PROPERTIES FOR SALE IN AXARQUÍA, FRIGILIANA, COMPETA, NERJA & TORROX

PROPERTY FOR SALE IN AXARQUÍA & VELEZ-MALAGA

Popular locations to buy: Marbella | Benalmadena | Duquesa | Estepona | Fuengirola | Mijas | Sotogrande

The Axarquía region of Malaga is approximately 2,000 metres above sea level and hosts 31 municipalities and is located to the east of Malaga city. Axarquia is a fertile area famed for its fruit and olive production, charming villages and outdoor activities.

Along the coastline, the mountains overlook the Mediterranean sea, the peaceful sunny beaches, and cliffs and hidden coves. Discover the beautiful cities, beach resorts, islands and countryside around the fantastic area of Axarquía.

The La Axarquia area is breathtakingly pretty and has not been spoilt by the interest and influx of foreigners. The main attractions are the area’s dramatic hill and mountain scenery, and its unspoilt, white-washed villages.

Axarquia is also famous for its strong sweet wine that is made from the region’s sun-dried grapes and its sub-tropical climate, where tropical fruits, such as mango and kiwi are grown.

Axarquia has something for everyone. Do you want to immerse yourself in Andalucian culture? Challenge yourself with a cycling mountain climb or hike in the mountains. How about a horse trek?

How about a relax in the sun with great food and wine? – Whatever you’re looking for Axarquia has it for you.

Awarquia It is approximately 36 kilometres inland from Malaga and the capital Vélez Málaga is kilometres north of Torre del Mar and a few kilometres down the valley from Cómpeta there is an exquisite Almohad-style minaret next to the church.  A scenic road winds west through the villages of Salares, Sedella and Canillas de Aceituna eventually linking up with the A 335 north of Velez Malaga which links up with the new highway to Malaga and beyond.

The village of Comares is one of the highest in Andalucía it can be spied for miles around, rising high above the surrounding countryside. Frigiliana is said by many to be one of the prettiest in Andalucia. Nearby Torrox is lesser visited of the two.

Area within Axarquía

Alcaucín, Alfarnate, Alfarnatejo, Algarrobo, Almáchar, Árchez, Arenas, Benamargosa, Benamocarra, El Borge, Canillas de Aceituno, Canillas de Albaida, Colmenar, Comares, Cómpeta, Cútar, Frigiliana, Iznate, Macharaviaya, Moclinejo  , Nerja, Periana, Rincón de la Victoria, Riogordo, Salares, Sayalonga, Sedella, Torrox, Totalán, Vélez-Málaga, Viñuela    

Alcaucín

Alacaucin with no through traffic, this quiet hamlet has unspoiled, traditional charm. Driving around the La Viñuela area of the rural mountain region of La Axarquia in Malaga province offers the delights of villages such as picturesque Alcaucin. Located at the foot of the Sierra de Tejeda mountains, this remote white village offers stunning views of Lake Viñuela with the peaks in the distance.           

Alfarnate

Alfarnate is one of the municipalities of Axarquia that makes up the Ruta del Aceite y Los Montes. The whitewashed town is situated more than 900 meters above sea level and is also surrounded by the green Sierras of Enmedio, Palomera and Jobo. Alfarnate is unusual among the towns in the comarca of Axarquia, in that it doesn’t have many steep streets, although its houses are typically Spanish

Alfarnatejo

The village is very small and Calle Real is the main street that runs through and which widens at one point to form a ‘square’ with a town hall shop and a cafe bar. Alfarnatejo is one of the seven towns that form the so-called Ruta del Aceite y Los Montes, and is also popularly known as “the Southern Pyrenees”.

This is because the peaks in its surrounding areas, such as the Doña Ana, the Alto de Fraile and the Tajo de Gomer, are some of the most breathtaking in the province. It has about 400 residents.                

Algarrobo

The coastal part of the town is more modern and boasts two magnificent beaches joined by a bridge and a seafront promenade. On the Ruta del Sol y del Vino, Algarrobo is divided into two centres, one inland and the other on the coast called Algarrobo Costa.

Almáchar

The banks of the river that runs by Almáchar have vineyards, olive groves, wheat fields and small orchards; at farmhouses, grapes are made into raisins using traditional methods – laying them out to dry in beds. The town is one of several making up the Ruta de la Pasa (Raisin route). Its name comes from the Arabic word “Machar”, which means meadow.

