Riogordo – Malaga – Luv inland

Riogordo in Malaga province is a very pretty village in La Axarquia, near Lake Vinuela with the dramatic mountain backdrop of the Sierra del Rey and Alto de Gomer. With gorgeous surroundings, Riogordo is perfect for enjoying nature and learning about the local rural customs. This inland municipality forms part of the Ruta del Aceite y de los Montes de la Axarquia, a tourist route through mountains and olive groves.

Local information

Ayuntamiento de Riogordo
Plaza de la Constitucion, 14, 29180 Riogordo (Malaga)
Telephone: 952-732-154
http://www.riogordo.es/


Residents 3102	Health Clinic	Bars, shops, restaurants	Schools	Municipal pool	Beach 35 min

Golf nearby	Antequera 45Km Malaga 48Km Granada 86Km	Bus and train services	Malaga airport 48Km	Granada airport 86Km	Seville airport 204Km

Gallery

Main information

Riogordo in Malaga province has been a transit and settlement area since prehistoric times. The archaeological evidence found near the river La Cueva attests to the presence of man since the Neolithic Age. Phoenician tombs next to Sierra del Rey and the third-century mosaics from the Roman villa in Auta reveal that the area attracted many important civilisations.

It was under the Arabs, however, that Riogordo experienced an expansion boom. According to some historians, the castle of Bobastro lay near Cortijo de Auta. Others believe the area is the homeland of Umar ibn Hafsun, the Christian warrior who led the riots against the Umayyad dynasty in Cordoba. (A different line of research considers Parauta to be his place of birth. Seized by Christian troops during the Reconquista in 1487, Riogordo was annexed to Comares.

The centre of the village is the Plaza Constitucion which has limited parking, with a small supermarket, some shops and a couple of bars. The Plaza Constitucion is a good place to start a walk, with small monuments and a fountain at one end. The most important monument in Riogordo is the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora de Gracia, built in 1490. This church has a basilica floor plan with naves separated by semi-circular arches. The alcove and square tower with a hipped roof are the most outstanding features.

The toponym “Riogordo” for this village in Axarquia comes from the old name of the river La Cueva, “Rio Gordo” (Fat River). It used to be called “Rio de Oro” (Golden River) too, for its water carried minerals.

Town video

Fiestas

- The Feria de Mayo – Its kicks off with the opening of the cattle fair, followed by falconry shows, plays and traditional games. During the festival, the Dia del Caracol (Snail Day) is celebrated, including a tasting of snails in broth, lively music and regional dances.
- August – the Riogordo patron saint festivities and the Rio del Cante flamenco festival are held.
- September – Fiesta del Candil (Oil Lamp Festival).

Holy week – El Paso de Riogordo in Malaga is by far the most important event in this Axarquia village. During Holy Week, residents act out the Life, Passion and Death of Jesus Christ. This celebration has its roots in the proclamations that were recited in the 17th century. As one of the most famous religious plays in Spain, it has received national and provincial tourism awards.