the middle of the
sixteenth century, and later rebuilt in the eighteenth century. It’s a simple building of a single
nave, in which an oil mill operated in the nineteenth century, after the religious order left the
place due to the Mendizábal Ecclesiastical
Confiscation.
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The Carnival, also in February, has a long-established tradition in this village. From August 26 to
30, the patron saint celebrations are held, honouring St. Augustine. On Easter Sunday, the burning of the júas takes place, a tradition that the
rest of the villages of Málaga leave for the eve of
St. John. The procession of the Virgen de la
Fuensanta (August 4) is another very popular
celebration.
FOOD
The cuisine of this village is as varied as it is
wholesome. Common dishes include caldereta
(a meat stew), asparagus stew, Sabandoña
stew, broad beans pipeo (a vegetable stew with
almonds), and kid. Also popular are the siete
remales soup (made with bread and vegetables), golden thistle omelet, olla (a stew), migas
(a dish made with fried breadcrumbs), codfish
cakes, onion gazpacho (a cold soup). The gazpacho is eaten mainly in the summer months. As
for pastries, the town offers roscos tontos (a kind
of doughnut), dough cake, and oil roscos (kind
of doughnut).
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The Week of the People (February 24 to 28) is
one of the most popular celebrations held in El
Burgo. The events, organized by the Town Hall
and the Costa del Sol Tourist Board, consist of
lectures, plays, dancing contests, and musical
performances.
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St. Sebastian’s Chapel –built next to the cemetery at the end of the fifteenth century– retains its
original gate, in Late Gothic style. It seems that
the small and simple temple was built in homage
to St. Sebastian, because Isabella the Catholic
Queen was a devoted follower of the Saint.
FIESTAS
El Burgo
El Burgo
St. Augustine’s Church (1952) houses the images of St. Augustine, the Immaculate
Conception, and the Sacred Heart. The Bridge of
Málaga is on the road to Ardales, a construction
that retains some elements of the Roman era.
The waterfall of the dam and mill of La
Fuensanta, from the eighteenth century, are of
historical and scenic interest.
CONVENTION BUREAU
the old fortress used to be, from which only fragments of their walls remain. The church was built
in 1505, but was later renovated on several occasions. It was designed in Mudéjar style, to which
elements of later times were added. It has three
naves separated by arches. On the exterior there
are Mudéjar and a Baroque façades, from the
end of the eighteenth century. The tower is crowned with a hipped roof.
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PATRONATO DE TURISMO &
FRIGILIANA - FUENTE
DEL ESPARTO SPRING
TRAIL
. fRIGILIANA
Once through the scrub area, we get into a pine
wood, on a track surrounded by vegetation rich
in junipers, spurge olives and buckthorns, which
results in a greater biodiversity, especially birds
such as eagles, goshawks, and falcons.
The Chíllar River and its tributary, the
Higuerón, produce one of the most beautiful
natural spots of the area, and together with the
cliffs and gorges of the Chíllar, make up a truly
astonishing landscape.
Around one hour later, we get to the Chíllar
River canyon. With only 17km long, it carries
water all year round, except in the last 5km
where it's dry, as it irrigates the market
gardens of Nerja, on top of supplying water
and electricity to the village of the same name.
In spite of being so short, the canyon offers
extraordinary beauty with its dainty waterfalls,
refreshing natural pools, vegetation and
cahorros. The cahorros are narrow passes in
the ravine with vertical walls and drops of more
than 300m, including the Tajo del Almendrón,
the Pico Nido de Buitres, and the Tajo del Sol.
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TECHNICAL DATA
Routes & Excursions
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The descent to the Chíllar River can be done in
fifteen minutes. In this beautiful place we
should take a break, have some water and
regain our strength. After that, we follow the
path uphill until we get to Del Apretadero Pass,
where after a ten minute walk, we'll find the
Del Esparto Spring at one side of the track,
which marks the end of the route.
Length: 5.5km
Beginning of route: Civil Guard barracks
(Frigiliana).
End of route: Del Esparto Spring (Nerja)
Itinerary: Civil Guard barracks (Frigiliana),
Higuerón River, Batán Reservoir, Cruz del
Pinto hill, Chíllar River Canyon, Del Apretadero
Pass, Del Esparto Spring (Nerja).
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72
After a long climb, we get to Cruz del Pinto, a
small hill with a cross ornamented on a small
chapel at the top, from which a great panoramic view of the Mediterranean, the Sierra
Almijara range and the northern part of the
Higuerón River ravine can be enjoyed. After
this hard climb, the terrain is easier for the
most part of the trail, though there is scant
vegetation due to a fire from which the land
hasn't yet recovered.
Frigiliana
Frigiliana
FRIGILIANA - FUENTE DEL
ESPARTO SPRING TRAIL
The village of Frigiliana is located on
the eastern part of the Axarquía region, in the
south of the Sierra de Tejeda range, bordering
on Cómpeta to the northwest, with Torrox to
the west, and with Nerja to the south. The
region features a complex relief, full of contrasts, with peaks well over 1,000m, like the
Sierra de Enmedio range, reaching 1,164m.
Batán Resevoir and then there's a steep cliff
climb. The route is 5.5km long and takes about
2 hours.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The route starts near the "El Ingenio" building
(the sugar mill), an iconic place due to its
industrial history, which is at the right hand
side of the Civil Guard barracks. From there,
we go down to the Higuerón River, by the
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The battle of Peñón de Frigiliana has been represented as a blind’s man´s ballad on glazed ceramic panels created by Amparo Ruiz de Luna,
which can be seen in several parts of town.
From that date on, until the nineteenth century,
Frigiliana suffered misfortune after misfortune
–either a plague decimating the population, or a
storm destroying the crops, or an earthquake, or
the phylloxera infesting the grapevines, or an
outbreak of yellow fever that ravaged the population. It was only with the arrival of tourism that
Frigiliana, like the rest of the Costa del Sol, entered a booming era.
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On May 28, 1569, the mayor of Vélez launched
the first assault with the unfortunate outcome of
20 dead and 150 wounded among the Christians.
Just at that time, 25 galleys of the Spanish tercios of Italy were sailing the Mediterranean, and
Vélez asked for their help in crushing the rebels
of Frigiliana. This time, 6,000 men fought the
Moors, who in spite of their fierce resistance,
were defeated on June 11, 1569. There were
2,000 dead among the Moors, and 3,000 were
taken prisoners (2,000 ran away). On the
Christian side, 400 soldiers died and 800 were
injured.
The Chíllar River marks the boundary between
the districts of Frigiliana and Nerja, and its tributary, the Higuerón River, at the so called Gorges
of the Higuerón River, gives these lands one of
the most beautiful natural spots of the area,
which together with the cliffs and gorges of the
Chíllar, make up a truly astonishing landscape.
The remains found in 1987 in the De los
Murciélagos Cave show the presence of man in
this territory from the end of the Neolithic period
(3000 B.C.) until the Chalcolithic period or
Copper Age (2000 B.C.). From the Argaric culture that came later there is a menhir that shows
that man also roamed the area in those days.
And very near the village, at Cerrillo de las
Sombras, there’s a necropolis that dates from
Phoenician times (seventh and sixth centuries
B.C.).
But little by little, the Moors were stripped of the
few rights they had been left (they farmed the
worst lands, were forbidden to speak or write in
their language and wear their customary clothes). Then the Moorish uprising in Las
Alpujarras took place, which was brutally crushed by the Christians. The Moors of the Axarquía
and Montes de Málaga regions, waiting for the
help promised by Aben Humeya (Umayyad) from
Las Alpujarras and also from the north of Africa,
took shelter on the peak called El Fuerte (the
fort), where approximately 7,000 of them gathered.
Population: 2,834.
Name given to the local people: Frigilianenses.
Nickname: Aguanosos.
Location: Eastern part of the Axarquía region, at
the foothills of the Sierra de Almijara range. The
village is more than 430m above sea level, 56km
from the capital of the province, and only 6km
from Nerja. The average annual rainfall of the
area is around 600 l/m2, and the average annual
temperature, 18°C.
What to see: Iglesia de San Antonio, antiguo
pósito, Palacio de los Condes de Frigiliana,
Ermita del Ecce Homo, Murallas del Castillo de
Lizar, Palacio del Apero, menhir (cultura del
Algar), necrópolis fenicia.
Tel.: (+34) 952 534 261.
Fax: (+34) 952 533 434
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Part of the district of Frigiliana sits on the
southern slope of the Sierra de Almijara range.
This area shows a more complex relief, rich in
contrast, with peaks not as high as the mountains but well over 1,000m high, as the Sierra de
Enmedio range (1,164m), or very near that
height, such as El Fuerte peak (976m).
The old part of the village of Frigiliana is considered one of the best preserved in the province,
as it keeps its original Moorish plan. Its chaotic
layout –chaotic from a twenty-first century point
of view– keeps the visitors in constant amazement. Unexpected architecture and streets,
alleys, passages, stairs, flowers and plants in the
most unlikely places offer the visitor a mixture of
different aromas of unknown origin, ancient history in modern whitewash. And once out of the
cosiness of the narrow streets, there’s the expanse of a superb landscape on the eastern Costa
del Sol.
Since the arrival of the Moors on the Iberian
Peninsula, in 711, until the end of the ninth century, when the fortress was built, very little is
known of the history of Frigiliana, except that it
was under the leadership of Umar ibn Hafsun
and that from the thirteenth to the Fifteenth centuries, it belonged to the Nasrid kingdom. The
village surrendered to Christian troops in 1485,
without any bloodshed.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Frigiliana
Frigiliana
It’s more than likely that travellers coming to
Frigiliana for the first time have a preconceived
idea of the village, because many clichés usually
used to describe the typical Andalusian mountain
village overlooking the sea have been used. In
this case, however, all the clichés are true, but
are superseded by an indescribable sensation
that is difficult to explain, although easy to perceive. It can perhaps only be described as sheer
fascination.
The Romans settled here in 206 B.C. through
treaties with the native population, and Frigiliana
became part of Conventus de Gades. The name
of the village is of Roman origin and derives from
Frexinius (maybe some local character we know
nothing about) plus the suffix –ana, which in
Spanish indicates origin and property, that is,
place or village of Frexinius.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The terraced market gardens that go down from
the village towards the coastal area, between the
dazzling white of the houses and the deep blue
of the Mediterranean, are another characteristic
feature of the area that will remain in the visitors’
memory for a long time.
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Take the Autovía del Mediterráneo (A-7; N-340)
towards Motril, and before getting to Nerja, take
the MA-105, which leads straight to Frigiliana.
WHAT TO SEE
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The patron Saint celebrations in homage to St.
Sebastian take place at the beginning of the
year, on January 20, but since 1967 they have
been reduced to their religious character: a mass
and a procession with the images of St.
Sebastian, St. Anthony of Padua, and St.
Anthony Abbot, as the popular celebrations have
been transferred to St. Anthony of Padua’s Day,
June 13, due to the weather conditions at that
time of year. In February, during carnival time,
there are theatrical and musical performances,
and a night-time party is organised.
May 1 is the Day of the Horse, and the celebrations take place at the Cañada del Ingenio dell,
where people try the typical foodstuffs of the
area, and afterwards attend a horse taming exhi-
Routes & Excursions
Contents
FOOD
Being so close to the coast and welcoming such
large numbers of visitors resulted in the village
cuisine including international dishes in addition
to local specialties. The latter include kid served
with different sauces, ajocolorao (a kind of soup),
flour migas (a dish based on flour, water, oil and
garlic), and Holy Week stews, made with cod.
These dishes, together with egg and flour omelettes dipped in sugar-cane syrup (a highly
appreciated product in the area), make up the
most typical cuisine of Frigiliana.
Arropía and marcochas, whose main ingredient
is golden syrup, are the most traditional sweet
dishes of the district, where sweet potato with
sugar-cane syrup is also very popular.
According to some historians, the muscatel
wine produced in Frigiliana is famous since
Roman times, no less!
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The Ecce Homo or Santo Cristo de la Caña (Holy
Christ of the Cane) Chapel dates from the eighteenth century. It’s a very simple building with a
single nave accessible through an atrium with a
semicircular arch. In the upper part of town, fragments of the walls of the ninth-century Lizar
Castle still stand. The entrance ramp to the fortress can also be seen. The Del Apero Palace
(seventeenth century) used to be linked to the
The most important day of the Holy Week is
Good Friday, when the Parish Church stages
Jesus’ death and his taking down from the cross,
after which the procession of the Holy Sepulchre
takes to the streets. However, the procession of
the Virgin of Solitude is the most solemn –the
streets are lit by the candles carried by women,
which gives the town an unusual appearance.
On June 13, St. Anthony of Padua’s Day, a pilgrimage is organised. The image of the Saint is
taken on an oxcart to Pozo Viejo, a place by the
Higuerón River, where the pilgrims gather to
have a picnic in the coolness of the shady pines.
The popular dancing contest, at the beginning of
August, congregates numerous national and
international folk groups who show their traditional dances at the village sports centre. At the
beginning of September, the candle celebrations
(Candelarias), bring old music to the beat of the
zambombas and the almireces (traditional percussion instruments).
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FIESTAS
St. Anthony’s Church is the most important religious building of Frigiliana. It was built in the
seventeenth century and renovated in the eighteenth. It has three naves separated by pilasters,
covered by a wooden framework. The transept is
higher thanks to a lanterned dome. The temple
houses an eighteenth-century statue of St.
Anthony carved in polychromatic wood. On the
outside, the church has a simple brick façade
with a semicircular arch and a three-level bell
tower.
The royal silo of the old granaries is a building
dating from the eighteenth century located in the
old part of town. It has been turned into private
housing, and only the arcades of the main façade of the old building remain. The Palace of the
Counts of Frigiliana is an old mansion of the sixteenth century that was later turned into a sugar
mill. It was built in Renaissance style, and takes
up an area of 2,000m2. The ashlars of the façade
Of the archaeological sites of Frigiliana, the aforementioned menhir, from the Argaric culture
(1500 B.C.), located at the Mudéjar quarter, and
the Phoenician necropolis, at Cerrillo de las
Sombras, are the most important.
bition. Two days after that, the villagers gather
flowers, food and drink in preparation for May
Crosses celebration, in which religious, culinary
and folkloric traditions are combined to make a
big popular night-time party at the Church’s
Square.
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As the sugar mill is concerned, it’s worth mentioning that for many years, the Axarquía region
based its economy on sugar production, which
today has been replaced in part by tropical fruit
growing. The sugar mill was the place where
sugar cane was transformed into a readily edible
product.
sugar mill, though its original function was to
serve as barn, stables, and farming tool storehouse. It has a rectangular floor plan and its
rooms are placed around an internal patio. It
houses the Archaeological Museum, which displays a series of Iberian-Phoenician tombs,
among other artefacts.
Frigiliana
Frigiliana
The old part of town, as we have already mentioned, is a gift to the eye that no one should miss.
Perhaps tourism, especially in high season (from
July to September), mars the enjoyment of the
many characteristics of this village, but it’s the
price one has to pay when tourists flock to a
place. This doesn’t mean that the village is just a
display for visitors. On the contrary, it’s a living
town that was destined to share its eccentricities
with people from all over the world, and still admirably preserves its cultural and historical heritage
for those who know how to find it.
belonged to the pulled-down Arabian castle of
the area.
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HOW TO GET THERE
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Frigiliana
Frigiliana
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
District border
Nature Reserve
border
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TOURIST BOARD &
ROUTE FROM
GENALGUACIL TO
JUBRIQUE
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gENALGUACIL
ROUTE FROM GENALGUACIL
TO JUBRIQUE
The route runs through the beautiful
landscape of Alto Genal Valley, among pines,
cork oaks and a lush river bank vegetation.
There are plenty of nightingales and robins in
the area, and with a bit of luck, we may see a
badger or two.
ROUTE AROUND PEÑAS
BLANCAS
CONVENTION BUREAU
Our path starts at Castañales
Street, in the upper part of the
town of Genalguacil. The trail goes
through almond and cork oak
orchards, and towards the coast, it
offers an excellent panoramic view
of the villages of Gaucín,
Benarrabá, and Algatocín.
At about 700 metres from the
starting point, there’s a fork in the
road. We must take the path on
our right hand side and start the
ascent. The vegetation gets thicker, especially when we get to the
mountain pine woods. Further
ahead, we get to a lovely spot
with a spring, and 100m from
there, we arrive at the Benajarón
area, an ideal place to have a
rest. From here, we can see the
village of Jubrique.
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Genalguacil
Genalguacil
After only 200m, we get to another
spring from where we can see the
white houses of Benadalid across
the Genal River. When we get to
another fork in the road, we must
take the path on the left and go
through an abandoned olive grove.
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80
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Length: 5km
Estimated time: 2 hours,30 minutes.
Beginning of route: Castañales Street
(Genalguacil).
End of route: Jubrique.
Itinerary: Castañales Street (Genalguacil),
area of Benajarón, Monardilla River, Jubrique.
The trail continues downhill
towards the Monardilla River,
while through the holm oaks that
dominate the landscape a valley
opens up. This is a good place to
take another rest before starting
climbing towards Jubrique, as the
initial ascent is very steep, at least
along the first 800m.
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ROUTE FROM GENALGUACIL TO JUBRIQUE
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Genalguacil
Genalguacil
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End of route
Itinerary
Road
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District border
Beginning of route
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We keep to this trail for another 1.5km until we
get to an esplanade, where we have to take
the path on the left. If we can keep putting the
same amount of effort into our climbing, we’ll
get to the so- called Plazoleta del Genalguacil,
a very nice spot to take a break.
After leaving this place, we cross a wooden
bridge and start going downhill until we get to
the Peñas Blancas Pass. The last 2.5km afford
beautiful panoramic views of the Costa del Sol
and the Serranía de Ronda range.
CONVENTION BUREAU
After walking 150m from there, we get to a
brook and a new forest trail that starts going up
the mountain. We’ll soon know whether we are
on the right track, as it’s a winding trail through
nice pine woods.
ROUTE AROUND PEÑAS
BLANCAS
This route will take us through one of
the nicest places in the province to discover on
foot. Besides, as it combines uphill and downhill stretches, it’s a wonderfully varied trail.
Genalguacil
Genalguacil
After the Peñas Blancas Mountain Pass
–where we have to leave our vehicles– a forest
trail towards Genalguacil begins. We have to
follow that path in a straight line until we get to
the first crossroads, which is marked with a red
and white barrier.
TECHNICAL DATA
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84
Length: 6km
Beginning of route: Peñas Blancas Mountain
Pass (Genalguacil).
End of route: Peñas Blancas (Genalguacil).
Itinerary: Peñas Blancas Mountain Pass
(Genalguacil), forest trail towards Genalguacil,
Plazoleta de Genalguacil, Peñas Blancas
(Genalguacil).
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Genalguacil
Genalguacil
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From the Costa del Sol, starting from Estepona
(AP-7; N-340), take the MA-557, and after passing the Puerto de Peñas Blancas pass, you can
either stay on the MA-557, in which case you
have to go through Jubrique, or take the MA-558.
Both motorways will take you to Genalguacil. If
you’re coming from Ronda, take the A-369 that
links Ronda with Algeciras, and go to Algatocín.
Then take the MA-536 and travel 12km until you
get to Genalguacil.
experiences in order to foster culture development, with only one condition: the work done
must remain in town. Therefore, Genalguacil has
become an extraordinary outdoor museum which
has remarkably increased its tourism and cultural
value. Some works are not displayed on the streets but in the exhibition hall of a museum set up
in an old mill, which opens to the public in August.
WHAT TO SEE
A typical highland village, Genalguacil offers visitors its Moorish urban layout –which has remained almost unchanged for centuries– with its
steep slopes and the exquisite popular architecture of its mostly haphazardly oriented and dazzling white houses, standing out bright against the
green colour of the huge forests.
The most representative historical monument of
the village is the Parish Church of San Pedro de
Verona (St. Peter of Verona), built in the middle of
the sixteenth century. The church was burnt
during the Moorish uprising of 1570, rebuilt in the
eighteenth century, and it underwent restoration a
few years ago. The building comprises three
naves separated by semicircular arches resting
on columns. On the outside, its octagonal sectioned tower takes prominence. The whole building
can be placed in the Baroque style, with some
However, tradition has open up to modernity in
the best possible way –through art. The village is
dotted with sculptures made of stone, iron, wood
or clay during the Art Encounters of the Genal
Valley, a biennial initiative held during the first fortnight of August since 1994.
Since that year, the City has invited a group of
artists willing to live together and share ideas and
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After the conquest by the Catholic Monarchs, the
Moorish population continued dwelling in
HOW TO GET THERE
The finding of hand mills for precious metals
shows that Phoenicians and Greeks –the artefacts
belong to theses cultures– settled in Genalguacil
for a while in order to mine the gold and silver of
an area called Reales Chicos. Apart from this, little is known of the history of this town until the arrival of the Moors. The name of the village derives
from the sound of the Arabic phrase GennaAlwacir, which means “gardens of the vizier” or
minister, suggesting that some high officer of the
Muslim government once resided in this area.
Population: 554.
Name given to the local people: Genalguacileños.
Location: In the southern part of the region of
Ronda, at the Bajo Genal Valley. The village sits
on a hill 520m above sea level, at 45km of Ronda
and 150 of Málaga City. The average annual
rainfall –one of the highest of the province– is
over 1,300 l/m2, and the average annual
temperature is around 14°C.
What to see: Parish Church of St Peter of Verona,
Genal Valley Museum of Art Meetings, Los Reales
de Sierra Bermeja Nature Area. Street exhibitions of
the Art Meetings throughout the year.
Tel.: (+34) 952 152 003. Fax: (+34) 952 152 129.
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Besides the forests, the abundance of water make
this area suitable for orchards and market gardens
–when the Genal River widens and flows peacefully, one can see a high number of vegetable gardens and orange groves. But apart from these
parcels of land tamed by men, most of the region
can be considered as one of the best ecologically
preserved areas throughout the province of
Málaga.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Genalguacil
Genalguacil
The area, located between the Genal River and
the Sierra Bermeja range, offers a complex and
varied topography which in turn greatly enriches a
landscape full of pines trees, chestnuts, cork oaks
and gall oaks, although the most appreciated
botanical species of the area is undoubtedly the
Spanish fir. It was in the Spanish fir wood of Los
Reales of Sierra Bermeja range that the Swiss
scientist Edmond Boissier described this tree for
the first time in 1837.
Genalguacil, but only until the middle of the sixteenth century. Like in many other towns, the
Muslims of Genalguacil joined the Moorish uprising and were eventually expelled. The lands
were repopulated by Christians from other regions
or given in fiefdom to the Duke of Arcos, and the
situation went on until noble privileges were abolished by law.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Before entering the district of Genalguacil,
the traveller will notice that large forest areas start
dominating the landscape, the green areas get
more intense in colour and the vegetation becomes thicker. In the area surrounding the village,
lush vegetation is the rule rather than the exception.
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The splendid landscapes surrounding the village
are of extraordinary interest to nature lovers. To go
one way or the other is virtually the same.
Whether taking the road down the Genal Valley or
up the Los Reales of Sierra Bermeja range, what
visitors can find will surely exceed their expectations as regards plant wildlife –there are about 50
rare plant species registered either because they’re endangered or interesting– and also animal
wildlife (Spanish ibex, roe deer, otters).
FOOD
In this area, it’s still customary to adapt the menu
to the seasons, especially regarding traditional dishes. In spring, the wild vegetables (golden thistle,
fennel, bladder campion, asparagus) take precedence on the table of the locals, while in winter, the
preferred dishes are migas (a dish made with fried
breadcrumbs), hot gazpacho (a kind soup), chickpea stews, and gachas. Tomato soup, gazpacho or
meat salmorejo (another soup) are among the
most popular dishes, as are the pork products and
the excellent must produced in the area.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Mudéjar reminiscence, for example in the wooden framework of the central nave.
FIESTAS
The celebration of the Virgin of the Candelaria
(February 2) starts the festive calendar of the village, and before Holy Week the villagers have some
fun during the carnival. During the patron Saint
celebrations in homage to St. Peter Martyr of
Verona (April 29), a wide variety of events, for all
ages and tastes, take place.
Genalguacil
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Genalguacil
But the most attended celebration of all is, funnily
enough, one of the more recently established: the
Art Encounters of the Genal Valley, which take
place during the first fortnight of August. Apart
from the activities of the artists gathered in town,
several complementary activities for the villagers
and an ever-increasing number of outsiders take
place. The combination of theatrical plays, music,
exhibitions and street parties make up a contagious and gratifying experience.
Much more traditional and no less attended is the
festivity of the chestnut harvest (beginning of
November), which all the villages of the Genal
Valley have in common. It’s customary to go out to
the country, roast chestnuts, and savour them with
a good wine of the land.
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TO THE HIGHEST POINT
OF ISTÁN
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“Istán” means “highest” in Arabic, and the village received this name during Moorish rule
because it sits over 200m above sea level. The
route offers excellent panoramic views of the
surroundings of the village, located between
the Serranía de Ronda mountains and the
Costa del Sol.
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After passing through some farms,
we take a new path that opens up in
front of us and continues uphill.
This will be the last ascent, a 6-km
trail that will take you to the highest
point of the district of Istán.
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Length: 20km
Difficulty: moderate to strenuous
Beginning of route: Puerto de la Refrigeria
(Istán)
End of route: De la Refriega Pass (Istán)
Itinerary: De la Refriega Pass (Istán), slopes of the Sierra Real range, Hoyo del Bote
Brook, highest point of Istán (Istán)
We are now at 14Km, just when the
uphill trail turns into rocky crags
that will make the ascent more difficult. To catch our breath, we can
admire the panoramic views of the
La Concepción Reservoir, the village and the Mediterranean Sea in
the distance.
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TECHNICAL DATA
The first rest comes at the Hoyo del
Bote Brook. Once here, we keep to
the left bank of the stream, always
ignoring the many detours that we’ll
find along the way. After crossing a
concrete platform that leads to the
other side of the stream, the path
starts going uphill. It’s easy to lose
one’s way here because paths
spring up everywhere. We have to
keep walking in a straight line,
always towards the village of Istán
that can be seen in the distance.
Istán
Istán
TO THE HIGHEST
POINT OF ISTÁN
The village of Istán has 14km of road
that could be considered the best viewing point
from which to enjoy the landscape. A stroll
along the surroundings –like the route we’ll
describe here – allows visitors to enjoy not
only the landscape of the village but also of the
hills around it.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The route starts at the La Refriega
Pass towards Istán, along a nice
stretch of road that gently descends the slopes of the Sierra Real
range. We have to walk almost 2
kilometres downhill until we take a
path to the right that starts a steeper descent.
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Istán
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The Church of San Miguel (St. Michael), devoted
to the patron saint of the village, was built at the
beginning of the sixteenth century, in 1505, commanded by the Archbishop of Seville, Diego de
Deza. The Moors burnt it in 1569 and it had to be
rebuilt. Since then, it has suffered three alterations, the last one in 1960. It has a single nave
with wooden framework and two chapels displaying eighteenth-century paintings. On the inside,
some images of artistic value still remain, like
the ones of St. Michael, the Immaculate
Conception, St. Anthony, Resurrected Christ,
and St. Joseph.
would take it to the most unlikely places in town
and to the farms. Even today, a few of the canals
still serve their original purpose.
Another characteristic feature of this village is its
fountains. Built in popular style, explaining the
proliferation of tile work, all the fountains provide
drinking water, including the fountain-washing
place complex of El Chorro, which evokes bygone days with its seven pipes of crystal clear water
coming directly from the Sierra Blanca range and
its ancient structure.
The Escalante Tower, witness to some of the
most salient historical events of Moorish rule, was
built around the fifteenth century. Of its sturdy
construction, only a vaulted chamber, a semicircular arch, and the horse courtyard remain. It has
been declared a building of cultural interest due to
its historical value.
The Holy Chestnut is a tree that was declared a
Natural Monument by the Government of
Andalusia in 1985. It’s 800 years old and its trunk
has a perimeter of 13 metres. The story goes that
A few kilometres from town, we find the Chapel of
San Miguel (St. Michael), which was built from a
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WHAT TO SEE
Name given to the local people: Panochos.
Location: North of the western part of the Costa
del Sol region, bordering with the Guadalhorce
Valley and Ronda regions. The village is 300m
above seal level, 72km from the capital of the
province and only 13km from the coast. The
average annual rainfall is 930 l/m2 and the average
annual temperature, about 16°C.
What to see: Outstanding sights: Church of San
Miguel (St Michael), Escalante Tower, Shrine of St
Michale, El Chorro Fountain, Holy Chestnut Tree,
Tajo Banderas Viewpoint, Youth House Viewpoint,
Las Herrizas Viewpoint, Azufaifo Viewpoint, El
Peñón Viewpoint, Casa de la Juventud Viewpoint.
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Calle Empedrada, 32 (29611).
Tel: (+34) 952 869 603. Fax: (+34) 952 869 665.
Official website: www.istan.es
Soon after the Moorish uprising broke out in
1568, Istán joined in and participated very actively, as it was the lord of the village who promoted the rebellion, not only in the coastal region but
also in part of the Ronda mountains region. Due
to the seriousness of the situation, Phillip II sent
Being so close to the coast (about 13km), Istán
can be easily accessed from the coastal motorway in no more than 20 minutes. From highway
AP-7 (N-340), at Puerto Banús, next to Marbella,
take the A-6206, which takes you straight to Istán.
In the village, an interesting network of canals
from the Moorish era still survives. It is well known
that the Moors worshiped water, and in Istán
water would reach the village through canals that
USEFUL INFORMATION
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The first inhabitants of this area were the Moors,
who in times of Umar ibn Hafsun occupied the De
Arboto Fort, located in a place known as Plaza de
Armas. But the actual settlement of Istán dates
back to the middle of the fifteen century (1448),
when Christian troops, led by Saavedra Urdiales,
prepared to attack the fort. After a battle at the
banks of the Río Verde river, the defeated Moors
fled to the place where Istán lies today, which
seemingly means “the highest.” In this spot, they
built a new fortress, of which there are still some
remnants, and next to this stronghold, the first
houses of the village were built.
HOW TO GET THERE
natural cave. On the inside, there’s an image of
the patron saint of the village, St. Michael. From
the chapel’s site you can enjoy magnificent views
of the Sierra Blanca range, the valley of the Río
Verde river, the reservoir, and the Mediterranean
in the distance.
Istán
Istán
Amidst the heights, the valley of the Río Verde
River opens up, which before reaching the La
Concepción Reservoir, runs through extraordinarily beautiful landscapes. This is the case of the
Dehesa de Bornoque, where there’s a combination of cork oaks, gall oaks and even Spanish firs,
which only goes to show that there’s a great
amount of this kind of fir across the Sierra de las
Nieves region. Nearer the town, the valley has
terraced lands in which fruit trees and vegetables
grow.
over Luis Ponce de León, who eventually quelled
the revolt. With the uprising crushed and the
Moors expelled, Istán was repopulated by
Christians, many of whom came from Murcia and
spoke the Panocho dialect, thus giving rise to the
locals being called Panochos.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The district of Istán is located just outside
the perimeter of the Sierra de las Nieves Nature
Reserve, and part of it is actually inside the area
declared a Biosphere Reserve. Little more can be
added as regards the ecological value of this
territory. On top of that, the district is commanded
by the Sierra Real range (1,331m) in the north,
which competes with the De la Zarina Hill
(1,141m) and Del Lastonar Hill (1,260m), both
very close to the coast.
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the part that opens up to the fields that go up to
the mountains and give rise to cliffs. From here,
the junction of the Río Verde and the Molinos
rivers can be seen.
FIESTAS
The natural viewing point of Tajo
Banderas (flag cliff) owes its name to
its strategic position. The overhanging
mass of rock was ideal for placing the
flags of the fighting parties engaged in
different wars. From this spot, you can
enjoy magnificent panoramic views of
the mountain ranges surrounding Istán
(Sierra Blanca, Sierra Real, and Sierra
de las Nieves). Also, you can see the
lake that is actually a reservoir of the
Río Verde river. On sunny days, you
can make out the profiles of Gibraltar
and Ceuta in the distance.
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The most representative celebration of the Holy
Week in Istán –apart from the processions of the
The traditional cuisine of Istán is surprisingly
varied and of very high quality. The many typical
dishes of this region include kid fried with garlic,
fennel stew, soups and maimones (garlic soups).
Winter dishes include berzas or stewed cabbage,
sweet corn soup, and crackling soup. And for the
summer, popular wisdom recommends tomato
soup with figs, ajoblanco (a cold soup made with
almonds), and tomato soup with grapes. Sweet
dishes include oil cakes, rice pudding, borrachuelos (kind of doughnuts with wine), and rosquillos
de vino (ring-shaped biscuits with wine). In Istán,
the hornazo with an egg in the middle is famous.
Instead of preparing exclusively during the celebrations in homage to St. Mark, the dish is made
all year round.
Going up Pablo Picasso Street, the
visitor will find the viewing point Del
Peñón to the left. It has benches to sit
an admire the landscape, except from
In early November, the villagers get ready for
what is known here as the tostoná, and in other
towns, the tostón. Chestnuts are toasted in certain places of the district (the youngsters go to the
country), and the toasted chestnuts are usually
savoured with alcohol. The zambombeos
(November 30) herald the arrival of Christmas.
The villagers gather in groups and take to the
streets singing Christmas carols to the beat of
zambombas (friction drums) and tambourines.
FOOD
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The viewing point of Azufaifo Street
commands incredible views of the
Molinos River, which has a waterfall.
Next to the Río Verde river, it runs
down to the reservoir and gives a
splendid landscape with the Sierra
Blanca range as backdrop.
St. Michael’s Fair (September 29) lasts three
days and the town actively participates in several events, including the ribbons bike race. The
previous Sunday, the tomillería, a pilgrimage in
homage to St. Michael, takes place. The pilgrims
going to the Saint’s chapel are called tomilleros
(from tomillo, which means thyme) due to the
abundance of this herb growing in the surrounding fields. In the middle of the afternoon, the
pilgrims go back to town bringing the image of
the Saint.
With variations, the Paso is still being performed.
The actors now move along a wide space especially decorated for the occasion. The play starts
on Maundy Thursday, starting with Abraham and
ending with the Arrest of Jesus. On Good Friday,
it’s the Trial, the lashing, and the Via Dolorosa up
to the Crucifixion and Death of Jesus. On Holy
Saturday, the Resurrection is enacted, with Jesus
coming out of the tomb. Recently, this custom has
been declared a celebration of national interest
for tourism in Andalusia.
Istán
The natural viewing point of Las
Herrizas is located at the top of a hill
overlooking the reservoir of the Río
Verde river. From this place, you can
enjoy the same views mentioned before, but here, the perspective of the
reservoir and the Río Verde river is
particularly striking.
Though recently established, the Gastronomic
Day (February) is an extremely popular celebration. You can taste the most typical dishes of the
village in the town square. Some restaurants join
the celebration and contribute with their best
specialties, while a band of musicians or panda
sing verdiales (Andalusian popular dance and
song similar to the fandango) adding the best
folk to the celebrations.
fraternities which take place on different dates–
is a kind of pageant called the Paso, whose first
performances date back to the eighteenth century. We know that in the nineteenth century it
was represented as a Greek tragedy: a chorus
sang the script and masked characters made
gestures according to the text. Between 1950
and 1980, the pageant was no longer played, but
during the last decade, the Paso has taken new
life and is again one of the characteristic features
of this town.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Ferdinand V the Catholic himself celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving under its
branches, back in 1501. It’s located
37km from Istán and can be accessed
through the track of Monda first, and
then the track of Las Vegas.
