La Vinuela best things to see and do
Oasis of Axarquia !
Discover La Vinuela and its water reserve, known as the Axarquia oasis
In this article you will find the essential information to visit La Vinuela :
- A few words about La Vinuela
- The origins of La Vinuela
- What to see in La Vinuela?
- What to do in La Vinuela?
- activities
- guided tours
- Where is La Vinuela?
- Booking accommodation
- Some useful links
- Experiences to discover in the province of Málaga
A few words about La Vinuela
La Vinuela is located in Axarquia in the province of Málaga.
La Vinuela is also the name of the water reservoir that supplies the population and the fruit crops in Axarquia.
The origins of La Vinuela
La Vinuela is the “youngest village” in Axarquia – Costa del Sol. It dates “only” from the 15th century. Its name is directly linked to its history. At that time there were many vineyards (and still are today).
From this period, an Arab watchtower remains, La Torre de Atalaya :
Later on, a venta (inn) was opened with the name “La Viña”, which later gave the name to the village. This venta still exists and is located next to the church.
What to see in La Vinuela?
In the centre of the village, there is the church of San José, full of flowers, which is worth a visit.
And, not far away, there is a small park with beautiful fruits…
including some beautiful palm trees.
The reservoir of La Vinuela
Walking around the embalse de la Vinuela is a real delight. Moreover, you can observe many different landscapes. The photo below was taken from the Torre Atalaya, and in the distance you can see the magnificent Tajo de Gomer.
There are also some very interesting hamlets and small villages in the Vinuela, three of which are listed below:
Los Castillejos
This hamlet is a real little wonder that seems to be out of time!
It seems that originally “Los Castillejos” was in Al Andalus, a “relay” between the Tahona, the castle of Comares, the castle of Zalia in Alcaucin and the Torre de Atalaya.
This site has one last peculiarity, we now know that it has been occupied since prehistoric times! It is one of the 3 archaeological sites of La Vinuela.
Los Romanes
The village of Los Romanes may seem recent, but it is very old.
In addition to the olive groves, it has preserved the ancestral culture of the vine. You can see the paseros (a place where grapes are dried on the ground to obtain the fabulous “pasa”, the dried grape.
It is also possible to see an “era”, an old wheat threshing floor.
Finally, this village is home to the “Verdiales” museum.
The Verdiales are an authentic folklore of Axarquia and the Málaga mountains, and the oldest in Europe.
From Los Romanes there are many views of the Vinuela water reservoir.
For a perfect moment in Los Romanes, don’t hesitate to go for lunch at Venta El Charco (superb braised meat dishes), and to taste a very good craft beer at Paco’s kiosk: La Alegria de la aldea.
Los Gomez
Los Gomez is one of the many hamlets that make up the municipality of La Vinuela. It is the most mountainous part of the municipality.
What to see next to La Vinuela
Discover the town of Velez-Malaga and its incredible historical and artistic heritage right next door.
What to do in La Vinuela
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 (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 Wine and Sun Route.
This day trip allows you to discover several authentic white wine producing villages, visit a bodega, and participate in a wine tasting!
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 Olive oil Route, the Raisin route, Frigiliana and El Acebuchal Tour….
Here are all the guided tours from Torrox, Nerja and Torre del Mar.
Where is La Vinuela?
Book accommodation
Enter the desired dates to check availability directly.
Booking.com
Some useful links to visit Andalucia
Here is a great car rental agency in Andalusia and more specifically at Malaga airport : book a rental car.
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 Andalucia, 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 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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