Whitewashed houses, historical monuments, natural sites and places of marked cultural interest put the icing on a landscape of sun and color.

From the six natural sites that cross Malaga to its lively and warm Mediterranean Sea, this province presents the image of small white specks scattered among its immense beauty of green and earthy tones: postcards extolling the rural and authentic beauty of a good handful of villages that have managed to maintain their charm.

This Easter, get a gift shoulder bag with your subscription to Viajes NG for only 5€ per month Only 100 units! Learn More
Cobbled streets, walls that shine with the sun, balconies full of flowers, historical monuments and many routes to enter an amazing nature, all this is what these villages of Malaga have to offer where to get lost to know a beautiful part of Andalusia.

TO READ MORE

The last giants of the Sierra de Grazalema

From Malaga to Caminito del Rey in 17 natural and cultural adventures

All you need to know before visiting the Caminito del Rey

The best chiringuitos in Malaga to eat the summer

A cosmopolitan stew and other restaurants in Malaga where tapas

Nerja
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NERJA
This town on the Costa del Sol has among its inhabitants a third of foreign population, and it is no wonder, attracted by its good climate, the sea and the atmosphere of this Andalusian corner. Of fishing and agricultural tradition, Nerja not only has the nostalgic Blue Summer Park and the Chanquete Boat, but also has other areas overlooking the sea, such as its famous Balcony of Europe, which offers views of the sands and cliffs that fall on the Mediterranean.

READ MORE: Nerja beaches for “the most beautiful summer of our lives”

Strolling among its small white buildings and getting lost among balconies full of flowers and color leads to know places like the Church of El Salvador and the City Hall, under which you can walk. Other points of interest are the Cave of Nerja, Historic Artistic Monument of the city, the nearby Archaeological Zone of the Lighthouse of Torrox or the river Chillar, with perfect routes for nature lovers.

Antequera

 

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ANTEQUERA
The geographical location of Antequera, at the crossroads between Seville, Cordoba, Malaga and Granada, makes it recognized as the heart of Andalusia. Inhabited since the Palaeolithic, the numerous remains that surround it – the Dolmen Ensemble of Menga, Viera, Romeral and El Alcaide – make a visit to this town a trip to the past.

The Alcazaba, of Cultural Interest, presides over the town, bathed under it in a sea of white houses. The first columnar church in Andalusia, the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor, also stands among other points of interest, such as the Convent of Belén, with its famous sweets, and many other religious buildings of more than ten that are distributed throughout Antequera.

El Acebuchal
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EL ACEBUCHAL
Overlooking a road in the Natural Park of the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama is the village of El Acebuchal, just eight km from Frigiliana. Access may not be as easy as the surrounding villages, but the views from there make it a popular spot for cyclists and walkers.

After being completely deposed in 1949, El Acebuchal was abandoned for 50 years, until a couple whose parents lived there decided to return and give life back to the place. Stories written on tiles, quiet streets with neighbors willing to greet, swimming pools, accommodations and even routes make this small stronghold of houses a hidden paradise in the mountains.

 

Casabermeja
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CASABERMEJA
From the mountains of Malaga to the south of the mountains of Torcal and Cabras extends Casabermeja, a perfect village for hiking lovers for its number of routes and natural sites. Despite being small, this town has four declared sites of Cultural Interest: the Parish Church of Nuestra Señora del Socorro, the Cemetery of San Sebastián, the Peñas de Cabrera Painting Ensemble and the Zambra Tower.

PHOTO: ISTOCK
RONDA
Ronda treasures the mystique of the times when romantic travellers came to be captivated by the powerful views provided by the New Bridge. The route of Moorish heritage and the set of white houses with coats of arms and refreshing courtyards that swirl in the historic center finish off the spell of infatuation that bewitches current travelers.

 

 

FRIGILIANA

 

Frigiliana is one of the most beautiful villages in La Axarquía. It has the church of San Antonio, whose bell tower is the minaret of a previous mosque. The Barribarto, its ancient nucleus, invites you to stroll through whitewashed streets adorned with flower pots, while you discover staircases, passages and hidden courtyards. The village clings to a hill where the remains of a castle erected in the 9th century are confused. After touring the slopes, you can compensate for the walk in some inn in the center or the new neighborhood, which continues to grow right next door.

They serve stews of Moorish essence such as choto (kid) with almond sauce and desserts flavored with honey that they make in the village and are a good souvenir to take home, along with crafts of esparto and mud. Frigiliana is a stage of the Route of the White Villages, which can be followed along the coast with isolated enclaves from the interior such as Cómpeta, cradle of Axarqueño wine.