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mÁLAGA
TORRIJOS TRAIL
ALONG EL CERRADO PATH
The Torrijos trail, 2.5km in length, can
be completed in only 3 hours. It’s an easy trail
and the most attractive in Montes de Málaga
Nature Park, since it combines interesting cultural and human elements.
We'll start in Lagar de Torrijos, whose corners,
full of magic and history make it worth a visit.
In fact, the Nature Park logo was inspired by
the Lagar.
On our walk along this path we’ll be able to
observe the rich vegetation including willows,
black poplars, ash trees, and brambles. The
second stretch of the trail displays the pines
that abound in Montes de Málaga Nature Park.
If the weather is pleasant we can walk down
from the ruins of the Lagar de Pacheco to the
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Once we enter the lagar, we’ll start going down
on the sidewalk that leads to the recreational
area by the Chapera Stream. We’ll cross the
stream over a stone bridge and go on the path
that runs parallel to the stream, leading to the
ruins of Lagar de Pacheco.
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TECHNICAL DATA
Length: 2.5km
Difficulty: easy.
Beginning of route: Lagar de Torrijos
(Málaga).
End of route: ruins at Lagar de Santillana
(Málaga).
Itinerary: Lagar de Torrijos (Málaga), Chapera
Stream recreational area, ruins at Lagar de
Santillana (Málaga)
There are three fundamental elements in the
lagar: wine making with the husillo (a screw
that turns making the beam go up or down in
the baskets containing the grape. This way
they get the must which becomes wine after
the fermentation); the oil mill (drawn by animals, and dating back to the middle of the
nineteenth century); and the ovens they bake
the pan cateto (peasant bread).
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Málaga
POCOPAN TRAIL
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Following the stream course we get to a small
dam. There, we’ll take a forest trail that leads
to the Lagar de Santillana ruins. Opposite the
lagar there’s a raised area lined with olive
trees where we can enjoy nature and the
Mounts of Málaga.
Although the Lagar de Torrijos is open all the
year round, the best season to visit it is in
September, the month the harvest takes place
and the must feast is held.
LAS CONTADORAS - EL
CERRADO
ALONG THE
BROOK AND PICAPEDREROS
Chapera Stream. However, we shouldn’t get to
the stream if it’s raining, since the waters can
become quite troubled.
CONVENTION BUREAU
TORRIJOS TRAIL
The Lagar de Torrijos is the typical farm house
of the Málaga mountains in which wine is
made. The house belongs to and has been
renovated by the Ministry of Environment of
the Government of Andalusia. In the first half
of the nineteenth century, until the unfortunate
arrival of the phylloxera pest, Lagar de Torrijos
was the place where the popular vino de los
montes (wine from the mountains) was made.
When olive trees substituted for vines, two
wings were added to the building, as well as an
olive oil mill, a press and a cellar.
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We should mention that the path
runs along an area that was
devastated by a forest fire in
1989 and that is being continuously transformed both by
men and nature.
ALONG EL CERRADO
PATH
Visitors who want to admire the beauty
of Montes de Málaga Nature Park can follow
the El Cerrado Path, a quite easy round road
4km in length that can be completed in nearly
two hours.
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Length: 4km
Difficulty: easy.
Beginning of route: El Cerrado Refuge
(Málaga).
End of route: El Cerrado Refuge (Málaga).
Itinerary: There are two stretches. The first
one goes uphill and the second is a downhill
forest trail linking the El Cerrado Refuge with
the Montes road C-345 (Málaga).
The most interesting spot, however, is the Mirador del Cochino,
which affords impressive views
of Málaga City, the Nature Park
and some of the main mountain
ranges of the province of
Málaga. Finally, we’ll continue to
walk along the forest trail that
takes us back to the starting
point.
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TECHNICAL DATA
First we’ll walk uphill and then
we’ll take a forest trail that runs
downhill and connects the El
Cerrado Refuge with the road of
Los Montes (C-345). While
hiking across the area we can
see how pines are being reborn
in a light green colour. We’ll also
see olive trees, strawberry trees
and other species typical of the
Mediterranean region. We’ll
cross several brooks which bring
a wealth of water to irrigate the
area.
Málaga
Málaga
We’ll start from El Cerrado refuge. We’ll see a
recreational and camping area with tables,
benches, barbecues, WCs, fountains and wastepaper bins. A great place to spend our time
leisurely.
The first stretch of the path
starts in an area unaffected by
fire, so we can see majestic
pines and other Mediterranean
species mingled with holm oaks
and cork trees.
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ALONG EL CERRADO PATH
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It’ll take us one hour to follow 3km along
this straight, easy path. We’ll start at the
Las Contadoras Plain where several
roads meet. You’ll see a signpost
indicating destinations and distances.
LAS CONTADORAS - EL
CERRADO
TECHNICAL DATA
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When we arrive at the place where the
yellow and blue routes meet, we’ll start
going downhill along a path to our right.
While we head towards the road C-345
up by Boticario, we’ll be surrounded by
pines, holm oaks, cypresses and carob
trees. Right ahead we’ll arrive at our destination: El Cerrado recreational area.
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Length: 3km
Estimated time: 1 hour.
Difficulty: easy.
Beginning of route: Las Contadoras Plain
(Málaga)
End of route: El Cerrado (Málaga).
Itinerary: Las Contadoras Plain (Málaga),
yellow route coming from Fuente de la Reina,
leading to Torrijos and passing by MartínezFalero vantage point, yellow and blue routes’
crossing up to El Boticario, El Cerrado recreational area (Málaga).
Even though most of the path runs downhill, we’ll start walking uphill. On the first
stretch of the road we can admire the
landscape, rich in Aleppo pines, used to
fight the floods that used to threaten the
city. Montes de Málaga Nature Park has
come to play a main role as a flood
barrier in the Guadalmedina River, which
was a menace to the capital city.
Málaga
Málaga
T his hiking trail starts at Las
Contadoras, near the Aula de la Naturaleza
(Nature School) bearing the same name. They
develop different environment-oriented programmes, and the groups participating in
these programmes can stay there. From this
spot we can take two trails: Contadoras Pocopan and Contadoras - El Cerrado. We’ll
take the latter.
Our trail starts at a stretch known as
yellow road, which runs across the plain
from Fuente de la Reina to Torrijos, passing through Mirador de Martínez-Falero.
From the same plain starts another trail
towards Aula de la Naturaleza, in
Contadoras, and to Jotrón.
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The last stretch of the trail, a forest
trail towards Jotrón, leads us to the
Pocopan Hill, our arrival point. From
the hill, we’ll be able to enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view.
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Apart from pines, holm oaks and carob trees, there are rockroses, rosemary shrubs, mastic trees, lavender
plants, phloxes... As far as fauna is
concerned, the area is home to squirrels, booted eagles, goshawks,
among other species.
Length: 3km
Beginning of route: Aula de La Naturaleza
Las Contadoras (Málaga).
End of route: Pocopan Hill (Málaga).
Itinerary: Aula de La Naturaleza Las
Contadoras (Málaga), level curve of slope,
forest trail towards Jotrón, Pocopan Hill
(Málaga).
Farther ahead we’ll reach a spot that
was devastated by a forest fire long
ago. This is the reason why the pines are not that high here. We’ll be
able to enjoy panoramic views of the
Los Frailes Stream or the Guadalmedina River valleys.
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TECHNICAL DATA
First we’ll walk along a level curve
on a slope facing south-southwest.
The area, featuring pines, holm
oaks, and some carob trees, used to
be a recreational one in the past.
Málaga
Málaga
T his is the second trail (3km long)
departing from Las Contadoras, right from the
Aula de la Naturaleza by a small monument
honouring some people who died in the area
while trying to put out a forest fire. Fires here
prove to be extremely hazardous, affecting
both animals and plants.
CONVENTION BUREAU
POCOPAN TRAIL
The Aula de la Naturaleza (nature
information centre) at Las Contadoras is located in a building from
1780, in the heart of Montes de Málaga Nature Park. The site was refurbished and improved by the Government of Andalusia in 1989. However, it opened in 1995. Currently it
covers more than 500m2 and is fully
equipped to accommodate 40 people for several days.
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Málaga
Málaga
CONVENTION BUREAU
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ALONG THE HONDO
BROOK AND PICAPEDREROS
One kilometre ahead, we’ll have to detour via
a right turn. Our first stop: the old Lagar de
Picapedreros, in which a forest ranger used to
live some time ago.
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Near Km. 3 we can enjoy a great panoramic
view of Málaga City and the old Los Montes
road, lined with the typical roadside diners. To
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Farther ahead, on the last stretch, we’ll find
the Cortijo de El Boticario and the centre for
birds of prey. Near the cortijo (country estate),
there are some signposts describing the birds
of prey we can watch in the area and how we
should interact with them. The centre is not
open to the public, but from here we can engage in birdwatching as long as we don’t bother
the animals.
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Near the lagar remnants we’ll take a track on
the right that reaches Salto de Picapedreros, a
50-m cliff. At the bottom flows the Hondo
Brook. Watch your step when you lean out.
The waterfall is gorgeous, especially during
the rainy season.
The trail finally leads us to Cortijo de Don
Ventura, whose entrance is surrounded by
several holm oaks. The most abundant trees,
however, aren’t holm oaks but pines and
carobs. We’ll make out other buildings such as
Hondo, Casa Cuadra and Juan de Luna.
Length: 7km
Difficulty: easy.
Beginning of route: Molinos de San Telmo
(Málaga).
End of route: Venta El Boticario (Málaga).
Itinerary: Molinos de San Telmo (Málaga),
Casillas de Gutiérrez, old Lagar de
Picapedreros, Salto de Picapedreros, Cortijo
de Don Ventura, El Boticario Inn (Málaga)
the north, we’ll be able to see almost all the
Hondo Brook basin, presided over by the La
Matanza hill (“matanza” means “slaughter” in
Spanish), whose name recalls a battle in which
the Christians were defeated by the Moors in
1483.
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TECHNICAL DATA
We start following the edge of a gully made by
the Hondo brook, one of the five brooks of the
park. The brook is lined with eucalyptus, a tree
species we’ll see all along our path. As soon
as we start our excursion, we’ll see a pine
forest to our left, in an area known as Casillas
de Gutiérrez.
Málaga
Málaga
The Picapedreros trail runs close to the
city. It starts at the entrance of the Nature
Park, at Molinos de San Telmo, the most southern part of the park near highway N-331
towards Seville, Granada and Córodba. The
area is also known as “valle verde de los forestales” (green valley of the forests). The trail
and ends at El Boticario Inn. This is a straight
route along a forest trail in good condition, with
a gentle uphill slope along 7km. Allow 3 hours.
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Málaga
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The landscape levels out to the west, shaping
what is known as Hoya de Málaga, which is the
lowland formed where the Guadalmedina and
Guadalhorce river valleys merge, before they flow
out into the Mediterranean Sea. In this area, the
seaward-facing part of the city, which stretches out
to the west, blends with the sugarcane fields,
orchards and market gardens that form the last
redoubt of an agricultural tradition that is steadily
being absorbed by industrial parks and the airport.
Málaga
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In the nineteenth century, the city not only suffered as a result of the Napoleonic invasion but also
from the conflicts between Liberals and
Absolutists that led to the execution of General
Torrijos and his companions by a firing squad on
San Andrés beach in 1831, during the reign of
Ferdinand VII. Towards the middle of this century,
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In the following century, Málaga entered an era of
greater stability in every sense of the word and,
most importantly, the economy began to strengthen, mainly due to farming products’ exports. The
end of the monopoly on trading with the Indies
had a direct influence on the extension of port
activity.
Export activity boomed under Roman rule, based
mainly around garum (fish sauce or paste), wine
Christian troops besieged the city of Málaga for a
century, until 1487, when the Moors finally surrendered. The unconditional surrender entailed slavery or exile for a large number of Málaga’s residents. Following its Christianisation, the city
underwent a process of radical change. It started
to spread beyond the old city walls and the
Church quickly began to build its own places for
worshipping and monasteries. The Moorish rebellions of the sixteenth century –which ended with
their expulsion in 1614– and the subsequent
shortages, were followed by the flooding of the
River Guadalmedina and epidemics that spread
throughout the city in the seventeenth century, as
well as pirate and Berber incursions and attacks
by French and British fleets. The local population
limped towards the end of the seventeenth century in a state of utter exhaustion.
Population: 700,000.
Name given to the local people: Malagueños.
Location: On the southern Mediterranean coast,
50 nautical miles from the Strait of Gibraltar and
520km from Spain’s capital city, Madrid. Average
annual rainfall is 470 l/m2 and average annual
temperature is 18.5ºC.
What to see: Roman Theatre, Alcazaba (Arab
Fortress), Gibralfaro Castle, Cathedral, Church of El
Sagrario (The Sanctuary), Episcopal Palace, Picasso
Museum, Church of Santiago (St James), Plaza de la
Merced, Picasso Foundation, Customs Hall, Paseo del
Parque, Vice-Chancellor's Office of the University of
Málaga (former Post Office), Bank of Spain, Town Hall,
Gardens of Puerta Oscura, Gardens of Pedro Luis
Alonso, Fountain of Tres Gracias (the Three Graces),
Bullring, Law Courts (former Miramar Hotel),
Monument to the Marquis of Larios, Larios Street,
Génova Fountain, Pasaje de Chinitas, Economic
Society of Friends of the Country, Málaga Athenaeum,
Church of Santo Cristo de la Salud (Holy Christ of
Health), Church of Santos Mártires (Holy Martyrs),
Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions, Puerta de
Atarazanas (Archway), Sanctuary of Virgen de la
Victoria (Virgin of Victory), Finca de la Concepción,
ContemporaryArt Centre (CAC), MálagaArt Heritage Museum.
Tourist Office, Pza. de la Marina, 11
Tel.: (+34) 952 122 020. Fax: (+34) 952 122 023.
.
Faced with Assyrian expansion and the progressive desertification of their lands, Phoenicians
from Tyre reached the Andalusian coast in around
800 BC and founded Malaka. At first, it wasn’t so
much a city as a trading post around the port.
Some time later the Greeks founded the neighbouring site of Mainake, which was destroyed by
the Carthaginians, who in turn were defeated by
the mighty Romans in the late third century BC in
the Second Punic War.
Later on, the city fell under the control of Berber
tribes, followed by the Almoravids, the Almohads
and the Nasrids. Despite these constant changes, the city retained its trading activity, owing largely to the protection of its strong walls and the
lookout post provided by the Gibralfaro Castle.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Málaga
The urban layout of the city stretches from east to
west for some 12km and the old town nestles in a
huge semicircular area right in the middle.
Practically all Málaga’s monuments and tourist
attractions are situated here save for the historic
gardens, which are on the outskirts.
and olive oil. By end of the first century AD, the
city was already a federated town with important
buildings, including the theatre on the slopes of
the Alcazaba (fortress), which still remains today.
As Roman domination waned, the city passed
onto the hands of different Germanic peoples,
such as Vandals and Visigoths, and following the
Islamic invasion it belonged to the Emirate, and
subsequently the Caliphate, of Córdoba.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Málaga is the third largest district in the
province after Antequera and Ronda. It combines
at least two very different kinds of landscape. To
the north lies the Sierra de Málaga, a heavily
wooded and mountainous area, very valuable in
terms of ecology and landscape, so much so that
it has been declared a Nature Park by the
Andalusian Regional Government. Towards the
east, the country resembles that of the Axarquía
and features the highest peaks, such as Santo
Pitar (1,020m).
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The Larios and Heredia families were the driving
force behind this thriving economic activity, and
the city showed them its gratitude by erecting statues and naming some of its main streets after
them. It was in the nineteenth century that Málaga
focused on its urban layout: the working class
neighbourhoods and factories were located in the
western districts, and in the east were the large
mansions of the new bourgeoisie, while in the
centre some of the streets were widened and
architecturally striking buildings were erected.
However, a new economic crisis was looming.
The flourishing industry began to falter and the
phylloxera plague destroyed most vines, which
had traditionally been one of the mainstays of the
province’s economy. Málaga’s economy had
many ups and downs, and did not really take off
until the 1960s, when the Costa del Sol became a
standard in international mass tourism.
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The Gibralfaro Castle, which sits on the crest of
the mountain that bears the same name, is connected to the Alcazaba by a corridor (coracha)
that runs between two walls. Construction began
on this strategic fortress in the late eighth century
under the rule of Emir Abd-ar-Rahman I.
Apparently, there had been a lighthouse on the
summit, at least according to a seventh-century
document, which refers to the mountain as Gebel
Faruk (lighthouse mountain).
When the city fell to the Catholic Monarchs, the
fortress was used as a military garrison, and in
the eighteenth century a magazine was built inside it, which has now been converted into a visitors’ centre. The castle was partially destroyed
during the Napoleonic invasion and later rebuilt,
but it retains some parts of the earlier structure. It
should be noted that in addition to its extraordinary historical value, the complex (with car
access) offers the best views over the city.
30 years later construction work began for the
Cathedral on the site of the former mosque. The
new church was designed in flamboyant style, but
when Diego de Siloé took charge of the project he
decided to go for a Renaissance style. However,
it took over two centuries to build it, so successive architectural styles were incorporated, particularly Baroque with some Neoclassical features.
The southern tower was never completed, so
Málaga’s Cathedral is known as La Manquita
(one-armed building).
Immediately after the city was conquered by
Christian troops, the former mosque was consecrated under the name of Virgen de la
Encarnación (Our Lady of the Incarnation), and
The magnificent stonework, culminating in the
main façade, features some of the most remarkable details and artistry ever to be seen in the city.
One example is the seating area for the choir, car-
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Except for the Phoenician remains found on the
site of the Picasso Museum, the city’s most
ancient monument is the Roman Theatre (first
century AD) located at the foot of the Alcazaba. Its
structure is similar to the Acinipo theatre in
The fortress was abandoned during the eighteenth century and in the mid-nineteenth century it
was turned into a neighbourhood where poor
people dwelled. It was declared a National
Monument in 1931, and its restoration and
reconstruction began at that time under the direction of local historian Juan Temboury and architect Guerrero Strachan. The most interesting features are the Arco del Cristo (Arch of Christ), the
Plaza de Armas (Parade Ground), the Torre del
Homenaje (Keep) and the Cuartos de Granada
(palace chambers). Today the site can be accessed by lift.
WHAT TO SEE
The Alcazaba or fortress dates back to the dawn
of the eleventh century, but some decades later
King Badis of the Granada taifa turned it into one
of the most important Muslim fortresses of that
time by providing it with a triple fortified complex
with several towers. Inside the fortress, there was
a palace for the Muslim high authorities and quarters for their servants. After the Christian conquest it became a royal residence for the Catholic
Monarchs and Phillip IV.
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From anywhere on the Costa del Sol, take the A7 (N-340) motorway; exits for Málaga are well
signposted. If you’re coming from inland
Andalusia, first follow the signs to Antequera, and
then get onto the A-45 (N-331) motorway, which
leads to Málaga.
Ronda. Parts of its proscenium, an entrance
gallery, traces of the orchestra pit and a large part
of the cavea (16m high, and a radius of 31m)
have been preserved. Its stone was used for the
construction of the Alcazaba and for the foundations of the Casa de la Cultura (Cultural Centre),
a building that was pulled down in 1995 to restore the ancient monument.
Málaga
Málaga
HOW TO GET THERE
CONVENTION BUREAU
Málaga started a period of industrialisation based
around textiles and steel, making it the second
most important area in Spain in these industries.
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The Cathedral has 15 chapels and 25 altars. La
Encarnación chapel is in the centre of the ambulatory. It has a lavish Neoclassical marble altarpiece. The Santa Bárbara Chapel has a Gothic
altarpiece that belonged to the former mosquecathedral, although the main image is by
Fernando Ortiz (1765). The Virgen de los Reyes
chapel contains a Gothic figure of the Virgin that
was donated by Isabella the Catholic and two
sculptures representing Ferdinand and Isabella in
prayer, also carved by Pedro de Mena, who also
sculpted the exquisite Dolorosa (Weeping
Madonna) in Los Caídos Chapel, which is overlooked by a Crucifix carved by his father, Alonso de
Mena.
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The Picasso Museum opens onto the pedestrian
area of Granada St, and is just a stone’s throw
A few metres further along is the Plaza de la
Merced, a typical example of nineteenth-century
town planning. The convents of La Paz and La
Merced and the Santa Ana hospital once stood
here, but no trace of them remains. The monument to General Torrijos was erected in the cen-
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Its Neoclassical structure is based on a square
floor plan and has an austere dressed stone façade. The interior is arranged around a courtyard
and has a double portico crowned with a balustrade featuring Roman sculptures. It was used for
a whole host of different functions –even a tobacco factory– before being eventually turned into
local government offices, but in a few years’ time,
it will be converted into the Museum of Fine Art
and Archaeology, whose items are stored due to
the lack of a suitable space to display them. In the
meantime, some of the best works from the Fine
Art Museum are on display on the ground floor.
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The Plaza de María Guerrero adjoins the Plaza
de la Merced and the Alcazabilla St. begins there.
On this street, you will see the back of the
Picasso Museum, the Roman theatre and the
entrance to the Alcazaba, with the Palacio de la
Aduana (Custom House) opposite. This is one of
the most emblematic buildings in Málaga. It was
planned and begun in the late eighteenth century
to take the place of the old custom house in
Puerta del Mar, and was finally completed early in
the nineteenth century.
Since October 2003, this beautiful palace has
been home to the Picasso Museum. The museum
owns the private collection of Christine Picasso,
which she kindly donated to the city that was the
birthplace of the most emblematic artist in twentieth-century Spain. The former mansion, which
also houses the Provincial Museum of Fine Art,
was meticulously renovated and then adapted to
its new role as a museum, following the guidelines of modernity and respect for the original sixteenth-century structure at the same time. The
transformation of the premises has been praised
as exemplary by international experts.
The permanent collection, made up of over 200
works by this genius from Málaga, is displayed in
several rooms that have retained the palace’s
magnificent Mudéjar coffered ceilings. Paintings,
sculptures, prints and ceramics represent the different creative periods of this artist, who finally
returned to his home town under the best possible condition in terms of exhibition venues.
Pablo Ruiz Picasso was born in 1881 in the northern part of the square, in one of the so-called
Casas de Campos. The building where he was
born has housed the Picasso Foundation since
1988 and is considered to have one of the most
comprehensive archives of documents relating to
this artist in the whole world. It also has a museum
section exhibiting a choice selection of prints, photographs, and ceramics and even a recreation of
what the house belonging to the Picasso family
looked in the late nineteenth century.
In the Plaza del Obispo, to the left of the
Cathedral’s main façade, stands the Palacio
Episcopal (Episcopal Palace), a group of buildings from the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The most remarkable thing about
the splendid Baroque façade, divided by pilasters
into five vertical panels, three storeys high, and
crowned with a pinnacled balustrade, is the white,
pink and grey marble work with a niche at the top
The Cathedral’s Puerta de los Naranjos
(Naranjos Gate) opens out onto San Agustín St.
This is for sure one of the most traditional streets
in Málaga, where the Palacio de los Condes de
Buenavista (Counts of Buenavista’s Palace) is
located. This is one of the few secular
Renaissance structures in Málaga and dates
back to 1520. Its austere façade has some
Plateresque features and the lookout tower gives
it a fortress-like appearance.
tre of the square in 1842, eleven years after he
was executed by a firing squad on San Andrés
beach for his Liberal ideas. The monument is by
Rafael Mitjana, who designed a slender obelisk
crowned with a wreath of laurel.
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The Sagrario Church that is attached to the
Cathedral on the north side is notable for its sixteenth-century flamboyant Gothic façade. Inside
there is a single barrel vaulted nave with a magnificent Plateresque altarpiece that was brought
from a village in Palencia.
from the Santiago Church, where Picasso was
christened. The church was modified in the eighteenth century but two important features of the
original Mudéjar construction remain: the brick
façade with a pointed arch and the Almohad-style
brick tower. Its interior is profusely adorned with
stuccowork, especially the side chapels.
Málaga
Málaga
In the Virgen del Rosario Chapel, there is an
impressive painting Alonso Cano: the best painting
in Málaga Cathedral. By the two seventeenth-century pulpits made of pink stone are also remarkable.
that houses a statue of the Virgen de las
Angustias (Our Lady of Sorrows). An artistic stairway with a decorated vault starts in the inner
courtyard, which has elegant Tuscan columns.
The main floor of the palace is currently used for
exhibitions.
CONVENTION BUREAU
ved by Pedro de Mena and other artists. De Mena
is responsible for 42 figures and the ends of the
choir. There are also two grandiose eighteenthcentury organs located on either side.
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Málaga
.
On the northern side of the square, you will find
the former Consulate, now the central offices of
the Sociedad Económica de Amigos del País
(Economic Society of Friends of the Country). It
has an artistic façade and a beautiful eighteenthcentury style courtyard. The adjacent building, the
Ateneo de Málaga (Málaga Athenaeum), was formerly a School of Arts and Trades, where Picasso
attended his first art lessons. These two buildings
and the Santo Cristo de la Salud Church (on
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As you leave Pasillo de Santa Isabel, you will
come across Plaza de Arriola and the Central
Market, where the Puerta de las Atarazanas, the
gateway to the former medieval shipyards, still
stands. Although it has been considerably restored, this gate still features a large pointed horseshoe arch, the only element remaining from a
large 5,000m2 building that in the Christian
period served as an arsenal which collapsed
after the explosion of several gunpowder mills in
the seventeenth century. After its reconstruction,
it was turned into a hospital, and in the nineteenth century it was used as a college to train
surgeons and even as an artillery garrison, until
the decision was made in 1868 to demolish all of
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which is a nineteenth-century fountain named Las
Tres Gracias, which previously stood in the Plaza
de la Constitución. If you continue along the
Paseo de Reding you will see the Plaza de Toros
(a nineteenth-century Neo-Mudéjar bullring) and
on the right, around 100m further along, the former Miramar Hotel, which is now the Palacio de
Justicia (Courthouse). This is another great building designed by Guerrero Strachan in the
Back on Compañía St. and heading west towards
the River Guadalmedina, take the Pasillo de
Santa Isabel, which runs parallel to the river. At
number 10 you will find the Mesón de la Victoria,
a tavern built in the seventeenth century over a
former fifteenth-century mosque. Since the
1970s, it has been home to the Museum of
Popular Arts, Customs and Traditions, offering a
glimpse of what life in Málaga was like in centuries gone by, the city’s rural, mining, industrial and
bourgeois past, along with a well-preserved
collection of utensils, tools and furnishings.
The Puerta Oscura Gardens are behind the City
Hall, under the south wall of the Alcazaba, on the
site of an ancient Roman villa. The gardens are
organised into terraces and zigzag paths in order
to take advantage of the mountain slope.
Opposite the eastern wall of the City Hall are the
Pedro Luis Alonso Gardens, where nineteenthcentury landscaping blends with Spanish-Muslim
features such as a pool with water jets and rows
of orange trees.
The eastern end of the Paseo del Parque runs
into the Plaza del General Torrijos, in the centre of
Larios St. leads into the Plaza de la Constitución,
a former Muslim market square that was turned
into the city’s main square after the Christian conquest. It was remodelled at the same time as
Larios St. and here they placed the Renaissance
(sixteenth century) Fuente de Génova (Genoa
Fountain), which previously stood on one of the
arbours dotted along the Paseo del Parque. The
eastern side of this square leads onto a little lane
known as Pasaje de Chinitas, with its typical
echoes of García Lorca’s bulls, flamenco dancing
and singing.
If you continue along Compañía St. to Los
Mártires Alley, you end up at the square and
church of the same name: the Iglesia de los
Santos Mártires (Church of the Holy Martyrs),
commissioned by the Catholic Monarchs. Work
began on it in the sixteenth century but it was
remodelled in the eighteenth century, so the
decoration is late Baroque.
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There are several Romantic arbours along the
promenade, featuring busts of the poets Salvador
Rueda and Rubén Darío and a sculpture by
Jaime Pimentel of a traditional vendor of biznagas (a local flowering plant). The Cervantes Ave.
runs parallel to the Paseo del Parque and here
there are three remarkable early twentieth-century buildings. The former Post Office, now the
Chancellor’s Office of the University of Málaga,
has a peculiar Neo-Mudéjar design, and the Bank
of Spain building features an elegant
Neoclassical style. Málaga’s City Hall was built in
a quite simple Baroque style and was designed
by Guerrero Strachan and Rivera Vera. Of particular note are the main staircase, the assembly
hall and the Salón de Los Espejos (Hall of
Mirrors).
Compañía St.) belonged to the Society of Jesus.
The seventeenth-century church has a circular
floor plan crowned with a large dome. It houses a
magnificent altarpiece dating from 1633 and
Pedro de Mena’s tomb.
Málaga
126
1920s.
Back in the city centre, you will find the Plaza de
la Marina, between the port and Málaga’s two
main streets, Larios and La Alameda. This square has been remodelled many times, and on the
last occasion, sections of the Nasrid walls and the
seventeenth-century port walls were uncovered
and are now preserved in the underground car
park. The monument to the Marquis of Larios, by
Mariano Benlliure, overlooks the Plaza. The
Marquis of Larios was the driving force behind
Málaga’s new aspect and this was why Larios St.
was named after him. It links the port district
directly to the Plaza de la Constitución. Larios St.,
the street for shopping in Málaga’s, was designed
by Eduardo Strachan in late nineteenth century
according to the Chicago School standards. It
was recently remodelled and is now the best kept
part of the city.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Next to the Custom House is the Paseo del
Parque, a promenade that stretches between
the port, Cortina del Muelle and the slopes of
the Alcazaba. This green space, which is
approximately 800m long and sits on land
reclaimed from the sea in the late nineteenth
century, is less a park in the usual sense than
a botanical garden. Numerous tropical and
subtropical tree species, including one or two
that are unique on our continent, have adapted
well to this location, and therefore catches visitors’ attention.
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The Santuario de la Virgen de la Victoria (Our
Lady of Victory Sanctuary) is outside the old quarter but still in the city centre. It was originally a chapel built on the site where Ferdinand the Catholic
set up camp as he prepared to take Málaga. In the
seventeenth century, the chapel was replaced with
a Baroque church, whose construction was funded by the Count of Buenavista.
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Over the last few decades, Málaga’s fair has been
held in two different places: the historic district
hosts the so-called Feria de Día (Day Fair) and the
Cortijo de Torres, outside the city, is fairground,
where the activity continues on through the night.
In the city centre, traditional bars get crowded,
whereas at Cortijo de Torres, there are public and
private marquees that draw in the crowds.
The official programme for these dates is full of
events and there is something to meet all tastes.
There is special emphasis, however, on local fol-
However, visitors generally prefer to try local specialties, and there is no doubt that pescaíto frito
(small fried fish) is the local dish par excellence.
Pescaíto frito can cover a range of different types
of fish and seafood, but you will mainly find
boquerón (anchovies), jurel (horse mackerel),
salmonetes (red mullet), calamares (squid), and
pijotas (baby hake). You could also try espetos de
sardinas (grilled sardine skewers), almejas
(clams) and coquinas (type of clams).
The list goes on, but this is the most common
combination. Pescaíto frito is served in most restaurants around the city but it is especially traditional in beachfront restaurants.
Other typical dishes are gazpacho and ajoblanco (chilled garlic and almond soup), gazpachuelo (fish soup) and ensalada malagueña (a salad
of boiled potatoes, cod, oranges, hard-boiled
eggs, olives, onions and olive oil). Plato de los
Montes is typically served in the taverns that
surround the city and is a dish of fried potatoes,
pork loin in lard, chorizo sausage, fried peppers
and fried eggs.
Routes & Excursions
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The August Fair commemorates the taking of
Málaga by the Catholic Monarchs and lasts for
nine days full of fun and revelry.
Málaga is an open tourist town and you can sample almost any type of food at its many restaurants, be it local, regional or international. There
are restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets,
from more modest and affordable sites to more
exclusive restaurants, including the Michelin-starred Café de Paris.
A little farther away (3km away from the Coín
road exit from N-340 motorway) stand El Retiro
Estate, built as requested by bishop Alonso de
Tomás in the seventeenth century. The garden
was turned into a patio in the eighteenth century by the Counts of Buenavista. Later, the
Count of Villalcázar revamped it as a court garden, with beautiful fountains, sculptures and
water effects.
During Holy Week, Málaga becomes a gigantic
stage where the cofradías or fraternities re-enact
the Passion of Christ in the street, amid tumultuous popular fervour that goes through the whole
range of human emotions. Grandeur, devotion,
luxury, sobriety, joy, the singing of saetas, silence,
cheers and applause... all forming a whole that is
hard to explain but quickly embraced by anyone
willing to experience it.
FOOD
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128
Leaving Málaga by the Autovía de Las Pedrizas
(A-4; N-331) you will see a sign indicating the
exit for Finca de la Concepción, one of the best
tropical gardens in Europe. It was built in the
nineteenth century by the Marquises of Casa
Loring, who erected a Classical-style palace on
the site. The estate has an unusual display of
forests with bridges, small waterfalls and a graceful Doric bandstand. Countless motion pictures have been shot here. It was declared a
Historic-Artistic Garden in 1943 and acquired by
the City Council.
Málaga has two major popular celebrations: Holy
Week and the August Fair. There are, however,
other festivities that are deeply ingrained in popular tradition, such as Carnival in late February,
Corpus Christi in late May or early June, the
Virgen del Carmen celebration with its maritime
procession in mid-July, and the Fiesta Mayor de
Verdiales (traditional Andalusian music festival)
on 28 December at the Venta de San Cayetano in
the neighbourhood of Puerto de la Torre, where
you can enjoy the traditional verdiales competition while sampling the local wine and dry cured
pork. And, in addition, each neighbourhood also
organises its own fiestas.
klore and flamenco and on contemporary music,
especially for young people, who can attend performances by famous groups and singers in the
fairground auditorium. Bullfighting fans also await
for the fair to start because the best bullfights take
place in La Malagueta on these days.
Málaga
Málaga
Inside the church, of particular note are the Lady
Chapel, which has exuberant Rococo artwork
intermingled with angels, plant motifs and Marian
symbols, as well as the crypt belonging to the
Counts of Buenavista. The latter is morbidly dramatic, with white plasterwork ornaments against
black backgrounds, which gives it a macabre dramatic character.
FIESTAS
CONVENTION BUREAU
it, except for the southern gate, in order to build
the market.
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mONDA
FROM MONDA TO ISTÁN
THROUGH THE MORATÁN
AREA
Monda is one of the most interesting villages
of the Costa del Sol, not only due to its scenery but also its historical value. The village
Monda
TECHNICAL DATA
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After crossing a bridge over the so called
Arroyo Seco brook, we enter the Moratán area,
where we can see for ourselves the devastating effects of the fire of June 1994. After
1.5km on the dirt track, we'll see the walls of
the Sierra Canucha range on our left, and we
get to the first reference point, the so called
Cortijo de Moratín.
