About Canillas de Albaida

his whitewashed village is on the very perimeter of the Sierra Tejeda Natural Park, close to the head of the Sayalonga valley. It is 576 metres above sea level, has a population of about 600 people, and is well connected. It is a half hour drive down the valley to the coastal motorway near Algorrobo. Three buses ply this route daily, stopping at villages then seaside towns en-route to the province capital of Malaga. Alternatively you can find your own way, crossing the valley to find another route south, or head further into the hills; and there is also access into the spectacular Natural Park. Canillas de Albaida was established by the Arabs – Albaida meant white – and the landmark hilltop church of Santa Ana was built on the site of an ancient mosque. The main square has recently been paved and refurbished and is dominated by the impressive doors, walls and windows of the 16th Century parochial church, Nuestra Señora de la Expectación.

Nowadays Canillas de Albaida is a quiet, easygoing place, with attractive restaurants offering English, Moroccan and, of course, Spanish cuisine, as well as bars with shady terraces where you can relax. Local dishes served here include fennel soup “potaje de hinojos” or the delicious cold almond and garlic soup “ajo blanco”.

Entering the Natural Park via a road that leads away from the top of the village soon brings you to an attractive picnic spot called “La Fabrica de La Luz”. Tables, benches, barbecue areas, fountains and toilets have been provided and you can eat in the pine scented shade enjoying the music of a nearby stream. This spot serves as a base for walkers as there are dozens of attractive routes through the park, from gentle half hour strolls to arduous assaults on “La Maroma”, the highest peak of the Sierra Tejeda at two thousand metres high, which is normally snow-capped in winter.