Where is Arriate?
Arriate is situated just north of the town of Ronda and approximately 50 kilometres inland from the resort of Marbella, which itself lies to the western end of the Costa del Sol in southern Spain.
What kind of place is Arriate?
Nestling in the picturesque Ronda mountains, Arriate, at first glance, appears to be a sleepy little town set in beautiful countryside and home to a collection of pretty whitewashed buildings. Whilst this is largely true, closer inspection reveals a lively and bustling high street with shops selling a variety of top quality goods. It has a resident population of around 3,600 people and is one of a number of whitewashed villages in the province of Malaga.
What is there to do and see in Arriate?
Quite unlike the larger resorts on the Costa del Sol, Arriate is a typical Andalucian village which offers the opportunity for a relaxing stay, as well as being the perfect location for exploring the grandeur of the surrounding countryside.
Famous for its Campaneros de la Aurora (Bellringers of the Dawn), no trip to Arriate would be complete without a visit to the church, whose high tower dominates the village. With its typical square and bars, cafes and restaurants galore, Arriate offers a real taste of Andalucian life, and the local people will make you feel very welcome.
Although a very relaxing place to stay, Arriate does play host to some of the most popular festivals in the area, particularly around Easter time.
What is there to do and see in the area generally?
Being situated in the lower area of the Ronda mountains, Arriate is the ideal place for nature lovers, with bird-watching, fishing and hunting all on offer. From the caves near the river Guadalcobacin, occupied by settlers during the Palaeolithic era, to the largest colony of griffon vultures in Andalucia at the Penon de Zaframagon national park, visitors staying in Arriate are really in for a treat.
A drive to the nearby town of Ronda will take you past olive groves, fruit trees and fields growing any number of crops, all sustained by the favourable climate and plentiful supplies of water for which the area is known. When you reach the town, you will be treated, not only to some spectacular views from the rocky outcrop on which it sits, but also to a superb shopping experience. As a prime tourist destination, Ronda offers a great many historical sights, as well as the unique views from the Puente Nuevo, or ‘new bridge’, which sits 100 metres above the gorge, and the annual bullfight which is staged at the beginning of September.
Cortes de la Frontera, another of the region’s whitewashed towns, also lies nearby and is a bustling little place which is built pretty much along a single, long street, very Spanish in style and dotted with palms and orange trees. Along with its popular fountain and pretty church, the town also boasts its own bullring which seats 1,000 spectators.