CASARES
The castle of Casares, a fortress built by the Arabs in the 13th century, was created as a defensive bastion of the Nasrid kingdom, and its walls delimited the extension of the town. Today they are one of the few remains that remain standing. The church of La Encarnación, with a Mudejar bell tower, the parish church of San Sebastián and the picturesque hermitage of Veracruz are other attractions of the town.

It is difficult to imagine Casares without its viewpoints. Perched on the top of a hill, at the foot of the Crestillina mountain range, it is hard to believe that this town clinging to the mountain is just 15 km from the Mediterranean. A panoramic stained with lime that enchanted by the layout of their houses like piled sugar cubes, hence Casares was baptized as «a hanging village». The view is completed by reaching the Sierra de Ronda and the Campo de Gibraltar, enclaves that adjoin this Andalusian jewel.

iStock-1288574735
PHOTO: ISTOCK
MILLETS
A bronze sculpture next to the Tourist Office is the protagonist of the Plaza de la Virgen de la Peña de Mijas. It is a donkey, the symbol of the town. The tenacity and discipline of these animals were the tool thanks to which quarry workers could walk the steep slopes. It is on these slopes that the municipality of Mijas now extends, formed by the beautiful white houses that define the typical image of Mijas.

A white man who …Ten beautiful villages of Malaga to bet everything on white
Whitewashed houses, historical monuments, natural sites and places of marked cultural interest put the icing on a landscape of sun and color.

Photo MC
Mari Carmen Duarte
Member of Viajes National Geogra
phic

Asun Luján
Asun Luján
Journalist Senior Travel Editor National Geographic

From the six natural sites that cross Malaga to its lively and warm Mediterranean Sea, this province presents the image of small white specks scattered among its immense beauty of green and earthy tones: postcards extolling the rural and authentic beauty of a good handful of villages that have managed to maintain their charm.

This Easter, get a gift shoulder bag with your subscription to Viajes NG for only 5€ per month Only 100 units! Learn More
Cobbled streets, walls that shine with the sun, balconies full of flowers, historical monuments and many routes to enter an amazing nature, all this is what these villages of Malaga have to offer where to get lost to know a beautiful part of Andalusia.

TO READ MORE

The last giants of the Sierra de Grazalema

From Malaga to Caminito del Rey in 17 natural and cultural adventures

All you need to know before visiting the Caminito del Rey

The best chiringuitos in Malaga to eat the summer

A cosmopolitan stew and other restaurants in Malaga where tapas

Nerja
ISTOCK
NERJA
This town on the Costa del Sol has among its inhabitants a third of foreign population, and it is no wonder, attracted by its good climate, the sea and the atmosphere of this Andalusian corner. Of fishing and agricultural tradition, Nerja not only has the nostalgic Blue Summer Park and the Chanquete Boat, but also has other areas overlooking the sea, such as its famous Balcony of Europe, which offers views of the sands and cliffs that fall on the Mediterranean.

READ MORE: Nerja beaches for “the most beautiful summer of our lives”

Strolling among its small white buildings and getting lost among balconies full of flowers and color leads to know places like the Church of El Salvador and the City Hall, under which you can walk. Other points of interest are the Cave of Nerja, Historic Artistic Monument of the city, the nearby Archaeological Zone of the Lighthouse of Torrox or the river Chillar, with perfect routes for nature lovers.

Antequera
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Valencia
MALAGA, CHOSEN BEST CITY IN THE WORLD TO LIVE… AND IT’S NOT THE ONLY SPANISH!
Spain tops this ranking with four cities positively rated by expats in the top ten.

Read article
ANTEQUERA
The geographical location of Antequera, at the crossroads between Seville, Cordoba, Malaga and Granada, makes it recognized as the heart of Andalusia. Inhabited since the Palaeolithic, the numerous remains that surround it – the Dolmen Ensemble of Menga, Viera, Romeral and El Alcaide – make a visit to this town a trip to the past.

The Alcazaba, of Cultural Interest, presides over the town, bathed under it in a sea of white houses. The first columnar church in Andalusia, the Royal Collegiate Church of Santa María la Mayor, also stands among other points of interest, such as the Convent of Belén, with its famous sweets, and many other religious buildings of more than ten that are distributed throughout Antequera.

El Acebuchal
SHUTTERSTOCK
EL ACEBUCHAL
Overlooking a road in the Natural Park of the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama is the village of El Acebuchal, just eight km from Frigiliana. Access may not be as easy as the surrounding villages, but the views from there make it a popular spot for cyclists and walkers.

After being completely deposed in 1949, El Acebuchal was abandoned for 50 years, until a couple whose parents lived there decided to return and give life back to the place. Stories written on tiles, quiet streets with neighbors willing to greet, swimming pools, accommodations and even routes make this small stronghold of houses a hidden paradise in the mountains.

