Comares: Landscape, Culture and History

Comares sits on a rocky promontory, commanding the Periana corridor and parts of the Montes de la Axarquía to the north, as well as the expansive area of the Vélez Valley and the Sierra de Tejeda to the south. Historic buildings, archaeological remains, Verdiales culture and a range of activities offer different points of interest. If you are looking for a hotel in Comares, you can start by considering whether local history, culture, archaeology or an activity will shape your stay.

Castle Remains and Historic Walls

Castillo Baluarte La Tahona preserves remnants of a wall from the former castle of Comares. La Tahoncilla is a small tower that formed part of the castle’s defensive perimeter. La Coracha refers to the remains of the Arab wall surrounding the town centre. The three names therefore represent different forms: a castle wall, a small part of the defensive perimeter and a wall around the town centre. Comparing them reveals three distinct points of reference in the town’s history: the castle, its defensive perimeter and the town centre.

The Parish Church’s Architecture

The parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación dates from 1505. Its architectural features include Mudéjar wooden ceilings in the presbytery and the central nave. The Sagrario Chapel was built in 1721 and has a Rococo dome. The distinction is significant: the Mudéjar ceilings are found in two areas of the church, while the Rococo dome is a feature of the Sagrario Chapel. If you are interested in architecture, you can look for these different features within a single building.

Archaeological Remains on the Mesa de Maxmúllar

The Mesa de Maxmúllar is home to several archaeological remains. These include a Mozarabic cistern dating from the 13th century, which was declared a national historic-artistic monument in May 1931. The remains of a Mozarabic dwelling with three rooms and a millstone have also been preserved there. Anthropomorphic tombs have been carved into the natural rock; there are also around 30 storage jars carved into the rock, which were used to store grain. The cistern, dwelling, tombs and storage jars point to different aspects of the site’s archaeology. If you are planning a visit, check local access conditions beforehand.

Verdiales Culture and the Ruta Musulmana

The Monumento al Fiestero stands in the Plaza de los Verdiales and represents Comares’ local Verdiales culture. The Fiesta de Verdiales (San Hilario de Poitiers) is also dedicated to this tradition and is recognised as a festival of provincial tourist interest in Málaga. Throughout the day, Verdiales music, singing and dancing take place at various locations in Comares during the festival. If you would like to plan your trip around the festival, confirm the date in advance with the town hall or municipal tourist office.

The Ruta Musulmana offers another way to explore Comares: it can be followed virtually on a mobile phone, without a guide. Alongside the architectural and archaeological themes described above, this provides a digital option that visitors can explore independently.

Routes and Activities

The Comares zip line is 436 metres long and has a vertical drop of 115 metres. Check the technical details before your trip. Comares also has several via ferratas with different routes and features such as Tibetan bridges, monkey bridges and suspension bridges. Check the routes and their configurations before setting out. One route in Comares is 3 kilometres long and takes about an hour; here too, you should check the conditions before setting off.

The options can be compared using different criteria: for the route, consider its length and approximate duration; for the zip line, its length and vertical drop; and for the via ferratas, the routes and types of features. This information can help you choose the focus of your trip more specifically, without treating the activities as equivalent.

Discover more destinations: Cártama, Sierra De Yeguas, Valle De Abdalajís, Canillas De Aceituno, Alhaurin De La Torre, Benamocarra, Los Llanos, Cuevas Del Becerro.

For the broader travel overview: Málaga.