Periana best things to see and do

The EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) village

Visit Periana and discover the liquid gold of Axarquia


Periana calle

In this article you will find the essential information to visit and see the best of Periana:

  • A few words about Periana
  • The origins of Periana
  • What to see in Periana?
  • What to do in Periana?
    • activities
    • guided tours
    • ferias and fiestas
  • Where is Periana?
  • Booking accommodation
  • Some useful links
  • Experiences to discover in the province of Málaga

periana-aceite-isidro

A few words about Periana


Periana is located in Axarquia in the province of Málaga.


Periana is a village that offers a magnificent mountainous panorama over other villages, the lake of La Viñuela, and fields of olive trees.


Comares desde Periana
View of Comares from Periana

It is known and recognized for the quality of its olive oil. The tasting of its olive oil is a must in the village. The best time to come is during the Verdial olive oil festival in April (see below).


Origins of Periana


It is one of the few villages for which there is no certainty about the origin of its name. However, there is a legend (of which there are many in Axarquia): according to oral tradition, two families were always fighting over the name of the village, the Pereiro and the Santana.


In order to put an end to this, it was decided to combine the two names to make one name: Periana. The legend is even in the village coat of arms!


Periana escudo
escudo de Periana

Periana is also known for the cultivation of a rare fruit, a type of peach that grows in Argentina, called melocoton.


Fruits tropicaux en Andalousie : melocoton
melocoton

It was a local resident, nicknamed “El Rojo”, who went to Argentina over 200 years ago and brought back plants of this fruit. The subtropical climate has allowed this crop to develop around the village.


What to see in Periana?


Periana calle 3

San Isidro el labrador Church


It was (re)built after the terrible earthquake of 1884, known as “The Earthquake of Andalucia”.


periana iglesia san isidro labrador 2
Iglesia San Isidro Labrador

Its architecture is in the neo-Mudéjar style.


periana iglesia san isidro labrador
iglesia San Isidro Labrador

There are several interesting buildings and houses around it.


Periana techos

Purchase olive oil from Periana


periana cooperativa olivavera y san isidro labrador
COOPERATIVA OLIVARERA Y FRUTERA SAN ISIDRO LABRADOR

The olive oil from this cooperative has won numerous awards in Spain and internationally.

They even produce a rather exclusive olive oil from thousand-year-old olive trees…which also won a prize:


Periana olive oil prize london 2022

Discover the hamlets of Periana


The municipality of Periana is full of beautiful places and deserves several visits to discover all its riches.


Mondron


guaro periana
Guaro (Periana)

This hamlet is renowned throughout the province of Málaga for the excellence of its verdial olive oil. In the hamlet, a gentle sensation of time standing still runs through us. Several old washhouses can be seen here.


periana guaro lavadero
antiguo lavadero

There is also a small olive oil museum, which displays the traditional tools used to make olive oil, including milling stones.


Baños de Vilo, the Arab Baths of Periana


This village of Roman origin is known for its ancient Arab baths, which are worth visiting. You can also bathe here. There is a carved coping from over 1000 years ago right next to this natural well.


Banos de Vilo en Periana
Banos de Vilo en Periana

The water has medicinal properties with its sulphuric, magnesium-calcium and nitrogenous waters, which gush out at 21 degrees.


Banos de Vilo Periana Andalucia
Banos de Vilo Periana

The village is located in the foothills of the Sierra de Enmedio, bathed by the river Zapata, making this place a small paradise of tranquillity.


Periana Banos de Vilo

Guaro


This hamlet is a little wonder. It is located at the foot of a mountain and all over the village you can see fruit trees.


periana-fruta-membrillo
fruit: quince

This fruit is used to make carne de membrillo. It is delicious with cheese.


There are also cacti with their prickly pear.


Periana chumbos
Chumbos en Guaro, Periana

Guaro means: water source (manantial de agua). It is a village surrounded by the Sierra de Alhama, in the bowels of which there is a huge underground lake, one of the largest in Europe.


This lake “comes alive” when its waters rise to the surface, forming white waterfalls that give rise to the River Guaro, hence the name “El Manantial de la Axarquia” (the source of the Axarquia).


The view from this hamlet is superb.


Periana Guaro paisaje
paisaje en Guaro

Marchamonas


Marchamonas is a hamlet of a few houses, which is probably the highest inhabited place in the whole of Axarquia, with an altitude of about 1100 metres.



In this hamlet we can see an old well-preserved threshing floor, where the wheat was once winnowed.


old threshing floor

From Marchamonas there are several prehistoric caves that can be discovered on hikes.


cave 1

The Vereda Blanca pass (the famous white mountain pictured below) was used by smugglers and bandits to cross between the provinces of Malaga and Granada. The caves were also used as temporary shelters.


cave 2

Among the ten caves I visited, there are several where one can easily find evidence that these places were inhabited in prehistoric times.

In one cave there is even a schematic engraving:


cave 3

Most of the caves offer beautiful scenery. Some of them even offer a view of the sea:


Vista desde una cueva de Periana en Marchamonas
Vista desde una cueva de Periana en Marchamonas

Pollo Pelao (Peeled chicken)


This hamlet of Periana, which has a funny name, was once called “Carrasquilla”.


Pueblo de Pollo Pelao en Periana
Pueblo de Pollo Pelao en Periana

But the story goes that the name was changed by the grandmothers of the village to Pollo Pelao to refer to its peeled fields!


What to see around Periana?


Continuing on your way, you will arrive at Alfarnatejo and Alfarnate. These two villages are also worth a visit.


alfarnate-what-to-see-tipical-street
in Alfarnate

What to do in Periana?


Activities in the area


There are many interesting activities to discover in the area:


Canyoning dans le Rio Verde en Andalousie
Canyoning in the Rio Verde

  • 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 the rio Verde,…)
  • astrotourism
  • snorkeling in Torrox and Nerja
  • 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.


local guide andalucia
Cipriano

For example, Cipriano organises the Ruta del Aceite y los Montes. This tour is only possible 4 months of the year, from February to May. This Olive oil Route is absolutely unique. A must-see!


olive variété verdial de velez
olive verdial

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 Comares Tour, the Raisin route, Frigiliana and El Acebuchal Tour….


Here are all the guided tours from Torrox, Nerja and Torre del Mar.


The fiestas


Below, the poster of the Verdial olive oil festival in Periana. The olive oil of Periana is the most famous in the whole of Axarquia. A marvel to be discovered on this day.


periana dia aceite verdial 2024 olive oil fair




Where is Periana?



Booking accommodation


Enter the desired dates to check availability directly.


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.


visita-sevilla-dias-catedral-puerta-del-perdon
Door of Forgiveness – Seville Cathedral

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


cadix cadiz cathedrale catedral cathedral cattedrale

Malaga


When you reach the Costa del Sol you will find in this link all must-sees in Malaga :


visiter-malaga-art-de-rue-place-juderia-proche-musee-picasso
Street art next to the Picasso Museum Malaga

Granada


Discover what to see in Granada, and visit the Albaicin and Sacromonte districts:


sacromonte-in-granada-view-on-alhambra-2

Cordoba


And of course, visit Cordoba, the caliphate city, and the Juderia district


visiter-cordoue-facade-sculptee-de-la-mosquee-cathedrale

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.


Here is the link to receive our newsletter from the andaluciamia.com blog


Here are the latest articles on Andalucia


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