Frigiliana

A cascade of whitewashed houses tumbling down a hillside above the Costa del Sol, Frigiliana preserves one of the most authentic Moorish quarters in all of Andalucía. Its narrow lanes are decorated with colorful ceramic plaques telling the story of the 1569 Morisco rebellion.

Just 6 km from the tourist hub of Nerja, Frigiliana is somehow overlooked by the millions who visit the coast, leaving its medieval streets blissfully uncrowded.

History

Frigiliana's Moorish quarter dates to the 12th century and remains almost perfectly intact. In 1569, the village was the site of the last battle of the Morisco rebellion — the uprising of converted Muslims against Philip II's oppressive edicts. The battle is commemorated in ceramic plaques lining the village streets. The village's molasses factory, the last in Europe, still produces traditional sugar cane syrup using methods unchanged since the Moors.

Highlights

• Best-preserved Moorish quarter (barrio mudéjar) on the Costa del Sol
• Ceramic plaques depicting the 1569 Morisco rebellion
• San Antonio de Padua molasses factory — last in Europe
• Panoramic views from the Fuerte fort ruins

How to get there

From Málaga, take the A-7 coastal highway east to Nerja, then follow signs north to Frigiliana (6 km). Regular buses run from Nerja.

Explore nearby: Andalucía guide · Málaga province · Castles of Málaga