We keep on walking through a pleasant natural environment enjoying the views as we go
uphill. At some places, if you look down, you'll
be able to see the end of our route, a white
spot made up of the houses of Istán. But we
still have a long way to go.
We continue on the trail until after the Km. 9
we get to the Moratán Pass. This is also an
indication that we are at the Serranía de
Routes & Excursions
Contents
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We start our route in Monda at the doors of the
Church of Santiago Apóstol (St. James the
Great), built in the sixteenth century, and go
from the town square to the road leading to
Marbella. This stretch can be done by car, as
after a few metres we must follow the paved
road up to a detour to the right that leads to a
dirt track. If you decide to start the route here,
you can save time and some 3 kilometres.
As this stretch runs slightly downhill, it will be
less strenuous, so it's a good idea to enjoy the
view of the changing landscape, which includes farmlands that alternate with the native
vegetation. When we're close to the end of our
route, we get to the rise of the Molinos River,
approximately at Km. 17. After resting a while,
we start the last three kilometres that takes us
to Istán. It will be easy to get there, as the way
is clearly signposted.
.
Length: 20km
Beginning of route: doors of the Church of
Santiago Apóstol (St. James the Great)
(Monda).
End of route: Istán.
Itinerary: doors of the Church of Santiago
Apóstol (St. James the Great) (Monda), road to
Marbella, Arroyo Seco Brook, Moratán area,
Sierra de Canucha range and Cortijo de
Moratín, Moratán Pass, rise of the Molinos
River, Istán.
Istán, on the other hand, located at the end of
the motorway, is a mountain village that offers
beautiful panoramic views, also while driving
on the road that takes you there. History has
also left its mark there, and you can visit its
sixteenth-century Parish Church or the
remains of the older Moorish tower.
Monda
130
The route starts at the village of Monda.
It can be done on foot, but as it's 20km long,
it's not recommended for beginners or people
who haven't been doing trekking for a while,
because it takes around seven hours to complete. By bike, the estimated time is three
hours.
Ronda national game preserve. From here we
can go in different directions. For us, the
correct path to take is the one that goes
downhill to Istán, to the left and through pine
woods and cork oak groves.
CONVENTION BUREAU
FROM MONDA TO ISTÁN
THROUGH THE MORATÁN
AREA
and its surroundings have been declared
Picturesque Place in 1971. and today they're
also considered a Historic Site. The Castle of
Monda, now turned into a charming hotel, is
one of the village's main symbols.
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FROM MONDA TO ISTÁN THROUGH THE MORATÁN AREA
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
District border
Monda
Monda
Nature Park
border
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From Málaga City, take the A-357 up to Cártama.
Once in this village, take the A-355 up to Coín,
where you follow the A-366 towards Alhaurín el
Grande. After 2.5km, take the A-355 again, which
leads to Monda. The reason why you have to
take the A-366 is because there's a stretch of the
A-355 that is being repaired. Once the construction
work is over, there would be no need to take the
A-366. From Marbella, you also have to take the
A-355, which in this case leads straight to
Monda.
From the archaeological remains found in the
area, it's estimated that the De la Villeta Castle
was built in the third century B.C., that is, under
Roman rule. Umar ibn Hafsun used it as a
stronghold, but the castle ended up in the hands
of Saib Ibn Al-Mundir, who virtually destroyed it.
The castle was rebuilt in the eleventh century
and partially demolished in 1498, years after the
Christian conquest. Today, it's been converted
into a luxurious hotel, keeping the features that
could be salvaged from the old structure.
WHAT TO SEE
The village stretches over the less rugged part
of the slope of a hill crowned by a castle. The
village does have its slopes though, and a
Moorish atmosphere in the older part, where
the Parish Church of Santiago Apóstol (St.
James the Great) is located. The church was
built at the beginning of the sixteenth century
and later restored. On the inside, we can see
the Chapel of Jesus (sixteen century), which
retains some elements of Múdejar style, and
the Chapel of the Virgin, with an interesting
plaster vault with Baroque relief decorations.
On the outside, the church shows the coat of
arms of the Bishop of Málaga Friar Alonso de
Santo Tomás, and a three-level tower of quadrangular section.
The De la Jaula Fountain is one of the most
representative architectural features of
Monda. It's a sixteenth century roofed washing place with arcades at the sides, which
benefits from the water that will later be used
for irrigation. The fountain was restored in the
eighteenth century.
The Mari Gloria House Museum is more than just
Routes & Excursions
Contents
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After Málaga was conquered by the Christians,
Monda was included within the jurisdiction of
HOW TO GET THERE
It's taken as a fact that it was Umar ibn Hafsun
who built the Al Mundat Castle to defend himself
from the attacks of the Caliphate of Córdoba
after the revolt he led himself. The castle would
be part of the defensive network of the
Guadalhorce Valley, but it was destroyed by Saib
Ibn Al-Mundir in the year 308 of the Hegira
(around 932 A.D.), and rebuilt in the eleventh
century.
Name given to the local people: Mondeños.
Location: In the north of the Costa del Sol, to the
west of the Guadalhorce Valley region. This village lies 380 metres above sea level, 40 kilometres
away from Málaga City. Average annual rainfall:
711 litres/m2. Average annual temperature:
around 17º C.
What to see: Church of Santiago (St. James the
Great), De la Villeta Castle (Al-Muldat Castle),
De la Jaula Fountain, Mari Gloria House Museum.
Tourist information: Town Hall, Calle José
Marcías, 1 (29110). Tel.: (+34) 952 457 069. Fax:
(+34) 952 457 180
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134
For a while, people tended to believe that it
was here in Monda that the famous battle of
Munda -in which Julius Caesar fought against
Pompey and Gnaeus Pompeius in 45 B.C. for
the power of Rome- took place. In fact, there
are no historical records to support this theory;
still it's a nice story to tell visitors. The same
story is told at least in one other town of
Málaga, and it seems that the similarity between Monda and Munda has given rise to the
confusion.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Monda
Monda
Places like Moratán and Giamón, in the foothills
of the Sierra Canucha range, with dense holm
oak and cork oak woods, are the kind of beauty
spots you remember even after having visited
many others. Not surprisingly, this area has been
included in Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park. To
the north, the terrain is less rugged and there are
large olive groves and grain fields, and closer to
the village, the terraced farms command the
landscape.
the present capital of the province. It seems
that the victors coexisted peacefully with the
defeated Moors, until the Moorish uprising
after which the Moors of Monda were expelled
-as were the Moors of the rest of the villages of
the old kingdom of Granada- and replaced by
80 families of Old Christians, who settled in a
flatter area.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The lands of Monda stretch among mountains that not only make up a multiform landscape but also confer certain uniqueness to the
area. Though the district is not radically different
from other parts of the Guadalhorce Valley, there's something subtle about it that distinguishes it
from the bordering areas.
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a museum, as it allows us to travel back in time
and experience life as it was in the old days.
Although it used to be a bakery, apart from
having the tools used to make bread, it now has
all kinds of other things, such as farming tools,
old furniture, decorative motifs of the past, and
an endless amount of tiny details that will stir the
visitors' curiosity.
FIESTAS
In the last decades, the revival of old traditions
such as a dish or a local product, has given rise
to some of the most popular celebrations in several villages. Without detriment to other much
more traditional celebrations, these have become big tourist attractions. In Monda, it's the Day
of the Monda-style or poncima soup, which is
made with bread, peppers, a local variety of
tomato called tomate de culo, garlic, olive oil, and
eggs. The celebration is held on a Sunday of
March (variable), when the town fills up with visitors eager to savour the most traditional dish of
the district.
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Monda
Monda
The carnival, the fair of St. Roch, patron of the
village, on August 16, and Holy Week are
other very popular celebrations in Monda,
especially Holy Week, featuring a performance of the Stations of the Cross among its religious events.
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Besides the Monda-style soup mentioned above,
the town has other specialties worth mentioning,
such as pork products (especially black pudding
and chorizo sausage), and some delicious locally
produced honey and home made roscos (ringshaped biscuits), usually prepared for Holy Week
and Christmas.
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FOOD
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pARAUTA
This unique fir is a real star both in the park
and the province. It's estimated that this tree is
around 500 years old, and to have an idea of
its size, take a look at these numbers: its trunk
is 1.62m in diameter and 26m in height, and its
top gives a shadow covering an area of 200m2.
There's no lack of legends telling the story of
this tree. They say that in that place there lived
a woman who devoted her life to offer hospitality to anyone arriving at the area. When she
died, she was buried right on the spot where
the fir subsequently grew. This is why many
people consider this tree as a symbol of guidance to trekkers.
The park is an extraordinary natural area and
home to a wide variety of animals: Spanish ibexes, otters, golden eagles, fallow deer, and mouflons. As regards the vegetation, the Spanish fir is
the most characteristic tree. It's a peculiar kind of
fir, very abundant in the highest parts of the
mountains, while the lowest levels are dominated
by holm oak and cork oak woods.
TECHNICAL DATA
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To go back, we first have to walk a few metres
farther to the Del Hinojar cliff, which affords
beautiful sights. Then we take the same path
that took us there. As we'll go back the same
way we came, it's a good idea to take a note of
the places we like the most so we can stop
there when we come back.
Routes & Excursions
Contents
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Length: 5km
Difficulty: easy.
Beginning of route: Road from San Pedro
Alcántara to Ronda.
End of route: Spanish Fir of La Escalereta
(Parauta).
Itinerary: Road from San Pedro Alcántara to
Ronda, Cortijo de La Nava, basin of the Río
Verde river, Spanish fir of La Escalereta
(Parauta).
We have to be very careful when we get close
to the tree because small seedlings grow
around it and it's only too easy to step on
them. That's why it's advisable not to leave the
marked path.
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138
Following this path, there's a fork in the road.
We take the trail on the right. Then we go uphill
for 2km in what is probably the toughest
ascent of the route. This will lead to a pass and
We now take the trail to our right, enjoying the
landscape and the panoramic views from this
point. When this trail comes to an end, there's
another track that leads straight to the Spanish
fir of La Escalereta, which was declared a
Natural Monument by the Government of
Andalusia.
Parauta
Parauta
UP TO THE SPANISH FIR OF
LA ESCALERETA
The trail runs close to Sierra de las
Nieves Nature Park, located at the Serranía de
Ronda mountains. Several districts are comprised in the park: Istán, El Burgo, Parauta,
Yunquera, Ronda, and Tolox, which is taken as
a reference point in this case.
then to the Río Verde river basin. Then, following the path always towards Tolox, we can't
go wrong. The trail is easy to follow, and after
a very sharp turn, there's a sign with the map
of the whole trail with all the indications to get
to our destination.
CONVENTION BUREAU
UP TO THE SPANISH FIR
OF LA ESCALERETA
From the two entrances to the park -one
through the road that goes from San Pedro
Alcántara to Ronda, and the other through
Yunquera- we'll chose the former to start our
route. The best thing to do is get there by car
(though it can be done by bike) and leave the
car parked when you get to a crossroads
where there's a sign pointing to Tolox, after
passing the Cortijo de La Nava farm.
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UP TO THE SPANISH FIR OF LA ESCALERETA
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
District border
Nature Park
border
Parauta
Parauta
Routes & Excursions
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TOURIST BOARD &
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The church was built in the sixteenth century. Its
floor plan is in the shape of a Latin cross, and the
transept has a wooden covering. On the outside,
there's a Mudéjar-style bell tower with a belfry
with semicircular arches supporting a hipped roof.
Inside the church, there's a eighteenth-century
image of Our Lady of Sorrow and a polychrome
statue in carved wood of Saint Pascal Baylon by
Adrián Risueño, which is a copy of an original by
Pedro de Mena.
Not very far from the village there's a holm oak
called Valdecilla, which is considered by some as
the "mother of all holm oaks." This tree is unique
and has been cited in several botanical publications. It's more than 20m tall, and its trunk is over
3m in diameter.
FIESTAS
The village celebrations are held between 15 and
20 August in homage to the Virgin of the Rosary.
The festivities comprise several events in which
not only the locals take part but many people originally from Parauta who left the village to work
somewhere else take the festivities as an opportunity to visit friends and relatives.
In Parauta, Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday
with the traditional procession of palms. On
Maundy Thursday, two different processions carry
Jesus of Nazareth and the Virgin of Solitude
separately, through different routes, and meet at
the square of Parauta. On Good Friday, the procession carries the same Virgin, but now following
the Holy Sepulchre. On Holy Saturday night, the-
Routes & Excursions
Contents
re's a fireworks show, and hunters fire their guns
to announce Resurrection Day (Easter Sunday),
while outside the village, a manger with Baby
Jesus is installed. At noon, the Virgin of the
Rosary goes to meet Baby Jesus, while six rag
dolls called Judas are burnt.
FOOD
The cuisine of Parauta is very similar to that of
the villages of the area it belongs. Their specialties include olla (a stew with meat, pulses and
vegetables), tomato soups, boiled soups (hot
soups made with bread and vegetables), and
gazpacho (a cold soup). All the vegetables and
pulses employed in the preparation of these dishes are grown in the privately owned market
gardens of the village, thus guaranteeing quality
and freshness.
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From any point of the Costa del Sol, you have to
take the AP-7 (N-340) to San Pedro Alcántara.
Once there, take the A-376 towards Ronda, and
10km before reaching the City of the Tajo, take
the A-519, which will take you to Parauta.
The urban layout of Parauta is typically Moorish,
which is clearly shown by its lack of uniformity.
Some of the houses are whitewashed without
having been stuccoed first, so they have a strikingly rough aspect. The village has two distinct
neighbourhoods linked by a square, and in the
northern end, the Church of the Immaculate
Conception is located.
HOW TO GET THERE
Name given to the local people: Parauteños.
Location: East of the Ronda region, bordering
with the Guadalhorce Valley region and the
Western Costa del Sol. The village is 800m above
sea level, and 105km from the capital of the province. The average annual rainfall is 1,300 l/m2,
and the average annual temperature, around
14°C.
What to see: Church of the Immaculate
Conception, Valdecilla holm oak, Sierra de las
Nieves Nature Park.
Tourist information: Town Hall, Plaza del
Calvario, 30 (29421). Tel: (+34) 952 181 028. Fax:
(+34) 952 181 000.
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142
Apart from that, it's only natural to think that the
history of Parauta must have been closely linked
to the history of the villages nearby, as there's no
chronicle stating any special event occurring in
this village.
USEFUL INFORMATION
With few exceptions, the small highland villages
have no examples of architectural excellence;
therefore, the landscape becomes the main
attraction. This includes the urban landscape,
which was preserved from outside influences due
to the isolation of these villages, which opened up
to the outside world only in the middle of the
twentieth century.
Parauta
Parauta
According to historians, Parauta was the result
of the merging of two villages: Parauta itself and
Benahazín, located near Cartajima, which for
reasons unknown added its lands to Parauta
and ceased to exist as a separate town. Due to
the lack of historical records, the origin of the
village is a matter of guesswork. Some of these
theories are stronger that others, like the one
stating that the village was founded by the
Moors, which is more than likely given the street
layout. Among the weaker theories, there's one
stating that this is where the Andalusian Muladi
leader Umar ibn Hafsun -who turned against and
harried the Caliphate of Córdoba in the tenth
century- was born, a theory that has fewer and
fewer supporters.
WHAT TO SEE
CONVENTION BUREAU
The district is located to the south of the
Sierra del Oreganal range, from where its lands
open up to the Genal Valley and, to the east they
go deep into Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park,
where the Spanish fir forest of Parauta is located.
The area shows varied features, encompassing
patches of rocky terrain with scant vegetation as
well as lush forests of chestnut trees, holm oaks,
pines and olive trees, to what we must also add
Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park, of exceptional
ecological interest.
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TOURIST BOARD &
BORBOLLÓN STREAM
SURROUNDINGS
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rIOGORDO
BORBOLLÓN STREAM
SURROUNDINGS
The itinerary starts at Riogordo, a village in the
Axarquía region located 35km from Málaga
City, Vélez or Antequera. At the village's
entrance, right crossing the bridge over the La
Cueva river, you'll find a lane to your left. Here
starts the route, quite easy at the beginning.
A few metres ahead, on arriving at a stream,
we'll head south and then take a dirt path to
the north, leading to Alfarnatejo. Let's keep
walking until getting at the Borbollón stream
mouth, the end of our route and a nice spot to
make a short break.
Once we've past the straight section of the
road, we'll see it becomes quite twisting, and
the landscape features rich vegetation, especially if we decide to go out in a rainy season.
Moreover, the views are increasingly beautiful
while we go up and we'll be able to see even
the Enmedio range.
Riogordo
It's not all about scenic views, though. Now the
steepness of the path requires us to save
energy. Let's head towards the Sabar river,
passing some peaks and reach the trail at
Altos de Doña Ana y Gómer. On reaching the
highest peak, (1,000m), we'll see a wire fence
indicating the area's border.
Riogordo
TECHNICAL DATA
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After our short break, we start climbing down,
the walls of the Tajo del Fraile gorge at the
right, and then arrive at the low part of Sierra
del Rey range, towards which the Borbolón
stream flows. While we keep on descending,
we see different vegetation. Take a look
Routes & Excursions
Contents
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At this point, you'll find the mouth of two streams -a good place to have a rest. The Alto de
Gómer is the most impressive view we can
enjoy here, and if we're lucky enough, we'll be
able to make out a Spanish ibex in the distance.
Length: 15km
Beginning of route: bridge over the La Cueva
river (Riogordo).
Final del itinerary: Borbollón stream
(Riogordo)
Itinerary: bridge over the La Cueva river
(Riogordo), Molino de Auta, Altos de Doña Ana
y Gómer, Sierra del Rey, mouth of the
Borbollón stream (Riogordo).
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144
Although the route takes its name from
the Borbollón stream, what is interesting here
is to enjoy the diversity of landscapes. Just
take it easy, rest once in a while, stop to admire the views, enjoy the surroundings.
Molino de Auta nestles on a rugged mass of
rock. The La Cueva river runs beneath the
crag. We should get beyond a chain that is
normally closed, and we must pay attention to
the road so as not to get lost, because we
won't take the junction to the left or the one to
the right that comes next.
around, for the path is easy enough and you
can't get lost.
CONVENTION BUREAU
We'll start following the bends of the dirt road,
whose only asphalted stretch is at the beginning of the trail, on the regional road to
Casabermeja. Once we've walked along 4km,
we arrive at the first beauty spot: Molino de
Auta.
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District border
End of route
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Riogordo
Riogordo
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
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highway, drive along 14km and drive along the A356 highway in direction to Riogordo.
Vineyards' development, in the eighteenth century, encouraged the district's repopulation (the
number of recorded inhabitants in 1787 was
2,120). The population was growing steadily until
1882, when the phylloxera infected and destroyed the vines.
WHAT TO SEE
The rugged terrain the village stretches over features two distinct areas: the high district -Cerrilloand the low one -La Plaza-. Both districts boast
the typical Andalusian whitewashed houses,
which you can admire on Deán de Rojas, La
Santa, Horno and Del Agua streets. You'll come
across many niches with religious figures -there
are some dating back to the sixteenth century-,
which are places of worship.
HOW TO GET THERE
There are three different ways you can reach
Riogordo. First, the easiest one: from Málaga,
take the A-45 (N-331) highway towards
Antequera. On arriving at Casabermeja, take the
A-356 highway, drive along 18km and you'll find
Riogordo.
The most outstanding monument of Riogordo is
the Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de Gracia
(Our Lady of Grace), built in 1490. It has a basilica floor-plan and three naves divided by round
The second way, also from Málaga: take the A6103 highway, also known as Los Montes road or
old Colmenar road. At Colmenar, take the A-6118
Routes & Excursions
Contents
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Riogordo's economic boom can be seen in the
fact that in 1561, the village had three brothels
run by someone called Sancho Marroquí, while
three innkeepers were in charge of "lodging in
their homes and inns all woman prostitutes who
went there to make a living by offering themselves for sexual hire." Riogordo was declared a district in 1552, its first Judge being Francisco
Hernández.
Name given to the local people: Riogordeños.
Nickname: Panzones.
Location: In the northeastern part of the Axarquía
region. The village is 400m above sea level, 38km
from Málaga City, around 30km from VélezMalaga, and 6km from Colmenar. The annual
average rainfall is 575 l/m2, and the annual
average temperature is 16.2º C.
What to see: Parish Church of Nuestra Señora
de Gracia (Our Lady of Grace), San Sebastián or
Jesús Nazareno Chapel.
Constitución, 14 (29180). Tel.: (+34) 952 732 154.
Fax: (+34) 952 732 380
Some historians believe that the Bobastro Castle
once stood near the country estate of Auta, and
even that Omar Ben Hafsun -the leader who
belonged to a family that had converted to Islam
and rebelled against the Caliphate of Córdobawas born in the castle. Other historians, however, claim that he was born in Parauta (Serranía
de Ronda range).
In case you are on the Eastern Costa del Sol,
you can take the Mediterráneo highway (A-7, N340). Once at Vélez-Málaga, take the A-335
USEFUL INFORMATION
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148
Some tombs have been discovered by the
Sierrecilla del Rey, belonging to the Phoenicians.
The Auta, Llano del Rey and Capellanía villas date
back to the Roman period, featuring magnificent
mosaics from the third century. However, it was
the Arabs who made the area grow in importance.
highway straight to Riogordo. The first half of the
road features a series of bends, so you can't
drive fast, but the landscape is really beautiful,
enjoy it!
Riogordo
Riogordo
Curiously enough, the village took its name from
the river, rather than the other way around. This
can be explained by the fact that the village has
always been highly dependent on the river,
whose name Riogordo, makes reference to the
"heavy" water, with a high mineral concentration,
it carries (río means "river" in Spanish, while
gordo stands for "fat" or "heavy"). Some time ago,
the river that is known today as De la Cueva was
named Gordo or De Oro, and it was on the river
bank that the first Neolithic human settlements
established, specifically in the Tajo de Gómer.
After the Christian conquest, in 1487, Riogordo
used to belong to the Comares jurisdiction, and
most lands were passed on to Francisco de
Coalla, Alderman of Málaga, first Knight of Auta,
and Mayor of Comares. Before the Christians
captured the village, Riogordo had been known
as Aprisco de Majianza, and in early sixteenth
century it was already named Puebla de
Riogordo. In late 16th century and early seventeenth century, the population grew from 620 to
1,176 inhabitants, probably because Comares
provided it with protection.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Even though it's not big, the district of
Riogordo features three kinds of landscapes visitors can easily perceive as being quite distinct.
The northern area, with a rugged terrain, is crowned by the Tajo de Gómer (1,129m) and the
Sierra del Rey range, with the Castejón peak
(972m). Between the two mountain ranges, the
La Cueva river flows from the Borbollón de Auta,
shaping a small valley plenty of grain fields and
pastures. To the south there are rolling hills covered with olive groves, which can be found well to
the south, up to the area in which the landscape
becomes more abrupt, featuring the typical characteristics of the Montes de Málaga range.
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arches on rectangular pillars. The Lady chapel in
the interior and the squared tower with a foursided roof in the exterior are the most interesting
features of this religious building.
The seventeenth-century San Sebastián or
Jesús Nazareno (Jesus of Nazareth) Chapel has
one barrel-vaulted nave and richly decorated
stalls. The hexagonal Lady chapel boasts an
image of Jesus of Nazareth and is exuberantly
decorated with geometric and vegetation figures
combined with a peculiar series of mirrors. The
place is crowned by a double dome structure.
FIESTAS
The Fair is held in the middle of August, starting
with the procession that takes the image of Our
Father Jesus of Nazareth from the San Sebastián
Chapel to the Parish Church, after a centuries-old
tradition, born in the seventeenth century. On the
following day, the processions of the images of
the local patron virgin (Our Lady of Grace) and
patron Saint (St. Hyacinth) take place.
Riogordo
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Routes & Excursions
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Snails cooked in stock are a gastronomic delight
in Riogordo. You can also try chickpea stew, porra,
hawthorn mushrooms, migas and gazpacho with
broad beans, also known as gazpacho cortijero. In
Riogordo, they make traditional hornazos but shaped like animals, and cold meats are delicious. Oil
cakes are the confectionery highlight here.
.
FOOD
150
Holy Week celebrations in Riogordo see 400
people taking to the streets to participate in the
re-enactment of the Passion of Christ on Good
Friday and Holy Saturday against a beautiful
natural backdrop. The Passion is made up of 14
stations, grouped into two very different parts:
the first shows some events in Jesus' life, such
as the Sermon on the Mount, the healing of a
blind man, Jesus meeting the Samaritan
woman…), while the second part involves the
Passion itself.
The texts performed have changed over the
years until they reached their peak, now being an
excellent example of religious drama. The fervour of local people involved create an atmosphere that will impress thousands of believers and
non-believers alike.
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From May 27th to 29th, they celebrate la veladilla, a cattle fair at which food plays a main role,
since the star dish in town, snails, is eaten
almost by everybody. The fair is also held in El
Calvario. The Feria del Candil (bonfire festival,
on September 7th) is a traditional celebration in
Riogordo. They put out bonfires and organise
bonfire contests.
The sanjuaneo (on St. John's Eve, June 23rd) is
quite peculiar here, for water is the protagonist
rather than fire. Young people throw bucketfuls
of water to one another until they get soaked to
the skin.
Riogordo
The Fair features the well-known flamenco festival known as "El Río del Cante" and a livestock
fair, which is staged in the area known as El
Calvario, where young bulls are let loose. There
are open-air festivals and firework shows. The
final day is dedicated to emigrants, some of
whom come back to the village for some days.
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FROM LOS SAUCES TO
CORTIJO DEL PALANCAR
. rONDA
FROM LOS SAUCES TO
CORTIJO DEL PALANCAR
RONDA - CARTAJIMA ROUTE
QUEJIGALES - TORRECILLA
TRAIL
The route affords some of the most
beautiful landscapes in the area, boasting
magnificent gullies or ravines like Tajo de
Alberca (gorge) or Cañada de la Cuesta de los
Hornillos. It is normally not very crowded, so
you can walk slowly while enjoying the views.
To start the route, look for the path behind the
shelter of Los Sauces to the Cañada de la Encina
stream. The first 250m are quite easy to follow,
but then the path turns into an uphill one, passing
through old mine shafts (the blast furnace of San
Eulogio mine are close to this site).
Ronda
.
CONEJERAS TRAIL FUENFRÍA
152
Length: 6km
Beginning of route: shelter of Los Sauces
(Ronda).
End of route: Cortijo del Palancar (Ronda).
Itinerary: shelter of Los Sauces (Ronda), Casa
de Huarte, Los Algarabeos fountain, Arenitas,
Cortijo de Palancar (Ronda).
We leave Casa de Huarte behind and reach
Fuente de los Algarabeos, beneath the Las
Camaretas hill. There's one more stream flowing down from Pico del Jarro. Over the left slo-
When we reach the Cortijo, we continue walking on the same trail up to a path leading to
Huarte. Turn left; there's a road to Los Sauces,
both the beginning and end of our route.
Routes & Excursions
Contents
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ROUTE ALONG THE
FUENFRÍA STREAM
There's a fork a few kilometres ahead, with De
La Cruz hill on the left and a path that goes
down on the right. Take the latter, which leads
to a Spanish fir forest, an ideal spot to sit for a
while. Then we'll come across a torrent.
TECHNICAL DATA
THE ALMORAVID ROUTE,
ON FOOT
Ignore every diversion and go on straight
ahead. You'll find a fence between the estates
of Huarte and Cortijo del Peñón de Ronda. The
spot is known as Arenitas. On passing through
the gate, we'll take the path bypassing the crag
and start climbing down. There are holm oaks
all over the place, from which we can see the
Cortijo del Palancar.
.
FROM RONDA TO CUEVAS
DEL BECERRO
pes there's a vast Spanish fir forest, known as
Pinsapar de Cubero, which we saw far away
earlier on our way.
Ronda
The higher we get the more magnificent the
views we'll enjoy. The Tajo de Alberca is to the
left of the gully we're climbing, and the Las
Camaretas hill lies between us and the Cuesta
de los Hornillos. A bit farther away you can see
the Pinsapar de Cubero.
FROM RONDA TO
HUNDIDERO
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FROM LOS SAUCES TO CORTIJO DEL PALANCAR
TOURIST BOARD &
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Ronda
Ronda
Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
Province border
Nature Park
border
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RONDA
CARTAJIMA ROUTE
Cartajima, the highest village of the
Genal Valley, is the final destination on the route
that links this area with the Ronda plateau.
The itinerary begins at the cultivated fields
surrounding Ronda, behind San Francisco,
right in the area of the San Acacio Spring. The
path soon leaves behind the built-up area, and
it turns stony, particularly by the remains of the
old mill known as Viña Arcadio, which will help
us find our way around.
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156
A few metres ahead, we'll find a stream. Turn
left, where extensive fields open up before us,
Routes & Excursions
Contents
From La Moraleja we can access the valley by
walking on a path running along a metallic
fence: a guide that will lead us to the remains
of another cortijo or country estate. Here we
should take the path to the right, which will
lead us to the road. Keep walking 1km along
the road up to Cartajima.
.
Length: 10km
End of route: Cartajima.
Itinerary: Fuente de San Acacio de Ronda,
Viña Arcadio, De las Culebras stream, Cortijo
del Canalizo, La Moraleja plain, Armola peak,
Cartajima.
The path leads to the Cortijo del Canalizo; it
runs through houses and passes through
several diversions which can be quite confusing. Don't leave the path surrounding the hill,
an area in which the holm oaks we've been
seeing until now will begin to thin out.
TECHNICAL DATA
or La Moraleja plain. Those who normally
follow strenuous hiking trails can stop by and
then climb up to Cima del Armola, the peak
right before us which affords magnificent views
of the Genal Valley.
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carry water. Keep ascending until you reach a
plain; there we'll see three paths: take the central one.
Ronda
Ronda
At this point, we'll start climbing by De las
Culebras stream, whose bed normally doesn't
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RONDA - CARTAJIMA ROUTE
TOURIST BOARD &
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Ronda
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158
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
Province border
Nature Park
border
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TOURIST BOARD &
QUEJIGALES
TORRECILLA ROUTE
This trail is one of the main routes
across Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park, since
it leads up La Torrecilla peak, the highest point
of the park, in Sierra Blanca, Tolox (1,919m).
.
From this spot, the forest gets increasingly
thinner up the Puerto de los Pilones (1,750m),
whose trail comes out at a small plain where
the trail leading to Puerto del Hombre ends.
Puerto de Los Pilones affords magnificent
views of Torrecilla and the mountain range. On
sunny days, you can even see the Atlas
Mountains, in Morocco, or the Strait of
Gibraltar, the sea and some boats sailing past.
The high mountain landscape boasts stony
areas covered in laburnum and a few Spanish
firs, with La Nava forest to the right. On the
Routes & Excursions
Contents
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160
On leaving the pine forest behind, we'll start a
zigzagging trail up to a Spanish fir forest featuring old specimens with twisted trunks,
1,600m in height. Look up and you'll be able to
watch great spotted woodpeckers, goshawks,
goldcrests, crested tits, nuthatches; in winter,
fieldfares or ring ouzels.
Length: 7.5km
Beginning of route: Casa Forestal de los
Quejigales (Ronda).
End of route: La Torrecilla (Tolox).
Itinerary: Casa Forestal de los Quejigales
(Ronda), Del Sabinal path, Cañada del Cuervo
gully, Los Piñones peak, Pilar de Tolox, La
Torrecilla peak (Tolox).
With some 200m to climb yet, on a zigzagging
trail up to La Torrecilla on the eastern slope
we'll reach the peak (1,919m), which affords
breathtaking views.
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TECHNICAL DATA
From Los Quejigales, we walk some 500m on
the Sabinal path towards northeast, and we'll
see the first waterbed to the right. It runs down
the Sierra de la Nieve slopes. To reach it, we'll
leave the path and walk across the pine forest.
The ground can get waterlogged until we arrive at Cañada del Cuervo, since there are brooks flowing to the Carboneras Stream.
We'll see the relay station and the repaired
and other neglected snow holes to the left and
take a well signposted path. After a while we'll
come across a new path to the left, but we'll
continue straight ahead towards Pilar de Tolox,
a strategic spot to fill our bottles with water and
get our strength back before engaging in the
last ascent. Over the Pilar de Tolox, on a steep
rocky area, there's a sort of cave boasting a
statuette of the Our Lady of the Snows.
Ronda
Ronda
It's a straight, moderately difficult path, 7.5km
long. Allow about four hours to complete it. The
best time to follow it is at the snow season
because it is then that the peaks get particularly beautiful, with their white snow blankets.
Anyway, try to plan your trip in any season
except for the summer.
First, we take the Ronda - San Pedro
Alcántara road (C-339), at Km.136, on a dirt
path that goes deep into the park up to a petrol
station. The path, 12km long, comes out onto a
recreational area at which the Casa Forestal
de los Quejigales stands.
way, we'll be able to see the same species as
in the previous paths, but this one has also
wheatears, redstarts, rock-thrushes, common
whitethroats, and hedge sparrows in winter.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The route is ideal to get close to the Sierra de
las Nieves mountain range. It combines numerous vegetation communities, incredible scenic
views and the possibility of experiencing snowfalls if we choose to follow it in winter.
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QUEJIGALES - TORRECILLA ROUTE
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Ronda
Ronda
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
Province border
Nature Park
border
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TOURIST BOARD &
FROM RONDA TO
HUNDIDERO
The route combines an attractive village, Ronda, with the natural beauty of our final
destination: the entrance to the Cueva del
Hundidero (cave). This is the reason why we
recommend it to all kinds of people, interested
in different aspects of the land.
When the first ascent ends, we'll find a road
with traffic normally going by. At the only house
standing there, we'll head rightwards (if we
take our left, we'd go to Montejaque). Let's
walk straight ahead and we'll find a junction
and see a signpost indicating the direction to
the well-known Cueva del Hundidero (cave).
Here, we leave the road and take a dirt path
downhill towards an old mill which is no longer
operating. It's quite a flat land all around,
except for an area where a steep, strenuous
trail takes us into the ravine and the entrance
of the Hundidero cave. This is a difficult but
attractive stretch, with contrasting views you
won't see hardly anywhere else in the area.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Mures (hill). At the beginning, there's the typical olive grove fields, which fade out little by little, among asparagus fields and scrublands.
Those interested in geology will find the route
quite interesting, for they'll enjoy the capricious shapes of the rocks, which make a different backdrop every step we take.
Ronda
Ronda
We start on the road from Ronda to Puerto de
Montejaque, then we'll climb across an area
known as Huerta Nueva, towards the Cerro
TECHNICAL DATA
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Routes & Excursions
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164
Length: 6km
Difficulty: easy-moderate.
Beginning of route: road from Ronda to
Montejaque (Ronda).
End of route: Cueva del Hundidero
(Montejaque).
Itinerary: road from Ronda to Puerto de
Montejaque (Ronda), Huerta Nueva, Cerro
Mures, Cueva del Hundidero (Montejaque).
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FROM RONDA TO HUNDIDERO
TOURIST BOARD &
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Road
Province border
Nature Park
border
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166
Itinerary
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End of route
Ronda
Ronda
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
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TOURIST BOARD &
While walking across the flat land we'll
find oak groves and cultivation fields like those
that once covered the plain of Ronda.
On exiting Ronda, from the A-367 highway
starts a road that passes by Quesería
Rondeña plant. This is where our route begins.
