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Alfarnate 
Alfarnate is situated in the centre of a small depression that bears its name, sheltered between the mountains in the extreme north west of the Axarquía region, 925 metres above sea level.
Alfarnate is the most northerly village of Axarquia, situated 49 kilometres from Malaga and 45 kilometres from the coast at Torre del Mar.
The passes through the hills of the Puerto de los Alhazores, at 1,040 metres, are the natural boundaries to the area, this mountainous terrain contrasting sharply with the olive and almond groves of the lower ground.
The urban area extends to the foot of the Pico del Chamizo, where the Palancar stream flows, dividing the town into two areas joined by three bridges. The town is dominated by the small Cerro del Santo Cristo mountain, which has a sanctuary on top of the same name, where mass is sometimes said out in the open. The buildings in the town are usually of two storeys, and most are whitewashed. Unlike most other urban areas in the Axarquía, there are few hills in the town. The most historic street is calle Secretaría, in which we find numerous 16th century houses, and the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. It was in this square that bullfighting used to take place in days gone by during the September festival.
The name of the town derives from the Arab Al-farnat, which means flour-mill, but the earliest remains date from pre-historic times, these having been found in the Palancar and Morales streams. The first written reference to Alfarnate dates from the 10th century, when mention was made of flour production, hence the name of the town. It was not until the Christian roops arrived here around the year 1487, however, that the town as we know it began to take shape, with Christian settlers coming here from other parts of the region. The late 19th century was a time of banditry in Andalucia, and Alfarnate was an important bandit centre due to its geographical location, on the road between Malaga and Granada |
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