Canillas De Aceituno: Breathtaking Mountain Setting With Exceptional Hiking Trails

The municipality of Canillas de Aceituno and its near neighbour, Canillas de Albaida are set high in the mountains of Axarquía with excellent views of the Mediterranean Sea and the mountain ranges of North Africa on the far horizon. Both towns are perfect examples of the pueblo blanco and well worth the twisting mountain ascent.

Canillas de Aceituno trails the mountains of the Sierra Tejeda right along to the highest peak, Mount Maroma. This stunning location makes it a popular starting point for outdoor enthusiasts. The vistas from the viewing platform handily located above the town’s free car park offer incredible scenes across the coast of Andalusia to the Atlas Mountains of North Africa. It’s then a meandering, climb along narrow streets with brilliant white houses bedecked with flowers to the town centre and its several cafes and bars. This is a peaceful place: in summer afternoons it could be described as sleepy as it languishes in the summer heat. It is a town where time can really be described to have stood still and, whilst a number of Europeans have made this attractive location their home, it retains its charm and traditions.

Sports ground with a view in Canillas de Aceituno

Annual festivals 

One such tradition is its annual festival held on the last Sunday in April, the village of Canillas de Aceituno hosts the fiesta of El Día de la Morcilla. This is day to celebrate the humble black pudding. This is a speciality black-pudding mixed with onion, and for which the village is famous across the region. The festival attracts a large crowd to eat this delicacy and drink beer and wine. Only in Spain would a black pudding be elevated to haute cuisine. https://www.malaga.es/en/turismo/tradiciones/lis_cd-1615/dia-de-la-morcilla-canillas-de-aceituno-abril-fiesta-singular

Aside from the edible delights of El Dia de la Morcilla, Canillas de Aceituno offers a number of excellent restaurants. Many of these serve the local specialties: chivo al horno or en salsa de almendras, roasted goat served with an almond sauce, potaje de hinojos a hearty fennel stew or olla, a tasty meat and chickpea stew. The food is warm and nostalgic and represents the fact that this is a mountain region.

Other festivals include the Romería de San Isidro, held in May, and is a major religious procession. Traditional massive pans filled with paella line the streets and is freely offered to visitors and locals.

In mid August, the Feria de Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza takes place. This is another procession when The Virgin statue is paraded through the town and this event is celebrated with dancing, music, food and drink.

El Saltillo Suspension Bridge 

A major draw of this region are the mountains and the hikes. The most recent and dramatic addition to this area is the El Saltillo Suspension Bridge, constructed of steel and wood and hanging across a stunning canyon. It is part of the El Saltillo trail which is a spectacular and popular path along the side of the mountains. The bridge among the three largest suspension bridges in Spain in a natural setting and it is not for the faint hearted or those with a fear of heights. It is an impressive 50 metres long and 50 metres above the Almanchares River. The bridge spans the canyon and offers incredible views. http://www.canillasdeaceituno.es/9920/sendero-canillas-aceituno-saltillo

Another highly recommended route is the Neveros trail which ascends to the highest peak in the Malaga province: La Maroma, at a height of 2,066 metres it dominates the area. The climb is well worth the exertion for the incredible views and wonderfully exhilarating mountain air. http://www.canillasdeaceituno.es/9918/rutas-senderismo

Canillas de Aceituno with its idyllic location and wonderful scenery is a spectacular place to spend a day hiking, celebrating a local festival or the perfect place to have a very relaxed holiday in a real and unspoilt Andalucian white village.

Welcome to the white village of Sedella

Sedella

Close by the village of Canillas de Aceituno and equally as pretty is Sedella, originally known as Villa del Castillo, the Castle Village. This is another Morisco village: a former Moorish village which underwent a Christian conversion from Islam. It’s main product is locally produced wine from the vineyards which are visible all across the gentle slopes that surround the village.

Sedella with its whitewashed houses and picturesque narrow streets forms an excellent stop on the Ruta del Mudéjar. In fact there is even a Mudejar tower in the centre of the village. However, it is nature, that is the real highlight of this village. The highest peak of the Sierra de Tejeda, La Maroma, lies within the village boundaries as does the Horeada Cave and the El Salto Del Caballo. All of these natural attractions offer the visitor a chance to discover the beauty of Axarquía.