The Andalucia Area around Sedella

Canillas de Aceituno

Set on the slopes of the Sierra Tejeda, crowned by the Maroma peak at an altitude of 6,744 feet is Canillas de Aceituno. It occupies a privileged position in the hinterland of the Axarquia Region.

It is an extremely white village, set between the valley of the Almarchares river and the foothills of the Sierra, the layout is still typically Moorish, its narrow, winding and impeccably whitewashed streets run up and down. Arches and alleyways lead you to beautiful hideaways, where flowers and flowerpots give a note of colour to the dominant white.

Travelling to Cannilas de Aceituno on the local MA-125 road you will be surprised by the scenery and as you climb it becomes more and more spectacular. Olive groves, fig trees, almond trees and vines dotted along the route, holding tight onto the steep slopes. The drying beds for the raisins and their canvas covers mark the hillsides and mounds with a splash of whitewash. As you approach the village, the view of Canillas is beautiful, with the Nical or "the big Rock" as it is known locally, as a backdrop, like the advance guard of the Sierra Tejeda. As Canillas de Aceituno is an open and hospitable village, fond of its traditions, it has an interesting and busy programme of celebrations

As a sample the following are worth mentioning: Carnival in February; a fiesta in honour of the Our Lady of the Head that is celebrated the last Sunday in April, also called the "Day of the Black Pudding" because visitors to the celebrations are invited to try the local blood sausage, bread and local wine. The romeria in honour of San Isidro, colour and tradition, is held at the weekend nearest to the 15th May. On the eve and on the night of the feast of St John, there is an open-air celebration with singing and dancing on the 24th June.

The village fair in honour of the patroness Our Lady of the Head is held during the second week of August. Four days of uninterrupted celebrations, the Flamenco Night crowns the fair; a night of flamenco, wines, verdiales folk groups and the local fandangos. There is a mass and the statue of the Virgin Mary is carried through the streets of the village. On the 7th and 8th of September is Candlemas, friends and neighbours meet around the bonfires and contend in rivalry with the traditional songs, ballads and dances. The local cuisine is basically influenced by the Moors and the local produce, it is simple but substantial: gazpacho with muscatel grapes, ajoblanco (a cold soup made of almonds and garlic), migas (fried breadcrumbs), porridge with grape juice, fennel stew and a roast kid or their speciality kid in almond sauce.

Nature, who has been generous in all this district, has given Canillas de Aceituno an endless list of attractions for country holidays inland. The incomparable setting of the Sierra Tejeda offers limitless possibilities to enjoy activities in close and respectful contact with nature.

Mountaineering, hiking and mountain bike enthusiasts will find several routes that take them to beauty spots right in the heart of the mountains. Places like La Fajara, Ios Tajos Lisos, La Rabita and La Rahije would delight the most demanding landscape painters. On route you may see good specimens of mountain goats or the peregrine or the gold eagle in flight. For the more adventurous and daring, there is a path that climbs to the La Maroma peak, the highest in the province of Malaga at 6,774 feet above sea level, rated for difficulty from medium to high. Canillas de Aceituno owes its name to two civilisations that were here longest: the Romans named it Canillae which means an area of small canes and the Moors added Al-Zaytun

Azzeytun which means dyed natural silk, because of the quantity and quality of the silk the village produced. The "Casa de los diezmos" where the manufacturing of the silk and the production of the white mulberry leaf were controlled and taxed, is still standing today. It is also known as the "House of the Moorish Queen" or the "Mudejar Tower". The "Casa esgrafiada", a Thebaic tower from the 18th Century, is painted with geometric Moorish motives that can still be seen under the whitewash that covers them. Beside the Huertezuelo fort, situation in the La Noria area, you can see a medieval water cistern. From the Calzada street you can still see the so-called "friendly foot" which was the Moorish stronghold and castle of Canillas de Aceituno and the remains of the medieval walls that defended the village. To finish this brief summary of the most important historic artistic heritage we recommend a visit to the church of Our Lady of the rosary, (parish church dating from the 16th century) in a Gothic-Mudejar style, built over the remains of the ancient mosque, the arches of the entrance can still be seen in the façade that gives onto calle Olivo.