The view of Archidona (and the olive orchards that surround it) from the castle ruins above. Photo courtesy of Víctor Fernández Salinas via Flickr.
Situated at the base of the Sierra de Gracia nature reserve is the sweet Andalucian town of Archidona. It may be quaint in terms of size, but it’s packed with history, festivals and food, making Archidona a day trip-worthy destination while in Malaga, or really anywhere in central Andalucia.
Like so much of Spain, the 8,000-person pueblo of Archidona has, over the centuries, seen the likes of Phoenicians, Romans, Muslims and finally Christians. During Muslim times, it was even considered an important capital of one of the Al-Andalus territories. Back then, the main village sat above today’s current Archidona, in what is called the Villa Alta, or upper village. The older settlement has long since been abandoned for lower lands, but remnants of it still remain, such as the Virgen de Gracia Church (which sits on the site of a former mosque) and the ruins of a Muslim alcazaba, or fortress.
Villa Baja (the lower village), on the other hand, started to build up around the 16th century. Discover this old – err, new – part of down by stopping at the Church of Santa Ana, the first church in Archidona to be constructed during Christian times. Then, head to other notable structures, including the 16th-century Santo Domingo Convent, and the 18th-century Convent of las Monjas Minimas.
Probably the most emblematic sight in town (both the upper or the lower!) is the octagon-shaped Plaza Ochavada, with its mudejar-inspired facades. The location for bullfights and Easter processions, it’s also the perfect place to find yourself an outdoor terraza and sample some of the city and region’s cuisine.
That’s right: as with any other Spanish town, gastronomy is paramount. Archidona is the place to try many quintessentially Andalucian dishes, including the cold-and-tomato-y gazpacho, or its almond-and-garlic cold-soup counterpart ajoblanco. But what you really won’t want to miss are local specialties such as porra (an even creamier version of salmorejo (similar to gazpacho) that often comes served with a fried anchovy), and the mollete de archidona, a flat bread-roll that can be sliced in half and drizzled with olive oil.
You’ve covered the sights and the food, and now it’s time for the fiestas, because Archidona is also home to a slew of celebrations, from dog fairs to book fairs, cinema festivals and more. But the most noteworthy of these festivals are surely Carnaval, Holy Week (which dates back 500 years), and the celebratory goodness that comes along with the city’s August Fair.
Andalucia is packed with other totally doable day trips. Check out Spain’s pride and joy, the Alhambra, on a day trip to Granada from Malaga. Or leave the country altogether, taking a day trip to Morocco, or even a sightseeing excursion to Gilbratar.
-Contributed by Erin Ridley
Day Trip to Archidona from Andalucia & Costa del Sol Things to Do