La Axarquía
Sun, sea, mountains, golf, hiking, culinary delights and culture.
Every year, hosts of sun-hungry tourists from all over the world arrive at the Malaga airport to spend the most beautiful weeks of the year here on the Sunny coast. It is not only the beautiful beaches and the good leisure facilities, it is also the bright blue sky and this unique light which enchants the visitors. And many fall in love that they settle down here. The mild winters are suitable for sports activities of all kinds, such as golf, hiking and horseback riding.
To give you an impression of this enchanting region, we have compiled some information for you.
Not only the scenic diversity of this region, but also its history, which has left magnificent cultural traces, makes the Axarquía extremely interesting. The name "Axarquía" originally comes from the Arabic and means "to the East" and refers to the geographical location of this region within the province of Málaga. The Axarquía, with its 31 municipalities and nearly subtropical climate, stretches along the coast, the sun-drenched Costa del Sol, from Maro in the east to the outskirts of Málaga in the west. The hinterland with its imposing mountain ranges, the Sierra Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama with its highest peak the "La Maroma" 2.066 m, begins roughly near the coastal town of Frigiliana and ends at the highest located village of Alfarnate at 928 metres above the sea level.
The white villages of the Axarquía with their winding and flower-filled alleys are mainly of Moorish origin so you can find in many villages churches and other buildings in the Mudejar style. This is inspired by the Moorish style and was very common in Spain between the 12th and 15th centuries. In addition to tourism, agriculture plays an important role. In the mild climate, exotic fruits such as mangoes, khakis, chirimoyas, bananas, oranges, lemons and avocados thrive. The most common, however, are olives, almonds and vines.
Probably the most famous wine village of the Axarquía is Cómpeta, not only because of its excellent Moscatel wines and the delicious raisins.
The communities of the Axarquía:
Alcaucín, Alfarnate, Alfarnatejo, Algarrobo, Almachár, Árchez, Arenas, Benamargosa, Benamocarra, El Borge, Canillas de Aceituno, Canillas de Albaida, Colmenar, Comares, Cómpeta, Cútar, Frigiliana, Iznate, La Viñuela, Macharaviaya, Moclinejo, Nerja, Periana, Rincón de la Victoria, Riogordo, Salares, Sayalonga, Sedella, Torrox, Totalán and Vélez-Málaga with the lively coastal town of Torre del Mar.
We present some of them here:
Árchez: The small white village with only about 400 inhabitants is located at 530 above the sea level and very close to Cómpeta and is one of the most original villages of the Axarquía. The whitewashed houses and the beautiful minaret of the Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación from the 13th century reflect the Moorish past of this pretty village. And here, too, a very good wine is grown.
Canillas de Albaida: This charming little village with its whitewashed houses, narrow streets and a lot of Arabian flair is situated in the neighbourhood of Cómpeta. The village with about 800 international inhabitants is located at 660 m above the sea level.
On January 17th every year the Día de San Antón is celebrated. Everyone has the opportunity on this day to have their pet bless. And for unmarried ladies, this day could change everything.
Arenas: The small community of about 1.300 inhabitants is located at 416 m above the sea level and nestled between olive and almond groves. Due to its semi-high altitude, the village offers beautiful views of the mountainous hinterland as well as the Mediterranean coast. A trip to the nearby castle of Bentoniz or a ride on the Ruta de Mudejar (Mudejar route) is absolutely recommended.
Cómpeta: The particularly worth seeing mountain village is situated about 17 km from the coast at 636 m above the sea level with wonderful sea views. In clear weather you can even see the coast of Africa and Gibraltar. The approximately 3.700 inhabitants have different nationalities and come from England, Germany, France, northern Europe, Morocco and even overseas. Nevertheless, there is still a lot of Andalusian and Moorish flair. Cómpeta offers everything your heart desires. Art galleries, boutiques, the beautiful weekly market and a varied gastronomy. And not to forget the famous wine festival on August 15th the "Noche del Vino", which is well known beyond the borders of the community.
Nerja: The lively coastal town is probably the most famous place of the Axarquía and an international tourist centre on the Costa del Sol. Nerja has about 21.000 inhabitants, a romantic old town, beautiful beaches and the famous Balcón de Europa. Every year, it attracts a variety of bridal couples who want their wedding photos on this beautiful square. Both the holidaymakers and the residents are international and so Nerja offers something for everyone.
The town with its Andalusian-Mediterranean flair combines leisure and everyday life under the Andalusian sun in a very pleasant way.
Sayalonga: The small worth seeing village is located at 359 above the sea level with about 1.460 inhabitants. Narrow streets, small bars and numerous attractions attract multitude of tourists every year. In addition to the Mudejar-style church and the old fountain, the round cemetery, with its unusual burial chambers, is a very special highlight. A small museum provides insights into the secret of this unique cemetery.
Torre del Mar: "The Tower of the Sea" as Torre del Mar is translated, is a district of Vélez-Málaga, the provincial capital of La Axarquía. This very Spanish coastal town with about 20.000 inhabitants offers beautiful beaches, very good shopping facilities, a varied nightlife with excellent gastronomy and a mild climate all year round.
In the neighbouring Caleta de Vélez you will find a large yacht and fishing harbour.
Torrox: (headquarter of our real estate agency), known for "the best climate in Europe" and with up to 2.900 sun hours and an annual average temperature of about 19 degrees Celsius, this coastal town with about 20.000 international residents is a real hot spot on the western Costa del Sol. Torrox consists of the original Torrox Pueblo with its narrow streets, Moorish buildings and flower-decorated houses. Torrox Costa is completely different. Here you find beautiful beaches, hotels, holiday and residential complexes, supermarkets as well as the lively seafront promenade dominate the cityscape.
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