We'll take a paved lane and walk until we find
another path that runs across cultivated fields.
Then we'll return to the highway at the El
Cortijo camping area.
Ronda
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Get into the Cortijo de
Santiago, then Cortijo de
Prao Medina. To the left,
you'll see a path that lets
us know we've reached
our final stretch to reach
Cuevas del Becerro.
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168
La Parchite, an old railway station, is our next
stop. The indications on
the GR-7 show us the
way to an quiet oak grove
we can take a break at.
Just a few metres ahead
is the road to Campillos,
which we'll follow for
some kilometres and then
take a path to the right.
The Cortijo de las Pilas
indicates we're on the
right way before we
access the Serrata game
preserve.
.
Length: 27km
Difficulty: moderate / strenuous.
Beginning of route: Quesería Rondeña plant
(Ronda).
End of route: Cuevas del Becerro.
Itinerary: Quesería Rondeña plant (Ronda), El
Cortijo camping area, bridge over De la Ventilla
stream, GR-7 path, Campillos road, Cortijo de
Las Pilas, game preserve of Serrata, Cortijo de
Santiago, Cortijo de Prao Medina, Cuevas del
Becerro
The route joins the GR-7,
one of the long trails
across the Peninsula.
There are numerous
signs here. Head towards
Arriete to take the Alcalá
del Valle road.
Ronda
TECHNICAL DATA
CONVENTION BUREAU
FROM RONDA TO CUEVAS
DEL BECERRO
Walk along the road and
take a path to the left that
passes behind a group of
houses. The next point of
reference is the bridge
over the De la Ventilla
stream. There's a tunnel:
don't go through it, follow
the left lane instead.
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FROM RONDA TO CUEVAS DEL BECERRO
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Ronda
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170
Ronda
Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
Road
Province border
District border
Nature Park
border
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TOURIST BOARD &
Puerto de Lifa, from which we'll start going
downhill along 3km Then we'll pass by the
Arab tower, which used to be a watchtower
over the Lifa Valley, which we'll walk across
as well.
Some 4km ahead, there's a sign indicating
the way to Sierra Hidalga. Follow this direction. We'll go through a gate and reach
We strongly recommend that you go up the
Sabinal stream, since this path affords beautiful views.
CONVENTION BUREAU
THE ALMORAVID ROUTE,
ON FOOT
5.5km farther, the grain fields disappear, and
the toughest stretch of the climb starts. We'll
reach a gate and start climbing in a zigzag.
The views of the northern slopes of Sierra
Hidalga range are really impressive.
Nowadays, the itinerary is dotted with
grain fields, in the old days it was a
Mediterranean oak wood. We'll come across
the Arab tower of Lifa's remains.
TECHNICAL DATA
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Length: 24km
Beginning of route: junction at Ronda's ring
road.
End of route: El Sabinal stream surroundings
(Ronda).
Itinerary: junction at Ronda's ring road, bridge
over La Toma stream, Cerro de La Pastora
(hill), Puerto de Lifa, El Sabinal stream
(Ronda).
172
Ronda
Ronda
The route starts at the junction of Ronda's ring
road, on a path heading eastwards. There's a
sign post that reads "Route de los
Almorávides." Soon, we'll cross a bridge over
the La Toma stream, and after leaving behind
the Cerro dela Pastora (hill), to the right, we'll
make out the first grain fields.
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THE ALMORAVID ROUTE, ON FOOT
TOURIST BOARD &
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End of route
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Itinerary
Road
Province border
Nature Park
border
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Ronda
Ronda
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
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TOURIST BOARD &
This is a pleasant stroll along one of the
areas in Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park,
which can be accessed by car taking the road
from San Pedro Alcántara to Ronda. 2km
ahead, there's a plain at which you'll read a
sign of the Consejería de Medio Ambiente,
where the route proper starts.
a vast raised area. When we arrive at it, we'll
go on along the right side of the plain up to an
area two country estates stand in. We'll get
across a small stream there.
A few metres more, and we'll find a wire fence
around a cattle field. Just keep on walking
parallel to the fence.
Only a short distance away, we'll find the
Fuenfría stream and walk along its right bank.
The route combines some easy stretches with
others with a stony ground which might be
quite uncomfortable. While going upstream,
we'll arrive at a small hut, which indicates we
have to go back. It will take us one hour to
reach our starting point.
We'll arrive then at a gate we'll jump over. To
the left, there's a way down towards the
Fuenfría stream. As we approach the stream,
we'll leave the oak grove behind and make out
CONVENTION BUREAU
ROUTE ALONG THE
FUENFRÍA STREAM
The route is quite easy, so let's look around
and enjoy our nice stroll. We'll turn right and
head towards a stream which we'll follow on
our way uphill.
Ronda
Ronda
At the beginning, we'll have to walk uphill
towards Fuenfría. Then, we'll arrive at an area
of flat ground with a pond. We'll go through this
area on the left side and then follow the dirt
path leading to the oak wood.
.
Length: 5.5km
Difficulty: easy.
Beginning of route: San Pedro Alcántara Ronda road (Ronda).
End of route: Fuenfría stream (Parauta).
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TECHNICAL DATA
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ROUTE ALONG THE FUENFRÍA STREAM
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Beginning of route
End of route
Itinerary
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Province border
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Ronda
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The route starts at the access to Sierra
de las Nieves Nature Park, on the A-339 highway from Ronda to San Pedro Alcántara, Km.
136, some 12km from Ronda. It's an easy,
round itinerary, 3km long, which will take us
just one hour.
oak grove and a path that runs parallel to the
stream. While we go downstream, we'll be able
to see the Conejeras Mount and Madroñales to
the left, and La Nava de San Luis, a rural inn
and a mouflon and fallow deer hunting area to
the right. At the crossroads, take the left road to
return to the beginning of the route.
The path starts as a short, slow climb that ends
at a fenced pond that the forest fire service
takes water from to fill fire engines and firefighting helicopters. We'll walk along the pond left
shore and then on a dirt path that leads to an
We'll be able to watch mammals, such as
foxes, wild cats, genets, birds like jays, wood
pigeons, robins or warblers, and birds of prey
likekestrels, booted eagles, short-toed snake
eagles, sparrow hawks and tawny owls.
CONVENTION BUREAU
CONEJERAS TRAIL FUENFRÍA
Then there's an expanding oak grove, on
whose borders dwarf evergreen oaks and peonies grow alongside some Spanish firs rising
up the foliage. Take the path to the right,
Sendero de Conejeras, which runs through a
beautiful oak grove in a place known as Los
Madroñales and ends at the Fuenfría road.
Ronda
Ronda
Once on the road, our first reference is Fuente
de Conejeras and the block of stone honouring
one of the fire fighters who died in 1998 while
on duty: Antonio Juan Roldán Ramos. Farther
ahead is the Parauta camping area, which has
a restaurant-bar, toilets, and a shelter.
TECHNICAL DATA
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Length: 3km
Estimated time: 1 hour.
Difficulty: easy.
Beginning of route: Ronda - San Pedro
Alcántara highway (A-339),Km. 136
End of route: Fuenfría (Parauta).
Itinerary: Ronda - San Pedro Alcántara highway (A-339), Km.136, Fuente de Conejeras,
Parauta camping area, Conejeras trail, Los
Madroñales, Fuenfría road
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CONEJERAS TRAIL - FUENFRÍA
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End of route
Itinerary
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Province border
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Ronda
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Following the fall of the Roman Empire, Ronda
and Acinipo were invaded by Germanic tribes.
Acinipo was even occupied by the Byzantines,
who left it in the seventh century when the
Visigoths set foot on Ronda. Later, the Arabs
named it Izna Rand Onda. It was during the Arab
rule that the town gained political and economic
relevance.
When people get to Ronda for the first time, they
must have seen a postcard depicting some of the
town's typical monuments or spots but these images will fade out as soon as they face the real places. Ronda is one of those towns that can only be
included in a one-of-a-kind category, and visitors
can check this out when they go to the old quarter and see its magnificent architecture, which
reveals the town's history and legend making it
unique and unforgettable.
At the turn of the tenth century, the entire mountain range, and especially the city of Ronda, witnessed Umar ibn Hafsun's uprising against the
Caliphate of Córdoba while setting in Bobastro
(Ardales). At the dawn of the eleventh century,
after the fall of the Caliphate, the Berbers turned
Ronda into a taifa or independent kingdom whose
great legacy was the transformation and development of the city.
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You can also take highway AP-7 (N-340), from
San Pedro Alcántara, which connects to highway
A-376. Follow it to get to Ronda. This is the route
most drivers follow from the Western Costa del
Sol, since it's maintained in good condition. It's a
scenic, winding route.
Finally, also via highway AP-7 (N-340), take highway A-377 to Gaucín and exit A-369 just 3km
before Ronda.
WHAT TO SEE
The city occupies an extraordinary site on a rocky
platform overlooking a deep ravine. The river divides Ronda into two parts connected by the eighteenth-century Puente Nuevo (new bridge), offe-
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In 1810, the French troops, led by Joseph
Bonaparte, arrived in Ronda and touched off a
rebellion there. The whole region backed the gue-
From the Costa del Sol there are three ways to
access Ronda. From Málaga City, take the A-357
highway towards Campillos. 6km past Ardales,
take the A-367, pass by Cuevas del Becerro and
you'll reach Ronda.
The Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians and
Romans settled there for different periods of time.
The Romans, who named it Laurus, built the
Castillo del Laurel (castle), from which they watched the warlike Celt-Iberian tribes. Acinipo,
however, was more important than Ronda, since
the latter boasted a mint, that is, an establishment
for making coins.
Muslims and Christians coexisted peacefully only
for a short time. The Moors rebelled, the mountain region being particularly bellicose, and finally
were expelled in 1609. As any other village in
Málaga, Ronda had to face a particularly bad
period which lasted for years, until the eighteenth
century, when the city extends towards the newer
quarter, called the Mercadillo, which lies on the
other side of the gorge, spanned at its narrowest
point by a single-arch bridge, the Puente Nuevo,
from which magnificent views are obtained. The
bullring was also built in this century.
HOW TO GET THERE
Population: 36,120.
Name given to the local people: Rondeños.
Location: In the northern part of the Ronda
region, surrounded by Sierra de las Nieves,
Grazalema and Los Alcornocales Nature Parks.
The village is 740 m above sea level, 113km from
Málaga City. The annual average rainfall is 650
l/m2, and the annual average temperature is 15ºC.
What to see: Puente Nuevo (New Bridge),
House of San Juan Bosco (Don Bosco), Church
of Virgen de la Paz (Our Lady of Peace), The
Giant's House, Mondragón Palace, Plaza
Duquesa Parcent, Major Church of Santa María
de la Encarnación (Our Lady of the Incarnation),
Town Hall, Church of La Caridad (Charity
Church), Church of Espíritu Santo (Holy Spirit),
Puerta de Almocábar (Gate), Puerta de Carlos V
(Archway), Bandits' Museum, Hunting Museum,
Lara Themed Museum, Joaquín Peinado
Museum, Minaret of San Sebastián (St
Sebastian), Marqués de Salvatierra Palace,
Palace of the Moorish King, Arco de Felipe V
(Archway), Sillón del Rey Moro, Puente Viejo (Old
Bridge), Fountain of the Eight Spouts, Church of
Padre Jesús (Father Jesus), Shrine of Virgen de
los Dolores (Our Lady of Sorrows), Church of
Santa Cecilia, Church of Socorro (Succour),
Bullring, Gardens of Blas Infante, Church of La
Merced, Reina Victoria Hotel, Mozarabic
Monastery of Virgen de la Cabeza (Virgin of the
Head), Arab Baths, Roman Site of Acinipo, Wine
Museum, Cave of La Pileta (Pool Cave), La Algaba.
Town Hall, Plaza Duquesa Parcent, s/n (29400).
Tel.: (+34) 952 873 240. Fax: (+34) 952 875 441.
Tourist Office, Paseo San Blas Infante, s/n.
Tel.: (+34) 952 187 119.
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The cave paintings in the Cueva de la Pileta
(Benaoján) are proof of human settlements back
in the Palaeolithic period, and Neolithic remains
have been found right in the urban area. It was
Pliny who mentioned the Roman city of Arunda,
inhabited by Celts, north of the present-day
Ronda, and Acinipo as founded by the Iberians.
Ronda lost its independence in 1066, when it
became part of the kingdom of Seville, and was
ruled for the following four hundred years by tribes from northern Africa and eventually by the
Nasrid princes of Granada. Ronda went through
periods of boom and decay under Muslim rule
until it was conquered by Christian forces in 1485.
With the arrival of the railroad in 1891 and the
development of some roads, Ronda enters the
twentieth century amidst a remarkable social and
economic prosperity. In 1918, the city was seat to
the Andalusian Congress, at the request of Blas
Infante, who is regarded as the father of
Andalusia. The assembly decided on the adoption of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia's
flag and emblem.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Ronda
Ronda
Ronda has a magnificent setting in a gorge of the
Guadalevín River known as Tajo de Ronda, 100
m in depth and surrounded by an amphitheatre of
rugged mountains, 750 m above sea level. To the
west the countryside extends up to the mountains
from which the region takes its name.
rrilla bands, an effective movement that survived
even after Napoleonic troops left, in 1812. Many
guerrilla men became bandits, well-known in
nineteenth-century Spain and protagonists of a
good number of legends and stories.
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If a writer like Rainer Maria Rilke, who is
regarded as one of the most important and
influential modern poets because of his precise,
lyrical style, describes Ronda as a dreamland,
he must be right. Visitors will be able to see for
themselves and then remember it as such a
marvellous place that it can only be part of their
dreams.
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The Palace of Mondragón, which nowadays houses the Museo de Ronda y la Serranía (museum
of Ronda and the mountain range), used to be a
mansion in the fourteenth century. The legend
goes that it was inhabited by King Abomelik, son
of the Sultan of Fez, and later by the Nasrid ruler
Hamed el Zegri. Following the Christian conquest, it was owned by Melchor de Mondragón. In
1501, Ferdinand the Catholic spent some time in
Mondragón's palace, when he travelled to Ronda
to deal with the Moorish rebellion. Some time
later it passed on to the hands of Fernando de
Valenzuela, Charles II's minister.
Although the bridge was completed in 1735 a
flood of the River Guadalevín turned it down only
six years later. The second project, resulting in the
bridge we can cross today, was commissioned to
Juan Martín de Aldehuela. Work started in 1751
and ended in 1793. Aldehuela was highly praised
for his impressive project -a bridge 98 m high that
fits perfectly with the steep gorge of El Tajo. The
bridge floor lies on three round arches, the central
one over a space that once served as a prison
and currently hosts an interpretation centre.
During Muslim rule, the Plaza Mayor, or main
square, was located on what is currently known
as Plaza de la Duquesa de Parcent, at the highest point of the city. The main Arab buildings
rose here: the fortress, the mosque, the souk, the
jail... The Plaza's present-day layout is based on
a nineteenth-century project which was enlarged
and improved by the Duchess of Parcent, who
asked Jean Claude Forestier to design a garden.
Forestier was an engineer and landscape designer who also developed the Bois de Boulogne
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The choir stalls, made in walnut and cedarwood
in the first decades of the eighteenth century, are
particularly noteworthy. The Virgen de los Dolores
(Our Lady of Sorrows) presides over an altarpiece, and was carved either by Martínez Montañés
or La Roldana, but the authorship remains uncertain. In any case, both were excellent religious
artists. On the exterior, the Gothic façade features
a sixteenth-century double balcony, and there is
also a square Mudéjar tower. By the bell tower
there's the Casita de la Torre, a Mudéjar oratory
decorated with blind horseshoe arches.
In the square of the Santa María de la
Encarnación Church (Our Lady of the
Incarnation), where the Laurel Castle used to be,
there rises the Salesian School of Sagrado
Corazón. The Laurel Castle was a fortress built
by Scipio Aemilianus back in the second century
B.C. The Arabs turned it into an "Alcazaba" or
Arab fortress, which was later taken by the
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On the other side, to the left, is the Convent of
San Francisco, established during the Catholic
Monarchs reign. It served as the Inquisition office
for years. In Tenorio Street, to the right, is the
house of San Juan Bosco, in modernist style, its
gardens offering breathtaking views. In Beato
Fray Diego José de Cádiz Street you'll find the
seventeenth-century Church of the Virgen de la
Paz, the local Patron Virgin. Inside lay the mortal
remains of Fray Diego José de Cádiz in a silver
urn beneath the image of the Virgin, whose chapel and late Baroque altar are worthy of note.
Successive restorations have hidden most of its
Arab features, but the structure still reveals an
incredible harmony of lines and volumes. The elegant curved façade has Doric and Ionic columns.
The noble building is structured around three
beautiful interior patios, one of them being a
Renaissance courtyard.
Built between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries above the town's former main mosque, the
Collegiate Church of Santa María de la
Encarnación's (Our Lady of the Incarnation) interior is divided into quite distinct architectural styles. Today, only a thirteenth-century horseshoe
arch, decorated with stuccowork from the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, and a minaret
remain from the original mosque. The church was
started in 1508, in late Gothic style. The central
nave was topped by a Mudéjar ceiling, replaced
by a barrel vault after the earthquake that damaged the building's structure in 1580. The end of
the temple, with seven chapels, features
Renaissance style and the choir, for instance, is
an example of Baroque architecture.
You can walk about Ronda departing from the
Plaza de España, in the Mercadillo quarter, where
the Parador Nacional de Turismo, formerly, the
Town Hall, stands. Cross the Puente Nuevo, the
best-known bridge in Ronda, to get to the Ciudad.
The bridge was built in the eighteenth century out
of the need to connect the older part of the city
with the new Ronda.
(Paris) and María Luisa Park (Seville) projects.
The park boasts the statue honouring the musician and writer from Ronda Vicente Espinel
(1550-1624).
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The next stop on the tour is Casa del Gigante, a
very well preserved house dating back to the
Muslim times. Historians believe it was built in the
fourteenth century, as the decorative plaster work
is similar to that in Alhambra, erected during
Muhammad V's reign. The central courtyard, the
pool, the north hall, and the splendid decoration
on the arches leading to the bedrooms are all
details which stand out in the house's interior.
Ronda
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ring an impressive view of the ravine El Tajo: to
the south the Ciudad, the old quarter, with its concentration of sights of interest; and to the north,
the Mercadillo or old market area, nowadays
extended by the modern town. There are three
bridges that connect the Ciudad with the
Mercadillo, and there's a third quarter San
Francisco, also to the south, whose origins date
back to the sixteenth century.
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Ronda
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To the east of the Ciudad district there's the
Palace of the Marquis of Salvatierra, which was
renovated in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The façade boasts Corinthian columns and
a magnificent forged iron balcony. In the interior,
we can admire the gardens, chapel, furniture and
the curb of a well in the yard.
On Santo Domingo Street, adjoining the Palace
of Salvatierra and the Convent of Santo Domingo,
there's the Casa del Rey Moro (House of the
Moorish King), on whose front there's a decorative tile depicting a Muslim king. The building dates
from the eighteenth century, although it was renovated by the Duchess of Parcent in the first decades of the twentieth century. The amazing gardens were designed by Jean Claude Forestier.
A 60m-high stair carved out of the rock connects
the gardens with the De la Mina Spring, which
flows toward the Guadalevín River. Muslims must
have used the spring because water is scarce up
at the height Ronda is located. This Arab structure was essential to the Moors at the time Ronda
was under siege by Christian forces.
When the New Bridge collapsed, the Puente
Viejo (old bridge) access was renovated, thus
becoming the main link between the Ciudad and
the Mercadillo district. The Puente Viejo Gate
was replaced by a Neoclassical gate named
Arco de Felipe V. By the arch there's the Sillón
del Rey Moro (Moorish King's Chair), offering
magnificent views.
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We can go up along Santa Cecilia Street and we'll
find the Shrine of the Virgen de los Dolores, built
in 1734. It's home to an altarpiece featuring a
painting that depicts the Virgin Mary. There are
four paintings representing public executions, a
normal practice centuries ago.
In Los Descalzos square, at which you arrive
through Los Dolores Street, there's Santa Cecilia
Church, built in the seventeenth century. Its
Baroque front, though, dates back to the eighteenth century. Walking along Carrera de Espinel
Street we'll reach Del Socorro Church, a big NeoBaroque structure built after the previous eighteenth-century one was destroyed.
The Real Maestranza de Caballería de Ronda,
the first Royal cavalry arsenal set by Phillip II to
train noblemen, was located first in the Plaza
Mayor. Two centuries later, Martín de Aldehuela
designed the bullring and the Puente Nuevo (new
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Where Armiñán and Marqués de Salvatierra streets meet there's the minaret of Saint Sebastian, in
a fourteenth-century mosque that was transformed into a Christian church devoted to the abovementioned saint. The temple, however, no longer
exists. The minaret has a square floor plan and a
horseshoe arch beneath a lintel and voissoir. On
the brickwork you can see some decorative tiles
that have remained in place. The upper level was
built later, when the tower started to be used as a
bell tower.
To the south of the church there is the Puerta de
Almocábar (gate), whose name recalls the old
necropolis of the area, since al-maqabir stands
for cemetery in Arabic. The church was built between the end of the thirteenth century and the
beginning of the fourteenth century. Its robust
structure is flanked by two semicircular towers
and features three horseshoe arches. To the left,
there's the Puerta de Carlos V, a Renaissance
gate crowned by the Habsburg royal family's coat
of arms.
The Joaquín Peinado Museum will make us turn
off, because it's located in the palace of the
Marquises of Moctezuma (Plaza del Gigante,
s/n). There are some 200 pieces: oil paintings,
watercolours, drawings and prints by this Rondaborn artist within the School of Paris.
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From the Duquesa de Parcent Square, we can
take Escalona Street and then Armiñan Street,
the latter connecting with Cuesta de las
Imágenes, where we'll find the Espíritu Santo
Church (Holy Spirit), in the place the Almohad
watchtower was back in the days when the town
was under Christian siege. Construction work
ended in 1505. The exterior stands out for its simplicity, its fortress-like buttresses and tall walls.
The church interior features a single nave combining Gothic and Renaissance elements. The
main chapel's Rococo altarpiece hosts a painting
called "La venida del Espíritu Santo" and a
"Virgen de la Antigua," showing Byzantine-like
features.
On Real Street there's the Fuente de los Ocho
Caños (eight pipe fountain), a simple stone structure boasting the city's emblem on one side.
Besides the eight pipes, there's a water trough on
the other side. Adjoining the fountain there rises
the Padre Jesús Church, with a beautiful
Renaissance bellfry. The church was built in the
sixteenth century, but the interior plasterwork
decoration dates from the eighteenth century. The
Convent of Madre de Dios, attached to the
church, was built in the sixteenth century too. It
features Gothic-Renaissance and Mudéjar elements.
Ronda
Ronda
The former Militia Headquarters -the present-day
Town Hall- lies on one side of the above-mentioned square. It's a huge building whose upper floors feature open arcades. Built between the
seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the building's interior boasts a Mudéjar coffered ceiling
over the stairs and the assembly hall. There are
also two religious buildings in the same square:
the Caridad Church and the Santa Isabel de los
Ángeles Convent, both from the sixteenth century.
Across the Puente Viejo, built in 1616 and restored in 1961, we can reach Real Street and walk
towards the old quarter of the Mercadillo district,
raised outside the village to avoid the high taxes
merchants had to pay within the city limits.
Eventually, the area was the most important business zone in Ronda.
On Armiñán Street, we can go to three museums:
the Museo del Bandolero (Museum of the Bandit),
exhibiting one of the most characteristic stories of
the Ronda of the nineteenth century, which inspired so many writers; the Museo de la Caza
(Hunting Museum), displaying a long-lasting tradition of the mountainous region; and the Museo
Temático Lara, in the Condes de la Conquista
palace, which displays a notable antique collection and several works of art.
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Catholics and, in the nineteenth century, by the
French troops. On leaving the fortress in 1812,
the French blew it up.
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has three naves, the main one with the altar at
one end. There's an altar at the end of another
nave which has a hole beneath that opens to the
crypt. The third nave acts as a sacristy.
The bullring, dating from 1785 and with a capacity
for 5,000 spectators, is one of the oldest and most
beautiful arenas. It is entered through an elegant
gateway and is surrounded by fine arcades. In the
opening bullfight Pedro Romero and Pepe Hillo,
two bullfighting stars, participated.
Built at the end of the thirteenth century, the Arab
Baths are worth a visit as are the ruined settlement of Acinipo, a few kilometres from Ronda.
The bullfight museum, under the terrace seating,
exhibits sumptuous costumes and various
mementoes and photographs of generations of
Ronda matadors including those from the
Romero and Ordóñez families.
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Only the theatre (first century B.C.) has remained
from the old city. The cavea, carved out of the
rock, part of the stage and the terraces have been
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The ancient Roman settlement of Acinipo has
been wrongly called Ronda la Vieja, as people
thought this was the first siting of the city of
Ronda itself, but then evidences proved the theory was not correct. Acinipo is 21km away from
Ronda, on a plain 980 m above sea level, affording panoramic views of the region. According to
Pliny and Ptolemy, Acinipo was part of Celtic
Beturia, but in the Roman period it became one of
the main cities of the Roman administrative area
known as Baetica.
Some 2 kilometres from the village there's the
Mozarabic monastery of Virgen de la Cabeza, a
complex including dwellings for nuns, cells for a
small religious community and a church, excavated out of the rock by Christians under Muslim
rule in the ninth and tenth century. The church
The excavations made so far have uncovered
three rooms topped with barrel vaults and illuminated by star-shaped lunettes that filtered light so
that users could enjoy a relaxing atmosphere.
Part of the heaters and water piping have been
conserved. Experts consider these are one of the
best-preserved Moorish baths throughout Spain.
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Here we find the Reina Victoria Hotel, dating from
1906. Lord Farrington, a pioneer of tourism from
Britain, built it. The poet Rainer Maria Rilke stayed in one of the guestrooms in 1911 or 1912.
The room has kept the original décor, some pictures and letters written by the poet, who dedicated some of his writings to Ronda.
The Arab Baths, located in the judería or Jewish
district, were built in late thirteenth or early fourteenth century. In spite of its architectural value,
they were neglected because the practice of
public bathing didn't fit Christian morality. In addition the floods from the Guadalevín River ended
by covering the baths. When the Duchess of
Parcent started some works in the area, the first
remains appeared but they were ignored until the
state bought the property in 1935.
Ronda
Ronda
Near the Bullring are the Blas Infante Gardens,
where the Espinel Theatre, chair of the
Andalusian Assembly of 1918, was located years
ago. This green space stretches over a plain 200
m above the Guadalevín Valley, offering breathtaking views of the Ronda region. The gardens
reach the Alameda del Tajo, passing by De la
Merced Church, which keeps St. Therese's incorrupt hand, included by Francisco Franco in his
reliquary.
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bridge). The bullring Neoclassical front boasts
two Tuscan columns and the royal coat of arms.
All these elements are framed by an elegant forged-iron balcony featuring bullfighting motifs.
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Due to its rugged terrain, the region has had an
underdeveloped road network. On the one hand
on the one hand, this has been a hindrance to the
area's economic growth, while on the other, it has
protected Ronda from losing its age-old traditions. This can be seen in Ronda's Holy Week, a
celebration that has been held since the fifteenth
century. Thus, the Semana Santa in Ronda is
markedly individualistic, although it depicts
essentially the same history as the others. There
are numerous and colourful processions which
have a number of images of great artistic value,
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The Virgen de la Cabeza pilgrimage is held on the
second Sunday in June in the Mozarabic sanctuary of the same name. The pilgrims carry the
image of the Virgin from the Santa María de la
Encarnación church to the chapel, where there is
a grand feast with songs, dances and delicious
food.
Ronda's most international fiesta is without a doubt
the Pedro Romero Fair in early September. There
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The Roman pilgrimage takes place at the second
weekend in June in Puerto Sauco. This is in fact a
Roman-style fiesta that the villagers attend dressed in costumes from that era. There is a parade
and the presentation of the goddess Ceres, followed by competitions, games and theatrical performances such as those in ancient Acinipo.
The May Fair, in the second half of May, is one of
the oldest cattle fair in Andalusia, since the
Catholic Monarchs declared it an official festivity
in 1487. On the first day, the tapas' fair is held,
and the following days there are goat milking
shows and exhibitions of different breeds of livestock. There are events to test the fighting qualities
of young bulls, olive oil samplings, the annual dog
competition at Llano Margarita, and the "Ciudad
de Ronda" purebred Spanish horse show followed by a dressage exhibition.
The mountainous character of Ronda can be
savoured in local foods such as Ronda-style rabbit, Sierra-style gazpacho, artichoke soup, cochifrito de borrego (fried lamb), pork loin stuffed with
mushrooms, or pork leg stews. We can also taste
migas rondeñas (local variety of a dish made of
fried bread crumbs) seasoned with local chorizo
sausage; Ronda-style partridge, Ronda-style
omelette, mountain-style trout, squash soup and
mountain-style chestnut soup. Cold cuts made in
Ronda are widely known for their high quality. As
for confectionery, yemas del Tajo (a pastry made
from egg yolks) are delicious. Products made by
cloistered nuns, especially by those in the Order
of Mercy or St. Francis are also excellent.
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FIESTAS
FOOD
Ronda
Ronda
preserved. The stage is made of granite.
Remains of a Roman bath, two houses and a
temple have been found as well.
all against the unique backdrop of Ronda's urban
layout.
CONVENTION BUREAU
is an excellent Cante Festival (typical Andalusian
songs) as well as the horse harness exhibitions
and folklore shows. Traditional Corridas Goyescas,
fights in period costumes from the time of Goya are
held annually. This bullfight programme has achieved such renown that every year people attend it
from the world over, including celebrities who
attract a swarm of photographers.
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TOURIST BOARD &
OVER THE ROMAN
BRIDGE OF SALARES
The
.
sALARES
To get to Salares you should take the road A355 from Canillas del Aceituno to Árchez. Our
easy route, 5km in length, can be completed in
two hours.
As soon as we cross the bridge, we'll see a
long line of vegetable gardens and orange tree
orchards at both sides of our path. We'll see
some curves which we won't take. Then we'll
take a detour to our left, parallel to the gully's
axis. This is a nice area to watch the rich vegetation: ivies, blackberry bushes, ferns…
From this point starts the trail leading directly
to the local road. If we take the path to the left
we'll return to the village, and if we make a
right we'll soon reach the La Cruz del Muerto
mountain pass. We'll make a right again
towards Loma de Fogarate, on the borders of
the Nature Park. Here we'll see the town signposts. At the end of this path starts the way
that leads us to the main road again.
The way back to Salares is quite easy. We'll
get to Salares after crossing the Roman
Bridge again.
Salares
Salares
OVER THE ROMAN BRIDGE
OF SALARES
village of Salares nestles on a
small hillock in the Axarquía, bordered by two
water courses and high hills. The delicious
odour of jasmine and orange blossom fills
narrow, steep streets, some of which feature
steps that help pedestrians climb the slopes.
When we arrive at Salares, we park our car in
the car park on the street and then walk along
El Ejido Street up to the Roman Bridge. The
bridge links the banks of the Salares River. In
the old days it connected the old mule drive
path with Alhama. Also the bridge was used to
connect Salares with the Las Minas gully. In
Roman times, salt was mined in Las Minas
("minas" means "mine" in Spanish).
A few metres ahead there's the De la Mina
Spring, in an area that boasts one of the biggest cork trees in all the Nature Park. Some
steps farther, there's the so-called Umbría de
la Casa de Haro, a nice example of the
Mediterranean flora. We'll be able to admire
large holm oaks here. Near the Casa de Haro
country estate there's a camping area. Past
the Casa de Haro we can enjoy some beautiful
views of the gully, and at the bottom we'll make
out the village of Salares.
TECHNICAL DATA
.
.
.
.
Length: 5km
Difficulty: easy.
Beginning of route: Salares parking.
End of route: Roman Bridge of Salares.
Itinerary: Salares parking, El Ejido Street,
Roman Bridge of Salares, De la Mina Spring,
Umbría de la Casa de Haro, De la Cruz del
Muerto Pass, Fogarate Hillock, Roman Bridge
of Salares.
194
CONVENTION BUREAU
The trail goes through the Sierras Tejeda and
Alijara ranges, an impressive massif rising between the provinces of Málaga and Granada.
Somewhat plain stretches combine with higher
ones such as the La Maroma peak, the main
vantage point in the area, which offers spectacular views of the Mediterranean.
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OVER THE ROMAN BRIDGE OF SALARES
TOURIST BOARD &
Itinerary
Road
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
District border
Salares
Salares
Nature Reserve
border
.
.
.
.
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TOURIST BOARD &
The bare rocks that crown the highest peaks
highlight the colour of the vegetation near the
village. The village is watered by the Salares and
Sedella rivers, whose water comes from the
mountains and irrigate a rich agricultural area. In
the areas where water is scarce they cultivate
vines mostly.
.
.
The 1884 earthquake was rather violent but fortunately nobody died. There was, however, considerable damage. Around 30,000 pesetas were
received from the Crown as an aid to rebuild houses and buy household equipment.
century, it's a Mudéjar church with one nave featuring a crossing and a wooden ceiling. The simple exterior features a gate with a round arch.
There's a minaret, which belonged to the old mosque, with a set of bells that have been added
later. The red-brick minaret dates from the thirteenth or fourteenth century and was declared a
National Historic Artistic Monument in 1979. It's
one of the nicest examples of Almohad architecture and art in Spain.
HOW TO GET THERE
From the Costa del Sol, take the Autovía del
Mediterráneo (A-7, N-340) until you reach the
Vélez-Málaga ring road. Take the A-335 towards
Alhama de Granada. Nine kilometres farther, take
the MA-125 to Canillas del Aceituno. At this village starts the MA-126 leading to Sedella, and from
here, the MA-127 to Salares.
The Roman Bridge over the Salares Bridge,
which they still use, stands on pillars supported by
rocks on both banks of the river. On the fronts of
some houses in the Puente Street they have placed decorative tiles representing the Via Crucis.
WHAT TO SEE
The village of Salares is situated on a hillock, in a
peculiar place whose layout is unique to the Middle
Ages: short, steep streets, some forming stairs
and all shaping a singular whitewashed village.
FIESTAS
The local fair is held the weekend closer to St.
Ann Day, on July, 26. Saturday morning, a para-
The Parish Church of Santa Ana is the most outstanding building in town. Built in the sixteenth
Routes & Excursions
Contents
.
The lands of Salares, together with those of adjoining villages (as Banescalera, for instance, which
has virtually disappeared) where ceded to Don
Pedro Enríquez, Governor of Andalusia. When he
died, the domain passed on to his widow.
In 1572, there were around 550 inhabitants in
Salares and Banescalera. There was a flour mill,
an olive oil mill, two trap-nets, twenty farming
areas, eight quarries and ten apiaries. Apparently,
a high number of people used to engage in silk
manufacturing, one of the most fashionable products at the time.
As in many other towns in the Axarquía, after
Vélez-Malaga was conquered by the Christian
troops in 1487, the Muslim authorities of Salares
went to the region's main city on 29 April 1487 to
show their submissiveness before the victorious
party.
Surface area: 10km2
Name given to the local people: Salareños.
