Driving along the Ruta de la Pasa in the Axarquia is an absolute must if you want to visit some unique white villages in the Province of Malaga. On the way to the popular village of El Borge, you’ll first come across Almachar, which is sometimes overlooked by tourists but is equally worth visiting. While there aren’t too many things to see in Almachar, this traditional Spanish village is beautiful to walk around. If you happen to visit in September you can take part in their Fiesta del Ajoblanco which celebrates the local cuisine.
Almachar’s history dates back to the Moorish period, and it gets its name from the Arabic word meaning meadow. This small village is also considered to be the capital of the muscatel raisin. They’re so proud of their traditional way of producing these raisins that they have a museum dedicated to the dried grape. If you’re planning on driving to Almachar, you’ll find plenty of free parking spaces on the hill leading up to the village. If there are no spots available, there’s a massive parking lot at the base of the hill, just next to the giant grape statue. Here are the top things to see in Almachar if you plan on stopping by.
Things to see in Almachar
Fiesta del Ajoblanco
Every year, on the first Saturday of September, Almachar hosts its popular Fiesta del Ajoblanco. This festival celebrates local food, and concentrates predominantly on a traditional Arabic cold soup that’s made from garlic and almonds. As well as the soup, thousands of litres of drinks are handed out, and guests can sample their famous muscatel grapes as well. The festival is one of the most important things to see in Almachar, and definitely makes for a very unique experience along the Ruta de la Pasa.
The architecture
Despite there not being too many things to see in Almachar in terms of attractions, one thing that you should do as you walk around this beautiful white village in Malaga is to admire the architecture and Arab-style layout of its streets. If you’re planning on eating in Almachar, at the beginning of the village there’s a small roundabout where you can find a few cafes and restaurants. Don’t worry – this may be the main place to get raisins in Malaga, but there are plenty of other things on the menu too!
The various viewpoints
As you make your way further into the village, you’ll come across a number of unexpected viewpoints that provide lovely views of the whitewashed houses. Most of these viewpoints are situated at the top of steps leading down to the lower part of the village, so you’ll have to be alert or you might miss them. If the weather is nice, Almachar makes for a great day trip from Malaga.
Parroquia de San Mateo
Parroquia de San Mateo is one of the very few things to see in Almachar in terms of attractions. It’s located in the heart of the village in Plaza España, and you’ll pass it on your way to the raisin museum. The church was built in the 16th century and is topped with its iconic bell tower. It’s yet another church in the Axarquia region that was built on top of a former mosque.
Almachar’s fountains
Throughout Almachar are a number of plaques depicting various scenes from the village’s history, as well as some myths too. Just in front of Parroquia de San Mateo is this beautiful water fountain which is worth looking at more closely. Legend has it that below the fountain is a tunnel leading to the hidden treasure of the Moors who were forced to flee Almachar when the Christians arrived in the 15th century.
Museo de la Pasa
One of the top things to see in Almachar is the Museo de la Pasa. The museum is located just a short walk from the main plaza, and although the streets are a bit challenging to navigate, there are plenty of ceramic signposts pointing you in the right direction. This museum is entirely dedicated to raisins and shows how important they’ve been to life in Almachar for over 500 years. Like many white villages in the Axarquia region, raisins are an important product so it would be well worth your time to learn more about how they are produced and distributed in the area.
Plaza del Santo Cristo
Museo de la Pasa sits within Plaza del Santo Cristo. It’s very small for a plaza but the houses surrounding it are beautifully decorated with all sorts of plants and flowers, making it the perfect place to get some photos. We had the plaza all to ourselves when we visited!
Almachar is a charming white village in Malaga and is worth stopping at for a couple of hours if you happen to be driving in this part of the Axarquia region. With its proximity to other nearby white villages like El Borge, Moclinejo, and Benamargosa, it’s very easy to add Almachar to your itinerary. It may not be the largest white village in Andalusia or Spain, and there aren’t too many things to see in Almachar either, but if you’re looking to visit a more traditional side of southern Spain, it’s a great place to start.
Have you visited any white villages in this region of Malaga before? If you have any tips on other unique places in Malaga I should visit, or have any questions about Almachar and visiting this beautiful Andalusian white village, please get in touch either in the comment section below or via email. And don’t forget to follow my travels on Instagram too!
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