La Axarquía
is a region of Málaga in the eastern part of the province of the same name, bordered by the Montes of Málaga, the Comarca of Antequera, the Province of Granada and the Mediterranean Sea.
 This comarca, or region, is full of contrasts. Snow – capped mountain ranges to a height of 2,000 metres look down over the beaches of the Costa del Sol. Mountain villages, impregnated with a Moorish air, lies close to tourist complexes equipped with the most modern amenities.
La Axarquía has a benign climate and a privileged geographical location. The clear waters of its beaches and coves, its mountains and rivers witnessed the first settlers in this splendid region as long ago as prehistoric times, and later dwellers here included the Phoenicians, the Carthaginians and the Romans, though the most important period in the history of these lands was that of the Moorish domination, particularly during the time of the Moorish Kingdom of Granada. The influence of these times is still conserved in the layout of its villages, with their winding, steeply – rising streets lined with white washed houses reflecting the piercing light of the sun.
The area has also lived through times of great tragedy, such as the period of Moorish uprisings and the subsequent expulsion of the Muslim population, or the more recent plague of phylloxera, which ruined its fields. The main agricultural products here are the fruit of the vine, going to produce the excellent wines and raisins of the region, olives and almonds, whilst in recent times tropical fruit have been introduced, adapting with great success thanks to the marvellous climate enjoyed here.
 La Axarquía. Even its name evokes its Moorish past. It means " the part situated furthest to the west". Its pronunciation has changed since those times from" A-har-kia" to its present "A-shar-kia", though local people can still be heard using the original pronunciation.
The region is presently emerging once more from a period of economic recession, thanks to the advent of tourism. Here we find such well – known resorts as Nerja and Torre del Mar, and its capital, Vélez – Málaga, one of the most important towns of the entire province. Besides this, the eastern stretch of the Malagan sector of the Costa del Sol belongs to La Axarquía.
From a modern pleasure harbour to a 13th – century Almohad tower. From the finest hotels and residential areas to the most charming nooks and corners of a Mudéjar village.
Beautiful natural surroundings and prosperous towns. All this is La Axarquía.
This book aims to help you get to know it, beginning with a brief geographical and historical background before going on to propose five itineraries passing through all 31 municipalities of the Comarca, including the most interesting information on each, and ending with a short review of the gastronomy of the region.
Geography
La Axarquía is an area in the eastern part of the province of Málaga. Though culturally and geographically part of the municipality of Málaga itself (the area comprising the Montes de Málaga) could also be included in the region, and parts of Alfarnate and Colmenar excluded as being more characteristic of the Comarca of Antequera, this book will take the official boundaries as its own limits. In this way, it will also take us to visit the 31 municipalities which can be considered as most fully belonging to La Axarquía.
 The geographical limits of the area are as follows: to the west, the Montes de Málaga and the eastern banks of the Guadalquivir; to the north, the Camarolos, Jobo and Alhama sierras; to the east those Tejeda and Almijara; and, lastly, to the south, the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.
The Comarca covers an area of 1020.84 km2, the largest municipality being Vélez – Málaga (156.36 km2) and the smallest being Archez (4.98 km2).
The northern and eastern sections of La Axarquía are covered by high mountain ranges, of which the following peaks are the highest: Chamizo (1,637 metres) in the Sierra del Jobo, La Maroma (2,065 metres) in the Sierra Tejeda and Navcachica (1,832 metres) in the Sierra de Almijara. Dividing the northern ranges and the Montes de Málaga between Colmenar and Periana, there is a depression, but the rest of the region is occupied by the gentle slopes of the Montes de Málaga and the Vélez - Masiff, reaching their maximum altitude at such points as Santopítar (1,200 metres) and Bentomiz (706).
The coastal and river plains do not extend far, as the mountains reach almost to the sea. The only plains of note are those known as the Hoya de Vélez, separating the Montes de Málaga from the Vélez-Masiff.
The main rivers of the region flow down to the sea from north to south. The largest is the River Vélez, whose tributaries, the Rubite, Almanchares, Bermuza, Alcaucin, Guaro and Benamargosa rivers, supply it with waters from all the mountain ranges of the La Axarquía. Besides these rivers, the Totalán, Granadillas, Benagalbón and Santillán flow down from the Montes de Málaga, and the Algorrobo, Güi, Torrox, Chillar, Higuerón and La Miel from the Sierra de Almijara.
 The climate of La Axarquía is Mediterranean, with hot summers, cool winters and little rainfall on either side of its long dry season. To these features however, certain others peculiar to the region must be added, for this is a privileged climate zone. Its advantages are provided by the huge mountain barriers which protect it from the cold north winds. And by its more than 50 kilometres of coastline, which makes for mild temperatures both in winter and summer.
As we travel inland to the municipalities of the north, the benign effects of the sea are noted less and less, and winter here is colder.
In the highest mountains, above all in the Tejeda and Almijara sierras, snow falls every year. Vegetation, due to traditional, excessive felling, is scarce, with just holm oaks, carobs and pines are found on the highest mountains, and the characteristic Mediterranean brush on the lower slopes. Animals decline, though there are birds of prey and mountain goats in the Tejeda and Almijara sierras.
The benefits of the climate have been harnessed for agriculture. The region abounds in olive and almond trees, especially in the northern areas, where pulses and cereals are also grown. In the coastal valleys irrigation has made possible the cultivation of horticultural products, particularly sub – tropical and green house fruits.
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