Location: In the Axarquía region, in the foothills
of the Sierra de Almijara mountain range. The
village is 580 m above sea level, 58km from
Málaga City, and 28km from Vélez-Malaga. The
annual average rainfall is 670 l/m2, and the annual
average temperature is 17ºC.
What to see: Parish Church of Santa Ana (St. Ann;
Mudéjar minaret), Roman Bridge over the Salares
River, Albarrá Fountain, Cerro del Puerto hill.
Tourist information: Town Hall, C/ Iglesia, 2
(29714). Tel.: (+34) 952 508 903. Fax: (+34) 952
508 905.
.
198
However, the Arabs overshadow the Romans (of
whom only the bridge has remained). You can
observe the Arab influence in the urban layout
and a fortress (we can still see the watchtower)
that presided over the old village.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Salares
Salares
The features of the Salares area - plenty of water,
mild temperature and excellent shelters to hide in
in case of unexpected attacks - made the area
attractive to Phoenicians, Carthaginians and, of
course, Romans, who gave the village its original
name: Salaria Bastitanorum, apparently referring
to a nearby salt mine.
The Moors were ill-treated by the Christians for
years, a situation that ended in a rebellion in
1569. The Moorish uprising in the Axarquía started in Sedella, Canillas and Salares, and ended in
the famous battle of Peñón de Frigiliana. In 1571,
the Muslims were expelled from Spain, and
according to the chronicles, 92 lived in Salares.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Salares is a small district in the formidable
massif of the Sierra de Almijara mountain range,
along a narrow strip extending on the border of
the province of Granada to the north and to the
Axarquía region to the south. The Cerro del
Puerto hill is 1,658 m above sea level and the
lowest altitude, just 7km away, is 480 m, which
shows how rugged and steep the terrain is.
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TOURIST BOARD &
As for pastries, in Salares they make orange roscos (doughnuts), whose recipe is based on the
number ten: ten oranges, ten spoonfuls of oil, ten
spoonfuls of sugar and one kilo of flour.
Then they add fennel seeds, yeast and bicarbonate of soda, deep fry the roscos and sprinkle
them with sugar. In Salares they also make an
excellent sherry.
On January 17th, St. Anthony the Abbot's Day,
the festivals are similar to those honouring St.
Ann, including a procession that takes the streets
in a festive atmosphere with fireworks lighting up
the village. In the evening, the feast, and the following day a procession to La Era, with locals carrying the saint's image and animals that are blessed by the priest. When the image of the saint
returns to the church, the pilgrims walk around
the village and people give them a bread roll, a
glass of wine and a tapa.
CONVENTION BUREAU
de announces the fair has started. In the evening,
the image of the Saint is taken in procession, and
finally the popular festivity begins. On Sunday,
the patron virgin goes in a procession again, this
time in the morning, and the festival is held in the
evening once again.
.
FOOD
In Salares, the foods are similar to those in other
villages of the Axarquía, but they have some dishes of their own, such as fennel stews, omelettes,
etc. They also prepare migas and gachas with
cuscurrones, made with milk, sugar and honey.
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.
.
.
200
Holy Week is famous for the procession of the
Virgen de los Dolores (Our Lady of Sorrows) and
Our Father Jesus on Maundy Thursday. In
Salares they have a peculiar way of celebrating
the Resurrection: the Virgen de los Dolores is
taken only by women across the upper part of the
village, while men take an image of the resurrected Jesus along the lower part of Salares. At the
cemetery entrance the two groups meet and
swing the images to the burst of fireworks.
Salares
Salares
On the eve of St. John's Day, the people in
Salares go to the streams or brooks -instead of
going to the beach, as they do in coastal townsand wash their face after an old custom.
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TOURIST BOARD &
The path crosses the valley of the De los
Horcajos Brook. Climbing the slope to the right,
we get to the area known as Piloncillo. To get
there, we have to ignore the many detours appearing left and right.
FROM TOLOX TO THE
CAÑADA DE LAS
CARNICERÍAS
. tOLOX
FROM TOLOX TO THE
CAÑADA DE LAS
CARNICERÍAS
When we reach the foot of the Piloncillo,
there's an extraordinary view of the surroundings,
especially of the river bank vegetation at the sides
of the brook.
There are plenty of poplars and Spanish firs, and
the best thing to do here is to take it easy and
enjoy the surroundings.
Without leaving the path, the banks continue
up to a flat area from which you can look up
and see the imposing silhouette of the Cañada
de las Carnicerías, a mountain mass of extraordinary height, an endless succession of rock
and vegetation.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The route begins as a stroll from the village of Tolox
and then goes deep into the mountains. The starting point is a track that leaves town northwards and
then we take a signposted path going eastwards.
The route offers a good view of the
surroundings. When you get to the end, you can
also climb to the Cañada de las Carnicerías and
get to a flat area leading to the Peñón de los
Enamorados crag and Torrecilla Peak. The
ascent gives an excellent panoramic view of the
Sierra de Tolox range and of the village down in
the valley, surrounded by farms.
FROM LAS GOLONDRINAS
PASS TO TORRECILLA PEAK
Tolox
TOLOX - LA REGÍA TRAIL
.
.
Tolox
OVERLOOKING THE LOS
CABALLOS RIVER VALLEY
.
Length: 10km
Beginning of route: Tolox.
End of route: Cañada de las Carnicerías
(Tolox).
Itinerary: Tolox, De los Horcajos Brook Valley,
Piloncillo, Cañada de las Carnicerías (Tolox).
.
202
TECHNICAL DATA
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FROM TOLOX TO THE CAÑADA DE LAS CARNICERÍAS
TOURIST BOARD &
.
End of route
.
Itinerary
Road
Province border
Nature Park
border
.
.
Tolox
Tolox
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
FROM LAS GOLONDRINAS
PASS TO TORRECILLA
PEAK
The highest point of this route is the top
of Torrecilla Peak, 1,919 m high. Before getting
there, there will be endless excuses to stop
and contemplate the panoramic views that can
be enjoyed from many different points.
Tolox
Tolox
The route starts at the De las Golondrinas
Pass, in the Corona Hill, one of the many hills
of the well-known Sierra de las Nieves range.
From here, you can see the surroundings of
Tolox. Many different paths start up here, and
we have to take the one on the very left, and
get into some forest areas that have been
badly damaged in several fires suffered during
the last few years.
.
.
The route starts uphill as we go through the De
la Paloma and Domingo dells. We are 1,300 m
high, and after walking in a straight line for a
few minutes, two paths open up before us.
We must take the one on the right and continue uphill among pines, Phoenician junipers
and Spanish firs, while enjoying the panoramic
Routes & Excursions
Contents
views of Málaga, the Sierra Nevada range, and
San Pedro Alcántara.
As we climb up, we'll be able to enjoy a peaceful high mountain environment. We still have to
get to the Los Valientes Pass, where we can
make a last stop before we start walking again
to go to the top of Torrecilla Peak, 1,919 m high.
.
Length: 10km
Beginning of route: Las Golondrinas Pass
(Tolox).
End of route: Torrecilla Peak (Tolox).
Itinerary: Las Golondrinas Pass (Tolox), De la
Paloma and Domingo dells, De los Valientes
Pass, top of the Torrecilla Peak (Tolox).
206
.
TECHNICAL DATA
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FROM LAS GOLONDRINAS PASS TO TORRECILLA PEAK
TOURIST BOARD &
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End of route
.
Itinerary
Road
District border
Nature Park
border
.
.
Tolox
Tolox
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
208
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TOURIST BOARD &
OVERLOOKING LOS
CABALLOS RIVER
VALLEY
The route described here is a good
example of the variety of landscapes you can
enjoy in some areas of the Costa del Sol. In
only 6 kilometres, it passes through forests,
rocky areas and streamside trails.
This is not a bad thing though, because thanks
to the lack of trees we can watch the landscape fully. In the distance, we can see the De la
Regía Waterfall.
We continue walking through beautiful surroundings but there are rocky stretches and there
In this way, we get to the cliff, one of the toughest parts of the route and also the most
impressive. Any time of the year is fine to take
this route, but spring and autumn are great
thanks to the wonderful colouring of tree leaves.
The path opens up as we start going downhill.
This is a good moment to relax and enjoy the
surroundings, and if you follow the stream, you
can't get lost. We find another contrasting
landscape here, with willows, reeds and lush
vegetation, and the mountains in the distance.
The path we're on gets to the forest trail that
leads to the Las Golondrinas Pass (a mountain
pass that biking fans love). This is the end of
our route, before what would be a new and very
strenuous climb.
Tolox
Tolox
The Alto de la Cuesta -a promontory located a bit
over 4km from the Spa of Tolox- is where we start
our route. You can start walking from this point (in
this case, the estimated time is longer than stated) or go by car to a place where there is a forest
trail and head off from there.
A little farther on, we get to a lovely spot with
two streams, Del Sapo and Palmarejo, before
we get to a crossroads. We have to take the
track on our left. This path leads to a peculiar
spot, lacking pines or any lush vegetation,
since this area is pretty dry.
are parts of the trail that go near cliffs, and in
foggy or rainy days, we have to watch our steps.
.
.
TECHNICAL DATA
.
.
Length: 6km
Beginning of route: Alto de la Cuesta (Tolox).
End of route: Las Golondrinas Pass (Tolox).
Itinerary: Alto de la Cuesta (Tolox), Los
Caballos River Valley, Del Sapo and El
Palmarejo brooks, cliff, Las Golondrinas Pass
(Tolox).
210
CONVENTION BUREAU
A few metres ahead, we'll encounter a sharp
bend to the right where a new dirt track starts.
We're above the Los Caballos River Valley, and
we can enjoy the first view of our journey,
though the landscape becomes nicer when we
leave the pine forest and get to a clear area.
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OVERLOOKING LOS CABALLOS RIVER VALLEY
TOURIST BOARD &
.
End of route
.
Itinerary
Road
District border
Nature Park
border
.
.
Tolox
Tolox
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
212
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TOURIST BOARD &
TECHNICAL DATA
.
.
After crossing a firebreak, we'll go downhill by
the La Rábita Brook until we can cross it and
leave to the right a place of old terraces called
Huerta de Paco Reina. The trail ends on a
forest track that leads to the De las
Golondrinas Pass, an important crossroads
located between De la Cierva Hill (1,100 m)
.
A little further on, we get to the La Rábita Brook,
a place where the toughest part of our journey
begins, as it will get higher and higher until we get
to the cliff. From this point, very carefully, not getting to close to the edge, we'll be able to behold
wonderful views. We fancy them as paintings,
where colour is the main character. You'll see the
bright green of the grasslands combined with the
lustrous green of the rockroses and the gray of
the gneiss rock.
214
We then take the path that starts at that very
bend until we get to the Palmarejo Brook,
where we can stop for a breather. Farther
ahead, we'll find a crossroads and take the
path to the left. From this area, which has no
trees, we can contemplate one of the two
impressive waterfalls we'll find on our way.
This is the De la Regía waterfall, and we can
also see Los Caballos River.
.
Length: 5km
Beginning of route: Alto de la Cuesta (Tolox).
End of route: De las Golondrinas Pass
(Tolox).
Itinerary: Alto de la Cuesta (Tolox), De las
Nieves Inn, Palmarejo Brook, De la Regía
Waterfall, Upper Los Caballos River, La Rábita
Brook, Huerta de Paco Reina, De las
Golondrinas Pass (Tolox).
We'll start our trekking from the Alto de la
Cuesta, located 4.4km from the Spa of Tolox.
There are no paved roads inside the park, only
forest trails starting from the road that links the
villages of the region. That's why we should
leave our car at the De las Nieves Inn, and
from there, go uphill some 1,700 m on a forest
track until we get to a bend in the track.
Tolox
Tolox
People participating in this excursion
will be amazed at the contrasting landscapes
offered by Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park,
where Mother Nature has been extremely
generous and lavished every corner with
magic and beauty. We'll see the reddish brown
peridotite rock in some stretches and the grey
mantle of the granitoid gneiss prevalent in
others; from impressive waterfalls like
Horcajuelos and La Regía, to the more tranquil
waters of the many streams we'll find on the
way. A palette of Nature's wonders for the
enjoyment of trekkers.
and Aranda Hill (1,052 m), where other trekking trails start from.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Wildlife is also rich in this area, and while we
walk, we may come across wild boars, Spanish
ibexes, mongooses, rabbits, snakes, vipers,
blackbirds, and warblers, among others.
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TOURIST BOARD &
.
End of route
.
Itinerary
Road
District border
Nature Park
border
.
.
Tolox
Tolox
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
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TOURIST BOARD &
A little bit to the north, at the Cañada de las
Carnicerías and the De los Horcajos River, the
mountains show impressive vertical cliffs on
which small pine woods grow defying gravity.
Then the terrain gets less rugged, and olive groves and grain fields start to appear, subsequently
giving way to numerous fruit orchards and market
gardens, at the banks of the Río Grande river.
.
.
From the city of Málaga, take the A-357 towards
Cártama. Two kilometres past this town, take the
A-355 towards Coín and then the A-366 towards
Alozaina. Four kilometres before arriving at this
village there's a sign indicating the road leading to
Tolox.
WHAT TO SEE
As soon as you get to this village, you'll realise it
has a strong Moorish flavour, with narrow irregular streets and permanently whitewashed houses
with bright coloured flowers standing out against
the white walls. A tour of the quarter called La
Rinconada del Castillo is a must. There, the Arab
trace is unmistakable.
during the Moorish uprising of 1568. It burnt down
and was rebuilt later, in 1577, by the construction
foreman of the Cathedral of Málaga, Diego de
Vergara, who knocked the high altar walls down
because they had been badly damaged by the
fire. In 1632, the building was restored once
again. It comprises one nave and two aisles
separated by semicircular arches which rest on
square-section pillars.
The walls of the castle of Tolox, which is thought
to have been built by the Phoenicians, is the
oldest architectural structure of the district. The
Romans used it when they stayed in the area,
and in 883, it was occupied by the rebel Umar ibn
Hafsun, who rebuilt it and established there one
of his most secure strongholds in the region. It
was virtually destroyed at the end of the fifteenth
century, and only a stretch of the walls and a passageway remained. The picturesque quarter La
Rinconada del Castillo grew slowly in the area of
the old castle.
The chapel of the high altar and the lateral chapels are all roofed with hemispherical vaults from
the seventeenth century. On the inside, there are
three eighteenth-century canvases depicting the
Marriage of the Virgin, the Epiphany and the
Adoration of the Shepherds, attributed to Diego
de la Cerda. The square section tower is at the
top of the Gospel side aisle, and it seems to
The Church of San Miguel (St. Michael) was completed at the beginning of the sixteenth century. It
was in there where the Christians took refuge
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Contents
.
HOW TO GET THERE
This village, like Monda, was given in fiefdom to
the Marquis of Villena and Duke of Escalona, in
1509. In 1560, the Inquisition punished the mayor
of Tolox because the villagers performed Moorish
songs and dances during some family celebra-
Population: About 2,300.
Name given to the local people: Toloxeños.
Location: In the Guadalhorce Valley. The village
is 315 m above sea level, 52km from Ronda and
57 from Málaga City. The average annual rainfall
is 750 l/m2, and the average annual temperature,
17°C.
What to see: The walls of the castle, Church of
San Miguel (St. Michael), Popular Arts and
Traditions House Museum, Chapel of San Roque
(St. Roch), Spa of Tolox (Amargosa Spring),
Inquisition House, house of the Hidalgo
Fernández de Villamor, Sierra de las Nieves
Nature Park.
Tourist information: Casa de la Cultura, C/
Encina 54 (29109). Tel.: (+34) 952 487 333. Fax:
(+34) 952 487 108.
.
218
The first data about this town are from the Muslim
period, and refer to the occupation of the castle
by the Muladi leader Umar ibn Hafsun in 833.
After his death, the castle was inherited by one of
his sons, Suleyman, who in 921 was defeated by
Abd-ar-Rahman III, whose troops destroyed the
castle. When the village surrendered to the
Christians in 1485, the fortress was rebuilt, but in
1498 was destroyed once again.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Tolox
Tolox
The first human settlements in the area date from
the Neolithic period, as prove the remains (three
decorated pottery jars) found in the De la Tinaja
Cave, near the Peñón de los Horcajos, 5km from
the village. From Roman times, a tombstone from
a child's tomb has been found, as well as several
inscriptions inside the church walls.
tions. After the Moorish uprising and the subsequent expulsion of the Moors, the district was left
virtually deserted until the arrival of Old Christians
coming from Castile and Galicia, in times of
Phillip II.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The district of Tolox is a part of the
Guadalhorce Valley region, but actually, Tolox is
linked to the highlands of Ronda, especially to
Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park, a region that
gives the district some of the most beautiful places of the province of Málaga, especially those
between the De los Pilones Pass and Torrecilla
Peak (1,919 m). When snow covers it all -only a
few weeks every year- this territory becomes
simply spectacular.
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.
The House of the Inquisition and the house of the
Hidalgo Fernández de Villamor are of architectural interest. The House of the Inquisition was built
at the end of the sixteenth century or at the beginning of the seventeenth, and it has a bear brickwork façade with pilasters.
The Chapel of San Roque
(St. Roch), patron saint of
Tolox, is located 3km from
the village. It's a modern
building (built in the
1980s) of simple architecture, but there is a wonderful panoramic view of
the area from its location.
FIESTAS
In the middle of August, the village honours St.
Roch, the local patron saint. They are noisy days,
the villagers pour into the streets. On August 16
they organise a huge procession. As soon as the
image of the saint leaves the church, the villagers
perform what is known as the cohetá, a rocket
fireworks event (around 60,000 rockets) to escort
the image of St. Roch along the entire procession.
Another very popular celebration is the Día de los
Polvos, a few days before Ash Wednesday, at
carnival time. The youngsters throw talcum powder to one other until they get completely white. In
the old days, young men used this game to seduce the girls, who didn't go out in the streets that
day, so the wooers had to find a way to cover the
ladies up with white powder.
On December 8, Day of the Immaculate
Conception, the cencerrada (from cencerro,
"cowbell") of the Day of the Young Girls takes
place. It's a celebration of a legend according to
which the Christians of Alozaina, knowing the
danger faced by the Christians of Tolox, devised
a scheme to rescue the villagers who had taken
refuge in the church during the Moorish uprising.
The small group coming to the rescue used cowbells and other rudimentary instruments to give
the impression of a much larger group.
FOOD
The most typical dishes of this area are tolita
soup, bolo, kid stew and gazpacho (a chilled soup
made with vegetables). Sweet dishes include a
delicious fig roll.
Some chroniclers claim that this custom has its
origins in a dispute between a Moorish girl and a
Christian girl, both in love with the same man. The
girls worked together in a bakery and as the argument escalated, they ended up throwing flour at
each other.
Routes & Excursions
Contents
.
The Spa of Tolox
(Amargosa Spring) (Tel.:
952 487 091) uses a
spring of healing waters,
especially indicated for the
treatment of asthma and
bronchitis. These waters
were declared of public
benefit in 1871, and the
The house of the Hidalgo Fernández de Villamor
was built on the sixteenth century and it has a
whitewashed façade with artistic grilles.
The Popular Arts Museum,
located at 54, Encina St.
(Casa de la Cultura), is a
house museum where
there are three big halls
set as nineteenth-century
family rooms: a dining
room, a kitchen with old
utensils -a bedroom with a
wooden bed, an iron crib,
a jewellery case, and even
a prayer book dated 1864and a hall devoted to farming implements and a
few parts of the last oil mill
of Tolox. There's also a
photography exhibition
with pictures taken in the
1950s.
Nowadays, the courting process has changed,
but the tradition of throwing talcum powder at
each other remains, irrespective of genre or place
of origin, as many outsiders come to Tolox on that
day to take part in such a peculiar celebration.
Also in carnival time, the Baile de la Guasa takes
place, a celebration in which satirical verses related to the most salient events of the year are
sung.
.
.
current hotel has a capacity of 88 . Among other
celebrities, Lagartijo and Miguel Primo de Rivera
were guests here.
Tolox
220
have been erected on top
of the minaret of the old
mosque.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Tolox
TOURIST BOARD &
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TOURIST BOARD &
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yUNQUERA
UP TO THE ALHUCEMAR
GLEN
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222
After walking a few metres, we'll start to see the
El Caucón mountain pass. Meanwhile, the path
loses height -something very comforting, as it
gets less hard to follow. Then the path turns right
and goes through a glen, and then it starts going
uphill again, first slightly and then more steeply,
Routes & Excursions
Contents
.
Length: 4km
Beginning of route: Yunquera.
End of route: Alhucemar Glen.
Itinerary: Yunquera, El Caucón Pass, Luis
Ceballos viewing point, Las Colmenas Plain, El
Merendero, Alhucemar Glen.
TECHNICAL DATA
We continue downhill until we get to an esplanade before a thick and very pleasant Spanish fir
forest. At the end of the woods, there's another
esplanade. From all the possible paths we'll find
there, we have to take the one on the left hand,
which will take us to the Colmenas Plain. The
track we are on gets into a rugged terrain that
goes up and down and may be confusing. After
going uphill to a place known as El Merendero
and down again up to another esplanade, we'll
see a group of pines that clearly stand out as
they are taller than the rest. We have to be very
careful here not to lose our way. We'll have to
take a detour to the left on a path that goes
slightly uphill.
.
.
Although the name Sierra de las Nieves, which
means Snow Range, may be surprising for a
place in this area, it has a historical origin.
During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, there was a booming industry of ice and
snow in Yunquera. The ice and snow were stored in stone pits acting as kind of refrigerators,
and then sold and distributed from there.
We'll now take a trail that starts to the right of the
monument standing on the viewing point. After a
few steps, there's a fork in the road. Both paths
can be taken: if we take the path on the left, we'll
get to the Tajo de la Caína cliff, and if we take
the one on the right, we'll climb to the Peña de
los Enamorados (Lovers' Rock).
Yunquera
Yunquera
YUNQUERA - LOS SAUCES
TRAIL
The trail goes through Sierra de las
Nieves, a range of the Serranía de Ronda
mountains located in the southwest of the province. The villages of Istán, El Burgo, Monda,
Parauta, Tolox, Yunquera, and Ronda, all sit on
the Sierra de las Nieves range.
through the Alhucemar Glen. This is the point at
which the landscape gets richer, as the mountainous landscape combines with streams and
other lower points.
CONVENTION BUREAU
UP TO THE
ALHUCEMAR GLEN
Right at the entrance of the village of Yunquera,
there is a forest track going deep into the Sierra
de las Nieves range. This is the beginning of the
route that will take us to the Caucón mountain
pass. After walking 5km, the track bends to the
left and then continues on a straight line. After
2km, we'll get to the Luis Ceballos viewing point,
where we're likely to find several cars parked.
This is the ideal place to park our car if we don't
want to start the route from Yunquera. If you do
start from Yunquera though, the trail will be 7km
longer than previously stated.
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UP TO THE ALHUCEMAR GLEN
TOURIST BOARD &
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Itinerary
Road
District border
Nature Park
border
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.
224
.
End of route
Yunquera
Yunquera
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
Routes & Excursions
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TOURIST BOARD &
T he route starts at the village of
Yunquera, on a dirt track right in front of the
football field and next to the camping area. The
trail is 8km long and of moderate difficulty, so
we estimate it can be done in about 4 hours.
TECHNICAL DATA
.
.
At this point, under Del Jarro Peak, we'll see
the Cortijo de Huarte, a small farm devoted to
the cultivation of highland crops, which has a
spring of cool water. The path starts going
downhill and we'll have to take a trail that
starts to the right and goes by the mines of
Routes & Excursions
Contents
.
226
We go downhill among Spanish firs until we
get to the De Enmedio Cliff and the Del
Cañuelo glen and then continue among pine
trees till we get to Prado Caballo, where we
take a dirt track until we get to the path that will
lead us to the Del Monje Cliff. On the slopes of
this cliff, among the pines, you'll be able to see
some Spanish firs, gall oaks and holm oaks.
After leaving the cliff behind, we'll climb to the
Huarte Pass, where we'll be able to see the De
la Encina Glen. In this glen, the first human
element worth mentioning are the remains of
the old mines of the Convent.
.
Length: 8km
Beginning of route: Yunquera Camping Site.
End of route: Los Sauces recreational area
(Ronda).
Itinerary: Yunquera Camping Site, De
Enmedio Cliff, Del Cañuelo Glen, Prado
Caballo, El Monje Cliff, Huarte Pass, De la
Encina Glen, Del Jarro Peak, Cortijo de Huarte
farm, Mines of San Eulogio, Los Sauces recreational area (Ronda).
We'll go uphill the first stretch of the trail
among olive groves and vineyards until we get
to a sharp bend to the right. There we take the
footpath to the left lined with Aleppo pines.
This path will lead us to a dirt track that will
take us to the crest. At this point, we can stop
and enjoy the panoramic view of the village of
Yunquera, the Río Grande river valley, and
other villages like Alhaurín de la Torre, Coín,
and Alhaurín el Grande. Apart from the villages, the landscape is full of olive and chestnut
trees, bushes and pine woods, a nice mix of
nature and civilisation.
Yunquera
Yunquera
Yunquera is located on the Sierra de las
Nieves range and its natural environment is
extraordinarily beautiful, as more than half the
lands of the district are at an average height of
800 m above sea level.
San Eulogio -an old abandoned mine. Lastly,
we get to the Los Sauces recreational area,
where we'll be able to rest and cool down, as
it's fully equipped with tables and benches,
barbecues, fountain, showers, sinks, toilets
and parking area.
CONVENTION BUREAU
YUNQUERA - LOS
SAUCES TRAIL
This trail is outside the Nature Park preserve
area, and the beautiful mountains and the
thickness of its forests, full of pines and
Spanish firs, will fill us with awe and amazement. It could be said that on this trail, we'll
come across the larger pine forest of the
Serranía de Ronda range, with paths that go
up and down, and deep river ravines.
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YUNQUERA - LOS SAUCES TRAIL
TOURIST BOARD &
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Itinerary
Road
District border
Nature Park
border
.
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228
.
End of route
Yunquera
Yunquera
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning of route
Routes & Excursions
Contents
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TOURIST BOARD &
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Although there are vestiges of an earlier Moorish
settlement, modern Yunquera was born after the
Christian conquest (1485), more precisely when
the lands were repopulated by people from
Estepa, in the middle of the sixteenth century.
HOW TO GET THERE
The most advisable way to get to Yunquera is to
come from Málaga City, where we have to take
the A-357 towards Campillos. After about 14km,
we get to Cártama, and right after this village the
A-355 will take us up to Coín. From this village,
take the A-366 (which is the same road as the
previous one, with a different name) up to
Alozaina, and from there, on the same road, to
Yunquera.
From Ronda, we take the A-366 towards Málaga.
Twenty-five kilometres after, we get to the village
of El Burgo, and after 9km, to Yunquera, our final
destination.
WHAT TO SEE
The Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la
Encarnación (Our Lady of Incarnation) sits in the
centre of town, which has kept its medieval
layout. La Encarnación is the biggest church in
the Sierra de las Nieves range, and was built in
1505. Most of the present-day structure, however,
dates back from the seventeenth century. It has
one nave and two aisles separated by cruciform
pillars supporting semicircular arches. The vaulted transept is crowned by a small dome decorated with bas-reliefs.
The Watchtower is half a kilometre away from the
town centre, towards El Burgo. The tower was
built in the sixteenth century, and in Yunquera
they call it "el castillo" ("the castle"). The information centre of the Sierra de las Nieves Nature
Reserve has its offices there. It's built in the
shape of a truncated cone -virtually a cylinderclosed by a partial sphere. Its stone walls have
deeply splayed openings for defence purposes.
The De la Cruz del Pobre Chapel rises next to the
local cemetery. It was completed in 1866. Its floor
plan is hexagonal and it has a roof with six slopes. The interior is commanded by the image of
Cristo de la Cruz del Pobre, reverently worshiped
by the locals.
The Chapel of Nuestra Señora de Porticate is a
little farther away, about 5km It was built in the
eighteenth century and renovated in 1929. It's a
very simple construction, with a rectangular floor
plan and a double-pitched wooden framework. In
one of the walls is a small chapel of octagonal
Routes & Excursions
Contents
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The Arabs, with their eternal love of water, knew
how to take maximum advantage of the abundance of highland springs, and designed a series
of ingenious irrigation farms. This agricultural tradition hasn't changed much, as it can be observed today in the areas devoted to cultivation in
the Río Grande and Jorox river valleys, while in
the high plateaus, olive groves prevail.
It all suggests that Yunquera was never a Roman
city as such, but a settlement away from the commercial and political centres of the time, as there
are no Roman roads - indispensable structures
for the cohesion of the empire- anywhere near the
village nor any remains of any other important
Population: About 3,600.
Name given to the local people: Yunqueranos.
Location: At the western side of the Guadalhorce
Valley Region, bordering with the region of
Ronda, in the heart of the Sierra de las Nieves
range. The village is 680 m above sea level, 36km
from Ronda and 63 from the city of Málaga. The
area has an average annual rainfall of 910 l/m2,
and an average annual temperature of 16.4°C.
What to see: Church of Nuestra Señora de la
Encarnación (Our Lady of the Incarnation), Shrine
of Cruz del Pobre (Poor's Cross), Watchtower,
Chapel of Our Lady of Porticate, La Torrecilla
(Little Tower), Sierra de las Nieves, Yunquera
Spanish Fir Grove, The Snow Wells, Rise of River
Grande, Reservoir of the River Grande, Los
Positos de Río Grande.
Constitución, 13 (29410). Tel.: (+34) 952 48 26 09. Fax:
(+34) 952 482 905. Tourist Information Office, C/ del
Pozo, 17. Tel.: (+34) 952 482 609.
.
230
The village sits on one of the two existing passes
available to go rather easily through the eastern
mountains of the Serranía de Ronda range. This,
along with the abundance of water pouring from
the springs, suggests that this region may have
been inhabited since prehistoric times, though it
wasn't until Roman times that a permanent settlement was established, comprising both farms and
villas.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Yunquera
Yunquera
Even outside the boundaries of the Nature Park,
the lands of Yunquera offer visitors some places
in which the combination of hills and valleys -with
the ubiquitous presence of the Spanish fir- creates extraordinarily beautiful scenery, such as can
be observed in the surroundings of the ruins of
the Convent of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves
(Our Lady of the Snows), on the boundary with
the district of El Burgo. The enumeration of "unique" places of this district would be as endless as
it would be pointless to keep on talking about the
beauty of a territory that has been blessed by
Nature with almost everything. All this will be evident to the visitor approaching Yunquera.
structure, except for the two bridges on the road
to Ronda. It is known, though, that the Romans
named this area Juncaria, which means "meadow
of reeds."
CONVENTION BUREAU
The district of Yunquera benefits from the
exceptional landscapes and ecological assets of
the Sierra de las Nieves range. The area is part
both of Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park and its
surroundings, which have been declared
Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The traveller
will thus be entering one of the most beautiful
areas in the entire province of Málaga, and also
one of the best protected, due to the strict regulations for any activities carried out in this region,
because of its new international status.
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TOURIST BOARD &
The Moorish watchtower called the Torrecilla
stands also away from the village (about 4km)
and 1,700 m from the road to Ronda. It has cylindrical shape and has retained part of its original
rendering. It's 5,2 m in diameter and 11 m high. Its
construction is solid the first 6 m and the living
quarters are above that.
FIESTAS
.
.
On July 16, this village celebrates what is known
as "El Traslado" (The Move) which consists in
carrying the Virgin of Mount Carmel from the
Chapel of Porticate (the small image of the Virgin
of Mount Carmel, called of Porticate) to the village, and taking the large image of the Virgin of
Mount Carmel, also in a procession, from its
church to Porticate. The images stay a month at
their temporary locations.
Once the month is over, the Small Virgin is taken
to Porticate again (on August 15), in this occasion
in a pilgrimage. At half way, a bunch of grapes is
placed on the Virgin's hands and a jasmine garland around her neck. When the pilgrims get to
Porticate, a meal is organised, and in the evening, everybody returns to the village.
The celebrations in homage to the patrons of the
village -the Virgin of the Rosary and St.
Sebastian- take place on October 7, when some
of the oldest traditions of the village are remembered, like, for instance, the offering of grapes.
After the devotional rites, a treading of grapes is
organised at the village square in which everybody is welcome to participate. On this same day
as of 7am, a Dawn Rosary is prayed mostly by
women who gather and walk down the streets
praying. Afterwards, they have breakfast at the
square with churros (a kind of fritter), sweets and
chocolate.
Routes & Excursions
Contents
FOOD
The main ingredients of the cuisine of Yunquera
are meat -both game and farm-raised-, vegetables, olive oil, flour, and wine. Traditional dishes
include rabbit fried with garlic, caldereta (a stew,
usually made with kid), pirriñaca (fried blood with
onions, tomato and pepper), tomato soup, and
colmenilla (whose main ingredient is a mushroom
that grows under Spanish firs). Cazuela (a casserole), cabbage stew, and homemade sausages
(chorizo, salchichón, black pudding, and morcón)
can be added to the most genuine menu of
Yunquera. We mustn't leave out the empanadilla
(pasty) with cabellos de ángel or sweet pumpkin
filling, the fritters and must.
.
The eve of St. John's Day (June 23) is known in
Yunquera as the celebration of "Los Juanes" (the
Johns). This is one of the few places in which this
celebration has a religious side, as altars are set
on the streets, highly decorated with plants, blankets, flowerpots and even dolls. All these elements are arranged around a framed image of a
saint. Of course, these activities are accompanied by a great night party in which a doll previously stuffed with firecrackers is burnt, so that
the celebrations don't go unnoticed.
On Good Friday, at dawn, the Virgin of Solitude is
carried in a procession attended by virtually everyone in the village. The image of the Resurrected
The village is decorated with flowers and plants
for the festivity of Corpus Christi, and the so
called "mesas" (tables) are set up, with an image
of Our Lord usually decorated with flowers and
candles. The procession stops at each table,
where they say a prayer, and petals are showered
on the monstrance. The procession ends at the
village square before a large table.
.
232
The village celebrates Holy Week with great fervour. On Maundy Thursday, a procession in
homage to Our Father Jesus of Nazareth and
Holy Mary of Health and Hope takes place. On
Good Friday, at dawn, a Via Crucis starts from the
Del Cristo de la Cruz del Pobre Chapel, in which
only men participate. In the afternoon, the Holy
Sepulchre, Holy Mary of Sorrows and the True
Cross, and the Cristo de la Cruz del Pobre are
carried in procession. The processions meet next
to the cemetery and the Cristo de la Cruz del
Pobre is put in his chapel, while the other images
are returned to the parish church.
Christ, on Easter Sunday, closes the Passion
Week in Yunquera. It's customary on this day -a
custom coming from Castile- to pin banknotes to
the cloak of the Virgin or the tunic of Jesus of
Nazareth, as a sign of gratitude in return of
favours granted.
Yunquera
Yunquera
The Carnival, towards the end of February, marks
the beginning of the festive year of Yunquera.
Street bands, fancy costumes and masquerade
contests are some of the events taking place
those days, which end up with the burial of the
sardine, accompanied by a funeral cortège of
mourning widows. When the sardine is burned,
the firecrackers inside it explode and the blast is
greeted with joy by everyone.
CONVENTION BUREAU
floor plan with plasterwork-decorated angles. The
structure is crowned by a dome painted in the
Rococo style of the beginning of the nineteenth
century.
