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THE
AXARQUIA, MALAGA, COSTA DEL SOL, ANDALUSIA |
| The Axarquia is a region in the
east of the province of Malaga. It is a place of
contrast, from the snow-capped mountains reaching to a height of
2,000 mtrs down to the beautiful beaches of the Costa del
Sol.
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 The
area has one of the best climates in Europe with more than 320
days of sun each year. The villages set among the impressive mountains
have retained their Moorish essence throughout the centuries and
are very picturesque with their winding streets and whitewashed
walls reflecting the sunlight.
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 In
the interior lie the Sierra Almijara and Sierra Tejeda with their
mountain streams forming little valleys in which grow many types
of herbs including rosemary and thyme. Further up on the slopes
of the mountains there are pine trees, oak trees and carob trees.The
people in this region have worked the land for many centuries mainly
growing grapes, which are used in the local wine and raisins for
which the area is famous, almonds and olives. However they have
also diversified into more tropical types of fruit such as kiwi,
chirimoya, mango, kiwi and avocados which are suited to the sub-tropical
climate. |
| It is a place
full of contrasts just waiting to be explored.
Competa is a
world apart. A typical white village of the Axarquia,
the name means a meeting place or crossroads. Situated in the foothills
of the Sierra Almijara with an altitude of 635 meters. The area
surrounding Competa benefits from the many mountain streams and
natural springs which bring water down from the mountains. A spectacular
example of the beauty of the region is to be found in a visit to
the nature reserve of Casa de La Mina covering an area of more than
40,000 hectares, which gives you the opportunity of taking long
or short walks in an incomparable setting of mountains and valleys
with many varieties of flora and fauna to be seen.
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Competa is the first of the interior villages
to welcome visitors from other countries. It is a village, which
dates back to Muslim times, and this style is reflected in its
winding streets and traditional houses.
 It
has a population of approx. 3.500 and the village is friendly,
hospitable and a place where the local inhabitants and the people
from other countries who settle here live together in peace
and tranquillity. Competa is famous for its wine and this gives
rise to one of the best known festivities of the region. Known
as the "Noche del Vino" it is celebrated on the 15th
of August with villagers and tourists congregating in the village
to sample the wine and take part in the festivities. The visitor
to Competa will find in this beautiful village
an old world atmosphere, full of sights, sounds colours and
scents. The people, their customs and their impressive mountain
ranges will enclose you in a magical world of beauty only to
be found in this region of Axarquia.
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