Canillas de Albaida (pronounced Alb eye da) is part of the Sun and Wine route and is situated 52 km from Malaga and 24 km from Vélez-Málaga. The name Albaida means white and was named by the Arabs who founded the village in the 13th century because, according to legend, the town was surrounded by white flowers.
Situated on the Sierra Almijara mountain range on the borders of the provinces of Malaga and Granada the village is surrounded by high mountains where goats and eagles are frequently seen as well as wild boar! Here the fresh mountain air is filled with the scent of pine and oak and nearby is the Acantilados de Maro Nature Reserve with its gorse, rosemary and the increasingly rare sea lavender.
Like most of the villages in the Axarquía the streets are narrow and steep and cars not only look out of place but have problems fitting through. Different coloured paint on the house walls about hip height a legacy of bumps and grinds!
Important monuments worth a visit are Nuestra Señora de la Expectacion (our lady of expectation church) which is in the village square and the Santa Ana Hermitage built at the highest point of the village with the most spectacular views. Opposite the town and just past the municipal swimming pool is the San Antón Hermitage built in the 17th century. If hunger takes hold while you are there sample the local dish of Migas, made with both corn and wheat and also try the fried pumpkin. To tempt your taste buds further the local Moscatel wine is excellent.
To get to Canillas de Albaida you can either go on from Cómpeta, up from Archez or down from El Fogarate.