Árchez          

Situated 430 metres above sea level, the town is located at the meeting point of the Sierra Tejeda and the Sierra Almijara. Archez, known as “the Crown Jewel of the 17th Century”, is one of the smallest and prettiest towns in the Axarquia comarca of Malaga.

You can easily see the Arabic heritage and influence in the town centre – it’s one of the five towns of the Ruta Mudejar. What stands out from all the town’s long, winding streets is the Torre Alminar (minaret tower) of the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación. The 16th-century church is a beautiful example of Mudejar architecture and has been declared a national monument.

Arenas          

Arenas, once known as Arenas del Rey in honour of Fernando El Rey Catolico (Ferdinand the Catholic King, husband of Isabella), is the start of the Ruta Mudejar which runs through five towns in La Axarquia. Arenas are located close to the Cerro de Bentomiz (Hill of Bentomiz), between the Sierras de Tejeda and Almajira at a height of just over 400m above sea level.

Like many villages in the Axarquia region, the Arabic origins of Arenas are obvious: steep, narrow winding streets, with cubist white houses built over different levels up the hill, and decorated with colourful flowerpots.

Benamargosa

The village of Benamargosa is in the midst of a sea of citrus and other tropical fruit trees, especially Avocado. The river Benamorgosa gives this land its lush propensity to let these abundant orchards flourish. The bridge over the river is the reason why this village has grown here.  As with other localities of this region of Málaga, its urban appearance reveals its Arab origin in this characteristic layout of narrow and sloping streets.

Benamocarra         

Benamocarra is one of the towns, in the Axarquia comarca, that make up the Ruta del Sol y del Aguacate. From Arab origins, the town centre has uneven, sloping streets with houses that adapt to the terrain.

El Borge

The town of El Borge is situated at the foot of the Cerro de Cutar Mountain, on the border of the Axarquia and Montes de Malaga comarcas, and is known as the “raisin capital” because the town is one of the largest producers of Muscatel raisins.  Whilst walking through El Borge’s narrow, steep streets, as well as enjoying the sights of the typical whitewashed houses, you can admire some of the religious buildings in the area.

Canillas de Aceituno

Driving around the La Viñuela area offers the delights of other nearby villages, such as Canillas de Aceituno, which is higher up and offers breathtaking views of the lake.

Canillas de Albaida

Salares , Árchez , Sedella , Canillas de Albaida , Canillas de Aceituno , Cómpeta , all of their villages at the foot of the impressive Sierras de Tejeda and Almijara, towns all of them Moorish, where the vine was the main crop, and still constitutes a prominent element in its landscape and in its economy.

The network of its streets and the architecture of its whitewashed houses forming picturesque and unforgettable corners give them a unique hallmark to such an extent that they form what is known as the Mudéjar Route. The centre of this village is located on the slopes of the Tejeda and Almijara mountains right on the border between Málaga and Granada provinces.

Colmenar

Between the Axarquía region and Montes de Málaga lies Colmenar, whose main emblem (honey) is even reflected in its name. Located in a land of contrasts, this municipality hides enclaves ideal for climbing, trekking or hiking. At 700 meters above sea level, the village has a population of about 3,500.               

Comares

One of the highest white villages in Andalucía at 739 metres above sea level, Comares can be spied for miles around, rising high above the surrounding countryside and resembling a natural extension of the craggy rock face. First-time visitors may still find the approach baffling in the fact that the village keeps disappearing from view as the windy country roads dip and curve. It has a population of about 1.500.   

Cómpeta

Located seven hundred metres above sea level with stunning views of the surrounding mountains, countryside and Mediterranean, Competa is best known to many for its locally produced wine, available both dry and sweet, as well as being plentiful and cheap. One of the most popular annual fiestas here is the Noche del Vino (Night of the Wine) which features a programme of flamenco, music and dance, plus plenty of free-flowing vino.

The locals reputedly prefer the sweeter wines, while the foreign residents and tourists like the dry ones. This area is particularly popular with Scandinavians, many of who have renovated old farmhouses in the vicinity.               

Cútar

Cútar is a whitewashed village of the Axarquia that has preserved the charm of its architecture of Arab origin. Houses leaning out to narrow and steep streets draw the urban landscape of this town, known for its handicrafts of esparto and wood.

Located on the slope of a hill and surrounded by vineyards and olive trees, Cútar has an environment of great landscape value. In addition, the city enjoys an extraordinary wealth of water resources, which has led to it being known by the nickname “Fuente de Paraiso” (Source of Paradise). The layout of Cútar resembles other towns in the interior of the Axarquia comarca, with its narrow, sloped streets and low, whitewashed houses, as tradition would have it.               

