CANILLAS DE ACEITUNO HOLIDAY RENTALS - MALAGA - ANDALUCIA - SPAIN

• RENTAL: Private villa with own pool in the hills of Andalucia - sleeps 6

CANILLAS DE ACEITUNO HOLIDAY RENTALS

Canillas de Aceituno

This resort lies in the foothills of the Sierra Tejada mountains, about 50 km from Malaga.

People believe that drinking the natural spring water will fend off illness.

Not far from here, is the canyon of the river Almachares, well worth a visit for barbeques and picnics.

Detail from property rental advert no. 380 about CANILLAS DE ACEITUNO HOLIDAY RENTALS

Location. Nestled in the mountains below the Sierra Tejada National reserve, is the picturesque Andalucian village of Canillas de Aceituno, an hour from Malaga airport and 25 mins. from the coastal resort of Torre del Mar. The village has typically Moorish layout with narrow, winding streets of whitewashed houses, decorated with bougainvillea, jasmine and geraniums. On the hillsides you will see olives, almonds, citrus, figs, vineyards, white triangles which form headstones for raisin drying beds and a light dusting of white buildings. There are various explanations for the name of the village. One states that Canillas de Aceituno, owes its name to two civilisations: the Romans named it ‘Canillae’, which means ‘an area of small canes’, and the Moors added ‘Al-Zaytun’ meaning ‘dyed natural silk’, because the village produced a lot of good quality silk. Our villa is just outside Canillas and is reached by a 2km road (nearly all tarmac but the last 100m rough), passing the boundary of the reserve. It has views onto vineyards, citrus groves and natural hillsides. The majestic peak of Mount Maroma, which is occasionally snow-capped, stands 2065m above. We call our villa “Bajo la Maroma”, (beneath Maroma). If you are looking for a restful holiday but wish to be handy for the airport and the coast, this could be the place for you. The buzz of the coast, is within twenty-five minutes drive. You can wander around the local hills, visit the ‘bat cave’, ‘Cueva de la Fajara’, (take torch), passing an old mill and pool. Another place for a dip is a five-minute walk into the Sierra Tejada, from the road to Sedella. There is a series of 5 guides, which describe many other walks in the local area. You can visit the old town of Antequerra with its castle and newly opened olive-oil museum. See 1000’s of flamingos in Fuente de las Piedras (seasonal), watch and eat fresh trout at Rio Frio and bathe in hot springs at Alhama on your way to Granada, with its magnificent Alhambra Palace (book in advance) and Sierra Nevada Ski resort (generally open Nov – April). Ronda, Seville, Cordoba, Marbella and Gibraltar are also all within reach. Within 30 mins. you can visit awesome caves in the pleasant resort of Nerja, an aqua park, go horse riding and go-karting on the old road to Malaga, just outside Torre del Mar or play golf. At the coast, you can find pedalos, jet-ski, scuba, windsurfing and restaurants galore. Torrox costa and Torre del Mar, both have promenades with restaurants but for a more dramatic coastline with steep cliffs, visit La Costa Tropical, between Nerja and Almunecar. Although most beaches can be reached only on foot, El Canuelo, has a mini-bus service from June to September. If you prefer to stay away from it all, then the inland area is littered with tiny, whitewashed villages and bars just waiting to be explored. Of course you can always go nowhere…in spring listen to hoopoo, frogs and nightingales, find wild orchids, grape hyacinths and irises, smell the orange blossom; in summer swim in the pool, sunbathe, or sit in the shade of the carob tree, hear the goats and sheep, with their bells, as they meander across the hillsides and watch shooting stars by night.