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The Local Area
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Reached via winding mountain roads, only 75 minutes from Málaga airport and 30 minutes from the coast, Cómpeta is a huddle
of brilliant white houses tumbling down the mountainside, surrounded by vineyards. A Moorish settlement in origin, Cómpeta
is now famous for its wine, friendly Spanish atmosphere and the beautiful mountains surrounding it. With its restaurants,
cafés and bars, as well as shops selling wine, antiques, ceramics and local honey, Cómpeta is an ideal base for walking in
the mountains, sightseeing, travelling inland to Granada and the lake district, taking a trip to Gibraltar or lazing on the beach!
Situated 49 kilometres from Málaga and 18 kilometres from the coast at Torrox Costa, Cómpeta is at an altitude of around 640 metres.
It lies within the area of Axarquía in the foothills of the Sierra Almijara, on the scenic
Route of Sun and Wine, and has a population
of 2,500. On the 15th August each year there is a popular Fiesta to celebrate the 'Noche del Vino' (Night of the Wine).
Cómpeta is a pretty village which has retained its original Moorish layout and has lots of interesting nooks and crannies, with a good balance
of shops, bars and restaurants. The magnificent parish church of La Asunción, in the main square of Plaza Almijara, was built in the 16th century in
Baroque-Mudejar stlye, and is very much the focal point of the old town.
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Climate
The table below shows the average minimum & maximum temperatures for the region
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| Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
| 16 |
17 |
19 |
21 |
23 |
28 |
29 |
30 |
28 |
24 |
19 |
17 |
| 7 |
8 |
9 |
11 |
13 |
17 |
20 |
20 |
18 |
15 |
11 |
9 |
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Restaurants in Cómpeta
There are many restaurants & bars in the town, and it's well worth taking the time to wander around & find the
hidden ones. Here is a small selection of those that are recommended by us.
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Café Bar Perico: Good local fare, fantastic location in the Plaza Almijara next to the church.
Always busy when the sun's shining, plenty of brollies for shade.
La Taverna de Oscar: Also in the plaza, the food here is perhaps a little more diverse, but very good.
Most often the seats outside are in the shade.
Bar la Roca: Good simple food, convivial host (Aurelio), lovely
well-kept gardens.
Bar Lorena: Excellent food, reasonably priced. New for this year is the outside terrace, though it's close
to the main road.
El Museo del Vino: Excellent restaurant & bar, also a comprehensive craft & gift shop selling
local delicacies including Cómpeta wine.
El Cortijo Paco: For a special night out, try this restaurant at the top of the town. It's a little more
expensive than the others (though not by English standards!) but you can be assured of fantastic food & excellent
service.
Restaurante Vendemia: Those of you who remember Bar El Loro will be pleased to know the proprietor
has opened a new establishment in the Plaza de Vendemia.
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There is also a wealth of eating experiences waiting for you in
Torre del Mar & Nerja, from traditional tapas to Indian & Chinese cuisine. Of course there are far too many to mention here,
but we're always happy to recommend the good ones to people.
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Local Places of Interest
A ride up the mountain into the Natural Park to visit Casa de la Mina is well worth considering. The views of the mountains
from here are absolutely stunning, across to Nerja & the sea. Further from here the lost village of El Acebuchal is
worth a visit, but approached from this direction a 4x4 is recommended.
If you approach El Acebuchal from Frigiliana, the route is navigable in a small car.
Pinarillo: This is a pretty picnic area just north of the
Caves of Nerja. It's a lovely wooded area in
the foothills of the mountain. There are toilets & barbeque areas, and a small playground for children.
Fabrica de la Luz: A beautiful picnic area close to Canillias de Albaida. From the parking area, there are
some good walks into the mountains. By the waterfalls you'll see Oleander trees, a beautiful but rather deadly shrub which is
indigenous to the region.
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We have a small selection of books & leaflets detailing local walks, picnic areas and points of interest, which is
available for your perusal.
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Markets
Market day in Andalucia is brightly colourful, noisy and entertaining - an experience not to be missed whether you plan to
buy anything or not.
Cómpeta's weekly market is held in the car park on a Saturday morning. Here you may find plenty of useful bric-a-brac,
and there is usually a charity stall for C.A.S.
(the Costa Animal Society) with plenty of bargains to be had.
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The rest of the week's markets in the region are as follows:
Sunday: Nerja (flea market)
Monday: Torre del Mar
Tuesday: Nerja
Wednesday: Rincon de la Victoria
Thursday: Torre del Mar & Vélez-Málaga
Friday: La Herradura
Saturday: Caleta & Cómpeta
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