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contents
TOURIST BOARD
& CONVENTION BUREAU
CYCLE TOURING
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Antequera
Axarquía
page 248
Western Costa del Sol
Guadalteba
page 238
page 258
page 268
Málaga-C
Costa del Sol
. Nororma
. Serranía de Ronda
. Sierra de las Nieves
. Guadalhorce Valley
page 278
page 288
page 298
Contens
page 308
page 318
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TOURIST BOARD &
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E PIC AND KNAPSACK
CYCLE TOURING
THROUGH MÁLAGA'S
REGIONS
Introduction
At the Costa del Sol Tourist Board, we want to
include cycle touring in a special section of this
guide on active travel because we are interested
in promoting and showing our regions to you who
will travel across the province on two wheels.
The Málaga province is, without any doubt,
amongst the top tourist destinations around the
world. Everybody knows that the travel industry
of the province is quite powerful, but what we
want to promote here is a new aspect which we
want you to try: cycle touring, an environmentfriendly activity framed within ecotourism or
ecological tourism.
Cycle touring
Contents
.
Cycle touring
.
All the routes described in this guide are perfect
for cycle touring, 100% of the roads are paved
and bicycle riding is allowed. We've also included details or descriptions of things we believe
are worth mentioning for some reason.
Therefore, you'll find comments on the cultural
life, the arts or foods of the different regions.
In addition, there are tables that summarise the
main features of each route -mountain passes,
altitudes, etc.
As cycle touring enthusiasts and lovers of our
beautiful province, we want to invite you to
come with us and travel across it in an environment-friendly way, using our stamina to ride our
bikes and enjoy the most beautiful spots
Málaga has to offer.
.
We've included a map at the end of each route so
that you can see an outline, the landmarks, the
name of the roads, the scenic spots, and the
springs. We've also indicated the different altitudes, slope gradients and all you might need to
know in advance. The maps in this guide are part
of Conmunica Mediatrader's map collection.
Cycle touring
We suggest that you should travel across the
different areas in Málaga well prepared to be
amazed by the beauty of the spots you'll
encounter, to enjoy the monuments you'll see,
the food you'll savour and the people you'll
The nine routes we've chosen for you to follow
reveal the social, cultural and environmental
assets of the province of Málaga. This guide will
be extremely useful for those who love both
nature and riding a bike.
.
The province's main assets are its nine regions,
which contain 101 districts. The regions are
Antequera, Axarquía, Western Costa del Sol,
Guadalteba, Guadalhorce, Málaga, Nororma,
Serranía de Ronda and Sierra de las Nieves.
We are pleased to share with you one route in
each region. Below you'll find a comprehensive
description of each route.
You can visit the cities of Antequera, VélezMálaga, Ronda, Málaga or the world-famous
Marbella, but what you'll find most attractive are
the small villages with whitewashed houses,
narrow and winding streets, colourful flowers
and traditions, and of course, the wisdom of
their friendly dwellers.
Introduction
236
This guide is a very useful tool to learn
everything about the different regions of the province of Málaga through an environment-friendly
activity: cycle touring. To mix sports and tourism
will let us know the remote and peaceful spots
first hand along lonely roads. We'll be able to get
closer to these locations' history, landscapes,
artistic heritage, fiestas, foods and, above all, its
dwellers, the real stars of the province.
The most important topographical features are
the sierras or mountain ranges, which are home
to beautiful nature areas, some of which aren't
visited by tourists at all. Fertile valleys have
been cut through by rivers that flow to the
Mediterranean Sea, the real driving force of the
province as far as tourism is concerned. The
sierras, the valleys and the proximity to the sea
ensure a mild climate, one of the province's
valuable assets.
meet. Many of the roads you'll take carry almost
no traffic; all of them are paved, though.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The province of Málaga, in the southernmost
part of the Iberian Peninsula, in the western end
of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia.
Bounded by the Mediterranean Sea to the
south, the province of Granada to the northwest, Cádiz and Seville to the west, and
Córdoba to the north, Málaga boasts a coastline 161km long.
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TOURIST BOARD &
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aNTEQUERA
made with fried breadcrumbs), pastoril-style
kid, molletes (sweet rolls) or sweets made by
nuns such as bienmesabe.
The route described below combines cycling
with nature and culture.
For further information, please visit "From
Village to Village" at www.visitcostadelsol.com
CONVENTION BUREAU
AMIDST LIMESTONE
ROCKS AND MONUMENTS
There are monuments, artistic and
archaeological assets, and the village of
Antequera has kept the most salient symbols
of the coexistence of cultures over the years.
We shouldn't forget its foods, in which the
hojiblanca extra virgin olive oil makes even the
simplest dish a delicious one. Popular recipes
of Antequera are porra antequerana (cold dish
with vegetables and cured ham), migas (a dish
The region of Antequera, in the northern
portion of the province of Málaga, enjoys a
strategic location. In Muslim times, the region
linked High and Low Andalusia with the coast
and the central plain. Moreover, Antequera is a
beautiful area, where the Torcal and the
Laguna de Fuente de Piedra stand out.
Antequera
Antequera
AMIDST LIMESTONE ROCKS
AND MONUMENTS
TECHNICAL DATA
Cycle touring
.
Cycle touring
.
Length: 53.1km
Elevation gain: : 1,484m
Recommended average speed: 20 to 25km/h
Season: fall and spring. Traffic is limited in
winter due to snowfall. The summer is too hot.
Stops: Antequera and its monuments, El
Torcal, Boca del Asno.
Chainrings: 38x25 or triple.
Tips: take your camera.
.
.
238
Cycle touring
Contents
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AMIDST LIMESTONE ROCKS AND MONUMENTS
CONVENTION BUREAU
REGION:
DISTRICTS:
ROUTE:
KILOMETRES:
TOURIST BOARD &
Antequera
Alameda, Antequera, Casabermeja, Fuente de Piedra, Humilladero, Mollina, Villanueva de la Concepción
ANTEQUERA - LA JOYA - VILLANUEVA DE LA CONCEPCIÓN - EL TORCAL - ANTEQUERA
53.1
ROUTE-METER
ROUTE 1: ANTEQUERA-LA JOYA-TORCAL-ANTEQUERA
.
ROAD
DESCRIPTION
508
0.00
C-3310
ANTEQUERA. Roundabout at Plaza de Castilla, by the Bullring
586
2.27
A-343
Junction. Turn right to Valle de Abdalajís valley
653
9.85
MA-437
Junction. Make a left towards La Joya and Nogales
899
14.19
MA-437
Joya-Nogales Pass
697
16.90
MA-437
LA JOYA. City tour. To Villanueva de la Concepción
566
26.30
C-3310
Junction. A left turn takes you to Villanueva de la Concepción
589
27.50
C-3310
VILLANUEVA DE LA CONCEPCIÓN. City tour
952
34.66
MA-9016
Junction. Turn left to Torcal
1225
36.61
MA-9016
Torcal de Antequera Passs
1204
37.20
MA-9016
TORCAL DE ANTEQUERA. Turn to Antequera
862
42.90
C-3310
Boca del Asno. Watch dangerous bends
586
50.67
C-3310
Junction. Stay straight toward Antequera
508
53.06
C-3310
ANTEQUERA. End of route at Plaza de Castilla
.
240
.
.
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Cycle touring
DISTANCE
TRAVELLED
Antequera
Antequera
ALTITUDE
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PÆgina 242
TOURIST BOARD &
Antequera
.
Cycle touring
Cycle touring
Cycle touring
Contents
.
.
.
The route starts from Puerta de Estepa
(nineteenth century), by the Bullring (1848).
Head south to Sierra de El Torcal via
Picadero Street and the C-3310. In less than
2km going up, we reach a junction, then bear
right on the A-343 towards the Abdalajís
Valley. The northern slope of the Sierra, with
the Camorro Alto peak (1,369 m) is really
impressive. Now the itinerary passes through
a Mediterranean wood filled with holm oaks
and gall oaks that compete with olive
orchards. A tight curve on our left will show
us the nice scenery with the Sierra as a
backdrop. From here, the road is easier.
Then we'll pass by the entrance to Lobo
Nature Park, inhabited by four different
species of wolves. At Km 9.85, we'll get off
the A-343 to make a left and get off onto the
road towards La Joya (MA-437). We arrive at
Antequera
242
CONVENTION BUREAU
The best starting point is Antequera,
which Gerardo Diego defined as "the city of
white and elaborate churches." Near the
beginning of the route, at the end of Infante
Don Fernando Street or Estepa Street, as
villagers call it, is the incredible San
Sebastián square, created in 1508 by a
Royal Decree issued by Joanna the Mad.
You'll find the imposing brick tower in
Mudéjar style, crowned by the peculiar angel
(known as the angelote) of the Church of San
Sebastián. Other options: walk to the highest
part of town to visit the Royal Collegiate
Church of Santa María la Mayor (sixteenth
century) and the splendid complex containing the Alcazaba with its Arab castle or, in
the outskirts, the well-known dolmens. We
should mention here that Antequera is the
largest district of the province of Málaga, and
the eleventh largest in Spain -Antequera's
surface area totals 814 square kilometres.
Anyway, it's the cycle rider who will decide
what route he or she'll take.
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.
Cycle touring
We'll enjoy the lunar landscape of El Torcal, enter
the visitor centre and go back to the road up to
the C-3310, to the left towards Antequera,
passing through the spectacular spot called Boca
del Asno, a natural pass linking the Sierra Pelada
of El Torcal and Sierra de las Cabras. Now follows
a long and pronounced descent to the town of
Antequera. In no time we arrive at the junction we
encountered before. This time, however, we
make a right. Before reaching Antequera, we
pass by the mouth of the La Villa River, which
supplies the town with water. This is a
recreational area containing a camping area and
an artificial lake. We'll find many roadside
restaurants serving the delicious foods made in
the region. The end of our route is the same place
we departed from: the Puerta de Estepa, in
Antequera.
Located in the central part of the province of
Málaga, El Torcal, hosted almost completely by the
district of Antequera, is part of the Subbetic
limestone mountains.
Although it's not too large, El Torcal has a
spectacular karst topography. Concerning its
geomorphology, the area can be divided into four
distinct sub-areas: Sierra Pelada, Torcal Alto, Torcal
Bajo, Tajos and Laderas.
- Las Ventanillas Mirador, it provides impressive
views of the village of Villanueva de la Concepción,
Río Campanillas, Málaga, and weather permitting,
the African coastline.
- Ruta Verde or green route: pedestrian trail
starting at the park area and passing through the
Torcal Alto. Difficulty: easy to moderate. Estimated
time: 40 to 60 min. Ideal to watch the vegetation,
geological formations, the effects of erosion,
animals, and to teach lessons on the environment.
For further information, please visit "From Village to
Village", Antequera, Outstanding Visits, at
visitcostadelsol.com
Limestone rocks in the area formed from seawater
in the Jurassic Period, about 150 million years ago.
The irregular surface above large limestone
deposits -which are easily weathered and erodedis known as karst topography, which looks as a
natural sculpture museum, some of whose
"artworks" bear a name of their own.
The area is home to a variety of plants and animals:
up to 664 plant species have been recorded,
including holm oaks, gall oaks, and rowans; and the
116 species of vertebrates that have been
identified comprise foxes, Spanish ibexes and,
most important, birds, so much so that the area was
declared Special Zone for Bird Protection. The most
interesting spots are:
HIGHLIGHTS
- Antequera, "the city of white and elaborate
churches."
- Torcal de Antequera, a lunar landscape.
- The climb to El Torcal is quite tough.
- Nature Information Centre, they screen 10minute video on the natural and cultural assets of
the area. It features toilets and an information point.
Cycle touring
Contents
.
We leave Villanueva behind and we'll encounter a
difficult stretch with an average gradient of 10%
and particular sections with 14% rate. The path
draws five open horseshoe-like bends that will
lead us uphill quite quickly. At the top, the Sierra
invites us to keep climbing and watch kingly
griffon vultures hovering over the top of the high
mountains. Before heading for the last steep
climb there's a moderate stretch on which we'll
find two fountains. The climb starts just on the exit
to the left leading to El Torcal. A tough ramp 1km
El Torcal de Antequera established as
Nature Area on 18 July 1989 for its rich geomorphology, flora, fauna and landscape.
Cycle touring
.
We'll encounter innumerable ascents and
descents until we arrive at Villanueva de la
Concepción. The road goes through the town.
Then we turn left onto the C-3310 to start the
tough climb up the Torcal. But first we should fill
our bottles with water from the fountain in the
town square. Villanueva is a beautiful
whitewashed village with wide streets and
avenues, and landscaped walkways. As it's
located near the coast (30km), Villanueva de la
Concepción's weather is generally mild. The
village hosts the Fiesta de Verdiales (folk music),
the oldest of the province of Málaga. This singular
festival was declared of tourist interest.
EL TORCAL DE
ANTEQUERA NATURE
AREA
.
in length with an average angle of 11%, and some
sections are 14% leads us straight to the summit.
The landscape is worth the physical effort: an
amazing rock formation which water and wind
have eroded into colourful shapes like the tornillo
("screw"), the ataúd ("coffin"), the sombrerillo
("small hat"), the tortuga ("turtle")... At Km. 36.61
we reach the mountain pass of El Torcal (1,225
m). After a short descent we find an esplanade by
the visitor centre of El Torcal Nature Area. A few
metres from the centre is the Mirador de las
Ventanillas, offering spectacular views to the
south: Villanueva de la Concepción right beneath
us, the province of Málaga, and weather
permitting, the Mediterranean Sea and the
African coastline.
Antequera
244
one of the most typical areas of Antequera: Torcal
Sur. The road makes narrower here and winds its
way uphill, featuring some extremely steep
stretches, till it reaches La Joya, a pass at an
altitude of 899m. A tight bend to our left, by a
hamlet leads us directly to the southern part of El
Torcal. There are still several kilometres ahead to
reach the highest peak and start our way downhill
towards La Joya, a small village in the shelter of
the southern slope of the Sierra, adjoining
Antequera. La Joya, has a population of only 430.
From here to Villanueva de la Concepción, we'll
go restlessly up and down on narrow, disused
roads which herds of goats cross from time to
time. These goats' milk is used to make an
excellent goat cheese.
CONVENTION BUREAU
Antequera
TOURIST BOARD &
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AMIDST LIMESTONE ROCKS AND MONUMENTS
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning and
end of route
Itinerary
Road
Antequera
Antequera
District border
Nature Park
border
.
.
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Cycle touring
.
.
246
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
TOURS ACROSS THE
MUDÉJAR AXARQUÍA
We'll make our cycle tour across the
Axarquía, a region where different peoples with
equally different customs and traditions ranging
from farming to fishing in the Mare Nostrum, as
the Mediterranean Sea was known to the
Romans. We'll be able to choose among the
several steep paths and spectacular landscapes
of the Axarquía's Mudéjar routes.
.
aXARQUÍA
TOURS ACROSS THE
MUDÉJAR AXARQUÍA
Axarquía
.
.
Cycle touring
Cycle touring
.
Length: 55km
Elevation gain: 1,536m
Recommended average speed: 20 to
25km/h.
Estimated time: 2 - 3 hours.
Season: all year round. Spring, however, is the
best one.
Stops: Vélez-Málaga, Canillas de Aceituno,
Sedella, Salares, Árchez.
Chainrings: 38 x 25 or triple.
Tips: take your camera and taste the ajoblanco
dish.
.
248
Axarquía
TECHNICAL DATA
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TOURS ACROSS THE MUDÉJAR AXARQUÍA
ROUTE:
KILOMETRES:
Axarquía
Alcaucín, Alfarnate, Alfarnatejo, Algarrobo, Almáchar, Archez, Arenas, Benamargosa, Benamocarra, Canillas de Albaida, Canillas de Aceituno, Colmenar, Comares,
Cómpeta, Cútar, El Borge, Frigiliana, Iznate, La Viñuela, Macharaviaya, Moclinejo, Nerja, Periana, Rincón de la Victoria, Riogordo, Salares, Sayalonga, Sedella, Torrox,
Totalán, Vélez-Málaga
VÉLEZ MÁLAGA - TRAPICHE - CANILLAS DE ACEITUNO - SEDELLA - SALARES - ARCHEZ - CORUMBELA - DAIMALOS - ARENAS - VÉLEZ MÁLAGA
55
CONVENTION BUREAU
REGION:
DISTRICTS:
TOURIST BOARD &
.
ROAD
C-335
C-335
C-335
MA-125
MA-125
MA-125
MA-126
MA-127
MA-158
MA-158
MA-119
MA-119
MA-119
MA-118
MA-117
C-335
DESCRIPTION
VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA. Town Hall Square, towards Alhama de Granada
Crossroads. Follow straight to Alhama de Granada
EL TRAPICHE. Keep riding straight ahead
Crossroads. Turn right towards Canillas del Aceituno, Sedella and Salares
CANILLAS DEL ACEITUNO. Roundabout. Head towards the centre
Canillas del Aceituno pass by the Town Hall. Fountain
La Rahige recreational area. Stream near the road
SEDELLA. Head towards Salares
SALARES. Continue riding uphill to Árchez
Puerto de los Carboneros. 2.2km of steep descent
Crossroads. Make a right towards Corumbela
CORUMBELA. Continue riding straight ahead bordering the village
Corumbela pass. Descent to Daimalos and Arenas
DAIMALOS. Go to Arenas
ARENAS. Continue straight towards Vélez-Málaga
VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA. End of route at Town Hall square
250
.
.
0.00
1.60
3.90
9.10
15.95
16.60
19.37
24.10
27.70
31.93
34.16
38.15
39.80
43.00
44.85
55.00
Cycle touring
Cycle touring
DISTANCE TRAVELLED
.
ALTITUDE
53
31
43
126
625
638
611
677
597
630
415
537
601
503
389
53
Axarquía
Axarquía
ROUTE-METER
ROUTE 2: VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA-CANILLAS DE ACEITUNO-ARENAS-VÉLEZ-MÁLAGA
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TOURIST BOARD &
meadows and plains near the coastline you find
vegetable gardens, which have extended to the
hillsides thanks to the terraces and the modern
irrigation techniques. More recently, the region
started growing subtropical fruit, like avocados,
mangos, custard apples, and loquats.
Without a doubt, the Axarquía is a region that
displays contrasting features: the light blue sky
and the deep blue Mediterranean Sea, the white
limestone on the mountains and the green Vélez
River valley, the sea villages and the inland ones,
the peaceful countryside and the busy tourist
coastal areas.
over a mosque. On the upper part, the twelfthcentury fortress crowns the city. Stretches of the
old walls and the keep of the fortress have
survived. The Vélez-Málaga's old district was
declared a Historic-Artistic Complex in
November 1970. Other monuments worth
mentioning are the Fountain of Fernando
(Ferdinand) VI, built in 1758, the Convent of San
Francisco, the Chapel of Buen Pastor (The Good
Shepherd), the sixteenth-century Parish Church
of San Juan (St. John), the Convent of the
Carmelite Order, the Church of the Convent of
San José de la Soledad or the San Marcos
Hospital.
The heart of the Axarquía is the city of VélezMálaga, located in the Vélez River valley. The
Arabs left their unmistakable traces here,
principally in the urban layout. The most
important building in town is the Parish Church of
Santa María la Mayor (sixteenth century), built
We start from the Town Hall square and head
north towards Alhama de Granada on the road
C-335. We'll pass by El Trapiche before taking
the MA-125, which goes well into the Mudéjar
Axarquía through the Canillas Pass, the way up
to Canillas del Aceituno, a beautiful village at the
Axarquía
Axarquía
These lands have been inhabited for more than
200,000 years, as can be seen in the Palaeolithic
archaeological remains of the Acheulean culture
that have been found. Similarly, Neandertal
remains were unearthed in the Zafarraya Cave,
and Cro-Magnon paintings can be observed in
the Caves of Nerja. Centuries later, several
peoples came here leaving traces behind them,
especially the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and
Romans, whose presence was stronger on the
coast. However, the Arabs are the people whose
influence can still be felt in the Axarquía. They
arrived in the eighth century B.C. and resided
here until the end of the fifteenth century, when
the Axarquía was populated by Old Christians
hailing from Castile-León. It was the Arabs who
developed farming in the Axarquía. They grew
vines, almond trees and white mulberry trees (for
silk production), all farming activities that the
Christians adopted themselves. Consequently,
the Axarquía shows a typically agricultural
environment dotted with vineyards, olive groves,
almond trees and some cereal fields. Only in the
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Contents
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.
.
252
CONVENTION BUREAU
The word "Axarquía" derives from sharquiyya, an Arabic word meaning "Orient." The
region is located to the east of the capital of the
province, bordering with the province of Granada
to the north and the west by means of a mountain range of the Betic System (Sierras de Tejeda
and Almijara) and Subbetic (Sierras de Alhama,
Jobo and Camorolos). To the south, the limit is
the Mar de Alborán (Mediterranean Sea). The
western border is rather controversial, but we
might well claim that it's the divide separating the
Guadalmedina River valley from the Jaboneros
Brook systems. It coincides with the Montes de
Málaga road, the famous Puerto del León also
known as La Cuesta de la Reina. The region
consists of 31 districts whose population is
170,000. The capital of the region is VélezMálaga.
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TOURIST BOARD &
Axarquía
.
Cycle touring
- Place almonds in mortar and crush together with
garlic and salt.
- Slowly add olive oil until you get a soft cream (20
min.)
- Just before serving, add water, vinegar and salt.
Tip: Some people eat this dish with breadcrumbs
and others add muscatel grapes, making a delicious
combination. Serve in a bowl rather than in a glass.
Never add ice cubes.
If you want to learn more on traditional dishes, visit
the tourist guide called Popular Recipes, available
online at www.visitcostadelsol.com.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Axarquía, in Málaga, a region full of
contrasts.
- Ajoblanco, the Axarquía's magic potion.
- Ascent to Canillas del Aceituno, the toughest
stretch of the route.
AJOBLANCO FROM
MÁLAGA
No one can leave the Axarquía without tasting its most famous dish: ajoblanco. You can prepare it on your own.
Cycle touring
Contents
.
.
Preparation:
- To skin the almonds, blanch them or scald in boiling
water.
Cycle touring
To our right we take the way to the Corumbela
Pass, the last mountain milestone on our route.
The stretch is 5.63km long and its average
gradient is 3.3%, with some ramps at 9%: quite a
difficult stretch, but we should think that it's the
last part of our tour before reaching Vélez. We'll
reach the top after passing across Corumbela, a
village offering excellent local wines. Then,
there's the district of Daimalos, featuring the
From Arenas to the end of the tour, the path runs
downhill until we get sight of the "postcard view"
of Vélez-Málaga. We enter the city from the
northeast towards the San Roque square, and
we reach the end of our route across the
Axarquía at the Vélez-Málaga Town Hall.
Ingredients (serves 4): 200g almonds, 2 cloves of
garlic, 1 cup extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, salt, water,
grapes (optional).
.
Then we start a short but very steep descent
(17% gradient). Our way resembles a children's
seesaw until we get to the Carboneros Pass, an
easy ascent on one side but quite a tricky
descent on the other: 2.2km with a 9.6%
gradient. At the end of this steep descent we find
a junction. Straight ahead is the road to Árchez,
Cómpeta, and the Wine Route. In Árchez there
are some attractions, like the minaret tower of
the fourteenth-century Church of Nuestra Señora
de la Encarnación (Our Lady of the Incarnation).
The minaret is a twelfth-century Merinid gem
which was fully restored in 1989. This is one of
the main historic monuments of the region, which
is why it was declared a Historic Artistic
Monument by Royal Decree, on 20 April 1979.
Fuente Perdida or Del Amor, whose water has
"healing properties and helps people be happy,"
as they say. After a somewhat dangerous
descent we arrive at Arenas, crowned by the
Bentomiz Castle. Some time ago, this small
village was named Arenas del Rey, as a tribute to
Ferdinand the Catholic ("rey" means "king" in
Spanish), who apparently stayed here during the
conquest of Vélez-Málaga. Worth mentioning is
the Parish Church of Santa Catalina, in Mudéjar
style (sixteenth century). Although it was affected
by a fire in 1926, there are still some remains
from the tower, which had been the previous
mosque's minaret. Arenas holds the Mule Fiesta
every year. Interestingly, the district of Arenas
features the highest chameleon population
density throughout Europe.
Axarquía
254
We leave behind the Vélez River valley as we
take our road to Canillas del Aceituno, and the
landscape changes dramatically -a combination
of Mediterranean flora, olive groves, almond
trees and vineyards against the backdrop of the
impressive massif of La Maroma. Canillas del
Aceituno is the typical Moorish village, with
narrow, winding streets lined with whitewashed
houses. At the Town Hall square we can refresh
ourselves with the water flowing from a fourspout fountain. We might border the village to the
south, but we'd miss the magnificent fresh water
running down from the nearby mountains. After
travelling across Canillas we'll ride eastwards to
Sedella. The rugged land oozes water through
the pores of the Sierra de Tejeda, in the spot
known as "La Rahige," on the left side of the
winding road that reaches its highest part before
arriving at Sedella. Sedella is a good example of
the mountain villages of the Axarquía, with its
rugged terrain and surrounded by irrigated
terraces where vegetables are grown. The
district of Sedella is home to the following hills:
Fuerte (1,490 m), Tablón (818 m), and the
highest mount, Maroma (2,080 m), which Sedella
shares with Canillas. The village of Sedella is
amazingly beautiful: houses whose whitewashed
fronts contrast with the green vines adorning
arcades and patios. The most unique building in
Sedella is the Casa Torreón, where the Mayor of
Donceles used to live. The house still keeps a
square tower in the Mudéjar style with arches on
top of Renaissance columns decorated with
designs using the Islamic sgraffito technique.
This charming village is on the left of our route,
which now takes us to Salares. Certainly, the old
quarter of Salares is worth a visit. It features a
group of narrow, steep streets that make the
village a true historical gem. Since you can't
drive your car along these labyrinthine streets,
the area is a haven of peace and tranquillity.
Over the village's heart, the minaret tower stands
out on top of the Church of Santa Ana (St. Ann),
a square floor-plan building in the Mudéjar style.
It was built in the thirteenth and fourteenth
centuries, and the tower was declared a National
Historic Artistic Monument by Royal Decree in
1979. Every year the village celebrates the
Fiesta of Andalusian Traditions and Customs: AlSarq.
CONVENTION BUREAU
foot of the Maroma Hill, the real guardian of the
Axarquía region. The ascent, over 8.5km in
length and an average slope gradient of 7% (with
some stretches showing a 13% gradient), is quite
hard. We enter the habitat of the Spanish ibex
and the golden eagle, the true protagonists of the
natural park of the Sierra de Tejeda, Almijara and
Alhama.
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TOURS ACROSS THE MUDÉJAR AXARQUÍA
TOURIST BOARD &
Axarquía
Axarquía
CONVENTION BUREAU
.
.
Beginning and
end of route
Itinerary
Cycle touring
256
.
.
District border
Nature Park
border
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Road
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
A PARADISE STRADDLING
THE MEDIATERRANEAN
SEA AND THE SIERRA
BLANCA
.
wESTERN COSTA DEL
SOL
A PARADISE STRADDLING
THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA
AND THE SIERRA BLANCA
This tour combines ecotourism and the
sun & sand option, typical of the Western
Costa del Sol. From the oceanfront, we'll go to
the mountains, specifically to the Sierra
Blanca, an oasis of peace and nature just a
stone's throw from Marbella. The mountains
form a natural barrier that creates the wellknown microclimate of Marbella.
TECHNICAL DATA
Cycle touring
.
Cycle touring
. .
Kilómeters: 35.5km
Elevation gain en subida y bajada: 1,029
metros.
Season: all year round. Spring, however, is the
best one.
Stops: Marbella's Old District, Ojén, Juanar
Refuge.
.
.
258
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PÆgina 260
A PARADISE STRADDLING THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND THE SIERRA BLANCA
CONVENTION BUREAU
REGION:
DISTRICTS:
ROUTE:
KILOMETRES: 35.5
TOURIST BOARD &
Benahavís, Benalmádena, Casares, Estepona, Fuengirola, Manilva, Marbella, Mijas, Torremolinos
MARBELLA - OJÉN - REFUGIO DE JUANAR - OJÉN - MARBELLA
.
ROAD
DESCRIPTION
16
0.00
N-340a
MARBELLA. The route starts at A-355, junction with N-340, northbound
55
0.73
A-355
Turn left onto S. Bernabé Street
54
0.90
A-355
Turn right onto Duque de Lerma Ave.
82
1.50
A-355
Flyover highway, by McDonalds. Ride on to Ojén
333
5.35
C-337
Junction. Take exit that brings you to Ojén
327
8.20
C-337
OJÉN. City tour. Continue to Ojén, Monda and Coín mountain pass
556
12.00
A-355
OJÉN mountain pass. Crossroads. Turn right towards Monda and Coín
507
12.99
MA-469
Crossroads. Make a left towards Refugio de Juanar
819
18.28
MA-469
Refugio de Juanar. U-turn at hotel levelled area
507
23.58
A-355
Crossroads. Turn right to Marbella
556
24.57
A-355
OJÉN mountain pass. Stay straight on A-355 towards Marbella
419
28.27
A-355
Mirador Real. Spectacular views of Ojén
82
34.12
A-355
Flyover highway. Continue to city centre via Duque de Lerma Ave.
16
35.47
N-340a
MARBELLA. End of route at junction with N-340a
.
.
260
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DISTANCE
TRAVELLED
.
ALTITUDE
ROUTE-METER
ROUTE 3: MARBELLA-OJÉN-REFUGIO JUANAR-MARBELLA
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TOURIST BOARD &
.
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.
If we own a mountain bike, we can ride along a
dirt road that goes uphill towards the Marbella
Cycle touring
Contents
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The route passes through a wonderful area, ideal
for those who love nature and paths that go
nowhere. There's a succession of piny and wild
vegetation areas with numerous bushes. We're
already approaching Refugio del Juanar (a
mountain refuge), a unique beauty spot, a
peaceful place surrounded by high summits,
including Pico del Juanar, the tall guard of
Marbella's coast. The refuge was once a Parador
de Turismo, a state-owned hotel in which General
De Gaulle stayed. He wrote his memoirs here.
Currently, the property is used as a quiet roadside
hotel offering excellent food. A tall Spanish fir
welcomes us at the hotel entrance.
Cycle touring
Some time ago, Ojén was well-known for its
anise. Today, it's a peaceful mountain village
surrounded by nature and where we can taste
delicious foods. Following the dangerous
At the Llanos de Pula plain, we'll turn left and take
a road that goes uphill, the MA-469, somewhat
narrow and a bit neglected. The first kilometre is
the toughest (average gradient 8.2%), with
stretches at gradients over two digits. Luckily, we
can enjoy the surroundings, since the path
passes through an incredible pine forest.
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262
The route starts at the heart of Marbella, Ricardo
Soriano Ave. (former N-340a), by the main treelined avenue, and leads eastwards. After getting
on our bikes, we ride on the main avenue searching the A-355 northbound towards Ojén. We'll
pass by the municipal stadium, in the high part of
Marbella and the bullring. Then we take the A355, which gets well into the Sierra Blanca, inhabited by Spanish ibexes, the true star in the steepest slopes of the mountains. The road gets
more and more steep even within Marbella.
When we pass a bridge over highway A-7 the
land becomes uneven, the first kilometre boasting an average gradient of 8% and some 11%
ramps. The condition of the road is excellent,
making out climb less difficult that we may have
expected. Around 5km farther, we leave the A355 and take the exit to Ojén onto the C-337. A
short and winding descent reaches the entrance
to the village.
descent, and before reaching Ojén, we'll pass by
the famous Fuente del Ventorrillo, offering us its
fresh water to quench our thirst. The spot has a
beautiful view of the whitewashed village.
Following a tour of the village that includes a visit
to the quaint Wine Museum and the restored old
olive oil mill, we leave Ojén to face the last
section of the climb up to the Ojén mountain pass.
The road gets steeper: 2km at an average
gradient exceeding 8%. A series of curves, the
so-called caracolillos ("spiral curls"), bend the
road deep into the mountain range. We'll get
increasingly higher until we reach the Ojén pass.
Then we take again onto the A-355 and start
going downhill for a while until we get to the
detour to Refugio de Juanar, a veritable oasis in
the Sierra Blanca range.
Currently the playground of the rich, Marbella has
attained the top rung on Europe's social ladder.
Puerto Banús is internationally famous, a marina
with almost 1,000 berths and a gem of ostentatious wealth. In the 1950s, however, Marbella was
a fishing village with whitewashed houses, on the
old Via Augusta (ancient Roman road) at the foot
of the Sierra Blanca. We'll start and end our route
along the Western coastline in Marbella, whose
nice old village remains miraculously intact, with
its Arab layout of narrow and winding streets.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The Western Costa del Sol stretches from
Málaga to the eastern border of the province of
Cádiz. Thanks to its long sandy beaches, the
Western Costa del Sol is one of the top tourist
destinations all over the world.
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TOURIST BOARD &
Now it's time to have something to eat and drink,
before going back to the busy town of Marbella.
We'll take the same road heading for the A-355,
then turn right heading south, get to the Ojén
mountain pass and continue straight towards the
Mediterranean Sea up to our final destination Marbella. Continue on the A-355, leaving Ojén
HIGHLIGHTS
- Refugio del Juanar (mountain refuge), a quiet
place very near the busy town of Marbella.
- Marbella's appeal lies in the heart of the old
quarter.
- The mountains overlook the sea.
MARBELLA'S OLD
QUARTER
The old village is an attractive area. Strolling
along its streets can be an unforgettable experience.
.
.
We can't leave without visiting the Church of the
Encarnación (Incarnation), one of the biggest church
buildings in the entire province of Málaga. Very close
stands the Hospital Real, which the villagers call
"hospitalillo" ("small hospital"), inaugurated by the
Catholic Monarchs themselves.
A good place to start our tour of the old district is the
walls of the Alcazaba or fortress, which the villagers
call el castillo ("the castle"). The fortress used to
enclose the original citadel of Marbella. In no time,
the town went well beyond the primitive boundaries
set by the Arabs to expand and form the maze of
lanes of the current old district. Following the capture
of the town by the Catholic Monarchs in 1485, new
buildings were born which contributed to make the
place even more beautiful -Plaza de los Naranjos
(Orange square), where colourful restaurants vie for
space under the orange trees amongst historical
buildings such as the Town Hall, built by the Catholic
Monarchs, the Mayor's House or the Chapel of
Santiago Apóstol (James the Great), and the first
fountain ever built by a Catholic Mayor of Marbella, in
1504. To the east of the old quarter is the Hospital
Bazán, which today is home to the Museum of
Contemporary Spanish Printing.
behind on the left of the road. We have to ride
carefully, since there are a lot of lorries driving on
this section of the road, especially on working
days. It's advisable, then, to take this route at
weekends.
CONVENTION BUREAU
mountain pass, at 900 m above sea level, which
offers amazing views of the coastline. On sunny
days, we'll be able to make out the African shore.
Among the animals we can see here, especially
early in the morning, there's the Spanish ibex.
264
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Contents
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.
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For further information, please visit "From Village to
Village" at www.visitcostadelsol.com
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A PARADISE STRADDLING THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND THE SIERRA BLANCA
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
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Road
District border
266
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.
