Benamocarra: what to see and how to get here

Benamocarra is in the Axarquia, close to Velez-Malaga. Among its whitewashed streets are a church with Mudéjar origins, ceramic panels telling the village’s history and tributes to the composer Eduardo Ocón, who was born here in 1833.

The surrounding countryside is a patchwork of rolling hills, olive groves, avocado plantations and other fruit orchards. You can spend part of the day exploring the village before heading on to Velez-Malaga or the coast at Torre del Mar.

The history of Benamocarra

The name Benamocarra is usually interpreted as ‘sons of Mukarran’, reflecting the village’s Arab origins. The layout of the old centre still bears traces of this past, with narrow, irregular streets and houses built to fit the slopes.

The village came under the rule of the Catholic Monarchs, Ferdinand and Isabella, in 1487, following the capture of Velez-Malaga. In the 16th century, the expulsion of the Moriscos, descendants of Muslims who had converted to Christianity, and the arrival of Christian settlers changed the population here, as in other villages across the region.

Eduardo Ocón Rivas was born here in 1833. A composer and organist associated with Malaga Cathedral, he is remembered in the village’s squares, monuments and musical life.

Things to see in Benamocarra

Plaza de la Constitucion and Plaza del Calvario are useful landmarks for a walk around the centre. Between them, you’ll find alleyways, whitewashed façades and ceramic panels recounting episodes from local history.

• Santa Ana Church: this 16th-century church beside Plaza de la Constitucion has Gothic-Mudéjar origins. Inside, look out for the timber ceiling. (View on the map)
• Benamocarra’s ceramic panels: panels on façades around the village depict local customs, legends and events. Stopping to read them is a good way to learn about its past as you walk.
• Patio de Amalia: a two-storey house arranged around a courtyard with a well and an upper gallery. It is said to have served as a barracks in the Nasrid period, with a mosque nearby, and formed part of a mill complex in the 19th and 20th centuries.
• Tributes to Eduardo Ocón: the monument in Plaza de la Constitucion and his birthplace on Calle del Pilar commemorate the composer. Plaza de la Musica is another public space dedicated to the village’s musical tradition.

What to eat in Benamocarra

Local cooking combines traditional bread, vegetable and sausage dishes with produce from the Axarquia’s subtropical crops. Among the best-known specialities are coles moreás and, for something sweet, gazpacho frito.

• Coles moreás: cabbage cooked with garlic, pepper, black pudding and chorizo.
• Frito moruno con morcilla: another speciality of the traditional village kitchen, made with black pudding.
• Avocado salad: one of the ways locally grown avocados are used in the kitchen.
• Gazpachuelo: a hot Malaga soup made by stirring mayonnaise into stock. It can include potatoes, fish or seafood.
• Sopa de maimones: a bread and garlic soup, traditionally made to use up leftover bread.
• Migas de pan: pieces of bread fried with garlic and olive oil.
• Gazpacho frito: a sweet made from fried dough containing flour and vinegar, finished with sugar and cinnamon.
• Tortillas de bacalao: a traditional salt cod dish associated with Holy Week, the week leading up to Easter.
• Gachas and tomato soup: flour-based porridge and tomato soup are also part of the local home-cooking tradition.

Local festivals and the Day of Music

Music has its own place in Benamocarra’s calendar. Alongside religious celebrations and days spent together in the countryside, a festival honours Eduardo Ocón with performances in different parts of the village.

• Cristo de la Salud festival: the celebrations honouring the village’s patron culminate on the third Sunday in October with a religious service and a procession.
• La Pava: on Easter Sunday, villagers gather beside the River Iznate for a day in the countryside, sharing food and traditional hornazo, an Easter bread.
• San Isidro: celebrations and a pilgrimage in honour of the saint take place in May. These are separate events: the religious celebration is held around 15 May, with the pilgrimage taking place later.
• Candelarias or patacos: traditional bonfires are held in early September, a custom linked to the end of the harvest.
• Day of Music: in September, the village pays tribute to Eduardo Ocón with concerts and performances spanning different musical genres.

If you’d like to attend any of these events, check the programme for the year on the council’s website.

Axarquia Airfield

The Aeródromo de la Axarquía–Leoni Benabú is near Trapiche, within the municipality of Velez-Malaga. It is used for general aviation and recreational flying and also offers pilot training. For details of the facilities and flying school, visit the Real Aeroclub de Málaga website.

How to get to Benamocarra from Malaga Airport

From Malaga Airport, the usual driving route follows the A-7 towards Velez-Malaga, then local roads to Benamocarra. Allow roughly an hour, depending on traffic and the route you take.

Visiting Benamocarra by car

A car makes it easier to combine your visit with other Axarquia villages or a trip to the coast. It is also useful if you’re staying in a rural property outside the village centre.

Car hire Malaga airport

Taxi or private transfer

A taxi or private transfer takes you from the airport to your accommodation without changing services. It is a convenient option if you have luggage or would prefer to spend your stay in the village without driving.

Book a taxi or transfer

*No advance payment is required and cancellation is free. We therefore recommend booking ahead to secure vehicle availability and your rate.

Travelling by public transport

There is no train service to Benamocarra. From the airport, take the C-1 local train service (Cercanías) to Málaga María Zambrano, then walk to the bus station next door.

From Malaga, Alsa buses run to Velez-Malaga, where you can take a taxi to the village. Another option is to travel to Torre del Mar and connect with the Almachar service that calls at Benamocarra. Check both legs of the journey and your return before setting off, as inland services are less frequent than those along the coast.

Tourist information