Napoleonic troops, 60 horses 90s Spanish rock legends: Algarrobo’s La Quema returns this weekend

Algarrobo is about to step back to 1811. From Friday 18 to Sunday, September 20, the Axarquia village stages the 12th La Quema de Algarrobo, a provincial tourist-interest fiesta that recalls how Napoleonic troops failed to torch the place during the Peninsular War.

Town hall and the Asociacion Historico Cultural Quema de Algarrobo run the weekend, with backing from Malaga’s Diputacion. Neighbours, or locals that call themselves themselves “tiznaos”, fill the streets as guerrillas and French soldiers. Craft stalls, workshops, a tapas trail heavy on mangoes and village tortas, and live music sit around the battles.

Friday night: capture, speech and a staged burial

Action starts at 9pm on Friday with the capture of Marcos Loco. A theatrical burial of Marcos Loco and mayor Francisco Ramos follows along with many more battle reenactments, and partying to the small hours.

Saturday: street fights, a river ambush and a rock gig

Saturday carries are the biggest events. Sonnet recitals, skirmishes in the old streets and the opening of a French headquarters run through the day. Late afternoon brings an ambush by the river, with more than 60 riders. That set-piece leads into the central play, La Quema de Algarrobo — el jinete heroico — at 10pm.

Hugely famous Spanish rock band Seguridad Social closes Saturday from 11.30pm in the municipal marquee, and bound to bring a night full of dancing and revelry.

Sunday: 300 reenactors and a last play

Sunday’s Encuentros Historicos parade draws more than 300 people from about a dozen Andalucian reenactment groups. Theatre wraps at 5pm with La noche de El Melgares.

Anyone heading in should expect packed streets, horses, gunfire effects and evening crowds. Parking in the village centre will be tight; arriving early or using Algarrobo Costa and walking up is the usual workaround.

Official programme details can be found at Axarquia tourism via axarquiacostadelsol.es.