Discover Istán: Water, Trails and History

Water and nature

The Museo y Centro de Interpretación del Agua in Istán is dedicated to interpreting water culture and explains the importance of water for life and human development. The museum’s visitor reception centre has an exhibition area, touchscreens and audio guides with narratives translated into English. The Istán information point provides visitor information in Spanish, English and French. Guided tours of the Moorish Springs and irrigation channels, the Museo y Centro de Interpretación del Agua, the Paraje del Coto and the Árbol de los Abrazos are offered there.

The Castaño Santo in Istán is an exceptionally large tree, probably around 800 years old; its trunk circumference reaches up to 15 metres at a height of 1.30 metres, while its base measures up to 22 metres. The Embalse de la Concepción reservoir lies on the Río Verde de Istán.

Culture and history

The parish church of San Miguel is considered Istán’s oldest and most significant monument. The Church of San Miguel was built at the beginning of the 16th century and remodelled twice, most recently in 1996. The Torre de Escalante stands in the centre of Istán; it is listed as an Asset of Cultural Interest and may have been a former Nasrid watchtower. The Fuente y lavadero El Chorro complex comprises a drinking-water fountain with seven outlets. The water from the Fuente y lavadero El Chorro flows over a small waterfall to the area where laundry was formerly washed.

The El Paso pageant is part of Holy Week in Istán and takes place between Maundy Thursday and Holy Saturday. The Romería de San Miguel, locally also known as Tomillería, takes place on the Sunday before 29 September.

Hiking and cycling

The PR-A 280 starts at Plaza del Cha in Istán and passes through orchards until it crosses the Río Molinos. It is a waymarked, officially approved 6.7 km hiking trail that can be walked. It leads to Charco del Canalón in the Río Verde valley. The PR-A 140 route from Marbella to Istán crosses the municipal boundary; the trail leads from the municipality of Marbella into that of Istán. The Ruta Bici Istán-Castaño Santo is a cycling route from Istán to the Castaño Santo.

Other place names on this page are Alameda, Comares, Cajiz, Bobadilla, Genalguacil, Alhaurin El Grande, Arriate and Cañete La Real.

Cuisine

The Muestra Gastronómica y Día de la Naranja takes place in spring and includes traditional dishes made with typical local products, as well as orange juice. The Ruta de la Tapa takes place at the same time, with the town’s bars and restaurants offering their specialities.

For the overarching travel overview: Málaga.