Welcome to Árchez - La Axarquía
A-XARQIYYA
For more than a thousand years this name has been used to designate a region, the one facing the sunrise «el xarq», which lies to the east in the province of Malaga.
The Axarquia in it, hidden as Mudejar or Moorish, still keeps many of the essences that made Al-Andalus the light of the West and in the Axarquia is located ÁRCHEZ a Merinite Jewel of the 12th century.
The Axarquia is a region located in the east of the province of Malaga, in Andalusia (Spain). It is one of the most picturesque and characterful areas of the province, known for its mountainous landscape, its proximity to the sea and its strong Moorish heritage. 🌄🌊
Here is a detailed summary:
🗺️ Location and geography
- Limited to west with the region of Málaga-Costa del Sol, to the north with the province of Granada and to the south with the Mediterranean Sea.
- Its historical and administrative capital is Vélez-Málaga, which is also the most densely populated nucleus.
- The terrain is very varied: it combines mountains (such as the Sierra de Almijara or the Maroma, The highest peak in the province at 2,065 m), with valleys and a coastal strip known as the Eastern Costa del Sol.
🌿 Nature and landscape
- The term Axarquia comes from Arabic «Ash-Sharqy», which means “the oriental” o “the one from the east”.”.
- It is a region of great natural beauty, The region has olive groves, vineyards and white villages perched in the mountains.
- Natural areas such as the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama Natural Park, which serves as a border with Granada.
🏘️ Featured villages
La Axarquía has more than 30 municipalities, Many of them are of Moorish origin, with narrow streets and typical Andalusian white architecture.
Some of the best known are:
- Frigiliana - one of the most beautiful villages in Spain.
- Nerja - famous for its beaches, the Balcón de Europa and the Nerja Caves.
- Competa - known for its sweet wines.
- Torrox - boasts “the best climate in Europe”.
- Canillas de Aceituno, Salares, Sedella, Archez o Sands, All of them with a strong rural character and Andalusian heritage.
🏛️ History
- During the Muslim domination, the Axarquia was one of the most prosperous areas of the Nasrid kingdom of Granada.
- After the Reconquista, Many Moors remained until their expulsion in the 16th century, leaving a deep mark on the culture, agriculture and toponymy of the area.
- Its history is reflected in the remains of watchtowers, castles, mosques converted into churches y mills.
🍇 Economy and typical products
- Traditionally agricultural: extra virgin olive oil, muscatel sultanas (with designation of origin), avocados, handles, sweet wine y almonds.
- Rural and coastal tourism is now an essential part of the economy.
- There is also a boom in sustainable tourism y wine tourism (wine and sultana routes).
🎭 Culture and traditions
- Festivals such as the Pilgrimage of San Isidro (in Vélez-Málaga), the Sultana Day in El Borge or the Wine Day in Cómpeta.
- Its gastronomy combines seafood and mountain cuisine: crumbs, ajoblanco, anchovies, goat with garlic, muscatel wine y OIL CAKES.
The Axarquia has its own currency «El Axarco».»
The Axarco has value in itself as it is made of silver. In this sense, the monetary value of each one of them is established in relation to the weight in silver.
Thus, the most valuable coin is the one weighing 20 grams of silver, which translates into 20 euros. It is followed by the 10 euro coin, the 4 euro coin, known as axarquillo and the 45 cent coin known as miajaxarquín.
The Sayyid of the Axarquia, Mr. Antonio Gámez Burgos, a native of Vélez-Málaga, a graduate in Chemistry, a lover of literature and Andalusian history, in his eagerness to build a unified region, decided to create the Axarco currency, a link between all the inhabitants of the region.
The Axarquia as seen from La Maroma, the highest mountain in Malaga.