With a population of 5.000 inhabitants, Algarrobo, although being a costal town, it has its town centre in the interior. The town centre is at three kilometres from the coast, exactly on the hillside that goes up to the Shrine of San Sebastián.
It is located between Torre del Mar and Nerja, so if you have a vehicle you can enjoy a wide range of options for exploring the area.
History of Algarrobo
The first evidence of urban settlements, dating from the Bronze Age, were found in “El Morro de Mezquitilla”. The archaeological sites located in the necropolis of Trayamar that has attracted the most attention of visitors and investigators alike; it has the Western Mediterranean´s most important complex of Paleopunic tombs, dating from the Seventh Century B.C.
It was the arabs, specifically the members of the Berber tribe, Beni Tumi, who gave the name to “La Sierra de Bentomiz”. Towards the end of the Fifteenth Century, the town of Algarrobo passed onto Doña Catalina de Ribera, who had to confront the Moorish revolt and its subsequent expulsion.
Things to do and places to visit
As you stroll through Algarrobo you can feel the strong Moorish influence in the layout of its streets, which climb up the side of a hill. The best way to discover this municipality is to stroll through its streets, where you will discover many places of interest.
Apart from the archaeological sites, other places that worth visiting are the Shrine of San Sebastián and the Parish Church of Santa Ana, built in the Sixteenth Century.
The mouth of the Algarrobo River is home to some local treasures. You will find archaeological remains and a curious leaning tower, which dates from the Islamic period. The other tower dates from the 16th century and had a military function as part of a fortress.
Festivities
The popular festivities are celebrated during the last fortnight in August and at the beginning of the year. On the 20th of January, the town shows its best face in order to celebrate the festivities in honour of its Patron Saint, San Sebastián.
The St. John’s festival also takes place in a special way in Algarrobo Costa. If you are in the area by the end of June, you might want to go to the beach to see the atmosphere during the shortest night of the year.
There is a traditional festival in Algarrobo Costa in late August or early September; there is no fixed date. It is a festival where dances from different cultures are shown.
At the end of September there is a special celebration of the attempt by the French army in the War of Independence to burn the village. During these festivities there is a historical recreation with food tasting and a variety of performances.
Gastronomy
In its confectionery, it is the famous cakes that take the town´s name and “los roscos de aceite”, of clear Arabic origin. There are more recommended plates we can recommend:
- Potaje algarrobeño
- Goat basted in garlic
- Fennel stew
- Cold garlic and almond soup
- “Espetos de sardinas” and “la moraga de pescado” are popular in Algarrobo Costa, in restaurants near the beach.
Its gastronomy is particularly famous for its carob cakes “tortas de algarrobo”. They are popular both inside and outside the province of Malaga.
Algarrobo Costa
Algarrobo stretches from inland to the coast, with the part by the sea being the most popular as holiday accommodation. The beach of Algarrobo Costa is dark sandy with small pebbles and clean water.
The opinions of our clients are positive about this beach. If you have a car you can also visit other beaches and areas of interest; we recommend going to Maro, popular for being a natural quiet beach.
How to get to Algarrobo
The fastest way is driving the highway A-7 from Malaga airport to Algarrobo; this road will take you there in approximately 42 minutes. If you prefer a longer trip but with a more scenic view while driving, you can take the coastal road.