La Vinuela Attractions La Viñuela

La Viñuela is apart of some astoundingly beautiful routes routes organised by the Axarquia tourism authority.

The Sun and Wine Route
This takes us past a beautiful stretch of coastline with cliffs and small bays as well as wide well cared for beaches. The hillsides are dotted with vines, small farm houses and small houses where they make the local wine, like the wine from Competa which has given the place fame since as far back as Roman times. Nerja has become a tourist centre with its famous Balcony of Europe and its caves. The village of Torrox is situated on the gentle slopes going down towards the sea, its coastal strip has the best climate in Europe. Looking over the mountains and sea, Algarrobo still has a definite Moorish air about it.

The Raisin Route
Through the small villages of Moclinejo, Almáchar, El Borje, Cútar, Comares and Totalan and La Viñuela, with their special charm and clearly Moorish structure and architecture. The vines and the "paseros" the typical frames where the grapes are dried in the sun, the raisin, which was the basic element of the Axarquía, gives life and fame to these villages. The exceptional climate favours the vines which produce very special grapes. Festivals of "verdiales" are often held on the farms in these villages.

The Mountain and Olive Groves Route
Through the villages of La Viñuela, Alcaucín, Periana, Alfarnate, Alfarnatejo, Colmenar and Riogordo of Granada at the Boquete de Zafarraya, has a strong personality, perhaps the strongest in the Province of Malaga. The Sierras of Alhama, Jobo and Camarolos protect the district from the cold north winds. The olive trees on this land, the "Verdial" variety, produce the best olive oil in the world, with a special colour and aroma. In Periana they produce some of the best peaches in Spain. In Alcaucín nature lovers can take a country walk to the Loma de las Monjas de las Víboras in the Alcázar nature park. Almost the whole village takes part in the passion plays in Riogordo at Easter.

The Sun and Avocado Pear Route
Through the villages of Rincon de la Victoria, Macharaviaya, Vélez-Málaga, Benamocarra, Iznate and Benamargosa. This route is the nearest to the city of Malaga. It goes through Vélez-Málaga, the main town of the Axarquía with many interesting monuments to visit. The coast resort of Torre del Mar comes under the administrative jurisdiction of Vélez-Málaga. Its long promenade is one of the most attractive on the whole of the Mediterranean coast. Just along the coast is the fishing and pleasure port of La Caleta de Vélez. This route takes you past the long ample beaches of Rincón de la Victoria and to the inland villages of Macharaviaya, the birthplace of the Gálvez family, Benamocarra, Benamargosa and Iznate, white villages full of sun and surrounded by avocado pear plantations which have given this route its name.

Church of San José
This church dates from the 16th century, built to a simple rectangular ground plan and with a decorated timber ceiling. It was restored in the 18th century, when a small steeple was added.

Shrine to the Virgen de las Angustias
This is situated on the outskirts of the town on the carretera comarcal 335, ordered to be built by the Granada man responsible for the building of the road at the end of the 19th century. It appears that a small cave used for devotion to the Virgen de Las Angustias had to be destroyed to make way for the road, and in compensation, the builder replaced it with the shrine.

Torre de la Atalaya
This tower dates from Moorish times, and according to local legend was built overnight with materials from the surrounding area and the riverbed. Its purpose was to communicate with the vigilance towers on the coast and the Castle of Zalia.

Pantano de la Viñuela
Just a few metres from the town is the reservoir of the same name, the principal source of water for the eastern part of the Costa el Sol. It is fed by water from the River Guaro and its tributaries, the Sabar, the Benamargosa, the Salía, the Bermuza, the Almáchar and the Rubite. It was built on the bed of the Guaro at La Viñuela, which was left on its right bank, with the Barriada de los Romanes on the left. Covering 700 hectares of the municipality, it holds 170 million cubic metres of water, and apart from providing fresh water for the Axarquía, it allows the irrigation of more than 2,700 hectares of land.