A small village located in the heart of the Axarquía mountains among olives, almonds and vines about 12 kilometers from Vélez Málaga and approximately 50 kilometers from Málaga.
Of Arab origin, the village grew around the Bentomiz Castle, whose remains are still visible, and its architecture with steep typical streets, which make up the white houses, dominated by the Mudejar church of Santa Catalina and very close to the Sierra de Tejeda and Almijara.
Arenas originated during Al-Andalus, in the period of the Kingdom of Granada, it was a small rural community until the 16th century until after the conquest by the Christian troops the area was repopulated with Christians brought from the north, mainly from Jaén which had already been conquered.
It was previously known as Arenas del Rey, it is said that because King Fernando set up a camp here while preparing for the conquest of Vélez-Málaga.
Celtiberian remains have been found in the area, as well as Phoenicians and Greeks who left their mark on Arenas. The Romans settled giving way later to the Arabs who built and reformed the fortress.
After the conquest, a large part of the Moriscos (Muslims converted to Christianity) rebelled throughout Andalusia due to the harsh conditions they were subjected to, after which they were expelled from the peninsula, although two thirds would end up returning and culturally mixing with the Castilians.
In the very center of Arenas we find the church of the Conception, of Mudejar style, and next to this church is the minaret of Daimalos, from the 13th century, one of the oldest in Spain that has resisted both the Christian invasion and the passage of time.
Walking around Arenas we will enjoy the white alleyways that run through the municipality as if it were an artery, decorated with plants and jasmines, with beautiful architecture in the old town and divided into 3 districts with their own characteristics.
The high district is where the artisans used to live, the center is where the upper class lived and where the town hall and a 12th-century church-mosque are located; in the lower district is where the families with fewer resources of the working class were found.
From any point in Arenas you can see the fortress on the hill dominating the town as it did in past times.
This castle in Arenas is well worth a visit, an Arab fortress with stunning views of the Costa del Sol and the Axarquía region that was conquered in 1487. There are not many remains and it has not been restored, but it is still a recommended visit.
In the past it was a place where both Phoenicians and Greeks built factories, later the Romans would build baths of which we have some remains left.
You can park at the top, where beautiful views of the Axarquía await you.
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/faxvdJ6o4HB3ukgz7
The narrow streets of Arenas, typical of the white towns of Andalusia, retain their authenticity and Arab character. While walking you might be interested in visiting some of these points of interest:
Daimalos is a hamlet of the town of Arenas, where you can find some interesting places to visit and hiking routes to enjoy the surrounding nature.
The gastronomy of Arenas, a charming town in the province of Malaga, is rich and varied. Here you will find some of the typical dishes you can find:
Arenas is known for its local festivities full of tradition and culture. Two of the most outstanding are the Mule Fair and the Local Festivals in honor of San Sebastian.
This is one of the most unique festivals in Arenas, where the tradition of mule breeding in the region is celebrated. Every October 12, the municipality is decked out to celebrate its peculiar Mule Fair, where you can find a wide variety of activities around this animal such as mule exhibitions, shoeing, load contests, threshing, harnessing art and races of mules, donkeys and horses.
Every year, in addition, it is a tradition to choose the muleteer of honor and end the day with popular dances and the tasting of muleteer migas, accompanied with the organic muscatel wine of the area.
In honor of San Sebastian, Arenas celebrates its local festivals in the month of August, generally during the second week.
During these festivals the whole town participates in the events that are organized, as they are aimed at all ages, in the extensive program the Children's Day stands out, the tribute to the elderly, popular games such as the broom dance for couples and the ribbon run of mounts and motorcycles and of course, the Romería in honor of San Sebastian through the streets of the town.
The fair of Arenas is the typical fair of the towns of the Axarquía, where we find attractions, live music and above all a lot of fun.
To get to Arenas from Malaga we must head to Vélez-Málaga from where we will take a north direction to Arenas. Our destination is 60 kilometers from the Malaga airport (about 55 minutes by car)
If you need it you can rent a car in Malaga, you can check our prices and book your vehicle today without a credit card.
In the map below you can see the recommended route to get to Arenas.
Town Hall: C/Ermita, 17 - 29717 Malaga
Tel: +34 952 509 005
Official website:https://www.arenas.es/
Credit cards accepted