Casabermeja
SHUTTERSTOCK
CASABERMEJA
From the mountains of Malaga to the south of the mountains of Torcal and Cabras extends Casabermeja, a perfect village for hiking lovers for its number of routes and natural sites. Despite being small, this town has four declared sites of Cultural Interest: the Parish Church of Nuestra Señora del Socorro, the Cemetery of San Sebastián, the Peñas de Cabrera Painting Ensemble and the Zambra Tower.

READ MORE: From Malaga to Caminito del Rey in 17 natural and cultural adventures

Round
PHOTO: ISTOCK
ROUND
Ronda treasures the mystique of the times when romantic travellers came to be captivated by the powerful views provided by the New Bridge. The route of Moorish heritage and the set of white houses with coats of arms and refreshing courtyards that swirl in the historic center finish off the spell of infatuation that bewitches current travelers.

KEEP TRAVELING

rondaasun
THE ANDALUSIAN CITY THAT ENAMORED HEMINGWAY AND OTHER ROMANTIC TRAVELERS
The exotic charms that captivated poets and artists in the late nineteenth century are more valid than ever in this town in Malaga.

Read article
shutterstock 1553366891
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK
FRIGILIAN
Frigiliana is one of the most beautiful villages in La Axarquía. It has the church of San Antonio, whose bell tower is the minaret of a previous mosque. The Barribarto, its ancient nucleus, invites you to stroll through whitewashed streets adorned with flower pots, while you discover staircases, passages and hidden courtyards. The village clings to a hill where the remains of a castle erected in the 9th century are confused. After touring the slopes, you can compensate for the walk in some inn in the center or the new neighborhood, which continues to grow right next door.

They serve stews of Moorish essence such as choto (kid) with almond sauce and desserts flavored with honey that they make in the village and are a good souvenir to take home, along with crafts of esparto and mud. Frigiliana is a stage of the Route of the White Villages, which can be followed along the coast with isolated enclaves from the interior such as Cómpeta, cradle of Axarqueño wine.

Casares PC
CASARES
The castle of Casares, a fortress built by the Arabs in the 13th century, was created as a defensive bastion of the Nasrid kingdom, and its walls delimited the extension of the town. Today they are one of the few remains that remain standing. The church of La Encarnación, with a Mudejar bell tower, the parish church of San Sebastián and the picturesque hermitage of Veracruz are other attractions of the town.

It is difficult to imagine Casares without its viewpoints. Perched on the top of a hill, at the foot of the Crestillina mountain range, it is hard to believe that this town clinging to the mountain is just 15 km from the Mediterranean. A panoramic stained with lime that enchanted by the layout of their houses like piled sugar cubes, hence Casares was baptized as «a hanging village». The view is completed by reaching the Sierra de Ronda and the Campo de Gibraltar, enclaves that adjoin this Andalusian jewel.

iStock-1288574735
PHOTO: ISTOCK
MILLETS
A bronze sculpture next to the Tourist Office is the protagonist of the Plaza de la Virgen de la Peña de Mijas. It is a donkey, the symbol of the town. The tenacity and discipline of these animals were the tool thanks to which quarry workers could walk the steep slopes. It is on these slopes that the municipality of Mijas now extends, formed by the beautiful white houses that define the typical image of Mijas.

A white man who …

 

MIJAS
A bronze sculpture next to the Tourist Office is the protagonist of the Plaza de la Virgen de la Peña de Mijas. It is a donkey, the symbol of the town. The tenacity and discipline of these animals were the tool thanks to which quarry workers could walk the steep slopes. It is on these slopes that the municipality of Mijas now extends, formed by the beautiful white houses that define the typical image of Mijas.

A white that forms the most classic landscape of the white Andalusian villages, perfectly combined with the blue pots hanging from the walls and the flowers of intense red that emerge from them. For all this, the best plan to discover the municipality is to let yourself be carried away by the inertia of the steps between the labyrinth of pedestrian alleys and stop at one of the locals to try the best of local cuisine: a gazpachuelo or a salmorejo to relieve the heat and a cachorreña or maimones soup to withstand the cold.

 

 

ARCHIDONA
“From the slice they threw themselves and in the air the souls left,” wrote Carvajal and Robles. The poet referred to the legend of the Peña de los enamorados that defines the profile of the sky of Archidona when it is directed the gaze toward the west. A Christian and a Muslim in love were fleeing in order to live their love and when they were almost trapped, they decided to throw themselves down to die together rather than live apart.

The echoes of this romantic story hover over the rooftops of Archidona, whose houses lie on the slopes of the mountain. The octagonal Plaza Ochavada is the landmark in the historic center. The architectural heritage that can be discovered inside includes from the castle fortress with two walls to numerous religious buildings, among which the hermitage of the Virgen de Gracia or the Convent of Santo Domingo.

 

 

Original article National Geographic