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.
Beginning and
end of route
Itinerary
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TOURIST BOARD &
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gUADALTEBA
The whitewashed villages, the food and the
handmade cold meats turn Guadalteba into a
main attraction. Tourists who are looking for
cultural or sporting activities will find the regional rather solitary roads excellent for cycle touring.
The Ardales park, the Guadalhorce and
Guadalteba reservoirs and Campillos lagoons
are worth a visit.
Different civilisations passed through or settled
in Guadalteba over the centuries. Some times
TECHNICAL DATA
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Cycle touring
Cycle touring
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Length: 69.2km
25km/h.
Season: all year round, although it's too hot in
the summer.
Stops: Campillos lagoons, Teba Castle,
Almargen.
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268
Guadalteba offers a continental climate, with
chilly winters and very hot summers. This is
why it's better to follow the route in spring or
autumn.
Guadalteba
Guadalteba
LANDSCAPE OF
ENCOUNTERS
The region of Guadalteba is made up of
the districts of Almargen, Ardales, Campillos,
Cañete la Real, Carratraca, Cuevas del
Becerro, Sierra de Yeguas and Teba. It is
bounded by the countryside of Seville on the
north, the Guadalhorce Valley on the south,
the Serranía de Ronda and Sierra de Cádiz
ranges on the west, and the Antequera
Meadow on the east.
they coexisted peacefully, some other times,
the coexistence wasn't friendly at all. The
mountain villages are beautiful, especially
Teba or Cañete la Real.
CONVENTION BUREAU
LANDSCAPE OF
ENCOUNTERS
The main elevations are in the southern part of
the region -the Sierras of the Abdalajís Valley,
Pizarra, Aguas, Baños, Alcaparaín and
Ortegicar, which bisect the region.
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LANDSCAPE OF ENCOUNTERS
CONVENTION BUREAU
REGION:
DISTRICTS:
ROUTE:
KILOMETRES:
TOURIST BOARD &
Guadalteba
Almargen, Ardales, Campillos, Cañete la Real, Carratraca, Cuevas del Becerro, Sierra de Yeguas, Teba
CAMPILLOS - PANTANO - TEBA - ALMARGEN - CAÑETE LA REAL - TEBA - CAMPILLOS
69,2
ROUTE-METER
ROUTE 4: CAMPILLOS-TEBA-ALMARGEN-CAÑETE-TEBA-CAMPILLOS
ROAD
DESCRIPTION
458
0.00
MA-452
CAMPILLOS. Start at the Town Hall. Take MA-452 towards reservoirs
390
13.12
MA-451
Junction. Turn right towards Campillos
391
15.30
A-357
Junction. Turn left towards Málaga and Ardales
396
17.10
C-341
Junction. Turn right towards Tebas
429
22.36
MA-465
Junction. Turn right towards Tebas
459
24.53
MA-467
TEBA. Teba mountain pass. City tour. Head for Almargen
423
27.20
MA-467
Roundabout. Stay straight on the road to Almargen
525
31.15
MA-459
Crossroads. Turn left towards Almargen
495
39.00
MA-476
ALMARGEN. Ride through town. Exit to Cañete
791
46.79
MA-476
Cañete mountain pass. Continue straight to town centre
753
48.05
Camino de Teba
CAÑETE LA REAL. Bear left to Teba
434
58.65
Camino de Teba
Crossroads. Turn left towards Teba and Campillos
424
59.79
MA-467
Crossroads. Turn left towards Almargen
423
59.92
MA-468
Roundabout. Make a right to Campillos
458
69.24
MA-468
CAMPILLOS. Town Hall. End of route
Guadalteba
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270
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Guadalteba
DISTANCE
TRAVELLED
ALTITUDE
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PÆgina 272
TOURIST BOARD &
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Cañete la Real is situated in the foot of the Sierra
del Padrastro, 742 m above sea level. A wide
valley opens up below, which links the Antequera
lowland with the Serranía de Ronda mountain
range. Cañete affords beautiful views of the entire
region. The old quarter boasts the fortress and
some religious buildings, such as the Convent of
San Francisco (sixteenth century), the Monastery
Cycle touring
Contents
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We ride along Ronda Ave. to exit the village. We
cross the Algeciras-Bobadilla railway and start
riding uphill to Cañete la Real, almost 6km at 5%
average gradient and 9% ramps. We'll get to a
lookout at 791 m above sea level and we start
going downhill towards Cañete la Real. The route
passes through some quarries.
Cycle touring
We continue uphill through centuries-old olive
trees which supplied raw material to the former
olive-oil mill which is currently a rural hotel and
Upon leaving Teba behind, we go downhill on a
path that reaches the bottom of the Almargen
Valley. There we take the MA-467 towards
Almargen, near the province of Cádiz. Then the
time comes to tackle a slight climb followed by a
flat stretch that runs along large grain fields. We
should mention that the region of Guadalteba is
considered as the grain reservoir of the province.
Almargen is a very old village, proof of which is
the white-marble phallic sculpture 22 kg in weight.
The legend goes that women who touch the
sculpture get pregnant.
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272
Following a steep descent, we'll be amazed by
the reservoirs of the Guadalhorce, an inland sea
in which we can do water sports. The route leads
to Teba along the A-451 up to the regional main
road: the A-357. After a while, we turn left onto the
C-341 and start going uphill until we reach Teba,
after leaving behind the Tajo del Molino Nature
Monument, on the right hand side. This is a
narrow ravine along which the Venta River runs.
There's a large bat community in the area. These
weird mammals live together with stock pigeons,
rooks, jackdaws… This 4km climb at an average
gradient of 5% leads us to the streets of Teba (9%
gradient).
restaurant, the Molino de las Pilas, considered as
a Tourism Singular property. Its 16-m press was
made by Francisco Sánchez, from the village of
El Saucejo, in 1882. We'll reach the highest part
of the climb in Teba, a town that is home to the La
Estrella Castle, an important building under
Muslim rule which was captured by Christian
troops in the fifteenth century. We shouldn't miss
the City Archaeology Museum, since it has a
valuable collection. If we decide to come here in
October, we can visit the Homemade Cheese
Fair, with its typical stalls sell delicious Andalusian
cheeses in the street.
Guadalteba
Guadalteba
Our route departs from Real Street, Campillos.
Then we take the regional road MA-452
southbound to the reservoirs of the Guadalhorce,
which look like an inland sea in the province of
Málaga. The first stretch of our tour is perfectly
flat and passes through grain fields and many of
the lagoons that have been declared Nature
Reserves and are close to the well-known Fuente
de Piedra Lagoon. There are several endangered
species like the white-headed duck, marbled teal,
red-knobbed coot, and purple gallinule. As the
lagoons are not far from the road, we'll be able to
watch these birds along with wonderful flamingos.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The route starts and ends at Campillos, a
comparatively young town (sixteenth century),
whose dwellers came mainly from Seville.
Campillos's economy is based primarily on raising livestock (pigs) and leather goods manufacturing. In the village itself, we should see the
Church of Nuestra Señora Santa María del
Reposo, with a magnificent Baroque facade. The
local popular festivities include Holy Week, considered of National Tourist Interest.
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TOURIST BOARD &
Campillos, we'll be able to see the railway on the
left side. Soon we'll arrive at the end of the route,
in España Square, in the heart of Campillos.
From Cañete la Real we take the old road to Teba
and continue downhill. Halfway down we
encounter a tough and demanding climb, and
then we'll take the MA-468 up to the end of the
route. On the left side we'll see the path to Teba
running down the hillside. On our way to
HIGHLIGHTS
- Valuable historical heritage, which draws visitors
to the region.
- The rebellion of the Moors succeeded in the
Guadalteba region.
GUADALTEBA'S NATURAL
HERITAGE
The Guadalteba region has kept a valuable
natural heritage -a rich flora that consists of some
Mediterranean forests (pines, holm oaks, wild olives), riverside woods, rock vegetation, brooms and
bushy areas.
For further information, please see the guide
Málaga, Sun and Nature, available at www.visitcostadelsol.com
CONVENTION BUREAU
of the Santísimo Sacramento or the Parish
Church of San Sebastián. Tasty foods of the area
include golden thistle stew and sweet rolls.
There is interesting riverside vegetation surrounding
the main rivers, the Guadalteba and the Turón,
consisting of poplars, ash trees, willows, and
tamarisks.
There is also the typical Mediterranean scrub land,
featuring endemic species like such as rosemary,
thyme, fan palm, rockrose, broom, or wild asparagus.
The leading agricultural products are grains and
legumes, which cover the land up like a green quilt in
spring.
Guadalteba
Guadalteba
The regional fauna includes a great number of
animals because there are many distinct ecosystems
(lagoons, meadows, rolling hills and mountains). In
the Nature Area of Los Gaitanes and the Sierras of
Cañete la Real and Alcaparaín birdlife is abundant,
with varieties of birds of prey like the griffon vulture,
Egyptian vulture and golden eagle. Among the most
abundant mammals are the Spanish ibex, fox and
rabbit.
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The Nature Reserve of Lagunas de Campillos is
inhabited by endangered species like the redknobbed coot, white-headed duck, purple gallinule,
and marbled teal. Since the reserve is near the
Fuente de Piedra lagoon, there are also pink
flamingos here. The riverside forests teem with small
songbirds like the nightingale and goldfinch, which
produce a great range of notes and rhythms,
especially in spring.
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LANDSCAPE OF ENCOUNTERS
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning and
end of route
Itinerary
Road
District border
Provincial border
Guadalteba
Guadalteba
.
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TOURIST BOARD &
We'll visit two villages, Colmenar and
Casabermeja, departing from Málaga City,
which is also our final destination. This is a difficult route, with lonely and steep roads on
which we'll be able to enjoy what nature has to
offer in Montes de Málaga Nature Park. The
park has come to be a major "green lung" of
the province, and the roadside restaurants are
excellent for us to taste the typical foods of
Málaga.
Village to Village," at www.visitcostadelsol.com
CONVENTION BUREAU
This route passes through the Montes de
Málaga Nature Park, an area where cultural
and artistic symbols abound -verdiales, for instance, original music from Málaga.
THROUGH THE MONTES
DE MÁLAGA
.
mÁLAGA-COSTA DEL
SOL
T he route through the Montes de
Málaga is among the classic cycle tours of the
province of Málaga. Cycle touring enthusiasts
also call it Fuente de Reina.
TECHNICAL DATA
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.
Cycle touring
Cycle touring
.
Length: 69.96km
25km/h.
Season: all the year round.
Stops: El Mirador Inn, Fuente de la Reina,
Camino Real Pass, El Túnel Inn.
.
278
Málaga-C
Costa del Sol
Málaga-C
Costa del Sol
THROUGH THE MONTES DE
MÁLAGA
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THROUGH THE MONTES DE MÁLAGA
CONVENTION BUREAU
REGION:
DISTRICTS:
ROUTE:
KILOMETRES:
TOURIST BOARD &
Málaga-Costa del Sol
Málaga
MÁLAGA - FUENTE DE LA REINA - COLMENAR - CASABERMEJA - PTO. MARIN - MÁLAGA
69,96
ROUTE-METER
ROUTE 5: MÁLAGA-FUENTE DE LA REINA-COLMENAR-CASABERMEJA-MÁLAGA
.
903
17.90
C-345
Junction at Galwey Inn. Stay straight until you reach Colmenar
685
615
518
492
509
537
732
607
116
126
48
39
29.54
31.08
36.68
37.75
38.10
38.63
42.70
47.56
62.90
63.57
66.00
69.96
MA-435
A-356
MA-435
MA-435
MA-435
MA-431
MA-431
MA-431
MA-431
MA-431
MA-431
C-345
COLMENAR. On accessing the village, turn left towards Casabermeja
Crossroads. Turn left towards Casabermeja
Crossroads. Turn left towards Casabermeja
Crossroads. Turn right and pass under highway
CASABERMEJA. 100 m ahead, turn right towards Villanueva de la Concepción
Crossroads. Turn left to Málaga
Camino Real mountain pass. Patascortas Inn
Marín mountain pass. Stay straight onto same road
El Agujero Reservoir.
Roundabout. Continue on left hand side to highway
MÁLAGA. Ride southwards and turn left on Alameda Capuchinos
End of route at Fuente Olletas roundabout
280
.
.
DESCRIPTION
MÁLAGA. Departure from Fuente Olletas roundabout, by the petrol station. Road towards Colmenar
El Mirador Restaurant. Panoramic views of Málaga
León mountain pass. Ride downhill towards Comenar
Cycle touring
0.00
8.40
16.05
ROAD
C-345
C-345
C-345
.
Cycle touring
DISTANCE
TRAVELLED
Málaga-C
Costa del Sol
Málaga-C
Costa del Sol
ALTITUDE
39
518
930
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TOURIST BOARD &
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From El León mountain pass we'll start going
downhill up to Colmenar, in the heart of the
Montes, which is why the village is known as "the
capital of the Montes de Málaga." We go on a
steep descent to access Colmenar via the main
road, passing by the Puerta de la Cruz, which
displays the village's coat of arms, which depicts
a beehive and seven bees flying over it. On the
highest part of the district is the chapel and the
image of the Virgin of La Candelaria, whose feast
is held on February 2. The views from the chapel
are incredibly beautiful, including the Gómer and
Santa Ana de la Sierra de Camarolos ravines,
the Sierra de Tejeda and, in the distance, the
Sierra Nevada mountains. Colmenar is a quiet
village with an eventful history. It mixes maze-like
streets and narrow lanes lined with whitewashed
houses. Colmenar offers delicious foods and
quality ingredients, especially olive oil and wine.
Among its traditional dishes are plato de los
Cycle touring
Then there are 16km at an average gradient of
5.56%, with steeper ramps at 11% which put the
bike riders' fitness to the test. In the old days the
Andalusian cycling season began with the
Clásica Subida a la Fuente de la Reina, an ascent
that witnessed the first steps of some riders who
later one became professional cyclists.
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282
As soon as we set off on our tour, we have to
climb up the Montes de Málaga or Fuente de la
Reina. The winding road starts as a steep climb
16km long, so we have to take it easy. The first
stretch of the ascent features some steeper sections, and along 5km we'll go up at an average
gradient of 6% until we get to an area in which
we'll find the Venta Nueva, El boticario and El
Mirador, all well-known inns. From El Mirador,
the views of the city leaning on the bay of the
same name are impressive. On sunny days, the
African coast can be seen. The road goes uphill
until we reach a series of successive tunnels,
and then there is a less difficult section halfway
up the hills. Here we'll arrive at El Detalle, an inn
at which the hardest part of the road starts.
There's one kilometre at a gradient of over 8%
before reaching the top of the León mountain
pass, at 930 m, and leaving behind the famous
Fuente de la Reina on the left. There, if we visit
the area in a rainy season, we can refill our water
bottles. On the first part of the ascent, we'll
encounter olive trees and almond trees, but as
we get higher, the first Aleppo pines appear.
These trees were during the reforestation programme aimed at fighting the terrible floods that
used to cover part of the city with water. The last
stretch of the climb coincides with a rich
The numbers of this upward hike reveal its
difficulty (16.03km at an average of 5.56% with
maximum slopes of 11%). Time and again,
these numbers have put the most demanding
biking enthusiasts to the test. The time where
the Andalusian cycling season began with the
Classic Climb of the Fuente de la Reina, where
the amateurs who later began pros in the
cycling world used to rub elbows, is now far
behind us.
Málaga-C
Costa del Sol
Málaga-C
Costa del Sol
We'll start and finish our ride in the district of La
Victoria or "chupa y tira", as locals call it, by the
old exit to Granada, by the petrol station of
Fuente Olletas, on the Camino de Colmenar.
CONVENTION BUREAU
We'll start from Málaga, a charming and
lively town, full of gardens and buildings that
recall the town's Arab past. Málaga offers us the
chance to get to know its age-old history, which
evolved between the mountains and the
Mediterranean Sea. Evidences of its rich past
are the Roman Theatre, by the Moorish fortress
or Alcazaba, the Gibralfaro Castle, the majestic
Cathedral and the Picasso Museum.
Mediterranean woodland dominated by cork
trees and holm oaks, and the pleasant scent of
smaller vegetation permeates the air.
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After reaching a junction, we turn left onto the
road to Casabermeja. The remains that have
been unearthed near the village proof that
men settled here in prehistoric times. Under
the Moors, the area developed into a military
station, as did many towns in the south. The
Arabs built the Torre Zambra (watchtower)
and called the town O'sar Bermeja, meaning
"red castle." The legend goes, however, that
when Isabella of Castile saw the village, she
cried, "¡Qué casa bermeja!" The Mozarabic
cemetery was designated Historic Artistic
Monument in 1980. Another interesting
structure is the red tower of the Church of
Nuestra Señora del Socorro.
Upon leaving Casabermeja, we must tackle an
important climb to Camino Real, at 730 m above
sea level. The ascent is easier than the descent,
4km at a gradient of 5% on the MA-431, or the
We'll go through the tunnel and Pantano del
Agujero reservoir and continue downhill to
Málaga. After crossing beneath the A-45, we'll
continue parallel to it and pass by Tana petrol
station and finally enter the city via the exit to
Ciudad Jardín. Continue to the Victoria district to
the end of our route -Fuente Olletas petrol station.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Wine and plato de los Montes, a sample of the
region's cuisine.
- Verdiales are the most typical songs of the
Montes.
MONTES DE MÁLAGA
NATURE PARK
The Nature Park offers a nice example of
how we can control natural forces with the means
provided by nature itself. The park was created
when reforestation projects in the basin of the
Guadalmedina River were developed. The projects
were aimed at fighting the floods that had been threatening Málaga City over the years. The park was
designated Nature Park on July, 18, 1989 by the
Government of Andalusia.
The park is a good supplier of wood, cork, livestock,
game, etc. Moreover, it's the green lung of the city
of Málaga, a recreational area where Málaga-dwellers enjoy some of their leisure time.
For further information, please see the guide
Málaga,
Sun
and
Nature
at
The park is located to the north of the capital of the
province and covers most of the left side of the
basin of the Guadalmedina River.
The plants and animals of the region aren't as
famous as its roadside restaurants, which serve the
delicious local recipes, wines of the land and the
typical plato de los Montes, made with potatoes,
eggs, loin and chorizo.
Málaga-C
Costa del Sol
The altitude of the rolling hills, from 100 to 1,100 m
high, and the proximity of the sea provide mild temperature and high humidity levels. There are different microclimates depending on altitude and location.
.
Most of the park's surface area is covered of Aleppo
pine woods. In the northern part there are also holm
oaks, cork oaks and gall oaks, Mediterranean trees
that used to dominate the area before.
.
Málaga-C
Costa del Sol
We leave Colmenar, one of the many villages
captured by Spanish Christians in the fifteenth
century, to go on to Casabermeja. The road
continues downhill, parallel to the Guadalmedina
River, which rises in this area.
road of Montes de Casabermeja, which is twisting
and narrow. The top, by the Patascortas Inn, is a
perfect place to watch the divide between the
Guadalmedina River Valley on the left and the
Campanillas River on the right. Olive groves,
almond trees, vineyards, carob trees and fig trees
are typical of the area. After reaching the top, we
head on to Marín mountain pass and start going
downhill until we get to the El Túnel inn, wellknown because it used to hold the celebration of
one of the main fiestas of the province of Málaga
-Fiesta Mayor de Verdiales. The inn has a wide
menu and serves, for instance, juicy rice with
chicken and other traditional foods.
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As for animals, this is one of the few areas inhabited by chameleons. There are also polecats, weasels, wild cats, foxes, martens, and boars. Birds of
prey are abundant in the park, with populations of
booted eagles, short-toed eagles, buzzards, sparrow hawks, goshawks, and eagle owls.
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284
CONVENTION BUREAU
Montes, migas, garbanzo stew, kid, snails, etc.,
and of course, tasty cold meats.
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MONTES DE MÁLAGA NATURE PARK
TOURIST BOARD &
Málaga-C
Costa del Sol
Málaga-C
Costa del Sol
CONVENTION BUREAU
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.
Beginning and
end of route
Itinerary
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District border
286
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Nature Park
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Road
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TOURIST BOARD &
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nORORMA
find great mountain passes, instead, we'll find
crossroads and paths going uphill and downhill. In general, the roads we'll take don't carry
much traffic, and they pass through olive
orchards, principally of the hojiblanca variety,
which is the driving force of the local economy.
The route through this region starts and ends
in the charming village of Archidona. We won't
CONVENTION BUREAU
A BEAUTIFUL REGION
DOTTED WITH AGE-OLD
OLIVE TREES
This region is bounded on the north by the province of Córdoba (Benamejí, Encinas Reales,
Rute and Iznájar), on the east by the district of
Antequera, on the south with Alfarnate and
Colmenar, and to the west by the province of
Granada (Loja and Zafarraya).
The Northeastern Málaga Region, or
Nororma, enjoys a privileged location, in central Andalusia, only one hour from the capitals
of the Andalusian provinces. Since time immemorial, different civilisations have established
or passed through Nororma lands. The symbols of the region are olive groves and meadows.
A BEAUTIFUL REGION
DOTTED WITH AGE-OLD
OLIVE TREES
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Length: 66.2km
25km/h.
Season: all the year round. You have to ride
carefully in winter, as tractors and slow vehicles use the roads in the olive harvest period.
Stops: village of Archidona, Bellavista
Mountain Pass, Mateo Mountain Pass, Shrine
of the Virgin of Grace, in Archidona.
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288
Nororma
Nororma
TECHNICAL DATA
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A BEAUTIFUL REGION DOTTED WITH AGE-OLD OLIVE TREES
Nororma
Archidona, Cuevas Bajas, Cuevas de San Marcos, Villanueva de Algaidas, Villanueva del Rosario, Villanueva de Tapia, Villanueva del Trabuco
ARCHIDONA - VILLANUEVA DE ALGAIDAS - CUEVAS DE SAN MARCO - VILLANUEVA DE TAPIA - ARCHIDONA
66.2
ROUTE-METER
ROUTE 6: ARCHIDONA-CUEVAS BAJAS-CUEVAS DE SAN MARCOS-V. TAPIA-ARCHIDONA
.
796
9.81
MA-201
Bellavista mountain pass. Go downhill towards Villanueva de Algaidas
570
517
374
436
750
569
540
855
698
755
626
698
13.60
15.06
22.80
31.19
38.85
42.27
42.88
49.62
52.31
54.37
63.56
66.20
MA-201
MA-203
MA-202
MA-205
MA-205
MA-205
MA-210
MA-210
A-333
MA-214
MA-214
MA-214
VILLANUEVA DE ALGAIDAS. Village tour, downhill
Junction. Turn left to Cuevas Bajas
Junction. Turn right towards Cuevas de San Marcos
CUEVAS DE SAN MARCOS. At roundabout turn right to Villanueva de Algaidas
Mateo mountain pass. Continue downhill to Villanueva de Algaidas
Crossroads. Stay straight
Crossroads. Turn left to Villanueva de Tapia
FRESNILLOS mountain pass. Head for Villanueva de Tapia
Crossroads. Turn right towards Salinas and Málaga
Crossroads. Turn right to Archidona
Crossroads. Stay straight to Archidona
ARCHIDONA. End of route at Santa Anna square
290
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DESCRIPTION
ARCHIDONA. Route starts at Santa Ana square. Head for Villanueva de Algaidas
Junction. Turn left to Vill. de Algaidas
Archidona Station. Village tour. Caution: Level crossing
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0.00
2.65
7.00
ROAD
MA-214
MA-201
MA-201
.
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DISTANCE
TRAVELLED
Nororma
Nororma
ALTITUDE
698
626
622
CONVENTION BUREAU
REGION:
DISTRICTS:
ROUTE:
KILOMETRES:
TOURIST BOARD &
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In Cuevas de San Marcos we make a right at a
roundabout and ride southwards on the MA-205,
leading to Villanueva de Algaidas. From here we
head for the second climb, Mateo mountain pass
(750 m). We'll go 7.5km uphill, although there's a
short stretch halfway which runs downhill. Now
we cross the Los Puercos Brook again and tackle
the last part of the ascent, with many quite hard
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Contents
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In general, the district has a rather flat terrain,
broken by the Sierra de Arcas (948 m) and Sierra
de Pedroso (1,024 m). The fertile land is dotted
The two villages we've just mentioned are famous
for their archaeological sites, one of the most
significant being that of the Belda Cave, whose
artifacts can be observed at the Municipal
Archaeological Museum. Some of the typical
foods are the sobreusa (stew made with braod
beans, eggs and coriander). Here we can take a
detour from our fixed route and visit the Noria de
La Aceña waterwheel, in the Genil River.
Cycle touring
The MA-201 gets to its highest point and then
starts descending towards Villanueva de
Algaidas. This village was born in late eighteenth
or early nineteenth century, when the Duke of
Osuna authorised the construction of a
Franciscan Convent on the banks of the Burriana
Brook. The ruins of the convent are open to the
public.
Next we'll tackle a climb and get to the village of
Pilar. Then we go downhill up to the Los Puercos
Brook, which we'll cross before getting to the next
landmark, Cuevas de San Marcos, surrounded by
the Sierra del Camorro, leaning on a slope that
descends to the Genil River valley.
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292
The route starts on the northern part of the city, at
Santa Ana Square, very near the City Park. We'll
take the MA-214 towards Villanueva de Algaidas.
Our road goes downhill. Passing over the A-92
we'll get to a junction and turn left towards
Archidona Station. Here we start going uphill to
the Bellavista mountain pass (796 m), which
affords incredible views of the whole region.
with innumerable olive groves and grain fields.
The district offers a wide variety of foods -porra
antequerana (stew made with vegetables, bread,
ham), porra crúa (another variant of porra),
salmorejo (similar to porra) and ajoblanco (chilled
almond and garlic soup). The extra virgin olive oil
made here is as excellent as are pastries, like
piñonate, huesos de santo, flores and
borrachuelos. We won't stop to eat here but we'll
head on downhill to Cuevas Bajas. After a while
we'll find a 2km climb, then down again to Cuevas
Bajas. We won't enter the village, though, but turn
right at a junction towards Cuevas de San
Marcos, where we exit MA-203 onto MA-202
eastbound. We should taste a beverage they
make here named resoli, a mix of sweet anise,
coffee grains and aromatic herbs.
Nororma
Nororma
On the other hand, Archidona has a packed
calendar of festivities, cultural events, and all
kinds of celebrations: Holy Week, Feria del Perro
(Dog Fair), La Candelaria, May Crosses or
August Fair.
CONVENTION BUREAU
We start from the beautiful city of
Archidona, in the foothill of the Sierra de Gracia.
This is a charming and industrious city with a
population of 9,000. Archidona's historic district is
a must visit attraction, designated Historic Artistic
Complex in 1980. On a short tour of the town we'll
find the mediaeval castle and its defence walls
(ninth century), the Chapel of the Virgen de
Gracia (Virgin of Grace, which was formerly a
mosque), the amazing Plaza Ochavada (eighteenth century) with beautiful fronts, innumerable
churches and convents. Equally important are
Archidona's natural assets, for instance the
Archidona lagoons, designated Nature Reserve
of Andalusia, and the Hoz de Marín.
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TOURIST BOARD &
the surrounding buildings, lies on a spot
surrounded by olive groves.
There's a last stretch of road ahead, featuring
many bends and climbs near Sierra del Pedroso.
Some sections run parallel to the railway. At the
last crossroads today we turn left towards
Archidona. We cross the A-92 and start going
uphill towards the town, right to the Santa Ana
square. Those who are brave enough can go even
higher, after riding 1.5km to the top, and get to the
Sanctuary of the Sierra de Gracia. The climb is
extremely steep (an average of 11.5% with some
stretches at 18%). But it's worth the effort, for the
views of Archidona down there and the mountains
that surround the village are simply spectacular.
On the boundary between Antequera and the
Nororma region, halfway between Antequera and
Archidona, is the dramatic silhouette of the Peña de
los Enamorados (Lovers' Rock), an Andalusian landmark. The rock's outline is often likened to the profile of a man lying on the floor and looking up at the
sky.
Legend has it that a Moorish princess and a
Christian shepherd boy fell in love. As they knew
things wouldn't be easy, they made a secret of their
love. They eloped here one night, chased by the
girl's father, and instead of giving up, they jumped
and fell to their death from the peak the next morning.
For further information, please visit
Nororma
Nororma
HIGHLIGHTS
- Archidona is one of the most beautiful villages of
the province.
- The villages of the region are quiet and
peaceful.
- The route passes through olive groves and pine
woods.
PEÑA DE LOS
ENAMORADOS
CONVENTION BUREAU
kilometres, with some sections at a gradient of
11%. After climbing through a series of four
upward curves we'll find us in the middle of a sea
of hojiblanca olive trees. Once on top of Mateo
pass, the road runs downhill to Villanueva de
Algaidas. We won't enter the village. Instead, we
turn left onto the MA-215 towards Villanueva de
Tapia. The narrow road carries almost no traffic
and leads to the third high spot of the day, the
Fresnillos (855 m). This climb runs parallel to the
Parrilla Stream all the way up. The stream rises
virtually at the mountain pass. The climb is 6km
long at a gradient over 5%. From the summit the
road goes down to Villanueva de Tapia, a village
we'll travel around on the A-333 until we get to a
crossroads, at which we turn right onto the MA214 towards our final destination -Archidona.
Villanueva de Tapia is also called El Entredicho
(meaning "the dispute"), since after the capture of
the village by Spanish Christians, the lands that
currently make up this district were disputed by
nearby Iznájar (province of Córdoba) and
Archidona. Villanueva de Tapia, where the tower
of the seventeenth-century Parish Church of San
Pedro Apóstol (St Peter the Apostle) rises over
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A BEAUTIFUL REGION DOTTED WITH AGE-OLD OLIVE TREES
TOURIST BOARD &
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Road
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District border
Provincial border
296
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Nororma
Nororma
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning and
end of route
Itinerary
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TOURIST BOARD &
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sERRANÍA DE RONDA
This route, with a length of 78.8km and an elevation gain of 1,863 m, is one of the toughest
in this tourist guide, but the effort will be well
worth it as this is a region of extraordinary
beauty.
CONVENTION BUREAU
AMONGST VALLEYS,
HILLS AND BANDITS
Its rugged terrain makes it ideal for bike trekking, with difficult roads through magnificent
areas. We've deemed appropriate to explore
two of the most sublime areas of the province
of Málaga: the Guadiaro River Valley and the
Genal River Valley. As the old bandits did we
set out to discover the most iconic spots of the
region, starting and ending our route in the
romantic "city of the Tajo": Ronda.
The Serranía de Ronda region is a land
of high hills and deep valleys in which history
has forged epic stories of legendary bandits.
The area offers unparalleled beauty to nature
lovers. Only a very small number of regions
can boast of having three nature parks: Sierra
de las Nieves, Sierra de Grazalema, and Los
Alcornonales.
TECHNICAL DATA
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Length: 78.8km
Recommended average speed: de 20 a
25km/h.
Season: In spring, you'll be able to enjoy nature in full bloom; in winter, there could be restrictions due to the snow.
Stops: Ronda, Del Gato Cave, De la Pileta
Cave, Guadiaro River, De Encinas Borrachas
Pass, any village of the Genal Valley.
Tips: take a camera.
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298
Serranía de Ronda
Serranía de Ronda
AMONGST VALLEYS, HILLS
AND BANDITS
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AMONGST VALLEYS, HILLS AND BANDITS
ROUTE:
KILOMETRES:
Serranía de Ronda
Algatocín, Alpandeire, Arriate, Atajate, Benadalid, Benalauría, Benaoján, Benarrabá, Cartajima, Cortes de la Frontera, Cuevas del Becerro, Faraján, Gaucín,
Genalguacil, Igualeja, Jimera de Libar, Jubrique, Júzcar, Montejaque, Parauta, Pujerra, Ronda
RONDA - BENAOJÁN - PUERTO DE LA PILETA - JIMERA DE LIBAR - ENCINAS BORRACHAS - ALPANDEIRE - FARAJÁN - JUZCAR - CARTAJIMA - RONDA
78.8
CONVENTION BUREAU
REGION:
DISTRICTS:
TOURIST BOARD &
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0.00
4.55
14.60
15.43
19.86
25.06
27.00
32.05
32.47
39.42
41.39
49.60
53.10
56.85
61.80
66.70
67.39
75.55
78.81
ROAD
A-376
MA-555
MA-555
MA-501
MA-501
MA-508
MA-508
A-369
A-369
A-369
MA-515
MA-516
MA-517
MA-518
MA-525
MA-519
A-376
A-376
A-376
DESCRIPTION
RONDA. Starting point next to the sports hall towards Seville
Crossroads. Left turn towards Benajoán
BENAOJÁN. Through the village towards Montejaque
Crossroads. Left turn towards Cortes de la Frontera
La Pileta Pass. De la Pileta Cave, 200 m through a path
Crossroads. Left turn towards Jimera de Líbar and Atajate
JIMERA de Líbar. Straight on without detours
Crossroads. Left turn towards Ronda
ATAJATE. Through the village towards Ronda
Encinas Borrachas mountain pass. Straight on to Ronda
Crossroads. Right turn towards Alpandeire, Faraján and Júzcar
ALPANDEIRE. Through the village towards Faraján
FARAJÁN. Skirt the village towards Júzcar
JÚZCAR. Through the village towards Cartajima and Ronda
Crossroads. Straight on leaving Cartajima to the right
Crossroads. Continue to the left towards Ronda
Navacilla Pass. Crossroads. Left turn towards Ronda
Roundabout. Continue to the right through the ring road of Ronda
RONDA. End of route, next to the sports hall
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DISTANCE TRAVELLED
.
300
ALTITUDE
720
613
522
537
683
397
500
749
737
1006
999
711
644
631
839
977
996
735
720
Serranía de Ronda
Serranía de Ronda
ROUTE-METER
ROUTE 7: RONDA - BENAOJÁN - ENCINAS BORRACHAS - ALPANDEIRE - CARTAJIMA - RONDA
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Its botanical richness is overwhelming. In the
plains and the northern valleys, the dominant
species is the holm oak, while the fertile valleys of
the south are wooded with chestnuts, cork oaks,
holm oaks, gall oaks and pines, alternating with
olive groves on the slopes and fruit groves on the
banks of the Genal and Guadiaro rivers. The central area, on the other hand, around the Sierra de
las Nieves range, is filled with Spanish firs and
gall oaks.
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During the first -and last- stretch of the route (A376), we'll have to be extremely careful, as there's
a lot of traffic. The rest of the journey is done on
After crossing the Guadiaro River once again,
we'll come across the main attraction of the day:
the De Encinas Borrachas Pass (1,006 m), a
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After a brief tour of the town centre, we'll start
(and end) our route at the City Sports Centre,
located in the outskirts of town, from where we'll
take the A-376 towards Seville.
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The pass almost coincides with a detour that will
lead us to the entrance of the De la Pileta Cave,
declared National Monument of Cave Art due to
the quantity, quality and age of its paintings. Not
surprisingly, experts believe that it may have been
in these limestone hills -in which there are plenty
of caves- that the first dwellers of the province of
Málaga lived.
