'National Geographic' selects the best villages in Málaga and some may surprise you

The vast territory of Málaga encompasses more than a hundred villages from north to south and east to west, not to mention hamlets and small villages. Among them, the prestigious National Geographic magazine has chosen 11 that deserve the nickname 'most beautiful village of Málaga'. The list includes some of the most recognized villages and municipalities for their beauty, such as Frigiliana, Casares, Genalguacil, and Júzcar, as well as lesser mentioned ones like Sedella, Gaucín, or Alpandeire, not to mention enclaves like El Acebuchal. Casabermeja, Archidona, and Cómpeta complete the list.

"Frigiliana is one of the most beautiful villages in La Axarquía", they say about Frigiliana, where they mention locations such as the Church of San Antonio, Barribarto, or the remains of a castle built in the 9th century, as well as some recommendations on what to order for lunch. The next stop on their list is the village of El Acebuchal, abandoned for years and now offering "stories written on tiles, quiet streets with neighbors ready to greet, swimming pools, accommodations, and even trails make this small enclave of houses a hidden paradise in the mountains".

They continue with Casabermeja, "a perfect village for hiking enthusiasts due to its numerous trails and natural sites", highlighting its four BICs: the Parish Church of Nuestra Señora del Socorro, the Cemetery of San Sebastián, the Pictorial Ensemble of Peñas de Cabrera, and the Tower of Zambra. From there we go to Casares, mentioning its "castle, a fortress built by the Arabs in the 13th century", and other historical buildings such as "the Church of the Incarnation, with a Mudejar bell tower, the parish church of San Sebastián, and the picturesque hermitage of Veracruz". They continue with Archidona, highlighting "the Octagonal Square, with an octagonal floor plan" or "the fortress castle with two lines of walls" or "the hermitage of the Virgin of Grace or the Convent of Santo Domingo".

"The beauty of this village is endorsed since the Arab rule, as the etymology of its name refers to a decorative function related to the presence of plants, trees, and flora in general: Genna-Alwacir, the gardens of the Vizier", they write about Genalguacil, a "reference village-museum". Next stop at Júzcar, the blue village, where "walking through its streets is like entering a surreal dream, here what should be white, is blue, but without renouncing the Andalusian rural imaginary, the pots are overflowing with bright geraniums and the shadows dissolve in a celestial reflection, and even the air seems to be dyed cyan when the sun filters through the alleys".

"Cómpeta appears in the Axarquía as a balcony of lime and red tiles. A labyrinth of cobbled streets that winds between white houses where the sun reflects. At its corners, the pots overflow with geraniums and bougainvilleas, while the scent of jasmine perfumes the temperate air", they praise about Cómpeta, captivated by its sweet wine that "is more than a drink; it's a religion" or spots like the church of Our Lady of the Assumption. They also stop at Sedella, "a maze of narrow alleyways that snake between whitewashed houses, flower-filled courtyards, and natural viewpoints", focusing on its church of San Andrés or its "vineyards and olive groves".

We reach the last two. On one hand, Gaucín, noted for its "white houses climbing the slope with astonishing vigor and from its cobbled streets, the landscape opens up into an ocean of mountains, where the green of the cork oaks merges with the distant blue of the Strait of Gibraltar" and they point out as of interest the ruins of the Eagle's Castle or the church of San Sebastián. Lastly, Alpandeire, this "small and quiet village" but with an "imposing church of San Antonio de Padua".

The 11 villages of Málaga that National Geographic describes as the best

• Frigiliana
• El Acebuchal
• Casabermeja
• Casares
• Archidona
• Genalguacil
• Júzcar
• Cómpeta
• Sedella
• Gaucín
• Alpandeire