Discover Periana: Olive Groves, Olive Oil Tradition and History

Periana is surrounded by orchards and olive groves. A remarkable sight in this landscape is the Olivo Caracol de Fuente Piojo: In 2017, this monumental olive tree received the AEMO award for Spain’s best monumental olive tree.

Other places to discover: Fuente De Piedra, Cortes De La Frontera, San Pedro de Alcántara, Rincón De La Victoria, Bermejo, Alpandeire, La Cala del Moral and Marbella.

Landscape

The Periana section of the GR 249 passes through centuries-old olive groves. Traditional dry-stone walls have been preserved between the plots, along with kilometres of small albarradas that reduce the slope of the terrain. The route thus combines traditional forms of land management with a landscape in which olive trees remain a defining feature to this day.

Hiking

The first stage of the GR-242 is the Periana–Alcaucín section and begins in the centre of Periana. Another route is the GR 249: At kilometre 22.6, it enters the Periana area alongside the archaeological site of Capellanía, which is more than two millennia old. Stage 08 of the GR 249 ends at the southern entrance to the village near the Vereda de Cantillana, where it reaches the first houses.

The I Ruta de los Olivos Milenarios de Periana also focuses on the olive-growing landscape. It presents the history of olive trees of the „Verdial de Vélez-Málaga“ variety and ends at the Cooperativa Olivarera San Isidro. Different route sections and themed trails each provide the landscape with its own context.

Culture

In the vicinity of Periana, in the olive-oil-producing village of Mondrón, the Museo del Aceite de Mondrón preserves historic olive oil production methods. The museum displays old millstones and other equipment. Admission is free; visitors can also purchase oil from the olive mill there.

In the centre of Periana, the Antiguo Lavadero Municipal is located on Calle Cerco, a few metres from the Plaza de la Fuente. Today, it serves the drinking-water supply and is also a quiet, picturesque place by the water. The washhouse recalls the former social function of communal lavaderos. In Periana, the old tradition of carrying water home from the spring in botijos also continues.

In the vicinity of Periana, in the village of Baños de Vilo, there is a bathhouse believed to be an Arab bath. It is located 2.5 kilometres from Periana, at just over 610 metres above sea level. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Balneario de Baños de Vilo was considered one of Andalusia’s most important spa resorts.

The surviving edge of the pool at the Poza de Vilo has a stone surround built more than a thousand years ago. The water is considered sulphurous, magnesium-calcium-rich and nitrogenous, and has a constant temperature of 21 °C.

Further historic traces can be found at Cerro de Capellanía. Settlement remains have been preserved there, with a history that began in the Middle Neolithic and continued until the 1st century AD. The caves beside the Abrigo de Marchamonas contain prehistoric rock paintings; the cave is classified as a Bien de Interés Cultural. The Iglesia de San Isidro Labrador in Periana was built in the Neo-Mudéjar style after the earthquake.

Food and Drink

The Día del Aceite Verdial takes place every spring in Periana and includes a traditional molinero breakfast with bread, cod, green beans and Verdial olive oil. The event is recognised in Málaga as an event of provincial tourism interest. During the Día del Aceite Verdial, visitors can view traditional olive oil production equipment, such as millstones, presses and capacho, at the two local cooperatives.

For the main travel overview: Málaga.