Axarquia

Designated a natural park in 1999, this large and rugged mountainous region of 40,663ha stretches across the provincial border of Granada and Malaga. Its western part in Malaga province is known as the Axarquía and is famous for its attractive villages dating from Moorish times. It is also superb hiking country and its numerous steep mountainsides make it ideal for climbers.

Barely a few kilometres north of Malaga city, the Montes de Malaga Natural Park is a region of dense pine forest. It covers a gently rolling area of 4,996ha crossed by small valleys and water courses, fast flowing in winter, and waterfalls. Due to its proximity to Malaga, it is a popular weekend destination for malagueños.

La Axarquia area is still breathtakingly beautiful and has not been spoilt by the interest and influx of foreigners. The main attractions are the area's dramatic hill and mountain scenery, its unspoilt, white washed villages and the strong sweet wine that is made from sun dried grapes.

La Axarquia has much to offer in the way of rural tourism. The striking landscapes, vast expanses of unspoilt mountains, forests and rivers make for a wonderful exploratory visit. For families, this can be an ideal getaway, and a more active alternative to a beach holiday.

As a rural area the hotels in the villages are limited. Most of the hotels can be found in Nerja and on the coast. there is also a good selection of hotels in Velez-Malaga the main town.

It's hard to believe that the wild beauty of the La Axarquía is just half an hour from the Caleta de Vélez (or Málaga's Costa Oriental) - an uninspired coastal strip of down-trodden buildings and second-rate hotels - especially when compared to the better-known pueblos blancos to the west, with their glitzy Costa del Sol gateway of Marbella.

The natural parks of La Axarquia include Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Almara, Montes de Malaga Natural Park. Another natural bueaty spot is Lake Viñuela.

It's hard to believe that the wild beauty of the La Axarquía is just half an hour from the coast of Málaga's eastern Costa del Sol. These villages are as interesting as the better-known white villages to the west and inland from the more glitzy western Costa del Sol including the gateway of Marbella. Nerja, to be fair, is the jewel in the crown of this eastern stretch Costa del Sol coastline. It has maintained a certain old-fashioned charm with its magnificent palm-lined Balcón de Europa, justly famed as one of the most beautiful promenades on the Coast.

Driving around 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.

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.

Totalán is part of the Ruta de la Pasa (Raisin route). This small but beautiful town is surrounded by vineyards, almond groves and paseros (raisin drying areas). The town has an Arabic heritage, with its narrow, steep, winding streets and whitewashed houses.

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.

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).

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 of the province. It has about 400 residents.

The village of Benamargosa, which 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.

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

Until around two decades ago the Axarquía region of Andalucía was little known. Then, northern European expatriates discovered the pretty hilltop village of Cómpeta, started buying up some of the run-down 'fincas' and farmhouses in the area and putting it on the map.

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 is 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.

The name Almargen, in Arabic, translates as "Los Dos Prados" ("the two fields"). It's a small town and is the perfect place for people who enjoy tranquillity and outdoor tourism. For those who love fresh air and open air activities, hiking can be found in the Sierra de Almargen, in an area known as Rio Salada (salty river) and in the Manantial de Casas Blancas ("the source for white houses").

Riogordo is a very pretty village in La 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. The village was named after the river La Cueva that runs through it - the waters were "fat" with (full of) minerals. The population is about 3,000.

The hometown of the famous composer Eduardo Ocon, Benamocarra is one of towns, in the Axarquia comarca, that make up the Ruta del Sol y del Aguacate.