Frigiliana - once seen, never forgotten

It has often been voted the prettiest village in the province of Malaga.

Situated in the foothills of the Sierra Almijara mountain range, Frigiliana is a beautiful village which has received several awards for conservation and beauty.

The village is located just 6 kilometers inland north of Nerja and lies at an alatitude of 435 meters. Frigiliana has a population of 3,000. It enjoys spectacular countryside as well as wonderful sea views and good access to the coast.

The village itself is pleasant to walk around and is best explored on foot. The narrow cobbled streets of whitewashed houses, along with their wrought iron balconies filled with planters of brilliant red geraniums, ensure that photographers keep busy. Small plazas provide you with the chance to sit under a tree and watch daily life unfold. There are several, good ambiance, traditional village bars in which you can taste locally produced wine. There are many excellent gift shops selling pottery and ceramics.

Frigliana appeals to tourists of all ages and various interests. Quiet streets of Frigiliana turn into the crazy bull chase at St. Antonio festival and into a lively street celebration during Tree Cultures festival. Whether you come in busy summer months or quieter spring you will always find here lots of artists, tempting art and craft boutiques and Andalusian restaurants serving delicious meals made from locally grown fresh produce.

Winter and autumn are a harvest season in Andalusia. Fruterias and corner shops offer various citrus fruits, mangoes, avocados, cheirimoyas, sun dried Muscat raisins and figs, a wide selection of nuts and dates. All of that freshly sourced from surrounding Frigiliana orchards. It is a feast time.

Above all, Frigiliana and its neighbourhood it is a land of sun. It enjoys one of the warmest climates in all Europe. The temperature here rarely drops below 10º C, even in January. Here you can be swimming in early spring and late autumn, sitting or walking under clear blue skies during 320 days of the year.

Frigiliana is a unique place in Andalusia. Secluded in the mountains at the same time as close to the coastline as you can dream of, Monasteria combines what both a townhouse and a countryside finca offer.

All year round amusing, entertaining, educating and relaxing

Calendar of interesting events and carnivals in Frigiliana.

San Sebastian – takes place on January 20th and it starts with a mass in honour of San Sebastián. The main event is a procession carrying the statue of San Sebastián through the village. It is accompanied by spectacular fireworks along the processional route.

Carnival - celebrated a few days after the beginning of Lent. The crowd marches through the streets of Frigiliana. The celebrations begin in the newer part of Frigiliana and then moves to the old town visiting just about every part of it. Music, drums, rattles and hundreds of people in fancy dress make it a loud colourful experience.

Holy Week - begins on the Friday before Palm Sunday just before the events commemorating the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. El Viernes de Dolores, Friday of the Sorrows – the largest brotherhood in Frigiliana, goes in procession dressed in hooded black robes in the pharaonic style.

The May Crosses - shows off Frigiliana at its most beautiful in this captivating tribute to the spring - season of flowers.

The Fair of San Antonio - annual fair is held in honour of the town’s patron Saint Anthony of Padua. This festival takes place on 13th of June. Traditionally it starts with a salvo of gun shots, followed by a contest of Miss of the Fair and a chase of raging bulls. It finally concludes with a spectacular display of fireworks.

Three Cultures Festival - during the last week of August Frigiliana gets decorated to begin its probably most spectacular party. Thousands of people celebrate coexistence of three cultures that have influenced Andalusia over the centuries and that have left their visible mark on Frigiliana.

The village becomes an open air festival enriched with food, music, arts, crafts and traditions reflecting different aspects of Christian, Arabic and Jewish cultures.

For three days and nights restaurants create special menus, musicians play exotic music and street theatre performers entertain the participants of this exhilarating and iconic show.

Out and About

One of the best benefits of living in Frigiliana is that everything is close by. You don't have to drive much or not at all to see much and spend your holiday happily.

There is a number of a must see and interesting to visit places in Frigiliana village. Many of them located just 5-10 minutes away from the house door.

Old Quarter of Frigiliana – it is one of the best preserved in Malaga province. Its part where our house is located is called Barribarto. Properties located within Barribarto area are a clear example of architecture based on local needs, traditional building methods and local construction materials.

We recommend a walk throughout the village at night. Cobbled streets light with wrought iron lamps lead to tunnel-like passages that give access to hidden houses.

San Antonio church and its square – build in 1676 in Renaissance style.

Fuente Vieja – a fountain constructed in 1640 that was designed to provide drinking water.

Cassa del Apero – built at the beginning of XVII century hosts a museum and a Tourist Office.

El Ingenio – it is one of the most important and historic and cultural buildings in Frigiliana. Today in this building there is a factory that produces Miel de Cana, here it is the only such factory in Europe.

A walk to the ruins of a Castle of Lizar - there is not much left of the ruins but it presents a stunning view point and most spectacular at the sunset. You can see the ruins of the castle from our terraces.

From the Monasteria turn right, and following up the Calle Chorrera pass windows with mechanic theatres. After 20 yards up the steps turn left to reach a parking area. Then follow steep gravel tracks. The whole walk should not take you more than an hour and one of the ways leads through an avocado orchard.

Please bare in mind that viewpoints (about 6 of them) and the top of the mountain are not secured by any railings. Hold your children hands for their safety.

We recommend returning to home by following the path down through a pine forest. This route is winding across beautiful gardens, passing by donkeys sanctuara and few villas. It ends by Le Jardin and Mirador restaurants.

