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Nestled amongst vineyards, citrus trees, and avocado plantations sits Benamargosa - an unimposing white village in Málaga that you probably haven't heard of before. I came across this village while driving along the Route of the Raisin, and made a quick stop to take a look at the few points of interest that Benamargosa has. While I wouldn't necessarily plan a day trip from Málaga here, it's situated in a very picturesque location, and if you're exploring the Axarquía region of Málaga it's worth stopping at for an hour or so. For those of you that love anything to do with avocados, Benamargosa is one of six villages that make up the Route of the Sun and the Avocado, and it even even has its own avocado-based smoothie called Baticate.
Compared to other white villages in this area of Málaga, there aren't too many things to see in Benamargosa, which is why I would only recommend planning a short stop here. The village does, however, have a history that dates back to the 15th century, when 45 Moors were given permission to live here under Christian rule. There is also a document that dates back to the early 13th century linking Benamargosa to the citrus fruits grown in this micro climate. Here are my recommendations on what to see in Benamargosa if you're interested in its history and heritage:
1. Iglesia de la Encarnación
The main thing to see in Benamargosa is the Iglesia de la Encarnación, which was built in the 16th century on the site of an Arab mosque. It sits at the lower end of the village, and is considered to be the oldest and most important building in Benamargosa. The church doors were unfortunately closed when I visited, but from what I've read online it's worth popping into if you're lucky enough for it to be open. The church is very easy to locate as it sits on the main road of the village, and there are a number of free parking spaces nearby too.
2. Puente de los Diez Ojos
Sitting directly opposite Iglesia de la Encarnación is another interesting historic landmark in Benamargosa - Puente de los Diez Ojos (Bridge of the Ten Eyes). I initially thought that this bridge would have a creepy story to go along with it, but it actually gets its name from the 10 arches that span the length of the bridge. This is an important symbol of the village, as its construction allowed the farmers to freely access the fields with their subtropical products growing in them, even during floods. This may not be the most exciting thing to see in Benamargosa, but it's something! If you're planning on continuing along the Ruta de la Pasa, you'll cross this bridge as you make your way to the next white village in the Axarquía region.
3. Arco de la Huerta
Another important historic site to see in Benamargosa, almost directly next to Puente de los Diez Ojos, is the Arco de la Huerta. No one quite knows when it was constructed, but it would have aided farmers in supplying water to their nearby crops by carrying the water along the top of it, acting like an aqueduct. Only part of this wall now remains, but it's a testament to the importance of farming in the region. The arch itself is actually very low - so watch your head if you plan on walking under it!
4. Ermita de San Sebastián
The Ermita de San Sebastián takes a bit of an uphill walk to get to (which is a bit tougher if you visit midday like I did because of the heat), and although it's only very small, it's considered to be one of the main things to see in Benamargosa due to its religious importance within the village. Every year on January 20th there is a festival dedicated to the patron saint of the village, San Sebastián, which is filled with music and a lot of food. Once you make it to the Ermita de San Sebastián, there's a little bench next to the Virgen de Purisima, which you'll be quite glad of!
5. Drive the Ruta de la Pasa
Since there aren't too many things to see in Benamargosa itself, you only need to spend a short time here to see everything. I would recommend taking a stroll through some of its streets if you have some extra time though, as some of the them are quite picturesque. Once you've finished in Benamargosa, there are a couple of other nearby white villages such as El Borge and Comares, that are both also on the Ruta de la Pasa (Route of the Raisin). It's a fantastic driving route in Spain to go on, especially if you have nice weather, and it's a great idea for a road trip from Málaga too. If you're visiting Benamargosa as part of the Route of the Sun and the Avocado, you'll definitely enjoy the Route of the Raisin as it passes by even more inland white villages in the Axarquía region of Málaga.
As I've mentioned in previous posts, there are an abundance of white villages in southern Spain to choose from, but many of the smaller, more secluded ones are often overlooked by tourists and even people living in Andalucía. Sure, there may not be many things to see or do in Benamargosa in terms of "tourist attractions", but it's still a beautiful pueblo blanco to make a short stop at, and visiting it is a great way to learn more about this region of Málaga too.
Do you know of any unique and off the beaten path day trips from Málaga to go on? I'm always looking for new places to visit in southern Spain, so I would love to hear from you in the comments section below or via email. You can also get in touch with me on Instagram and keep up to date with my latest travel photos there too!
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