Cútar is a small white village in the hills of the Axarquía where the Moorish past is still felt everywhere. The narrow winding streets, the white houses and the way the village sits against the slope give away its origins immediately. It is a place of quiet and tradition, surrounded by olive and almond trees and looking out over the valley, and yet the coast and the city are within reach.
A village with Moorish roots
The history of Cútar goes back to Moorish times, and the village wears that inheritance with pride. The street plan, the fountains and the atmosphere still carry it, and every year the Moorish past is celebrated with a lively village festival. A centuries old Arabic manuscript was once found here, which makes the link with that past all the more remarkable. In the small bars you get the honest cooking of inland Andalusia.
Walking the village takes barely twenty minutes, but it is worth doing slowly. The lanes were laid out for people and mules rather than cars, they turn back on themselves constantly, and every so often a gap between the houses opens onto the valley.
Among olive trees and hills
Around Cútar stretch the rolling hills of the Axarquía, with olive groves, almond trees and vines. It is countryside made for slowing down and for walking, with a different view around each corner. At the same time you are not shut off from the rest of the area: Vélez-Málaga and the coast at Torre del Mar are close by, and Málaga is perfectly manageable. That makes Cútar a pleasant, quiet base from which to discover the region.
In February the almond blossom turns the hillsides white, and in late autumn the olive harvest gets under way and the village fills with activity. Both are good reasons to come outside the obvious months.
Water has always mattered here, and you see it in the old springs and washing places dotted around the village and along the paths. Several of them still run. They were the reason the village was built where it was, and following them is as good a way as any to work out how the place fits together.
Food and the local table
Cútar is known for its honey and its raisins, and both are worth buying directly from the people who make them. Beyond that the cooking is what you find throughout the interior: soups, stews, grilled meat and plenty of local olive oil. Ask in the bar what there is rather than reading the menu, and you will usually do better.
Sights and tips
The village itself is the main attraction, with its Moorish street plan, its springs and its views. Cútar is known for its honey and its raisins, so do taste them at the local producers. Come during the annual village festival if you can, when the Moorish history is brought to life. Put your walking shoes on for the paths around the village, and combine your visit with the neighbouring villages and the coast. Outside the hottest summer months is the most pleasant time to be here.
The sights in the surrounding area are most easily reached by car. We are happy to arrange one for you. Have a look at our page about car hire.
Your holiday home in Cútar
If you are looking for quiet, Moorish heritage and the real Andalusia with the coast within reach, Cútar is a beautiful choice. Below you will find our holiday homes in Cútar and the surrounding area.