Natural Park of Sierra Almijara and Tejada mountain ranges – Frigiliana is a starting point of many hiking routes. So put on your hiking boots and enjoy! We keep in Monasteria a guide book with detailed description, time durations and difficulty of mountain treks. Similar information can be found on the website of Frigiliana Tourist Office. In total, there are 9 routes, virtually achievable by people of any age or physical condition. We have done a couple of easier ones with our 3 years old son and him truly enjoyed exploring the nature with his parents.

One of closest, easy grade treks starts on our doorstep and it leads to the peak called El Fuerte. From the Monasteria turn right, and following up the Calle Chorrera pass windows with mechanic theatres. After 20 yards up the steps turn left to reach a parking area. Then follow steep gravel tracks. On the right, you find an avocado orchard, go through the orchard to reach a water reservoir called Pozo de Lizar. Then go left towards a villa with a water mill. The true route up the mountain starts here by the villa. If you are going with younger kids we recommend to take from our house a mountain back carrier, plenty of water and sun protection. Allow about 7 hours for a return trip.

Walk via riverbed of the Rio Higueron. We have walked this route at different seasons of the year, there always seems to be water flowing in some part of the river. To start you need to go down the village to Plazza del Ingenio. From here follow a windy path behind a pharmacy shop and banks. In June, during church celebration, pilgrimage follow this route. Two huge oxen pull a wagon with St. Antonio figurine. The locals dressed in traditional outfits follow it on horseback and in colorful wagons.

A rock climbing cliff - well-bolted crag for sport climbing just 10 minutes walk from Monasteria. About 60 varied lines on good rock with solid belay stations. The place is well concealed. For details please contact Oliver.

Nerja - 10 minutes car drive or by a bus, towards coastline lies a lively town Nerja with sparkly water, sandy beaches and spectacular panoramic view from the Balcon the Europa.

Nerja was once a sleepy fishing village. Today it is a vibrant town, full of little restaurants, boutiques and cafes. Nerja has managed to avoid being spoiled by the concrete high-rise scenery which has been the inevitable result of the tourist boom in some of the coastal resorts. The old quarter of the town is still virtually unchanged with narrow, winding streets, whitewashed houses and wrought iron Juliet balconies overflowing with flowers.

Playa Burriana - this beach is safe and well maintained, it is perfect for a family with children of all ages. It has few playgrounds, water sports and diving centres, lots of restaurants and artisan ice cream shops. Our favourite restaurant is Ayo with its famous Paela and Wednesday Flamenco night. Playa Burriana is always busy and parking may be difficult.

Playa Maro – this is smaller and more wild beach. We were lucky to find it nearly empty out of season. It is well screened, south facing and perfect for swimming in winter. Travel further east you will find many more lovely beaches. One of them that deserves being highlighted is Canuelo.

Playa Canuelo – situated in National Park it has an abundance of sea life and crystal clear water. It is a diving and snorkeling paradise. You will need to leave your car in a nearby parking and take provided by the National Park mini bus. In mid summer pebbles on this beach get scorching hot so remember to take beach shoes.

Rio Chillar - The walk up the river Chillar is considered by many Spanish families as 'a summer classic.' The route cuts through the Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park. It offers plenty of shade, crystal clear river pools and guarantees a brilliant day out for the whole family. It does get busy on weekends and local holidays. If doing the hike on a weekend, it is always best to leave early.

To find the start of the route direct your car to Calle Mirto in Nerja and ask for further directions.
It is close to Mercadilo, a parking where Sunday car boot sale takes place.

Acebuchal - just 7 kilometres away is the small hamlet of El Acebuchal. It is an authentic, historical mountain village situated on the edge of the protected National Park of Sierra Tejeda. Surrounded by pine forests and wild rosemary, El Acebuchal has a rustic charm of days gone by. It is the perfect environment for artists, writers, poets or anyone who wants to get back to nature. From here you can enjoy beautiful trails and paths through the natural park. It can be explored on a mountain bike, horseback, by 4x4 or quad, or simply hiking.

Day trips: Malaga, Granada, Sierra Nevada mountain range and villages of Alpujarras , Rio Verde, Camino Del Rey - El Chorro, El Torcal natural park.

How to get here

Frigilina - located 72 km from Malaga airport and 98 km from Granada airport.

By car: From Malaga Airport take a motorway E15/A7 in a direction to Almeria. We recommend using a sat nav at least at the beginning of the route as entering A7 is a bit complicated. Once you are on the motorway navigation becomes much easier. Please obey the speed limits as there are three speed cameras on your way to Frigiliana. After driving for 65 km you will find exit 292 towards Nerja/Frigiliana, take this exit. On the first roundabout take 3rd exit to face the mountains. Follow signs to Frigiliana. Now road gets steeper and more bendy, pass a little helmet Molineta. Once you have reached Frigiliana, on the small roundabout take 3rd exit to enter a road going a bit down hill. You stop driving on Avenida Carlos Cano where you should park the car. Parking in Frigiliana is free. Monasteria is situated on the top of the old part of the village.

By coach: from Malaga airport take a bus to Malaga city coach station. Once there, look for Alsa ticket office, get a ticket to Nerja. On the ticket, you will find the departure time and platform. Alsa has a website where you can book your ticket in advance. Bare in mind that there is only one a non-stop bus from Malaga to Nerja. It leaves at midday and the journey takes only one hour. The rest of buses are going along the coastline stopping frequently, which results in a 2 hours journey. Once in Nerja, take another bus to Frigiliana. Bus to Frigiliana departures from the same bus stop. Buses leave every hour. There are no buses on Sunday. The cost of both tickets is less than 10 euros. We suggest to checking the most up to date timetable on Alsa website. Once in Frigiliana, the bus will stop on Avenida Carlos Cano. Monasteria is situated on the top of old part of the village.