On the easternmost part of the Costa del sol, near the border of the province Malaga & Granada, protected from the cold northerly winds by the mountain ranges of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama, open to the African continent across the Mediterranean we find a region called La Axarquia.

La Axarquia offers some wonderful tours to discover the many secrets of this area. One of the most interesting itineries is the Mudejar Route.

Five small villages still conserve the most outstanding examples of Mudejar architecture in this area. Arenas, Árchez, Salares, Sedella and Canillas de Aceituno are all towns with an authentic Mudejar appearance which give visitors the sensation of having travelled back in time.

The Christian conquest of the Axarquía Region was not achieved until 1487. The term 'Mudejar', which is derived from the Arabic word "mudayya, is used to denote the Muslims who, following the Christian conquest, remained in the new Castilian state, conserving their religion, language and legal organisation.

The typical features of Mudejar architecture include the use of bricks, glazed ceramic and plasterwork as coverings and for the exterior decoration. The materials used for their construction were cheap yet significantly useful, as they enabled the economic and rapid construction of buildings. But the Muslim influence in Mudejar art is not only present in the decoration, but also in the architectural structures, such as the bell towers and the beams of the wooden roofs of churches.

The villages on this route are located in the foothills of the Sierras Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama Natural Park, enabling direct contact with the natural features which accompany us along the length of this route. 

The route passes through the immense heritage left by the last inhabitants of the region. This is reflected in the wonderful buildings in towns that date back to the 16th century. The same inhabitants also left an interesting farming activity that continues to this day, such as Moscatel wine, famous and appreciated, which is produced from the region’s raisins using traditional methods.

Arenas, located in a small depression surrounded by hills, is boasting Arab Baths and the Castle of Bentomiz, which the Arabs constructed on a previous Iberian settlement. Nearby you will find a minaret, the Alminar de Daimalos, in the small village of the same name.

Archez, a village of only some 400 inhabitants, preserves the enchantment of its “Morisco” roots, since we can admire the architectural treasures the Moslems left before being expelled, such as the Minaret Tower of the Church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnacion, from the 14th century and now crowned by a Christian Belfry.

In Salares we will come across another beautiful example of Mudejar art in the Minaret Tower (13 – 14th century) of the Parish church of Santa Ana, to which a belfry has also been added. In this town we have the chance to try a wine that is different to any other, since it is produced from a type of grape that is unique and unequalled: the Rome grape.

Passing through Sedella, a pretty whitewashed town with many springs, we come to Canillas de Aceituno, at the foot of the Sierra de Tejada mountain range. There is an impressive view of the Velez and Rubite river valleys, where the interesting route comes to an end.