The magical town of Málaga that everyone will be talking about this year: it has an enchanted forest where fairies and goblins live.

In the Serranía de Ronda, where Spanish firs blend with mountain trails and white villages seem suspended in time, there emerges a village that has shifted from being inconspicuous to a key player on the Malaga tourist map. Located between the Genal Valley and the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park, Parauta is a small municipality with just 300 inhabitants that is part of the network of Spain’s Most Beautiful Villages, solidifying its presence within the rural tourism of the province of Malaga.

Parauta is located right in the Genal Valley, a natural environment characterized by its mountainous terrain and direct connection to the Sierra de las Nieves, declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. The municipality is part of a landscape of great ecological value where forests of Spanish firs, chestnut trees, and Mediterranean vegetation coexist.

The urban core retains a structure of Andalusian origin, visible in its narrow, cobblestone streets with irregular layouts. The whitewashed houses, Arabic tile roofs, and facades adorned with flower pots create a homogeneous image of the traditional white village of the Serranía de Ronda.

Among its heritage elements, the arch of Altillo Street and various historical fountains that remain integrated into the urban fabric stand out. In the center of the municipality is the Church of the Immaculate Conception, a 16th-century temple that preserves pieces of great historical value, such as the 18th-century Virgin of Sorrows and the image of San Pascual Bailón.

The municipality also maintains a historical link with the figure of Omar Ben Hafsún, an Andalusian rebel leader, whose memory is still honored with a commemorative sculpture on one of its main streets.

The Enchanted Forest of Parauta: a trail of fairies, goblins, and nature

One of the elements that has boosted the tourist projection of Parauta is its Enchanted Forest, an artistic and natural trail inaugurated in 2022 that connects the municipality with the surroundings of the Genal Valley. This trail, just over a kilometer long, runs among centuries-old chestnut trees and integrates into the landscape without altering its natural structure.

The route features sculptures of gnomes, fairies, elves, and fantastic creatures, all hand-carved by local artist Diego Guerrero. These figures are distributed along the path, creating an environment where sculptural art merges with the Mediterranean forest.

The trail is designed as an accessible and passable experience, and culminates with a large sculpture of Pegasus, acting as a symbolic end to the journey. Additionally, the path connects Parauta with the neighboring municipality of Cartajima, integrating into the network of natural paths of the Genal Valley.

Sierra de las Nieves and the Pinsapo de las Escaleretas

The surroundings of Parauta are part of the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park, a protected area of high ecological value. In this enclave, the Pinsapo de las Escaleretas, one of the area's most representative monumental trees, stands out as a Natural Monument.

This example of a Spanish fir reaches over 30 meters in height and has a trunk approximately two meters in diameter. Its age and dimensions make it a benchmark of the local ecosystem, surrounded by traditional stories linked to its presence in the mountain.

Traditions, gastronomy, and rural life in Parauta

The local cuisine of Parauta is closely linked to the products of the Serranía de Ronda, with chestnuts as one of its most representative elements. This fruit is part of the culinary identity of the municipality and its surroundings.

Among its celebrations, the Rabbit Festival, held in November, stands out, during which rice with rabbit is distributed for free, accompanied by traditional products from the area. This festivity brings the community together around local cooking and the agricultural calendar.

The municipality also offers accommodation options based on rural houses and establishments integrated into the natural environment, reinforcing its character as a destination linked to inland tourism in the province of Malaga.