The word Axarquía comes from Arabic (Ash-sharquia), meaning "Land in the East." The region still retains many visible features of the Moorish rule that lasted more than 700 years.
You will find sights or architecture from this period in many villages and towns. In addition, La Axarquía is an extremely green and fertile region. For that reason, the area is also called the vegetable garden of the Costa del Sol.
From avocados to mangoes and from olives to the famous Moscatel grape, it all grows equally well here. La Axarquía is an important region for the production of olive oil. About twenty percent of the total world production comes from this region. You will also find many almond trees in this region, which provide a spectacular landscape in the first months of the year. And the fragrance of this beautiful blossom is not to be missed.
La Axarquía has 31 villages that are also known as Pueblos Blancos, white villages. Each village with its own history and sights that often go back to the Roman and Moorish period. There are three routes that give a good impression of the region: Ruta del Vino (55 km), Ruta del Aceite y los montes (60 km) and Ruta Mudéjar (75 km).
One of the white villages surrounded by vineyards. It is the largest village of La Axarquía and is located at the foot of the Parque Sierras de Tejeda y Almijara.
You are here about half an hour from the coast, which you reach via a winding road, a drive that is definitely worth it. Due to its central location to the park, it is also the starting point for many hiking and biking excursions.
Compéta is a beautiful white picturesque village with narrow streets and a cozy old village center. The central point of the village is the Plaza Mayor. Here is the 16th century church 'La Asuncón' and cozy restaurants and terraces. At the weekend it is busy with day trippers who come here to taste and buy wine. It's a great stop for a drink and a snack! If you are here in August, visit 'el noche del Vino on the 15th, when the wine is honored.
The vibrant pueblo of Cómpeta has several supermarkets , panaderias (bread shop) & pescaderias (fish shops) generally open from 9am-8pm daily, except Sundays and Festival days, so worth checking in advance.
This area does respect the siesta time of the day 2-5pm so some of the shops maybe closed during this period.
You will also find hairdressers, beauty salons, clothing stores, farmacias, doctors and dentists within the village.
Village with history, tiny 17th century hamlet, situated between Compéta and Frigiliana. 1,5 hour walk from Casa Calmante. The name of the village comes from the Arabic 'acebuche', which means olive. The village was an important stopover and resting place for traders on the old mule route between Málaga and Granada. The village suffered severely during the Spanish Civil War, when the inhabitants were "trapped" between the Guerillas and the Franco regime. Locally it was known as "The Lost Village".
Fifty years later in 1998, Antonio García Sánchez, son of one of the original villagers, returns with his family to restore some houses in the village and open a tavern. Other families also returned to Acebuchal. 36 houses have now been occupied, the chapel, the cobbled streets, the cellars and the chapel have been restored to their original state. If you go here be sure to visit the tavern. On the menu are delicious mountain dishes with regional products!
The village is beautifully stretched out over the southern slopes of the Natural Park Sierra de la Almijara, 8 km inland from Nerja. Frigiliana has been voted the most beautiful village in Andalucía several times and is also on the list of the most beautiful villages in Spain, Los Pueblos mas Bonitos de España! It is an excellent base to visit this beautiful Natural Park and the coast.
An attractive cultural festival is celebrated from August 27-30. In the Plaza de las Tres Culturas and in the narrow streets, music, food, arts and traditions provide a lively introduction to the Christian, Arab and Sephardic cultures that lived peacefully here for centuries.
Nerja is one of the most popular places on the Costa del Sol (Andalucía region). It is famous for the Balcón de Europa and Caves. The much visited (former) fishing village is beautifully situated at the mouth of the Chillar river and on a steep part at the foot of the Sierra de Almijara. It is located in the beautiful hilly and mountainous landscape of the Axarquia region and in the middle of the D.O Málaga wine region.
Among the Arabs it was known as 'Naricha' (= water-rich spring). Because of the foothills of the Sierra de Almijara there are no long white sandy beaches here, but there are beautiful wild cliffs and beautiful sandy beaches in the coves, including those at Maro. In the old center you will find a white village with narrow streets and squares and a (partially) car-free center. There are many terraces, bars and restaurants.
THE PERFECT PLACE FOR YOUR NEXT VACATION
From Casa Calmante you have a fantastic view on the National Park the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Almaha.
Whether you like shopping, good food, the beach or culture, in Málaga you will find it all. There is a large shopping street "Calle Marques de Larios" with many fashion shops, but also in the smaller streets you will find an array of boutique shops.
Sights include the cathedral "La Manquita", the fort Alcazaba with a magnificent view and the Museo Picasso. Malaga is the birthplace of Picasso. The museum is near its birth house and is located in a beautiful palace, the Palacia Buenavista.
And do not forget to eat some tapas, for example at El Pimpi, a popular and atmospheric tapas bar, where many celebrities have gone before you. You drive to Malaga in an hour. Example of a site for tips and doing bike & walking tours:
AXARQUÍA PACKAGE - COMBINE THE PEACE OF THE MOUNTAINS WITH THE VIBRANT CITY LIFE IN MÁLAGA
Discover the inland east of Málaga in the mountains of the Axarquía in the village of Compéta and the city of Málaga in 1 holiday, a combination of peace, nature, beach and city. A complete package!
The famous Moorish city is located in the southeast of Andalucía, an hour and a half drive from Casa Calmante.
The city is built on 3 hills: the Alhambra, the Albaicín and the Sacromonte, and is dominated by the beautiful snow peaks of the Sierra Nevada. The eye-catcher is of course the unique Alhambra, which was the last stronghold of the Moors after the Catholic Kings advanced. But outside this beautiful building it is a beautiful, lively city with much to see and visit!
The city is in the top 10 most popular city trips in Spain! The atmosphere in Granada is fantastic. There are many remnants of a rich foreign culture and art and the city has been the scene of a very varied history.
The old district of Albaicin is lively, atmospheric and there is an Arabic atmosphere. It is wonderful to walk through with white houses, a maze of streets and cozy restaurants and bars.
The new city is the center of the city. Here are the beautiful wide avenues with chic shops. In the Sacromonto district it is bustling with flamenco cafes and there are cave houses of the gypsies.
When planning your trip to Granada, the Alhambra is well worth a visit, it is recommended to book this well in advance during peak season:
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