Archez best things to see and do
Typical white village
Visit Archez, an authentic white village in Axarquia
In this article you will find the essential information to visit and see the best of Archez:
- A few words about Archez
- The origins of Archez
- What to see in Archez?
- What to do in Archez?
- activities
- guided tours
- ferias and fiestas
- Where is Archez?
- Booking accommodation
- Some useful links
- Experiences to discover in the province of Málaga
A few words about Archez
Archez is a beautiful white village located in Axarquia in the province of Málaga.
Archez is located at the foot of the beautiful Sierras de Tejeda y Almijara Natural Park, right next to the village of Competa.
The origins of Archez
The main agricultural activity of this village, of Arab origin, was the cultivation of vines. Archez reflects the unique identity of the white villages of Axarquia, through its architecture, history, landscape and typical dishes.
On the above ceramic, we can find the ingredients of the recipe for cuckoo (El alcuzcuz) as it was made during the Al-Andalus period.
It is part of the “Mudejar route” along with some other villages in the area.
What to see in Archez?
At the entrance of the village there is a beautiful mosaic that represents the coat of arms of the village, and includes some important historical elements.
The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación
When passing through Archez, there is a magnificent historical monument that should not be missed. It is the minaret (alminar) of the old mosque of the village, from the Al-Andalus period.
Like almost all the churches in Axarquia, the village church was built over the old mosque, but the minaret was preserved as the church tower. This minaret dates from the 14th century and was declared a National Heritage Historic-Artistic Monument in 1979.
In the church, you can admire the framework, also in the purest Mudéjar style. The Muslim star is made up of eight points symbolising paradise. In the Koran, paradise is surrounded by eight mountains.
This church is well worth a visit.
The Minaret Tower of the church and the Almohad style
The sebka is an architectural decoration typical of Almohad, Mudejar and Nasrid architecture, consisting of a large network of recti-curvilinear arches …
And right next door, an ideal spot for a souvenir photo:
Around the village you can see “paseros” next to the surrounding vineyards.
It is in the paseros that the grapes are dried to make the famous sun-dried grapes.
Taste the Andalucia gastronomy in the village
The heritage of the Arabs has been preserved to this day in the urban planning of this white village, but it has also been preserved in the gastronomy with dishes such as:
- fennel soup
- Mudejar style chicken.
In Archez, you can also discover other dishes such as :
- Cod omelettes with sugar cane honey (tortilla de bacalao con miel),
- migas with sardines
- chickpea soup with cod
- ajoblanco, the gastronomic emblem of Malaga’s summer dishes made with almonds, garlic, oil and vinegar
What to see around Archez?
There are several beautiful and authentic white villages in the surroundings, such as Sedella, Canillas de Albaida or Salares.
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 Archez?
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 Caminito del Rey
- hiking (rio Chillar, El Saltillo with the hanging bridge,…)
- canyoning (in the rio Verde,…)
- astrotourism
- snorkeling
- 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 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!
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 festivities
- La Fiesta de San Anton, in February
- Feria de Ntra. Sra. de la Encarnación, in July
- Corpus Christi, in June
Where is Archez?
Booking accommodation
Enter the desired dates to check availability.
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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