Salares best things to see and do
A village where time has stood still
Visit Salares, an authentic white village in Axarquia in Andalucia
In this article you will find the essential information to visit Salares:
- A few words about Salares
- The origins of Salares
- What to see in Salares?
- What to do in Salares
- Activities
- Ideas for guided tours
- Ferias and fiestas
- Where is Salares?
- Booking accommodation
- Some useful links
- Experiences to discover in the province of Málaga
A few words about Salares
Salares is located in Axarquia in the province of Málaga.
It is one of the most beautiful and authentic white villages in the region.
The origins of Salares
Salares has an important Arab past from the Al Andalus period, but it was the Romans who gave it its name.
After the Phoenicians, Phoceans and Carthaginians, the Romans settled here to exploit a salt mine. According to the latest studies, the village was then called Salaria Bastitanorum.
What to see in Salares
Salares is probably my favourite village for its authenticity.
It has a real charm inherited from its past. Below is a picture just next to the Casa Torreon.
Salares is a small village whose every street is worth visiting.
Every time I go to this village, I hope to get lost….
Some old houses which have lost their layers of lime and white paint now reveal the structure and materials used to build them.
In the main square of the village you can see a magnificent hundred-year-old olive tree:
You can discover a village proud of its heritage from the Al-Andalus period:
In one street, you will pass three citrus trees: a lemon tree, a grapefruit tree
…and a citrus medica digitata. This citrus tree offers a peculiar and rather curious fruit: Buddha’s hands (see below)
For the record: unlike lemons, it is not used for its juice. It is used in the kitchen by scraping the “fingers” of the Buddha’s hand over the dishes before serving them.
Finally, you will also pass through alleys full of flowers.
The Roman bridge:
From the Romans, a bridge remains, which has been restored during certain periods over the last 1800 years!
It is worth noting that the Arabs had already restored it with its red brick arch, typical of the Mudejar style.
There is a very nice hiking trail from the Roman bridge to Canillas de Aceituno, which is of medium difficulty. The hike is in the sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama.
The church of Santa Ana de Salares
In the photo of the church of Santa Ana, you can see its bell tower, which was once a minaret. It was built over a former mosque.
It is always curious to think that the call to prayer has been made from the same place for centuries, whether by the muezzin then or by the bells now.
The façade of the alminar was built in red brick in the 13th and 14th centuries. It is recognised as one of the most beautiful of the Almohad art of the time.
You can also make out some inlaid azulejos in places.
What to see around Salares?
There are several beautiful, authentic white villages in the area, such as Sedella, Canillas de Albaida or Archez.
They are all worth a visit. However, if you had to choose just one in the area, then the beautiful village of Competa is not to be missed.
What to do in Salares?
Activities in the area
There are many interesting activities to discover in the area:
- horse riding, on the beach or in the mountains
- diving in Nerja and Torrox
- guided tours (villages of Axarquia, Cordoba, Alhambra,…)
- via ferrata of Zafarraya
- snorkeling
- hiking in Nerja with a guide
- canyoning (in the rio Verde,…)
- astrotourism
- visit of caves
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 the villages of Axarquia. These tours leave from Nerja, Torrox and Torre del Mar.
For example, Cipriano organises the Mudejar White Villages Route. This one-day tour visits several authentic white villages (including Salares), and discovers the heritage of the Almohads and Mudejars. It’s wonderful!
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.
Here you can find all the guided tours in Axarquia from Torrox, Nerja and Torre del Mar.
The fiestas
Every year, on the third weekend of September, the Arab Andalusian Festival takes place. It commemorates the past of this village under Al Andalus.
Other ferias and fiestas in the village:
- Fiesta de San Antón, In January
- Salares Fair, in July
Where is Salares ?
Book accommodation in Salares and surroundings
Enter the desired dates to check availability directly.
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
If you are in the area for a few days, here is a selection of great activities:
Find more ideas for visits to authentic Andalucia: see the blog pages on Andalucia.
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