Frigiliana
- What to see
- The Moorish-Mudéjar quarter, the ceramic plaques telling the story of the 1569 revolt and the cane-honey mill.
- When
- The Frigiliana Three Cultures Festival in late August.
Axarquía
Villages with a Moorish layout, Muscatel vineyards and mountains above the sea.
Key points
- The Axarquía is Málaga's eastern district: 31 municipalities between the coast and the Tejeda and Almijara mountains.
- Its white villages keep their Moorish street plan: Frigiliana, Cómpeta, Comares, Sayalonga, Árchez…
- A land of raisins and Muscatel: its traditional raisin-making system is recognised by the FAO.
- Here rises the province's highest peak, La Maroma, at over 2,000 metres.
The prettiest villages of the Axarquía
Cómpeta
- What to see
- Plaza Almijara and the church's Mudéjar tower; Muscatel wineries.
- When
- Wine Night, every 15 August.
Comares
- What to see
- A hilltop village with tiles guiding you through its streets and views down to the sea.
Vélez-Málaga
- What to see
- The fortress, the church of Santa María and the old Villa quarter; on the coast, Torre del Mar.
- SayalongaFamous for its round cemetery and its loquats, celebrated with a spring festival.
- Canillas de AceitunoStarting point for the climb to La Maroma (about 2,070 m), the roof of the province.
- Árchez and SalaresAlmohad minarets turned into bell towers, gems of Mudéjar art.
- MacharaviayaHome of the Gálvez family, with their pantheon and the story of its playing-card factory.
- El BorgeOne of the great raisin villages, with its Raisin Day in September.
- Riogordo and PerianaRiogordo's Passion play at Easter and Periana's verdial olive oil.
Raisins, Muscatel and tropical fruit
On the Axarquía's slopes, Muscatel grapes are dried in the sun on paseros, south-facing drying beds. This system of producing Málaga raisins has been designated a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System by the FAO. The same grape makes the wines of the Málaga and Sierras de Málaga designations of origin.
In the lower valleys around La Viñuela reservoir, the subtropical climate allows mangoes and avocados to grow, and they have changed the landscape in recent decades.
Nature and hiking
The north of the district is part of the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama Natural Park, shared with Granada. The best-known hikes climb La Maroma from Canillas de Aceituno or follow the Chíllar river from Nerja.
A day trip through the Axarquía
- NerjaBreakfast facing the Balcón de Europa.
- FrigilianaWander the Moorish quarter early, before the heat.
- CómpetaLunch and a visit to a Muscatel winery.
- ComaresSunset from the district's highest viewpoint.