Frigiliana

Frigiliana is an amazingly beautiful whitewashed village in Southern Spain and has been voted the ‘prettiest village in Andalucia’ by the Spanish Tourist Board. Frigiliana is distinctively Moorish in appearance, with the old quarter made up of narrow, winding, cobblestone streets full of small shops, tapas bars and restaurants well worth exploring.

Just about 70 km away from Malaga and 5 km from Nerja, Frigiliana is located on the slopes of Sierra Almijara, offering one of the most incredibly beautiful views of the Costa del Sol.               

Stretching on the hilltops overlooking Nerja by the coast, Frigiliana is a picture-perfect Andalusian village that has still maintained a lot of the original charm despite being overrun by tourists each year. Frigiliana is best explored on foot. This is how you discover the best views and the most beautiful streets.

However, if you struggle with walking or climbing stairs, don’t worry. Why not try:

• The touristic train (Mini road train)- Get a 30 tour of Frigiliana
• Tuk-tuks which can take you around the narrow streets

Iznate           

Iznate visitors can walk along the steep, narrow, winding streets, typical of a Moorish urban settlement. Houses have carefully whitewashed facades adorned with flowers and my favourite bougainvillaea. If you want a panoramic view of the whole comarca, the Loma del Barco is the highest point of Iznarte and is considered one of the best natural viewpoints of the area.

Macharaviaya        

Macharaviaya or “little Madrid” is a small whitewashed mountain village surrounded by lush green trees and beautiful panoramic views. Famous for the Galvez family, who set up the Royal Playing Card Factory and an agricultural bank in Macharaviaya.

Moclinejo

The town of Moclinejo is set on a peak of the Piedras Blancas hills, between olive groves, almond groves and vineyards. The town is also the starting point of the Raisin Route.

The town has strong Muslim origins, although the meaning of its name is not clear. It may have come about when inhabitants from Moclín, a town in Granada, moved to Moclinejo. The typical characteristics of an Arabic town are visible, with narrow, winding streets complemented by low whitewashed houses.        

Nerja

Nerja is a picturesque coastal resort town some 50 kilometres east of Málaga city connected by the A-7 coastal highway.  The old quarter of the town is still virtually unchanged with narrow, winding streets, whitewashed houses with Juliet balconies with climbing bougainvillaea, on which the birds can sometimes be heard singing.

There are plenty of restaurants,  cafes and bars to choose from, and lots of lovely plazas where you can sit and watch the world go by. Why not hire a horse-drawn carriage and explore the town’s most interesting streets and attractions?

It marks the eastern limit of Málagas, Costa del Sol. Once a sleepy fishing village, the town now has a resident population of over 25,000. Flanked by a dramatic mountain range, Sierra Almijara, to the east, the town has, fortunately, managed to avoid being blighted by the concrete high-rise scenario which has been the inevitable result of the tourist boom in some of the coastal resorts.

The old quarter of the town is still virtually unchanged with narrow, winding streets, whitewashed houses with wrought iron terraces overflowing with geraniums, on which a canary can sometimes be heard singing…

In the heart of Nerja is the spectacular Balcón de Europa the “Balcony of Europe”, a magnificent promenade along the edge of a towering cliff, once the site of the great Moorish castle, with sweeping panoramic views of the Mediterranean and the small coves and beaches below, against an awesome backdrop of hazy blue mountains.               

Periana         

To the north of the lake is the village of Periana, on the river Guaro which provides the reservoir with its water.  The lush land and excellent climate provide perfect conditions for the lemon and orange.

groves and cultivation of other fruit trees, enhancing the beauty of the landscape even further.

Rincón de la Victoria  

Rincon de la Victoria is sometimes described by locals as a “dormitory town”. Situated just 12km east of Malaga, it makes a convenient base for those who work in the city but prefer sea breezes and beaches and the relative tranquillity of an overgrown fishing village.

It is also a popular place for the Spanish to “Veranear” (spend the summer months) and many families have their second home here. The municipality of Rincon includes the neighbouring fishing village of La Cala and the pretty inland village of Benagalbon.

Riogordo

Riogordo is a very pretty village in Axarquía, near Lake Viñuela with the dramatic mountain backdrop of the Sierra del Rey and Alto de Gomer. This is an area of stunning natural beauty. Riogordo is best reached from Malaga via the main roads, Casabermeja (A-45) and Colmenar (A-356). Alternatively, if you have plenty of time, take the direct route, the old Malaga to Granada A-7000 road through the ‘Montes de Malaga’.

