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frigiliana festivals

Perched 1,000 feet above sea level on the southern slopes of the Sierra  Almijara Mountains, on the east of the Costa del Sol, is the beautiful pueblo blanco - Frigiliana.

A Moorish village, Frigiliana is set in the foothills of the mountains, the oldest parts of the streets, are cobbled with black and cream coloured pebbles. 

The setting offers some of the prettiest and most spectacular  views across southern Spain.  5kms north of the bustling resort of Nerja and the Mediterranean Sea but still only 50 minutes drive from Malaga with it’s International Airport.

Frigiliana provides a great location for a quiet and restful holiday. However, for those that want there are bars, restaurants and shops selling groceries and local crafts.

Nerja, the nearest town to Frigiliana, offers a selection of beaches, good shopping and a multitude of restaurants. Life in Nerja is vibrant in the summer months, beach bars & cafes abound, a huge variety of clubs for those wanting a late nightlife and concerts in the world famous Nerja Caves. 

Granada, with its historic Alhambra palaces and gardens, is only an hour and a half drive away through some most beautiful countryside. 

Other suggested excursions include: Malaga, Marbella, Sierra Navada's or Gibraltar.

The people of Frigiliana seem to be continuously celebrating fiestas throughout the year. Most, but not all, are associated with the Church. The main ones include:

Semana Santa, (Holy Week) at Easter.
A series of parades and processions from Palm Sunday until Easter Sunday.
The most dramatic is probably held on Good Friday when a candle lit procession passes through the old town commemorating the death of Christ and his descent from the cross.

Day of the Cross.
On this day the villages looks at  its best as it celebrates Springtime.
Floral displays, usually with a cross at its centre, appear all over the village. In the evening a local folk group, Los Verdiales, pass through the village singing in front of each floral cross. When they reach the church square, open air dancing begins that carries on into the night.

San Antonio
This is one of the main fiesta of the year and takes place for a few days around 13 June.
There is usually a fun-fair and activities include sport, theatre and other cultural events.
Also a procession and picnic in the local river, the higaron, to celebrate the Christian victory over the Moors in the 16th century.

Frigiliana Fair
With it's bull runs fall in the week of San Antonio, a week long party in the middle of June when the Carnival comes to town and early (normally Sunday morning) the village is shut off to cars, barriers are fitted throughout the main street and the bravest "hombres" of the village, play chase with a pack of charging bulls. After, the village makes it's way to the bull ring, for an afternoon of torreador entertainment.

Frigiliana has had a turbulent history.

A thousand years ago, Arabs known colloquially as Moriscos or Moors, ruled most of Spain. Gradually, over several centuries, the Catholic Kings reconquered Spain. During this process there was a battle in Frigiliana in 1569 between Christians and Moriscos with thousands of casualties.

The story of the Battle of Frigiliana is retold in a series of twelve ceramic plaques located in the older parts of the village. Following the Route of the Plaques provides an interesting introduction to the village.

Due to its geographical position Frigiliana has a very special micro-climate, with an average annual temperature of 18 ºC. Local agriculture consists mainly of sub-tropical fruits such as avocados, chirimoyas (custard apples), mangoes, figs and olives. The winters are mild, the summers warm.

All of this makes the spot a unique natural paradise.