What to see in Sedella in Spain a lovely white village
A village at the foot of the Maroma
Visit Sedella, an authentic white Mudejar village
In this article you will find the essential information for visiting the best of Sedella :
- A few words about Sedella
- the origins of the village
- What to see in Sedella
- What to do in Sedella
- Where is Sedella?
- Booking accommodation
- Some useful links
- Experiences to discover in the province of Málaga
A few words about Sedella
Sedella is located in Axarquia in the province of Málaga. This white village has preserved all its authenticity.
Sedella is a white mountain village located in the Sierra de Almijara and Tejeda. It is also a privileged place for hikers and nature lovers.
The origin of the name of the village
The exact origin of Sedella is not known. However, it is known for certain that the village was also called “Villa Castillo”. This castle served as the seat of the lords of the region, the last of whom was Don Diego Fernández de Córdoba.
The name of the village has changed several times:
- the name comes from the Latin “sedilla” which means “rural estates” during the Roman period.
- In the 7th century, during the reign of the Visigoth king Wamba, the village was attached to the bishopric of Málaga under the name of Sedilla.
- Later, during the Al-Andalus period, the Arabs gave it the name of Xedalia. After the Reconquest, the village took the name of Sedella.
A legend tells us that in ancient texts, Isabel the Catholic, when informed of the victory of her troops over the Muslims, replied “sé de ella” (“I know about it”), which gave the village the name Sedella. The town’s coat of arms is based on this legend:
The revolt of Alpujarra
In 1569, as in many villages in La Axarquía, there was a revolt by the Moriscos (Muslims who had largely converted to Catholicism).
This revolt had started a year earlier in the Alpujarra. They gathered on the rock of Frigiliana (about 40 km from Sedella). They were defeated in 1569 by the troops of Alvaro de Zuarzo. A severe repression followed with the definitive expulsion of the Moriscos from this territory.
What to see in Sedella?
The casa Torreon
This Mudejar-style house was built in the 16th century and belonged to Diego Fernández de Cordoba (a man in the service of the Crown of Castile).
The view of the Maroma
This is the highest peak in the province of Malaga. It reaches an altitude of 2065 metres.
The church of San Andres Apostol
The bell tower of the church now replaces the old minaret from the Al-Andalus period.
The Roman bridge in Sedella
Sedella has a bridge with centuries of history. It is probably a medieval bridge. However, all the villagers call it the Roman bridge. It is very pretty and is located next to the centre of the village.
The narrow streets in the village
As in many villages, you will come across houses with many flower pots.
From the village you can see the surrounding mountains and the sea.
Walking through the narrow streets of the village is a real pleasure. These alleys are still typical of the Al-Andalus period.
After this walk, it is ideal to stop for a coffee in the church square.
Taste the local gastronomy
Among the local dishes of the village to be discovered, there are :
- Fennel soup (a dish of Arabic origin),
- Young goat in wine or sautéed with garlic
- Parpuchas (cod omelette with sugar cane honey)
The village is surrounded by several vineyards, some of which are cultivated on the slopes of the Maroma, at an altitude of 800 metres. Some of the wines from this village are very famous. One of them has even been rated the best wine of Andalusia by Robert Parker with a score of 94/100.
This wine is made partly with a rare grape variety endemic to Axarquia: Romé (to be discovered!).
The El Saltillo hike
This hike takes you over the third longest hanging bridge in Spain. It is, moreover, at a height of more than 50 metres above the river that runs beneath it!
The El Saltillo hike from the village of Sedella to Canillas de Aceituno is quite exceptional. This hike offers beautiful views of the sea and the Maroma.
What to do in Sedella?
Activities
In the surrounding area, 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 (El Saltillo with the hanging bridge,…)
- canyoning in Andalucia
- snorkeling
- visit of caves
- astrotourism experience in Andalucia
Use the following link to access all the activities to do. during your holidays. 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 Sedella and the surrounding area.
As example : Frigiliana and El Acebuchal Tour
Cipriano organizes the visit of Frigiliana and El Acebuchal, the famous hamlet forgotten for 50 years!
You can find the details of the day and the possibility of booking online, in the following link: Frigiliana and El Acebuchal Tour from Nerja.
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 (Olive Oil Tour, Wine Tour, White Villages Tour,…)
Here you can find all the guided tours in Axarquia from Torrox, Nerja and Torre del Mar.
The fiestas
- Feria de Sedella, in August. Poster of the 2024 Fair :
- Feria de San Anton, in January,
- on this day many animals are blessed!
Where is Sedella?
Book accommodation
Some useful links (car hire, other 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
Visit Cadiz, a city with an incredible past and great beauty, on the Costa del la Luz.
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 Andalusia: see the blog pages on Andalucia.
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