Salares          

Salares is part of the Ruta Mudejar in the Axarquia comarca; it is situated on the edge of the Tejeda National Park. It is one of many towns in the Axarquia which shows its Arabic heritage clearly, with steep, narrow streets; in some places, steps have been added to replace dangerously uneven surfaces. Other Arabic features are the whitewashed house fronts, often decorated with tiles representing the different mysteries of the cross.

Sayalonga

Sayalonga is part of the Axarquia comarca and is situated near the natural parks of the Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama. It is also part of the Ruta del Sol y Del Vino, a route that passes through various towns of the comarca. As in the other white hill towns of the Axarquia, you’ll notice Arabic influence here.

Sedella          

Sedella is a town on the beautiful Ruta Mudejar in the Axarquia comarca. It’s positioned 700m above sea level and was possibly once fortified with a large area of farmland at the foot of the town known as Sedelia or Xedelia. Some believe that its name derives from the Latin phrase “Sedilia” which means rural site or possessions.

Others say that it comes from the word “Sedille” but, according to the traditional theory, the name came about during the Christian re-conquest era. It is said that the Catholic Queen, Isabel, said the phrase “Se de Ella”, after being told of a battle that took place between Christians and Muslims on the outskirts of the town, at a place called Arroyo de la Matanza.

Torrox

The whitewashed town of Torrox is situated in the Andalusian province of Malaga in the region known as Axarquia. It forms one of four urban zones that together make up the area of Torrox, Torrox Costa, El Morche, El Peñoncillo and Torrox Pueblo.

Torrox lies on the scenic Route of Sun and Wine, which follows a route of towns and villages in the Axarquia in a landscape of sun and vineyards. Torrox is located just 5 kilometres inland and is a popular tourist destination during the summer for those looking to stay in more traditional surroundings yet be close to the attractions on the coast.

Torrox has an average temperature of 18ºC, is the land of eternal spring and has become the jewel in the crown of the Costa del Sol by managing to always be warm. This fortunate climate is due to the Valley of the River Torrox, whose river limits temperature extremes as it opens up to the sea, whilst at the same time the surrounding mountains keep out strong winds.

With inland and coastal beauty spots only 5 kilometres apart, Torrox has a subtropical landscape where its mountains merge into its seven blue flag beaches. Torrox Costa is a popular coastal strip, particularly with holidaymakers who flock here during the summer, with a choice of hotels and accommodations available.

Totalán         

Totalan is located in the middle of a valley, on a small hill, on the eastern border of the Axarquia comarca, very close to the mountains of Malaga. Totalán is situated in a mountainous area close to the sea, with deep valleys and streams flowing through them, steep slopes and cliffs. We recommend a visit to the area of La Toma on the Totalán stream, which is accessed by the Fuente de la Teja road.

Vélez-Málaga          

As the capital of the Axarquia, it is the largest town in the region and the most significant in terms of history, culture and wealth. Most of its land lies in the valley of the river of the same name and is devoted to the cultivation of fruit, vegetables, subtropical crops, sugar cane, etc.

Though its origins date back much further, the town’s riches and strategic value came to the fore in the Arabic era. The development has been limited to an area known as the Villa the old village, which still retains the Puerta Real and the Puerta de Antequera. 

There are also numerous sights and attractions including the Church of Santa Maria la Mayor, the Municipal Palace, the Church of San Juan Bautista, the Convent of San Francisco and so on. The old fortress is preserved in good condition the Torre del Homenaje and the Paño de la Muralla.

The bustling market town of Vélez-Málaga lies 5 km inland from Torre del Mar, surrounded by subtropical vegetation. Vélez-Málaga is the perfect combination of culture in the inland villages of Axarquía and vibrancy in the coastal enclaves in the province of Malaga. Its rich architectural heritage combined with 25 kilometres of coastline make this village a perfect destination all year round.

A stroll through the old quarter of Vélez-Málaga, declared a Site of Historic and Artistic Interest, is a trip back in time. Impressive architectural treasures and longstanding traditions have survived.

Viñuela         

Lake Viñuela is set in the stunning landscape of the Axarquia in Malaga province. Less than an hour’s drive from Malaga International Airport, La Viñuela is a very popular destination for those who hope to enjoy the unspoiled beauty of Andalusia. It has also been chosen by many Spanish and foreigners alike to become their home, enjoying life in its beautiful surroundings.

This idyllic spot attracts writers, artists, photographers, and those who just take pleasure in the countryside in one of the best year-round climates in Europe.