Cutar best things to see and do
The paradise fountain
Visit Cutar, next to Comares en Axarquia, in the province of Málaga
In this article you will find the essential information to visit Cutar :
- A few words about Cutar
- The origins of the village
- Visiting Cutar, what to see?
- What to do in Cutar?
- activities
- idea for a guided tour
- the festivities
- Where is Cutar?
- Book accommodation
- Some useful links
- Experiences to discover in the province of Málaga
A few words about Cutar
Cutar is located in Axarquia in the province of Malaga.. This white village has preserved its authenticity.
Cutar is a village on the Ruta de la Pasa (Rasin Route). On this famous route there are also the villages of Comares, Almachar, Moclinejo, and El Borge.
The landscape around this village, surrounded by mountains, is very beautiful to see.
This village in Al-Andalus times had the nickname of Fountain of Paradise with its 12 springs.
The origin of the name Cutar
The name of the village is of Arabic origin and dates back to the 10th century. At that time there was a hamlet called “Hins Acut”, which in Arabic means “Sharp Castle”. This name refers to a fortress that no longer exists today.
Cutar, a village of monfis (Morisco rebels and bandits)
By way of introduction, Andalusia has been known for its bandits for thousands of years. Each village, according to the times, has sheltered bandits. Cicero, more than 2000 years ago, already spoke about them in his correspondence. We also have writings from the period of the Caliphate of Cordoba that bear witness to this.
Cutar is known to have been a village of monfis, Morisco bandits in the 16th century. Moriscos is the name given to Muslim converts who remained after the reconquest. A certain number of Muslims preferred to continue living in hiding: the monfis.
What to see in Cutar?
The Arab fountain
It is located at the entrance to the village and is the only one in the province of Málaga that has retained its original appearance (see photo below).
The Monfi Museum in Cutar
The village has opened the Monfi Museum to tell the story of this period in the village.
In this museum there is the so-called ” Quran of Cutar “, dated between the 13th and 15th centuries. It is a small treasure from the Al-Andalus period, even older than the Monfi period.
The word monfi comes from the Arabic language: munfi (منفي ) which literally means outcast.
The museum is located in Calle Tinteros.
The church of the Virgen de la Encarnacion
The bell tower of the church is in fact the former minaret of the village mosque.
The church now houses the patron saint of the village, San Roque, as well as Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles.
Around Cutar
From Cutar you can see the famous hilltop village of Comares.
Around the village you can see many vineyards.
As well as paseros to dry the grapes. An ancestral culture to discover!
Taste the local culinary speciality
The speciality of the village is the puchero. It looks like a stew with chickpeas and chorizo.
What to do in Cutar?
Activities
In the surroundings, it is possible to find very nice activities:
- 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 (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. during your holidays. This link provides you with all the details of each activity.
Ideas for guided tours of the area
A very good local guide, Cipriano, offers thematic and seasonal guided tours of the villages of Axarquia.
For example, Cipriano organises the visit of the Ruta de la Pasa (Raisin Route) from Nerja, Torrox and Torre del Mar. This visit is only possible 2 months of the year, in September and October. This raisin 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 white villages of Axarquia, the wine route, the olive oil route, ….
Here are all the guided tours from Torrox, Nerja and Torre del Mar.
The fiestas
The Fiesta del Monfi is a beautiful festival. The villagers dress in period costume to commemorate the historical past of the village.
- Fiesta del Monfí, in October
- Fiesta de San Roque, in August
Worth seeing: the corridas de cintas (ribbon races). These races take place during the Fiesta de San Roque in August. They can be done on horseback, bicycle or motorbike depending on the village. A must-see!
Where is Cutar?
Book an accommodation
Indicate the desired dates to know the availability.
Some useful links
Here is a very useful link for your travels: book a rental car from your place of stay.
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:
- Discover must-sees before visiting Cordoba
- Visit Malaga on foot.
- All you need to know about Granada, the Alhambra, the Albaicin neighbourhood before visiting Granada
- If you are passing through the geographical centre of Andalusia, then you can visit Antequera, with the incredible natural site of El Torcal right next door.
Experiences to discover in the province of Malaga
If you’re in the area for a few days, here’s a selection of great things to do:
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