The history of the Axarquía dates back to the Palaeolithic times, proven by the remains found in several caves in the mountains of the Sierras de Alhama, Tejeda and Almijara. There are also cave paintings and some household utensils from the prehistoric men who populated the region. The Higuerón and Victoria caves in Rincón de la Victoria and the caves in Nerja are all excellent examples of these primitive cultures.
Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Greeks and Romans have also left their mark here. In Trayamar near Algarrobo there are the remains of a Palaeo-Punic necropolis which has a tomb from the 8th century B.C. It is one of the most important Phoenician remains in West Europe. In Torrox, at the Roman Calviculum, there are remains of Roman baths and a necropolis. The many examples of Moorish art and architecture in the villages are the fruit of the period of Moorish rule, like the minarets in Arenas, Salares, Archez and the Moorish watch-towers all along the coast.
The Christian monarchs reconquered the Axarquía in 1487 with the help of rich noblemen from Castile. They first took Vélez-Málaga which came under the kingdom of Granada. This more recent history from the end of the 15th century has shaped the region over 400 years up to its present form today. The inland villages are mainly agricultural but the villages on the coast have changed drastically over the last 25 years because of the tourist development.
Anyway, all the villages have known how to keep their rich and varied historic legacy that past civilisations have left. Their culture has its roots in the Moorish period as can be seen from the architecture, the gastronomy, the folk songs and dances, the arts, crafts, and agriculture.
Celebrations
No matter how small, the villages in the Axarquía region nearly all have their own celebrations whether religious, secular or simply traditional, the roots of these celebrations are in the regions history, the agriculture and the sea, going back to the beginning of time. Chronologically, the first feast day is Candlemas on February 2nd with special celebrations in Colmenar, Benagalbón, Rincón de la Victoria, Torrox and Frigiliana. The light of the bonfires is the main feature of this feast. After Candlemas we have Holy Week to commemorate the Passion of Christ with processions in all the villages of the region. In Riogordo the whole village enacts the Passion. From the beginning of May until summer there are popular romerias (pilgrimages) to local shrines or sanctuaries on the feast days of a Saint or Virgin. Here are some of the local romerias : San Antonio in Torrox ; San Isidro in Nerja,Periana, Almachar, Lomas de la Vaca, and Frigiliana ; San Marcos in El Borge and Alfarnate, Alcázar and Alcaucín, and the feast of the Patroness in Colmenar. The May Crosses are celebrated on May 3rd in Vélez-Malaga. All the villages celebrate the day of their Patron Saint or some other religious feast day during the summer months. The feast of the Virgen del Carmen is in July. It is celebrated in all the coastal villages like Rincón de la Victoria. The virgin is taken in procession out to sea to bless the waters ; Judas Iscariot is burnt on bonfires on the night of San Juan, there is a Moors and Christians pageant in Alfarnate and Benadalid. In Competa the night of the 15th of August is the night of the wine and in Comares they celebrate the night of candles in September. In the summer there are also flamenco festivals, folk dances, the "Verdiales" which are especially popular in villages such as Vélez-Málaga, Colmenar, Comares and Macharaviaya. In August there is a festival of classic Spanish music and ballet in the caves of Nerja. In December the villages of Torrox invites everyone to try their local "migas", this feast closes the annual calendar of feast days.
The Axarquía has a wealth of traditions whose roots come from a special idiosyncrasy ; the traditions are part of a way of life, they come out of the villages, their customs and celebrations. They are based on every day occurrences like cultivating the vine, making their wine, drying their raisins ; preparing their varied gastronomy, their festivals and religious celebrations ; their crafts ; their Verdiales ; their folk songs and dances.
The Wild Site
The Axarquía is rough and uneven. The Sierras de Alhama, Tejeda and Almijar form the boundaries with the Province of Granada. The foothills go right down to the sea, forming cliffs and small coves around Maro and Cerro Gordo. The varied landscape of the Axarquía stretches from the high mountain peaks down to the peaceful beaches. Nature was generous when she created this incredibly beautiful region. One of the most beautiful places is the Sierra del Alcázar nature park above Alcaucín. There are small waterfalls of crystal clear water, small streams, pine forests where you can get lost in the dense woods of the Sierra Almijara. Nature left her stamp on the villages of Cómpeta, Canillas de Albaida, Sedella, Salares and Canillas de Aceituno. The ravines are beautiful at Torrox on the way to Frigiliana, all around these villages the views are magnificent. At the source of the Sayalonga river, the Mediterranean thicket makes the mountains extremely beautiful at the Casa de la Mira. There are springs at Sedella, Alcaucín and Las Majadas ; there is the Fajara cave or the natural Rahige beauty spot at Canillas de Aceituno. Lake Viñuela reservoir looks like a mirror at nightfall ; it is like a white wound that has opened towards the Boquete de Zafarraya. The high peaks of the Axarquía may be crowned with snow in winter while far below you can bathe in the warm waters of the Mediterranean.
