Muslim Málaga

From the capital city to whitewashed villages; inland history to the Axarquía region, discover the legacy left by Islamic culture in the province

Join us on a tour that looks at Málaga province through the prism of Islamic culture, starting with its capital, Málaga. The city walls, the Alcazaba [Islamic citadel], Gibralfaro Castle and the ancient Arabic neighbourhood of La Coracha between the castle and the Alcazaba, the ancient city gate of Atarazanas… There are many remains of the al-Andalus era to visit in Málaga, after which you can explore the tastes of that culture, with many places to try Arab-style delicacies.

Just 30 kilometres from the capital, you’ll find one of the towns that has taken great care of its Muslim-era architecture and urban design. Mijas is a small town nestled against a mountain range of the same name. After the ancient Turdetanis, the Phonecians and the Greeks had all passed through, the town was conquered by the Muslims in 711. The Arab city wall, the remains of which today house the sanctuary of the Peña Virgin [Virgen de la Peña], is just one of the imprints left by the Islamic culture in Mijas. Famous locally for its donkey taxis, there is so much more to discover in Mijas.

LThere are yet more hidden gems in Málaga province which provide a window onto the way of life of the Islamic era. Travel to the west to find the beautiful village of Casares, with its white-washed houses. Built upon two hills and the sheltered valley in between, the Muslim-era urban design is in itself an attraction that draws tourists to explore its winding streets. This unique beauty contributed to Casares’ classification as a Spanish site of historic and artistic importance in 1978. The town’s architectural highlights include its fortress, along with the foundations and Mudejar tower of the Encarnación Church [Iglesia de la Encarnación]. And if that’s left you with an appetite, round off your visit with an artisan cheese-making workshop, for a taste of the local gastronomic culture.

In 713, the town of Ronda was handed over to a Berber chief and named Izn-Rand Onda (the city of the Castle), the root of this famous town’s name today. It is home to some of the most important Arab baths in the Iberian Peninsula. They are thought to be from the thirteenth to fourteenth centuries and were built to the Roman design, with three zones of cold, warm and hot baths. They are so well-preserved that the furnace area is still standing, where the water was heated. The building is enclosed by a wall of blind arches, which form an aqueduct; towards the back of the building there is a tower with the housing for a noria [a waterwheel of Middle Eastern origin]. You could finish your trip by learning about Spain’s more recent heritage, visiting the many attractions focused on the culture surrounding the Spanish bull [toro bravo].

Teba is another key site in Muslim-era Málaga province. It is home to archaeological sites and buildings, such as the Nina Alta site and Estrella Castle [Castillo de la Estrella] which, together with Bentomiz Castle in the region of Axarquía, is the largest in the province. This site stretches over 25,000 square metres of land, including the remains of two walled enclosures. The castle was adapted to the undulating hills, it had a barbican and 18 towers, all of which were square, except for a circular one in the northeast and an octagonal albarrana tower in the north [a defensive tower apart from the main walls that is connected by a bridge or arcade]. The walls date back to the Almohad era (between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries), although the Homenaje Tower [Torre del Homenaje] and the remains of the primitive church are from the Christian era.

Antequera is the next stop on this journey back to al-Andalus in the province of Málaga. Medina Antakira, as Antequera was then known, was an important frontier town. To defend the town from the Catholic troops, the Alcazaba of Antequera was build, its sturdy Torre del Homenaje being the most important of its towers. There is much Islamic history to explore in Antequera, despite the fact that its magnificent Baroque churches are more well-known

Close to Antequera, on the other side of Peña de los Enamorados [Lover’s Rock], is Archidona, called Arsiduna in the Islamic period, which was conquered by the Muslims between 711 and 713. Part of the city walls are still preserved, halfway up the Cerro de Gracia hill, at the top of which the remains of the castle still stand, together with an aljibe [a Muslim-era underground water chamber]. But the most important site is the Sanctuary of the Gracia Virgin [Santuario de la Virgen de Gracia], whose builders preserved many features of the mosque upon which it was constructed, including the qibla wall [which indicates the direction of Mecca], the columns and the minaret. This is a true historical wonder, second to none in Málaga province.

Our voyage through Muslim Málaga ends in the Axarquía region.Vélez-Málaga, or Ballis, was a prosperous city in the east of the province, with an opulent, imposing Alcazaba and the Islamic-era neighbourhoods of San Francisco and La Villa. Wander the streets of San Francisco neighbourhood to find the remains of a minaret.