This area, which lies on the north eastern fringes of the province of Malaga in a wide natural corridor between the fertile plains of Antequera and Granada, is marked out by the Subbetica mountains to the north and their Penibetica counterparts to the south. The sierras that run across the plain divide it in two, breaking up the continuity between the Genil Valley to the north and the Guadalhorce Valley to the south.
The area is home to seven municipalities: Archidona, Cuevas Bajas, Cuevas de San Marcos, Villanueva de Algaidas, Villanueva del Rosario, Villanueva de Tapia and Villanueva del Trabuco.
Due to its strategic location, the area has historically been the watershed between the Andalusia of the Guadalquivir and the region’s mountainous zone. Today, the landscape is characterised by its huge fields of olive trees, though a number of fascinating conifer forests are also to be found on higher ground.
Noatbe among the area’s protected spaces are Lagunas de Archidona Nature Reserve, Sierra de Gracia Periurban Park in Archidona and Falla del Camorro Natural Monument in Cuevas de San Marcos.
The highlight of the Penibetica mountains are the sierras of El Jobo, Camarolos, Gorda, San Jorge and Gibalto, which form a breathtaking range whose foothills are populated by forests of pine trees. A wealth of other interesting spots are to be found in the vicinity of the area’s rivers and streams, notably the gully of Marin Stream in Archidona and the banks of the River Cerezo in Villanueva del Rosario and El Bebedero Stream in Villanueva de Algaidas, not to mention a multitude of other locations on the fringes of the rivers Genil and Guadalhorce themselves.

The great GR-7 hiking route runs from north to south across the whole of the area, with a series of shorter walks also to be found in the local towns and villages.

Situated at the heart of Andalusia, the Comarca Nororiental de Malaga has since time immemorial been a crossroads and obligatory port of call between the east and west of Andalusia, a strategic location on which a multitude of different cultures have left their mark in the shape of a rich cultural heritage ranging from prehistoric remains to the traditional tales still told today.
This wealth of patrimonial riches will enable the visitor to discover magnificent churches, stately homes and museums, as well as strolling through streets steeped in history and enjoying a series of ancient customs and festivals that have survived unaltered to the present day. This legacy would not be complete, however, without the wide range of excellent local cuisine.
The area’s most interesting relics date back to the Muslim occupation, notably Archidona Castle and Virgen de Gracia Mosque/Chapel. Other examples of this same period are the country chapels to be found in Villanueva de Algaidas and Archidona and a site known as Medina Belda in Cuevas de San Marcos, some remains of which are displayed in the local archaeology museum.
The Baroque influence is also clearly apparent, with fascinating buildings such as the churches of La Victoria and Las Minimas to be found in Archidona, not to mention the magnificent Baroque imagery paraded each year during the Easter celebrations, an event officially recognised as a Festival of National Tourist Interest. Further information on all of the above is available at Archidona Municipal Museum.
In terms of contemporary art, the area boasts two major exponents. The works of the internationally-renowned sculptor Miguel Berrocal can be viewed in the house-museum to be found in his native Villanueva de Algaidas, while Jose Hernandez, winner of the national Fine Arts Prize, has donated a collection of engravings to the village of Villanueva del Rosario, where he now lives.
As far as socio-economic activity is concerned, most of the local populace are employed in the primary sector, notably agriculture. However, recent years have seen an increase in the importance of the construction industry, which is now the leading employer in some municipalities due to the proximity of the Costa del Sol.
The agricultural sector is dominated by olive grove cultivation, and, to a lesser degree, dry and irrigation farming. The presence of the two dual carriageways that run through the area has led to the appearance of industrial estates, while a burgeoning tourist industry is aiding the recovery of the area’s ethnographic heritage (farms, mills etc.), as well as raising awareness of the importance of restoring local monuments and natural areas to their former glory. In terms of cattle farming, goats are the main livestock in the area.
The area’s excellent communications have been a key factor in its development, leading to the creation of new industrial estates and the expansion of existing ones in several municipalities in recent years, and this in turn has boosted the industrial, logistic and service sectors.
It also has great agricultural potential, being one of the leading areas in terms of olive oil production, an activity which is largely handled by the second-grade cooperative Hojiblanca, though other companies are also involved in the process. The improvement of agricultural exploitation and the transformation of raw materials into quality goods look set to play a key role in the years to come.
At the same time, we must not lose sight of the fact that the wealth of resources available in the area, particularly those of a historical-artistic and anthropological nature, make it an ideal location for cultural tourism, a pursuit ably complemented by the extensive network of natural spaces to be found in the local towns and villages. Consequently, the area’s tourism sector, coupled with the provision of quality services, also shows great potential.