Villanueva de Algaidas, is a recognised overnight stop off as part of the walk from Malaga to Cordoba known as Camino Mozarabe de Santiago.

We have had 1 couple stay with us for a couple of nights who did this section of the walk. They had walked many routes over the years - there are many throughout Spain as part of the old pilgrimage routes heading to Santiago de Compostela.

You never know, if you complete the Camino Mozarabe, you may get the bug to tackle another section next year. It is quite addictive and a great way to see the landscape, architecture, challenge yourself and stay for a few nights in different areas.

Spring or Autumn are the ideal seasons to hike the route. Summer is far too hot!

March/April or October/November would be perfect as not too cold nor hot.

You can read the full route of the pilgrimage walk Camino Mozarbe de Santiago on my blog here https://www.casaruralolivares....

Located in the north east of the Antequera region is Villanueva de Algaidas in Malaga. In a landscape primarily made up of hills and ridges which are home to olive groves and cereal fields. It dates back to the 18th century, when the buildings which began to appear around the Franciscan monastery eventually formed a village. 

The Franciscan Convent and Mozarabic Hermitage cave group is located a short 15 minute walk from the house. Excavated in sandstone and dated between the 9th and 10th centuries.

This cave group will have served as a point of reference for the Mozarabic population, that is, for the Christians who lived in Arab territory during the Middle Ages in what is now the north eastern region of Malaga.

In fact, there must have been a significant number of Mozarabs in the area since this element has been studied as one of the key factors for Omar Ibn Haffsun to turn this territory (especially the Cuevas de San Marcos and Archidona fortresses) into one of its points of reference during the revolt against the Umayyads in the 9th century.

http://andaluciarustica.com/villanueva-de-algaidas-convento-franciscano-ermita-mozarabe.htm

Next to the convent complex is the access to the GR-7 E-4, a long-distance footpath of a European nature that goes from Atenas to Tarifa and that crosses the region from north to south. The section accessed from this area runs parallel to the Bebedero stream, a tributary of the River Genil, which from here on is renamed Burriana. A short distance away you can see the Old Bridge, a stone structure dating from late-medieval times, which served as communication for the population centers of La Rincona and La Atalaya. Its construction begins in a section excavated in the rock to continue with rock ashlars from a nearby quarry.

This entire section is framed by a magnificent forest with abundant species of riverside trees such as poplars and elms. A good part of the stretch of the GR-7 E-4 between Cuevas Bajas and Villanueva de Algaidas runs parallel to the Burriana stream before going up to the neighbourhood of La Atalaya from where you go down a path until you reach the medieval bridge and from there to the convent to continue along another path to the urban nucleus. Also in this area you can link up with the PR-A-129 route that runs through different points in the municipality of Villanueva de Algaidas.

Miguel Ortiz Berrocal (1933-2006)

You may see a sculpture in the town square surrounded by seating this is called El Torero and is one of many works by a son of Villanueva de Algaidas

Berrocal studied in the Faculty of Exact Sciences of Madrid (Mathematics, Physics etc), as a compulsory step to get into Architecture. At the same time he went to the school of Fine Arts, where he become disciple of Ángel Ferrant and, later on, of the Ceramist Pierre Canivet in Paris.

Berrocal created works based on mathematical, physical and scientific principles. His works are 

Between 1954 and 1964 he lived and worked between Rome and Paris, settling in the end in Verona, Italy, until 2004, when he came back to Andalusia to build his Studio-Workshop and overlook the construction of his Museum.

The works of this internationally known artist can be found in the most important museums, as well as public and private collections of the world. 

Read more here www.berrocal.net/visit/visits_eng.html