A Little Bit About The Area of Sayalonga…

Sayalonga is located 12km from Velez-Malaga and around 44 km from Malaga city and is part of the Axarquia comarca situated near the natural parks of the Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama. It is also part of the Ruta del Sol y Del Vino, a route that passes through various towns of the comarca. As in the other white hill towns of the Axarquia, you’ll notice Arabic influence here – the town is famous for its associations with nispera fruit (loquat – small, oval and yellow).

From an architectural point of view Sayalonga offers various gems. The Iglesia de Santa Catalina is a 16th-century Mudejar structure at the highest point of the main street. The Cementerio Redondo (circular cemetery) is one of the most original of its kind in Spain, because of its circular form and dome-shaped niche. You can also see the Fuente del Cid (fountain), from where it’s said that El Cid drank on one of his visits through these lands.

The Alminar de Corumbella, a 12th-century tower left from the old mosque of this small village next to Sayalonga, is used nowadays as the bell tower for San Pedro church.

Sayalonga offers three interesting routes for those with a passion for hiking: one goes past the Cajula river to the next-door village of Corumbela; another takes you for a historical journey through the town; and the last one goes to the Rabita, the highest peak of the town at 672m, which offers some superb panoramic views.

When sampling the local cuisine, you have to try Día del Níspero, declared to be of national tourist interest. This takes place in May and, as well as enjoying the homegrown fruit, you can see theatre, performances and craft stalls.

Nuestra Señora del Rosario, the patron saint of Sayalonga, on 7 October.