After crowning the pass, the road literally falls
over the cliff towards the Guadiaro River Valley,
which at this altitude is buttressed by huge crags
of bare rock contrasting with the green forests of
holm and cork oaks that cover the first half of the
hill slopes. At the Jimera Station, the Guadiaro
River opens up before the huge Sierra de Libar
range and continues down the valley. This is an
idyllic place for the tourists on two wheels -its
beautiful landscapes adorned with narrow
winding roads with very little traffic will delight
even the most demanding nature lover.
take us to the top. Before getting there, we'll go
through Atajate, which is considered the smallest
village in Málaga, where the typical
Mediterranean crops -grains, grapes, and olivescoexist with holm and cork oaks, and bushes
scattered around the nearby limestone terrain.
After leaving Atajate, the two most demanding
kilometres of the route lie before us, at an
average gradient of 7.5%. Several viewing points
along the road, richly adorned with tiled
.
302
We'll start our journey in the beautiful city of
Ronda, where we'll be able to enjoy one of the
most complete set of monuments of Andalusia.
The city hangs on the impressive cliff as if it were
a balcony over the rise of the Guadalevín River.
Its bullring, the oldest in Spain, has been the
school of many great matadors. We can enjoy a
mix of artistic styles represented in the most
beautiful monuments: Roman baths, Moorish
palaces, churches, viewing points, etc.
punishing giant of 14.21km at a gradient of
4.32%. We can clearly distinguish two stretches
in this ascent. The first one starts just after
crossing the river and taking the MA-508 towards
Jimera de Libar. With several horseshoe bends,
we quickly gain altitude on a narrow road
beautifully adorned with a Mediterranean forest.
After 7km uphill, we get onto the A-369, the so
called "Ruta Paisajística" or Scenic Road, to start
the second stretch of this ascent -7.5km that will
Serranía de Ronda
Serranía de Ronda
Given its extraordinary natural richness, this
region is ideal for outdoor activities such as cycle
touring, trekking, climbing, cave exploration and
bird watching.
roads with very little traffic so we'll be able to enjoy
the magnificent mountain landscape. We start the
route downhill until we get to the Km 5, where
there's a crossroads in which we'll turn left and
take the MA-555 towards the Guadiario River
Valley. Soon we'll get to the famous Del Gato
Cave, a big challenge for cave explorers. After
crossing the river at Benajoán Station, the first
difficult stretch starts: the pass of the De la Pileta
Cave, 694 m high. It's almost 3km in length, at an
average gradient of 5.5% and specific ramps at
11% , so this will give an idea of how tough it is! At
half way, we'll go through the village of Benaoján,
which sits on the white limestone crests of Juan
Diego Hill. The village -of clear Moorish style- is a
typical example of a highland village with an
economy driven by cold meats production.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The Serranía de Ronda region borders
with the Field of Gibraltar, the Western Costa del
Sol, the Hoya de Málaga dale, the Depression of
Antequera and the Sierras de Ubrique range. The
city of Ronda is the administrative and service
centre of the region, so it's highly influential in all
its districts.
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HIGHLIGHTS
- The Genal Valley -a green oasis in the Serranía
de Ronda.
- Steep, narrow winding roads await us.
- La Pileta Cave is a symbol of the ancient past of
the region.
Every autumn, in the paradisiacal Genal
Valley, an astonishing spectacle awaits anybody who
chooses to explore its most secluded corners. A rich
palette of colours invade the valley, where the golden
deciduous leaves of the chestnuts contrast with the
perennial green of the cork oaks, fruit trees and pines.
The villagers hurry to collect the chestnuts of their
fields -more than 3,500 hectares of chestnut groves,
representing their main source of income.
The whole valley is typically rural as the population of
its villages never reaches one thousand people.
Parauta, a village located on the border of the Sierra
de las Nieves range and the Genal Valley, has one of
the tallest holm oaks in the province, known by the
locals as La Valdecilla. The so called Nacimiento del
Genal is in Igualeja, a cavern from which part of the
water that feeds the Genal River rises. A nearby
village, Pujerra, has wonderful surroundings dotted
with chestnut trees. On the other side of the valley, at
the foot of the Sierra del Oreganal, the dazzling
whitewashed villages of Júzcar, Faraján and
Cartahjima stand out, in a place known as Los
Riscos, where erosion on the limestone has created a
landscape similar to the one found at El Torcal, in
Antequera. In the same valley, though further away
from the road, there are beautiful villages like
Benalauría, Benaladid, and Algatocín, in which Moors
and Christians celebrations bring their Moorish past
to life.
.
After a short but steep ascent, the road goes
down again through chestnut forests towards
Faraján. This village, whose name means
"enjoyable place" in Arabic, is a delightful little
town. The friendly villagers -just over 300- we'll
greet us with open arms, as it is customary
among the dwellers of the Genal Valley. Another
difficult 2km stretch with steep slopes will take us
From Júzcar onwards, the road starts getting
steep again until we get to the Navacilla Pass,
997m high. The 11km will make us face a steep
climb once again. This time, the landscape will
open up before us with the limestone terrain of
the Oreganal on the left and the breathtaking
beauty of the Genal Valley to our right. As we
slowly ascend, we'll see the villages of Cartajima,
Parauta, Igualeja, and Pujerra on our right until
we get to the pass and the A-376. From here on,
we need to be very careful as almost all the road
ahead towards Ronda -20km to the end of our
route- runs downhill.
THE GENAL VALLEY AND
THE CHESTNUTS
Serranía de Ronda
Serranía de Ronda
The first of these oases is Alpandeire -birthplace
of its illustrious son Friar Leopoldo- to which we
get through a spectacular descent on a narrow
road that seems to be literally hanging from the
slopes of the Sierra de Jarastepar. Its white
parapets will lead us to the entrance of this
beautiful village in which the San Antonio de
Padua Parish Church (St. Anthony of Padua) is
worth a visit. This church has been nicknamed
"the cathedral of Genal Valley".
out of town and into the next landmark of our
journey: Júzcar. Even before we get there, we'll
start to enjoy the beautiful scenery of this pristine
place surrounded by lush vegetation all year
round. The houses look crammed together due to
the ruggedness of the terrain. The Royal Tin
Factory of San Miguel -which is believed to be the
first tin factory in Spain- started operating in 1730
in this district, by the Genal River. Today,
unfortunately, only its ruins remain.
CONVENTION BUREAU
information panels, will allow us to stop and
admire the astonishingly beautiful landscapes of
our journey. We'll soon get to the top of the De
Encinas Borrachas Pass, and after that, we turn
right on the MA-515, southwards, in order to get
to one of the most rococo landscapes of the
province of Málaga: the Genal Valley. A profusion
of little white oases hanging from the hills,
surrounded by enormous forests of chestnuts,
cork oaks, gall oaks, pines, olive trees and all
kinds of fruit trees will be our travelling
companions during this part of the journey.
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AMONGST VALLEYS, HILLS AND BANDITS
TOURIST BOARD &
Road
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning and
end of route
Itinerary
District border
Provincial border
Serranía de Ronda
Serranía de Ronda
Nature Park
.
.
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TOURIST BOARD &
.
sIERRA DE LAS
NIEVES
The Sierra de las Nieves region is located in the northwest of the province of Málaga
and comprises the districts of Alozaina,
Casarabonela, El Burgo, Guaro, Istán, Monda,
Ojén, Tolox, and Yunquera. Its landscape is
both varied and unique, showing stark contrasts of rugged mountains and fertile valleys
with deep ravines and spectacular cliffs. Here,
the limestone soil has given rise to deep crevices such as the Sima Gesm, the third deepest
abyss in the world (1,100 m). The highest point
is De la Torrecilla Peak (1,919 m), of the Sierra
Blanca range, Tolox.
Sierra de las Nieves
AMONGST OLIVE TREES,
ALMOND TREES AND
SPANISH FIRS
Cattle-raising is the main economical activity
of the region's villages. From its forests, cork,
chestnuts, and honey are harvested. There's
also an important craft industry, like the
making of leather goods and forged grilles.
TECHNICAL DATA
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Cycle touring
.
Length: 92.9km
Season: any time of year, though it's advisable
to avoid very hot days and heavy rains.
Stops: Mari Gloria Museum House (Monda),
village of Alozaina, Jorox Pass, Los Martínez
Pass.
.
.
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308
CONVENTION BUREAU
AMONGST OLIVE TREES,
ALMOND TREES AND
SPANISH FIRS
The region is one of the few environments in
which humans live as one with nature. Its rugged landscapes and winding roads will put our
stamina to the test. Anyone coming to this
region will enjoy its beautiful popular architecture, its marvellous and varied cuisine, the
quality of its homemade products, but above
all, the hospitality of its people.
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AMONGST OLIVE TREES, ALMOND TREES AND SPANISH FIRS
CONVENTION BUREAU
REGION:
DISTRICTS:
ROUTE:
KILOMETRES:
TOURIST BOARD &
Alozaina, Casarabonela, El Burgo, Guaro, Istán, Monda, Ojén, Tolox, Yunquera
MONDA - GUARO - ALOZAINA - YUNQUERA - EL BURGO - CASARABONELA - ALOZAINA - GUARO - MONDA
85
ROUTE-METER
ROUTE 8: MONDA-GUARO-ALOZ-EL BURGO-CASARAB-ALOZ-MONDA
.
384
21.55
A-366
ALOZAINA. At roundabout, left turn towards Yunquera
545
679
821
560
465
737
454
368
384
215
392
370
25.74
29.30
32.20
38.78
47.44
54.63
59.85
62.64
71.36
84.05
88.41
92.93
A-366
A-366
A-366
MA-445
MA-445
MA-445
MA-404
MA-403
A-366
MA-419
MA-419
MA-419
Jorox. Straight on, with no detours. Panoramic views.
YUNQUERA. Through the village. Straight on to El Burgo and Ronda
De las Abejas Pass. Continue downhill towards El Burgo
EL BURGO. Right turn towards Ardales
Crossroads. Right turn towards Casarabonela.
De los Martínez Pass. Descent towards Casarabonela
CASARABONELA. Through the village, downhill through horseshoe bends
Crossroads. Right turn towards Alozaina
ALOZAINA. At roundabout, straight on towards Coín and Málaga
Crossroads. Right turn towards Guaro and Monda
GUARO. Through the village, straight on to Monda
MONDA. End of route next to the Town Hall
310
.
.
DESCRIPTION
MONDA. Starting point next to the Town Hall towards Guaro
GUARO. Through the village towards Alozaina and Coín
Crossroads. Left turn towards Alozaina
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0.00
3.60
8.87
ROAD
MA-419
MA-419
A-366
.
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DISTANCE
TRAVELLED
ALTITUDE
370
392
215
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TOURIST BOARD &
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Contents
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.
.
Leaving the stories of rebellions and heroes for
some other time, we'll set out to go deep into the
Sierra de las Nieves range towards Yunquera, not
riding on beasts like the old muleteers but sitting
on our modern saddles on two wheels. From
Alozaina, the road goes uphill until we crown the
Jorox Pass, a beautiful area populated since
prehistoric times, where a copious spring of water
gives rise to the namesake river. In this area, the
landscape changes completely to Aleppo pines
and the typical Mediterranean bushes as main
characters, and needle furze and other aromatic
plants as guest stars. Immediately afterwards, we
will find ourselves in Yunquera, which has always
been a natural pass between the Guadalhorce
Cycle touring
We'll leave the fairy tale world and start our journey to Guaro on the A-6207, a narrow but
enchanting road through a typically
Mediterranean landscape in which the olive and
almond groves will be our constant travel companions. We'll have to go up a few steep ramps
before we get to the place known as "Paradise of
the Almond," after a short descent. The village
sits on a hill slope, with its white houses around
the Parish Church of San Miguel (St. Michael),
from the sixteenth century. The fine cuisine of
Guaro is worth mentioning, particularly the dishes
made with almonds, which are their specialty. If
we have the chance, we mustn't miss the Luna
We now continue downhill looking for the valley of
the Río Grande river, the main tributary of the
most important river of Málaga: the Guadalhorce.
The new road winds along the Río Grande river
until it gets to the crossroads in Tolox. In this
stretch, there are plenty of fruit groves, mainly
citrus. We must turn right towards the next
landmark of our journey -the charming village of
Alozaina, declared in 1977 the prettiest town in
Spain. From the crossroads onwards, we go
uphill up to the entrance of this beautiful village,
which coincides with the beginning of the Las
Abejas Pass. Alozaina is a typical highland
village, with narrow streets and whitewashed
houses filled with flowers, in which the Church of
Santa Ana (St. Anne), from the seventeenth
century, is the most salient building. They say that
there was a heroic woman named María Sagredo
who defended the village throwing beehives to
the Moors during the Moorish uprising in 1570.
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312
Just as we're leaving Monda, we'll see to the left
of the road the famous fountain of the village.
According to legend, "the daughters of a Moorish
king who lived in the castle of Mundat up the hill
would come down to the fountain through a secret
passageway and there they'd have not-so-secret
meetings with Christian gentlemen".
Mora (Moorish Moon) Festival, usually held in
September, where the people go back almost a
thousand years and celebrate with music and traditions of Andalusia represented by three cultures
-Christian, Islamic and Sephardic- under the light
of 20,000 candles.
We start our route from the main square, next to
the Parish Church of Santiago Apóstol (St. James
the Great), a building from the sixteenth century.
The Mari Gloria House Museum is very close by,
and it's worth a visit. It's a private house that has
been turned into an ethnographic museum of the
rural world, where the most distinguished traditions and customs of the area are represented. Its
owner, with the friendliness, simplicity, and
warmth of the people of Monda, will very kindly
show us around her house museum.
CONVENTION BUREAU
This exciting bike trekking adventure starts
from the beautiful village of Monda -declared
Picturesque Place in 1971-, which sits halfway up
a hill crowned with a renovated Arab castle, at
present home to a rural hotel. The village has
typical cobblestone sloping streets and the houses have raised doors to keep the water out
during heavy rain seasons.
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TOURIST BOARD &
The village of Yunquera is worth a visit. It has the
typical layout of steep winding streets from which
one can admire the extraordinary spectacle of the
nearby Sierra de las Nieves range, in which the
Spanish ibex reigns supreme sharing the land
with one of the jewels of the Sierra de las Nieves
Biosphere Reserve -the Spanish fir (Abies
pinsapo Boiss.).
From El Burgo, we take the MA-445 towards
Ardales and Campillos, which runs through
mountain olive groves and, for a while, by the
Turón River, where we'll face short but steep
ramps until we get to a crossroads. There, we turn
right towards Casarabonela through the Los
Martínez Pass. From here on, we'll be watched
attentively by the shadow of the north slope of the
Once in Alozaina, now in the opposite direction,
we'll go down until we get to the crossroads in
Tolox. Then we continue uphill towards Guaro,
and end our route in Monda, at the Plaza de la
Constitución, next to the Church of Santiago
Apóstol (St. James the Great).
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Abies pinsapo, true protagonist of Sierra de
las Nieves.
- The Sierra de las Nieves region: a rich palette of
ecosystems.
SIERRA DE LAS NIEVES
NATURE PARK
The Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park was
declared Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1995. It
covers a surface area of 20,163 ha, and stretches
over the districts of Istán, Monda, Parauta, Ronda,
Tolox, and Yunquera. Its highest point is the La
Torrecilla Peak, 1,919 m high. Inside the park there
are no paved roads, only forest tracks coming from
the roads that link the villages of the region or from
the villages themselves.
Its location within the borders of the Atlantic and the
Mediterranean domains favours the existence of a
flora that is both varied and unique, thanks to the
rains provided by the Atlantic winds, filled with moist
air. In the high mountain region, with frequent rains,
gall oaks and Spanish firs abound. The Spanish fir,
a unique kind of fir -almost a relic from the great
conifer forests of glacial periods and nearly extinctis protected by law and is only present in the high
hills of the Sub-Baetic Mountains of Spain and in the
Rif Mountains of northern Morocco. At lower
altitudes, there are holm oaks and cork oaks,
especially in Istán and Monda, and also small woods
of carob trees and chestnut trees. Its fauna includes
several protected animal species such as the
Spanish ibex, the wild cat, the golden eagle, the
eagle owl, and the otter.
.
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In Tolox, the Centre for the Recovery of Protected
Species of Pecho Venus takes care of injured
animals found by individuals, forest agents,
environmentalists, or hunters. Once brought back to
health, animals are released back into their natural
environment.
.
A quick descent will leave us at the beautiful
village of El Burgo, in the heart of the Sierra de
las Nieves range -a delightful place surrounded
by mountains in which the streams pour their
crystal clear waters into the Turón River, the pride
of the locals. The village sits on a hill, 591 m
above sea level, an extraordinary viewing point
from which we can contemplate that huge open
air natural museum -the Sierra de las Nieves.
Sierra Prieta on our right, and the Sierra de
Alcaparaín on our left. Once we get to the pass,
the road goes steeply down towards
Casarabonela, nicknamed "the spring of the hills"
due to the numerous water springs that irrigate
the fertile Moorish-like terraced farms covering the
slopes of the Sierra Prieta (1,521 m). The narrow
steep streets of the village are the evidence of its
Moorish heritage. The Fiesta de los Rondeles is
worth mentioning. It's held in December, after the
olive harvest, and it's a good show of popular
customs and traditions. After briefly going through
the village, the route continues downhill through
horseshoe bends until we get to a crossroads in
which we'll turn right towards Alozaina. On this
stretch, the road becomes a huge natural balcony
over the Río Grande river.
.
The Information Bureau of the Nature Park is at the
Palace of Mondragón, Ronda (Tel.: (+34) 952 877
778).
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314
CONVENTION BUREAU
Valley and the Serranía de Ronda region by
means of the Las Abejas Pass, which we'll reach
a little further up from the village.
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AMONGST OLIVE TREES, ALMOND TREES AND SPANISH FIRS
TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
.
.
Road
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District border
Nature Park
316
.
.
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Beginning and
end of route
Itinerary
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
THE BIG RIVER OF
MÁLAGA
.
gUADALHORCE VALLEY
TECHNICAL DATA
.
Cycle touring
.
The Valley is one of the most dynamic areas of
the province. Its main economic activities are
Cycle touring
Contents
.
associated with the land (farming), industry
and electrical power generation. It has beautiful villages, such as Alhaurín de la Torre,
Alhaurín el Grande, Almogía, Álora, Cártama,
Coín, Pizarra and Valle de Abdalajís.
Bicycling at the Guadalhorce Valley is a great
way to experience the quiet beauty of an
attractive region of the province of Málaga.
The lonely roads and the rugged terrain make
this route nice and enjoyable.
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318
It's located near Málaga City, the coast, Sierra
de las Nieves Nature Park, Los Gaitanes
gorge and the group of reservoirs of El Chorro.
The Guadalhorce Valley is dominated by
water, proof of which are the waterwheels, irrigation ditches, and springs. The valley is covered in green trees and vegetables that climb up
the terraces on the surrounding hills, and evergreen citrus trees offer their aroma to the visitors.
.
Lenght: 57.30km
Season: fall year round.
Stops: village of Álora, Carratraca, church of
Bobastro, La Encantada viewpoint, Los
Gaitanes ravine.
Guadalhorce Valley
Guadalhorce Valley
THE BIG RIVER OF MÁLAGA
The Guadalhorce River, the principal
river of the province of Málaga, supplied by
water in the nearby Antequera region and
coursing the mountain range through the spectacular Desfiladero de los Gaitanes gorge,
gives its name to this region: The Guadalhorce
Valley.
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CONVENTION BUREAU
REGION:
DISTRICTS:
ROUTE:
KILOMETRES:
TOURIST BOARD &
Guadalhorce Valley
Alhaurín de la Torre, Alhaurín el Grande, Almogía, Álora, Cártama, Coín, Pizarra, Valle de Abdalajís
ALORA - PUERTO DE LA SABANILLA - CARRATRACA - ARDALES - EL CHORRO - ALORA
57.3
.
DISTANCE
TRAVELLED
ROAD
DESCRIPTION
212
0.00
MA-441
ÁLORA. Start at crossroads. Road from El Chorro to Carratraca
265
4.70
MA-441
Crossroads. Turn right at Del Conejo Inn towards Carratraca
613
12.10
MA-441
Sabanilla pass. Continue downhill to Carratraca
492
16.60
MA-442
CARRATRACA. Village tour. Stay straight towards Ardales. Fountain
508
18.64
A-357
Crossroads. Turn right to Ardales
540
19.28
A-357
Málaga pass. Steep descent towards Ardales
359
22.53
MA-444
Crossroads. Turn right towards Embalses
395
28.20
MA-444
Las Atalayas pass. Turn right, downhill to El Chorro
276
30.77
MA-448
Crossroads. Turn right to climb up to Bobastro ruins
605
35.90
MA-448
Bobastro Highlands. Magnificent views of El Chorro and the Guadalhorce Valley
276
41.30
MA-444
Crossroads. Turn right towards El Chorro
225
42.65
MA-444
DESFILADERO DE LOS GAITANES. Views of the gorge
201
44.30
CHSE
Crossroads. La Encantada reservoir. Stay straight onto road towards Álora
191
49.80
CHSE
Barrio Bermejo. Continue straight
212
57.30
CHSE
ÁLORA. End of route at crossroads with old Carratraca road
.
.
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ALTITUDE
Guadalhorce Valley
Guadalhorce Valley
ROUTE-METER
ROUTE 9: ALORA - CARRATRACA - ARDALES - EL CHORRO - ALORA
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TOURIST BOARD &
.
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.
The road runs parallel to the river, on our left, and
features some climbs that might sap our energy.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Water and fertile lands are landmarks of the
Guadalhorce Valley.
- The Desfiladero de Los Gaitanes gorge will
surprise us with its sheer cliffs.
- The climb to Bobastro is the toughest ascent in
the route.
At the crossroads we turn right onto the natural
exit from Los Gaitanes gorge by Estación del
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From this point, the Guadalhorce Valley reaches
its peak to offer fruit trees that replace the piny
woods and the Mediterranean bushes.
Cycle touring
We'll cycle along the MA-441 to Carratraca.
Following a short climb, we reach a flatter area
and go up to El Conejo Inn. Then we turn right
and start climbing the Sierra de Aguas (949 m)
through La Sabanilla pass, at 613 m above sea
level. It's a 7km ascent on a winding road on the
slopes of the Sierra de Aguas. On top is a wind
farm with many wind turbines. The area is
covered in pines planted during a reforestation
plan years ago. After a short and steep descent,
we'll get to Carratraca. A short village tour
through the old quarter allows visitors see
peculiar buildings like the polygonal Bullring
(1878), carved out of the rock of the Sierra
Blanquilla, the House of Doña Trinidad Grund,
After leaving Carratraca, at the crossroads we
turn right onto the A-357 and get to the top of the
Málaga mountain pass, at 540 m above sea level.
This is the most dangerous section of our route,
mainly because there's constant traffic. A steep
descent takes us to the village of Ardales, on our
left. We take the exit onto the MA-444 towards
the reservoirs only to see that the landscape
changes dramatically. First there are olive groves
up to the junction at the Atalayas pass. At this
point we have to turn right to get to a piny forest
in which Aleppo pines grow against the high walls
of the Sierra de Huma. After cycling downhill for
several kilometres we make a slight left turn onto
the MA-448. Now the most demanding climb of
the day lies ahead: the Bobastro highlands
(605m) that leads to the Mesa de Villaverde. It's
a 4km climb with a maximum gradient of 14%, so
we need to sharpen our senses and try our best.
Around 2km ahead we can visit the ruins of a
tenth-century Mozarabic church in which, the
story goes, Umar ibn Hafsun converted to
Christianity. The climb might be hard but it's well
worth the effort because the summit commands
magnificent views. After these 4 terrible
kilometres, the last stretch of the road gets easier
while passing by a small reservoir, La Encantada,
located on a high plain called Mesa de Villaverde.
Now we begin the final part of the climb and get
to a tiny scenic lookout affording impressive
views of the huge rock of the Sierra de Huma and
El Chorro gorge. We'll backtrack the way we
came to take the MA-444.
We'll arrive at the end of our route after cycling
uphill for a while, in Álora, at the crossroads with
the old road towards Carratraca.
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322
Holy Week is an outstanding feature of Álora's
life. On Maundy Thursday "la Despedida" or
"Farewell" celebration takes place, which has
been declared of National Tourism Interest. It
consists in the encounter and "greeting" of two
images, the Virgin's and that of Jesus, carried on
the shoulders of the participants. As to Álora's
cuisine, we can mention the so called perotas
soups, made with vegetables and bread, and
other plates made with fresh vegetables and fruit
grown in the region.
Chorro. On our left is the Chapel of Nuestra
Señora de Villaverde, sitting proudly in the
mountainous landscape. The valley opens up
before our eyes and soon we get to the wonderful
rise of the Guadalhorce River, dammed for the
last time at Tajo de la Encantada reservoir.
Guadalhorce Valley
Guadalhorce Valley
Álora is the typical Andalusian village, perched
on the mountainside, with white houses and
crowned by the Las Torres Castle, the outstanding landmark of the city. Worth a visit is the
Parish Church of Nuestra Señora de la
Encarnación (Our Lady of the Incarnation), built
in the seventeenth century over an original mosque and the third biggest of the province. Álora is
normally called "el Valle del Sol" or "the Sunny
Valley".
used later as the local Town Hall and the Parish
Church of Nuestra Señora de la Salud (Our Lady
of Good Health), from the nineteenth century.
The sulphurous water springs were famous even
back in Roman times, and people came here
seeking their healing properties.
CONVENTION BUREAU
We'll start in Álora and pass through the
northern part of the Guadalhorce Valley region
and go along an area of the Guadalteba region
as well.
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
DESFILADERO DE LOS
GAITANES NATURE AREA
Desfiladero de los Gaitanes Nature Area was
inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII in 1921. Los
Gaitanes is a natural gorge through which the
Guadalhorce River runs between tall limestone walls.
The nature area is a top tourist attraction, and especially for rock climbing lovers, since the cliffs reach
400 m in height. Also those who enjoy birdwatching
will want to come once and again, for they will be
able to see birds of prey like the griffon vulture, peregrine falcon, or golden eagle hovering around. And
on the ground, we can watch Spanish ibexes taking
their peculiar jumps.
Guadalhorce Valley
Guadalhorce Valley
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TOURIST BOARD &
Itinerary
Road
CONVENTION BUREAU
Beginning and
end of route
Guadalhorce Valley
Guadalhorce Valley
District border
.
.
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contents
TOURIST BOARD
& CONVENTION BUREAU
ACTIVE TRAVEL COMPANIES
. Born To Be Wild, S.L.
Marbella (San Pedro Alcántara)
page 330
. Exploramás - Events and Adventure.
Mijas Costa
page 332
. Creativando S.L.
Torremolinos
.
Travelmasters.
Torremolinos
Contents
page 334
page 336
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TOURIST BOARD &
CORPORATE EVENTS
Team Building: One of the specialties at Born
to Be Wild is corporate events, which include
activities and exercises to promote and improve working teams' performance. Amongst
these activities are jeep rallies, scooter or
mountain bike rides or walking while running
tests, solving problems or answering questions
in a fun and friendly atmosphere. Barbecues,
parties, theme parties, rural tourism in
Andalusia and Morocco.
Born to Be Wild has the Blue Dolphin Beach
Club in the Bay of Estepona. From the club,
guests can enjoy spectacular views of the
Gibraltar Strait and the African coastline, eat
international dishes in a quiet, out-of-the-way
location.
CONVENTION BUREAU
The company is based in San Pedro Alcántara
and has a staff with employees who speak
English, French, German, Dutch and, of course, Spanish and will come with customers individuals, families, groups, company employees- and travel across Andalusia or Morocco
by off-road vehicles. Moreover, Born to Be
Wild offers motorboat or canoe trips, animal
and plant watching, team building programmes
or parties.
The activities are held in outstandingly beautiful places or in the Born to Be Wild facilities
in Estepona.
.
sAN PEDRO ALCÁNTARA
Established a decade ago, Born to Be
Wild is a company specialising in active and
adventure travel, ecotourism and team-building activities for people of all ages and any fitness level.
San Pedro Alcántara
Dolphin Eco Tours: Motorboat trips in the
Mediterranean Sea to watch dolphins in their
natural habitat.
.
.
San Pedro Alcántara
BORN TO BE WILD
ECO-TOURS
Jeep Eco Tours: Born to Be Wild staff will
explain historical facts or natural features
while driving across Sierra de las Nieves
Nature Park. Then the group will visit some of
the delightful whitewashed villages of the area,
in which they will savour delicious foods or
swim in one of the refreshing reservoirs.
Active Travel Companies
.
C/ Igualada, 3
29670 San Pedro Alcántara - Marbella
(Málaga)
Tel.: (+34) 952 781 006 - 606 454 431
Fax: (+34) 952 781 006
Website: www.borntobewild.es
.
330
BORN TO BE WILD
Active travel
Contents
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TOURIST BOARD &
CONVENTION BUREAU
EXPERIENCE
After many years in the world of mountaineering and
adventure activities, the owners of Exploramás created the company in July 2000. Since then,
Exploramás has become a leading planner of corporate events and adventure activities in Andalusia and
even in Spain. Some of Exploramás's many clients
are Ford, Bayer, IBM, Citibank Ernst & Young,
Philips, BMW, Bausch & Lomb, and BP. Over ten
thousand people have used the company's services,
enjoying the beautiful Andalusian scenery while learning how to protect the environment and work or
have fun in teams.
.
mIJAS COSTA
Off-road Driving
Jeep Emotion
Explora Tour
Bandits in Southern Europe
C/ San José, s/n - Local 1-A
Mijas Costa (Málaga)
Tel.: (+34) 952 477 951
Fax: (+34) 952 479 016
Website: www.exploramas.es
EXPLORAMÁS
EVENTS AND ADVENTURES
Culture
The Enigma
The Enigma of the Moorish Moon
Flamenco Teambuilding
Andalusian Percussion
Mind games
Picasso's Back in Málaga
Going Tapas
.
.
Exploramás is a company formed by an
exceptional team of qualified professionals, experts
in physical education, tourism and marketing as well
as pro sportspersons with long experience in outdoor activities and corporate events. They combine the
two in the best of ways.
Sports
Adventure Challenge 1
Adventure Challenge 2
Mediterranean Challenge
Donkey Polo
Conquering the Mediterranean
Sailing
Regatta
Mijas Costa
Mijas Costa
EXPLORAMÁS
Events and Adventures
EVENTS
Adventure
Canyoning
Paintball
Climbing
Spelunking
Mountain biking
Trekking
Quad rides
Canoeing
.
.
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TOURIST BOARD &
Tapas: a delicious way to learn all about tapas,
the best thing about Spanish cuisine. Maps in
hand, tourists can visit bars in Málaga, Marbella,
Ronda and other towns in the Costa del Sol,
where one of us will be waiting for them after
making the required reservation.
. tORREMOLINOS
CREATIVANDO S.L.
.
.
Avda. Los Botijos
Urb. Tío Charles, 1 - Apartamento 109
29639 Benalmádena Pueblo (Málaga)
Website: www.creativando.es
HOT AIR BALLOON RIDES
A unique experience, balloons take off as dawn
breaks and the wind does the rest. After landing,
you'll be driven by an off-road vehicle to celebrate your first flight with a good cava wine.
MULTI-ADVENTURES
An explosive combination of rock climbing, rappel, and archery, among other sporting activities,
always taken care of by expert guides. Approved
material and equipment is used.
BEACH TOURNAMENTS
Sack races, gigantic balls, kayak, beach football… a wide range of activities and sports on
the sand.
TREASURE HUNT
A game in which the players -arranged in teamsattempt to find hidden articles by means of a
series of clues.
.
334
CREATIVANDO S.L.
ENTERTAINMENT
Professional actors mingle with the participants in a corporate event (conference, meeting, convention, lunch, etc.) to spend a good
time together.
Amongst its offers are off-road vehicle rides,
water sports, strolls by the seaside, hot air balloon rides, tapas routes in different villages of the
Costa del Sol, multi-adventure excursions, hiking
down canyons, treasure hunts, entertainment,
film shooting…
Food Gymkhana: Following a brief explanation
given by a chef, the participating teams must prepare gazpacho, paella or pestiños (honey-coated
pastries). The "cooks" will be served drinks and
appetizers while they are preparing the delicious
dishes, and the real chef is available all the time
to answer any questions that might arise. He will
HIKING DOWN CANYONS
This is an exciting sport consisting in travelling
in canyons using a variety of techniques that
may include walking, scrambling, climbing,
jumping, abseiling, and/ or swimming. Expert
guides go with you. Creativando S.L. supplies
the necessary equipment.
SPOT AND SHORT FILM SHOOTING
Customers become actors who star a film based
on some bandit's story or a commercial to promote a product made by the company that hires
the service.
.
CreativantoS.L. chooses the destination of
and coordinates and schedules all the activities in your event. It deals with logistics,
technical issues and human resources. To
do that, Creativando S.L. has a professional
staff who have worked in the travel industry
for a long time.
Rural Gymkhana: in this form of ghymkhana
tests are quite unusual; for instance, looking for
hens eyes covered, playing donkey polo matches, participating in handbarrow races or gazpacho competitions.
WATER SPORTS
Creativando S.L. organises regattas, catamaran
or luxury yacht trips, and fishing excursions.
OUTDOOR TRAINING
This type of activity is aimed at developing leadership skills through tests and challenges that
require self-assurance and team work.
Behaviours different from regular ones can be
observed while the activity is carried out.
Torremolinos
Torremolinos
CreativandoS.L. Travel Agency is an
Analusia-based company that has considerable
experience in organising conferences, conventions and corporate events. It offers innovative,
exclusive and entertaining activities.
GYMKHANAS
A gymkhana is an outdoor game in which teams
are scored after doing a series of tests in a certain period of time.
decide who the winning team is.
Historical Gymkhana: The teams walk around
the historic district and they come across people
representing famous artists, writers or other historic characters who have participants engage in
funny tests.
CONVENTION BUREAU
ROUTES
Off-road Vehicles: Ride through the Sierra de
las Nieves or Montes de Málaga. Visitors are offered the chance to drive off-road vehicles and use
a road map they are given to carry out the activity.
The guides can suggest unexpected tests to do.
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Travelmasters is a member of the Málaga
Convention Bureau and the Costa del Sol
Tourist Board. It organises seminars and
attends fairs within or outside Spain.
It has a unit named Agrimaster which organises technical programmes and rural trips. This
business line is virtually unknown in our
country as are rural trips.
. tORREMOLINOS
PROGRAMMES
- Tours of the Costa del Sol
- Sailing and cruises: Málaga, Almería,
Cabo de Gata National Park
Travelmasters specialises in business
travel: conference, symposium, incentive trips,
meetings… Founded fifteeen years ago, the firm
offers services to medical societies and all kinds
of profes sional associations.
- Choirs and churches in Andalusia
- Andalusia by bike
- Trekking in Andalusia: Serranía de Ronda
range, Nature Parks, etc.
- Spanish literature route
- Rural trips: Andalusian wines, farms
.
Torremolinos
TRAVELMASTERS
VIAJES MASTER INTERNACIONAL
.
C/ Emilio Esteban, Edif. Madrid 2 - 2nd floor
29620 Torremolinos (Málaga)
Tel.: (+34) 952 051 819
Fax: (+34) 952 386 801
[email protected]
Website: www.viajesmaster.com
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Malaga Sun, Routes and Excursions

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