Located in the stunning La Axarquía region of Malaga province , just 3 km inland from the coast and 32 km from Malaga is the village of Algarrobo. The landscape around the village is a beautiful mix of the mountains and the coastal plains.

The area used to be covered in olive and almond trees and vineyards but is now undergoing substantial changes due to the cultivation of subtropical products and vegetables.

The main centre of the village is 3km from the coast and but it stretches down to the welcoming waters of the Mediterranean. The whole area is currently undergoing major development and the costal area is often referred to as Algarrobo-Costa

This history of the village dates right back the Bronze Age and the Phoenician settlers left their mark on the area as did the Romans.

The village has many interesting attractions and the Phoenician necropolis of Trayamar is not only the most remarkable historic site in Algarrobo but also one of the most remarkable in the western Mediterranean. The site is a collection of Paleopunic tombs belonging to a Phoenician city that may have sprung up around a trading post whose construction in the seventh century B. C. coincides with that of the city of Carthage

Jewels found in the burial sites are kept in the Museo Arqueológico Provincial (Provincial Archaeological Museum), as are some Greek objects that may have been brought by the Phoenicians or by the Greeks themselves.

The most notable building is the parish church of Santa Ana in the centre of the village. Built in the in the seventeenth century on a Latin cross floor plan. Its three naves are separated by semicircular arches resting on octagonal pillars. One of its most notable features is the wooden coffered ceilings and the eighteenth century “camarín” (niche) on one side of the church. A four-body bell tower completes the architecture of this simple church.

Another place worth a visit is the San Sebastián hermitage, however the structure is a recent copy built in 1975 of the original seventeenth century one that had to be demolished due to its poor state of preservation. What makes it is worth visiting is the surroundings , which provide a view of a beautiful landscape, have been adapted as a leisure zone which as trees, gardens and fountains.

Two of the many watchtowers that are preserved on the coast of Malaga: the Torre Ladeada (Leaning Tower) and the Torre Nueva (New Tower) can be found in the boundaries of the town.

The first of these, also known as the “Daleá” from the regional pronunciation of the word, is of Arabic origin and as might be expected its most notable characteristic is that it is markedly inclined. The second dates from the sixteenth century, and both were built to warn the population of invasions by either enemy armies or pirates.

The festival for the patron saint of the village, San Sebastián, is on 20 January. The image of the saint is conveyed in a procession from the hermitage to the parish church, where a mass is said in his honor. The image is then returned, again in a procession, to the hermitage. During the journey through the streets of the village, the cortege, in which all the Algarrobeños participate, is accompanied by a resounding “cohetá” (lighting of firecrackers).

The fair is held during the second fortnight of August and lasts for three days. The official booth is open for all kinds of festive events, with special emphasis on flamenco and the traditional “verdiales” (folk music), which enjoy a fine reputation in this area

The nearby beaches are also worth a visit as it it still mainly unspoiled by the mass construction seen on the western Costa del Sol, how long this will last is anyones guest , so visit the area now.

Tourist Information: Town Hall, Calle Antonio Ruiz Rivas, 2 (29750). Telephone: 952 552 430; Fax: 952 552 423