Festivals, architectural history, and traces of agriculture give a stay in Arenas different points of focus. The landscape also shapes the townscape: the centre lies among hills with almond trees, olive groves, vineyards, and pine forests. The impressions each season offers can vary from year to year.

Festivals as a reason to visit

The annual Feria de la Mula de Arenas is held on 12 October. It honours the mule and aims to revive agricultural traditions. The festival programme includes mule shows and competitions in carrying loads, threshing, and shoeing. Traditional music, local dishes, and local Muscatel wine round out the programme; individual offerings may vary. The event brings together several aspects of the festival: the mule’s role in agriculture, traditional working techniques, and a culture of celebration.

Another date on the calendar is the festival of San Sebastián. His feast day is 12 August; celebrations take place on the second weekend of August, so the exact event date may shift. If you would like to plan your trip around one of the celebrations, check the dates for the relevant year before making plans.

Buildings and traces of agriculture

The upper citadel of Castillo de Bentomiz preserves remains of crenellated walls, four towers, and two vaulted cisterns. Together, these features show different aspects of a fortified complex: the walls and towers, as well as the cisterns used to store water. The surviving structures offer a tangible insight into the history of the castle’s construction.

A ceramic mural by the artist Virgilio González stands at the entrance to Arenas. An old olive mill building is also located at the entrance to the town. The mural and the mill point to different aspects of the place: artistic expression and the agricultural tradition of olive oil production. Olive oil is also part of the visitor experience at the Cooperativa Agrícola de Aceite Santa Catalina Mártir. Visitors can tour the oil mill and buy a bottle of extra virgin olive oil there. Confirm the current arrangements for visits in advance.

Architecture and legends in Daimalos

The minaret tower in Daimalos is considered one of the oldest in Spain. It has a square floor plan and four sections of different heights. Blind horseshoe arches and a Mudéjar top with bell openings define its architecture. The Iglesia de Santa Catalina Mártir also brings together different historical periods: until 1505, it was a mosque; its brick minaret tower and Mudéjar structure remain.

Daimalos is also associated with a local legend about a spring. It says that drinking water from the spring brings love.

Hiking and horse riding

The Arenas–Daimalos 3 Fuentes Árabes route, described in 2016, runs from Arenas to Daimalos and visits three fountains. Calle Calvario in Arenas is listed as the starting point. Before setting out, check current trail conditions and confirm access and parking options before travelling there.

Alquiler de caballos San Roca is one option for horse riding in the area around Arenas and Castillo de Bentomiz. Before making plans, confirm that the business is still operating. This lets you connect the cultural and landscape themes described with a specific interest in activities, without assuming that a horse ride or a particular route is available.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Pujerra, Tolox, Benahavis, Competa, Periana, Cartaojal, El Borge, Torrox

For the main travel overview: Málaga.