The Climate
The climate in the Axarquía-Costa del Sol is basically Mediterranean with mild winters and hot dry summers. At certain times of the year there is torrential rain coinciding with the equinox. The special climate of this eastern region of the Province of Malaga is due to its geographical situation, protected from the cold north winds by the Sierras de Alhama, Tejeda and Almijara. Its sub-tropical latitude is one of the main reasons why it enjoys 3.000 hours of sun a year. The temperature influence of the Mediterranean sea means that the temperatures do not vary very much, both the ambient temperatures and the sea water temperatures are pleasant all the year round. The Axarquía rises from sea level in the south, to heights of around 2.000 metres in the north. There are three different climates although there is not much difference between them. The coastal areas between Malaga and Nerja have an exceptional climate with average temperatures of between 10ºC in January and 25ºC in August. In the inland valleys the climate is slightly different. The winters are colder and the summers are hotter. The villages that are higher than 900 metres have cooler winters with temperatures around 10ºC or even a little lower and the summers are not as hot as on the coast.
Beaches
The eastern part of the Costa del Sol-Axarquía has 30 kilometres of beaches stretching from Rincón de la Victoria to the boundary with the Province of Granada. It is slightly different from the rest of the Province of Malaga in both the way the beaches are used and the type of tourism it attracts. Torre del Mar, Torrox and Nerja have long sandy beaches, around Nerja and at Maro the cliffs form small coves where there is a nudist beach. The sea is usually crystal clear and the beaches are all fairly near the N-340 road which makes it easy to reach them. Here there is a different kind of tourist to the cosmopolitan western Costa del Sol. Travellers who want to explore the villages of the Axarquía can combine sunbathing and swimming with an appetiser and the good local wine in the popular "chiringuitos", as the beach restaurants are called here. They are right on the beach, almost at the waters edge. Friends meet here to chat and share a dish of shellfish, paella or fried fish. You can sail, windsurf, fish or scuba dive from any of the beaches and all kinds of ball games can be played on the beach. There are cafeterias, restaurants and bars all along the Paseo Maritimo (promenade) at Torre del Mar, Torrox and Nerja - the ideal place for a drink while you listen to the sound of the waves. Some of the venues even offer live music. Beaches where you can still see the fishermen bringing in the nets full of silver fish at sunset or first thing in the morning. Beaches to enjoy a beach party around a fire where sardines are being roasted on a skewer. Beaches for a fleeting midsummers nights romance...
Sports
Most of the sports in the Axarquía and the eastern part of the Costa del Sol are in direct contact with nature. An excursion into the mountains of the Sierras de Almijara and Tejeda is an unforgettable experience. It is still possible to find places almost untouched by man, the fauna is exceptional with the special attraction of the mountain goat. Some of the villages organise walking excursions for those who want to come into direct contact with the mountains. Wherever you are, you can look down onto the wide strip of the Mediterranean coastline. Many hunters are attracted by the small game and near the coast there are trails where you can horse ride or learn to ride if you dont already know. Añoreta golf, the first golf course in the Axarquía is already operating near Rincón de la Victoria and there are projects for more courses in Nerja and Torrox. In some of the villages there are excellent sports facilities that can also be used by visitors, there is a project for an Olympic sports centre in Torrox. On the almost 200 urbanisations scattered all along the eastern part of the Costa del Sol you will find swimming pools and tennis courts, not forgetting that you can windsurf off all the beaches. The beaches and coves at Nerja and Maro are perfect for scuba diving and fishing.
Gastronomy
The origins of the rich cooking of the Axarquía are in the Moorish culture. The basic ingredient of most of the dishes are produced in the region, the basic elements are the olive oil and the wine. You only have to stop on route through the Axarquía to see the importance of the gastronomy in the region. There are five recommended routes and four refer to the local produce : the sun and avocado pair route, the sun and wine route, the raisin route and through olive oil country. There are popular celebrations organised around local dishes like the day they prepare "migas" for everyone in Torrox or the day of the "ajo blanco" in Almáchar. In Cómpeta they celebrate the night of the wine and in Benamocara they have a day of the avocado pear. The cuisine is as varied as the region and it can be divided into two different parts, one from the inland villages where flavours are combined, the almond is mixed with garlic, thyme and other aromatic herbs to make their rabbit stew and one shouldnt forget the hare casserole, the partridge or the speciality par excellence which is the kid. The "migas", gazpacho, "ajoblanco" and all kinds of stews. On the coast, the basic ingredient is the fresh fish caught off the coast. Sardines are cooked on a skewer over an open fire on the beach. You can try paella, marinated fish or one of the many fish stews. The cooking is one of the ways of expressing the culture of a place and you should make a few stops at some of the many restaurants, bars, taverns, "ventas" or beach restaurants to sample the local delicacies. In Macharaviaya and Iznate "Maimones" soup and gazpachuelo ; in Vélez-Málaga and Almachar "ajo blanco" soup and the bitter orange "cachoreñas" soup ; a cabbage stew and "migas" in Benamocarra ; kid in sauce and almond and oil tarts in Algarrobo ; pork crackling from Sayalonga ; liver pastoral style and fennel stew from Competa, all accompanied by the excellent local wine. "migas" and rabbit casserole in Torrox ; sweet potatoes with honey in Frigiliana ; fennel with rice in Archez, gaspacho with broad beans from El Borge ; small cakes from Alfarnatejo and Riogordo and doughnuts from Alfarnate. But please dont take our word for it - try it yourself - and enjoy!
