Arenas: Festivals, Heritage and Landscape

If you want a festival to determine your travel dates, check the specific date. If you want to include a route, pay attention to information about trail conditions and access. This will help you plan your travel dates and hotel search around what you want to experience in Arenas.

Festivals as a reason to plan your dates

The Feria de la Mula de Arenas takes place annually on 12 October. It honours the mule and helps revive agricultural traditions. The programme includes mule shows and competitions in carrying loads, threshing and shoeing. Traditional music, typical dishes and local Muscatel wine round out the festival. Individual programme items may vary; if the Feria is the deciding factor for your trip, check the programme for the specific date in advance.

The festival of San Sebastián can also be a reason to plan your trip. The feast day falls on 12 August; the celebration is moved to the second weekend in August, although the exact date may change. So check the dates for your travel year if you want to plan your stay specifically around this festival.

Historic architecture and stories

At the upper citadel of Castillo de Bentomiz, remains of crenellated walls, four towers and two vaulted cisterns have been preserved. The various structures give a clear impression of what can still be seen of the complex today: the wall remains, towers and underground-looking vaulted water tanks are among its visible features.

The minaret tower in Daimalos has a square floor plan and four sections of different heights. Blind horseshoe arches and a Mudéjar top with openings for bells shape its architecture. The tower is considered one of the oldest in Spain. The Iglesia de Santa Catalina Mártir also brings together different historical layers: it was originally a mosque, which remained in use until 1505, and retains its brick minaret tower and Mudéjar structure.

Daimalos is also associated with a local legend about a spring: according to tradition, drinking its water brings love.

Landscape and entrance to the village

The centre of Arenas lies among hills covered with almond trees, olive groves, vineyards and pine forests. The landscape may change over the course of the year; the exact timing of seasonal features varies from year to year. At the entrance to the village are a ceramic mural by the artist Virgilio González and an old olive mill building. The mural and the mill offer different perspectives on the area’s cultural and rural heritage.

Planning walks and visits

The Arenas–Daimalos 3 Fuentes Árabes route is described as a walk from Arenas to Daimalos that leads to three fountains. It starts on Calle Calvario in Arenas. Before using the route, check current trail conditions and access and parking arrangements.

For horse rides in the area around Arenas and Castillo de Bentomiz, consider Alquiler de caballos San Roca. Confirm in advance whether the provider is currently operating. At the Cooperativa Agrícola de Aceite Santa Catalina Mártir, you can visit the olive oil mill and buy a bottle of extra virgin olive oil; check the current visitor arrangements directly with the Cooperativa before your visit.

Discover more destinations: Benaoján, Casabermeja, Mondrón, Bobadilla, Algarrobo, Alcaucín, Almargen, El Mopagán.

Back to the regional travel overview: Málaga.