Alfarnate best things to see and do
The Pyrenees of Costa del Sol
Visit the village of Alfarnate and its surroundings
In this article you will find the essential information to see the best in Alfarnate :
- A few words about Alfarnate
- What to see in Alfarnate
- What to do in and around Alfarnate
- activities
- guided tours
- fiestas
- Where is Alfarnate?
- Book accommodation in Alfarnate
- Some useful links
- Experiences to discover in the province of Málaga
A few words about Alfarnate
Alfarnate is located in Axarquia in the province of Málaga.
The speciality of the village is the cultivation of cherries. It is the only village in the whole province of Malaga that grows cherries.
It is also a small white village surrounded by beautiful scenery. Together with the neighbouring village of Alfarnatejo, it is known as the “Pyrenees of the Costa del Sol”.
It is surrounded by mountains (the Sierras Enmedio, Palomera and Jobo) and offers breathtaking views.
The origins of the village
The names Alfarnate and Alfarnatejo have a common origin. Both villages were called Los Alfarnates, and their name dates back to the time of Al-Andalus and comes from the Arabic word al-farnat which means: flour mill.
What to see in Alfarnate
The walk through Alfarnate is very pleasant and easy as the village is relatively flat.
The Aljofar alley
This is probably the most romantic and best known alley in the village. This is the beginning of the alley, not far from the church.
The alley seen from the other direction.
Nra Sra del Pilar Square
This is a fairly central square in the village, often the meeting place for fiestas and ferias.
The hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Monsalud
The people of Alfarnate show great devotion to Nuestra Señora de Monsalud. She can be seen in procession twice a year, particularly during the fabulous Christians and Moors festival in September.
In front of the hermitage you can see one of the most beautiful “empedrado” floors in Andalucia, in my personal opinion:
Lunch at the Alfarnate Venta
VOn the outskirts of the village you will find the oldest venta in Andalusia. It dates back to the 13th century and is located on the old road of the Nasrid kingdom of Granada, which linked Malaga to Granada.
This venta was once a famous bandit’s den…. The sign at the entrance to the venta is there to remind us of this ….
This venta, decorated in the style of a museum, is an opportunity to eat local dishes in a very unique place! To find out more, here is the link to the Venta de Alfarnate.
It is also an opportunity to try two culinary specialities:
- huevos a lo bestia (a typical mountain dish from the province of Malaga)
- the famous cakes, the roscos!
The surroundings of the village
All around Alfarnate there are fields of olive trees, cherry trees and also wheat! In the middle of these fields, it is not rare to see wells.
Alfarnate is a privileged place for hiking. It is an ideal place, 40 minutes from the sea, to enjoy the peace and quiet of the mountains and the countryside.
In March, the walks are an opportunity to see the fields of cherry blossom.
This is always a beautiful sight in nature, after the almond trees in bloom in January and February.
At the end of June, the famous cherry festival is held in the village at harvest time.
And to finish on the enchantment of this village, Alfarnate :
Visit the nearby village of Alfarnatejo
Alfarnatejo is 5km away and is also worth a visit. It offers the same beautiful scenery.
Just a little further away
Alfarnate is located on the border between the province of Malaga and the province of Granada, and is right next to the village of Villanueva del Trabuco where you can see the famous “fuente de los 100 caños”.
This fountain is the starting point of the River Guadalhorce, the largest river in the province of Málaga, which flows through Antequera and into the Mediterranean Sea at Málaga.
What to do in Alfarnate
Activities
Alfarnate and the surrounding area are renowned for being very good places for astrotourism. There is very little human activity in the area and therefore very little light pollution.
The most spectacular period is from the 10th to the 15th of August. It is during this period that the perseids (shooting stars) are the most numerous.
Here is a link for amateurs, and those who would like to discover astrotourism in Andalucia. It’s a great experience to do!
In the surroundings, it is possible to find very nice activities:
- horse riding, on the beach or in the mountains
- diving in Nerja and Torrox
- guided tours (villages of Axarquia, Cordoba, Alhambra,…)
- via ferrata (Caminito del Rey,…)
- hiking (rio Chillar, El Saltillo with the hanging bridge,…)
- canyoning in Andalucia
- snorkeling
- visit the Cave of Nerja
Use the following link to access all the activities to do. This link provides you with all the details of each activity.
Guided tours
A very good local guide, Cipriano, offers thematic and seasonal guided tours of Alfarnate and its surroundings.
For example, Cipriano organises an excursion that passes through the villages of Alfarnatejo and Alfarnate. This is the Olive Oil Route. This day trip allows you to discover all the secrets of olive oil production.
The guided tours are always done in small groups (2 to 8 people max.) to discover the authentic Axarquia.
In the following link you will find all the details and prices of the tours he offers.
The themes of the tours are: the white villages of Axarquia, the wine route, the raisin route, ….
Here are all the guided tours from Torrox, Nerja and Torre del Mar.
The fiestas
There are several very good fiestas in Alfarnate. The Fiesta de Moros y Cristianos – la Embajada – in September is a festival not to be missed. It commemorates the medieval history of the village, and features a unique procession!
Below is a link to everything you need to know about this Fiesta.
- Fiesta de Moros y Cristianos, around September 12
- La Candelaria, February 2
- Romería de San Marcos, April 25
- Cherry blossom Festival, April :
- Romería de San isidro, May 15
- Feria de San Antonio, in June
- Cherry Festival, the 3rd Saturday in June (same weekend as San Antonio fair)
Where is Alfarnate?
Book accommodation
Please enter the desired dates to check availability.
Booking.com
Some useful links (car hire, ideas for visits)
Easy and economical bookings
If you are in Andalucia as part of a tour with several major cities to visit, here are some links that may be of interest:
Seville
Seville, the capital of Andalucia, is a city full of treasures to discover and monuments to visit.
Here you will find everything you can see in Seville in 3 days. And for those who will stay longer you will also find information on secret Seville and the Santa Cruz and Triana districts.
Cadiz
Malaga
When you reach the Costa del Sol you will find in this link all must-sees in Malaga :
Granada
Discover what to see in Granada, and visit the Albaicin and Sacromonte districts:
Cordoba
And of course, visit Cordoba, the caliphate city, and the Juderia district
Experiences to discover in the province of Malaga
Find more ideas for visits to authentic Andalucia: see the blog pages on Andalucia.
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