Village pride: Six Axarquia pueblos compete for 2027 title of best village

Six villages in Malaga’s Axarquia region are hoping to win a prestigious regional tourism title, but their appeal goes beyond whitewashed houses and mountain views. From handmade street decorations to unusual Easter traditions, local residents are helping to keep their communities looking special, in a kind of best garden competition attitude.

Alfarnate, Canillas de Aceituno, Comares, Competa, El Borge and Moclinejo are among 57 Andalucian candidates competing for the title of Pueblo Mágico de Andalucía 2027 (Magical Village of Andalusia). The winner will be decided by public vote, with voting open until November 13.

Residents bring their villages to life

Some of the most charming improvements come from residents themselves, rather than large tourism budgets or expensive council projects.

In Competa, for example, local women have used their creative skills to decorate the Plazoleta with colourful crochet and handmade pieces, adding a distinctive touch to the traditional whitewashed surroundings. Their work has already attracted attention in the village, with the council encouraging more people to get involved in similar creative workshops. Read more about Competa’s colourful street decorations.

In Canillas de Aceituno, five local women have developed an imaginative recycling project that turns discarded plastic bottles and other household materials into Christmas decorations. Their creations have included trees, angels, flowers and garlands, with residents helping to collect the materials. What began as a small project has grown into a village tradition, giving the streets a distinctive festive appearance without relying on expensive decorations. Find out more about Canillas de Aceituno and its village traditions.

Moclinejo has another unusual example of community participation. Every Easter, young residents collect flowerpots from doorways, patios and house fronts to help create the traditional Huerto del Niño in the main square. Adults join in with the construction, transforming the space into a recreation of the Garden of Olives. Once the celebrations finish, the plants are returned to their owners.

Councils also invest in village improvements

Local authorities are playing their part too. Comares has been carrying out maintenance and clearance work on gardens, paths and access roads, improving the approaches to the village and its walking routes. The council has also put the works for public toilets out to to contract beside the car park at the historic entrance, with a budget of more than €42,000.

El Borge, meanwhile, is helping promote the area’s Moscatel grape and raisin heritage, shared with neighbouring villages. The landscape, traditional grape-drying methods and local produce form an important part of its appeal.

These projects are not all linked directly to the competition, but they demonstrate the work taking place to preserve local character and make the villages more attractive and welcoming.

How to vote for your favourite Axarquia village

The six candidates are Alfarnate, Canillas de Aceituno, Comares, Cómpeta, El Borge and Moclinejo. Voting is organised by Pueblos Mágicos de España, with the Andalucian winner receiving the regional 2027 title. The competition is decided by valid public votes, and the result is due to be announced on November 16.

Adults resident in Spain can participate regardless of nationality. A maximum of three votes per IP address is permitted each day across all the competition categories, according to the official voting rules.

For residents and visitors who have a favourite corner of the Axarquia, this is an opportunity to show their support and help put one of the region’s villages on the tourism map.