Located 25 kilometres from Vélez Málaga and 27 from Malaga in the La Axarquía region of Malaga Province is the tiny little village of Macharaviaya

This tiny village dates from 1542 although there was a Moorish arming community at the location before then. It was this farming community that the name of the village comes from.

The community was known as Machar Ibn Yahha (farmstead of the son of Yahha)

The surrounding countryside is typical of this area of Andalucia and is covered with pastures and olive trees . It was also a very important grape growing area until the phylloxera pest in the 19^th century devastated the regions vineyards.

One of the villages claims to fame is that it became the home of the Galvez family in the 18^th century , The family brought much prospertity to the village and during this time the village was visited by the most influential personalities in Málaga,. It was during this time that many of the impressive buildings were constructed.The village also gained the nickname of “Little Madrid” during this time

Following the outbreak of the phylloxera pest however the village like many in the region sliped in to decline and its was not until the late 20^th century when the village began to proper agin. Today it is best known as a refuge for numerous artists who chose it as a place to base themselves.

This has helped to create what is now a good and stable tourist industry which today helps the local economy

The village still has a very 18^th Century to it and great care is taken to make sure the houses do not display features that are out of place. The steets are still made of the traditional cobblestone and this all adds to the atmosphere in this pretty little village.

The most notable monument in the village is the brick monument that was built in honor of the Gálvez family whio did so much for the village in the 18^th Century.

Other notable buildings include the 18^th Century the San Jacinto church which was built on the site of the original church dating from 1505. The building has a magnificent Latin cross floor plan with a single nave that measures 36 metres long by 9 metres wide

Next to the church is the cemetery, which is the location of the entrance to the church’s crypt. These premises occupy practically the entire underground area of the church and house the tombs of several members of the Gálvez family, who are represented by marble sculptures in praying posture.

The old Playing Card factory is not anything special to look at but it is one of the most important buildings in the history of the village

During its heyday in the 18^th century the factory was producing 30,000 packs of playing cards per year. However in 1815 production stopped and the building was converted into homes.

Located less than 3km from the village is the sub-district of Benaque, Here you can visit the Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación church., a sixteenth century structure without garish decoration but rather with the authentic flavour of the simplest Mudéjar style. It was erected over a former mosque of which the minaret remains and is used as a bell tower.. You can also visit the home of the poet Salvador Rueda, who originated the poetic movement known as Modernismcan. also be visited. In it is displayed a notable legacy of the poet.

August sees the village celebrate the San Bernardo Fiestas which takes place during the first week of the month There is constant activity in the village during these days: performances by pandas de verdiales (traditional Málaga music groups), flamenco, exhibitions of ceramics, photography and paintings and even harpsichord recitals in the parish church. To all this is added a lively traditional verbena (street party) and, of course, the procession of the saint.

On the 7^th October The Virgen del Rosario (Virgin of the Rosary) procession takes place and on 2 December there is an interesting competition of pastorales (traditional Christmas choral music) in honour of the poet Salvador Rueda.

Tourist Information: Town Hall, Calle Real, 12 (29791). Telephone: 952 400 042; Fax: 952 400 026