Competa Places of Interest on the Costa del Sol in Spain

Competa Places of Interest

Competa has many places of interest, one of which is a popular Fiesta to celebrate the Night of the Wine, with flamenco and other music and dance, that accompanies the free flowing wine. Held annually on the 15th August in Competa, the Night of the Wine which has been celebrated for a many years. Traditionally the inhabitants of Competa went to their cortijo farmhouses, up in the mountains, during the vintage and didn't return until October, when the grapes had been pressed and the muscatel raisins were dried and packed. On 15th August the locals met in the Plaza Almijara, for a farewell fiesta, where they sang and danced flamenco and drank the famous local muscatel wine.

This farewell fiesta in the Plaza Almijara is highly significant for the people of Competa andwas made official in 1975. It is now organised by the local council and includes a programme where visitors can share in its local traditions. During the morning of the fiesta, there is demonstration of, La Pisa de la Uva, the treading of grapes. Then follows a free country-style lunch, with Migas de Harina which is bread crumbs and meat cooked with flour and garlic. Also enjoyed are sardines, a rural salad of peppers, oranges, onions, olives and tomatoes, and chorizo sausages. Both the fiesta and the lunch are accompanied by local musicians. The party continues late into the evening, until the early hours of the next day, with music and dance, around the Plaza Almijara.

Church of the Asunción
Walking through the steep streets of the town you can see houses in a traditional Arabic style of construction, of one or two storeys and archway entrances. In the main square of Competa there is the church of the Asunción which was built at the end of the 16th century and later restored. The church of the Asunción has three naves that is separated by arches which rest on octagonal pillars. Outside the church's front, which was reconstructed after the earthquake in 1884, is a lintel archway and belfry with a vaulted niche.

Places of Interest near Competa include Axarquía village of Canillas de Albaida, which is situated just four kilometres from Cómpeta.

Church of Nuestra Señora de la Expectación
This village has winding streets and low houses, and is surrounded by pines, oaks and low mountain scrubland. Its church main church is dedicated to Nuestra Señora de la Expectación, and is the main building of the village. The church dates from the 16th to 17th century and has a rectangular brick and masonry tower. It is remarkable for its original 16th century patterns on the walls. The interior is divided into three naves that are separated by pillars that support semicircular arches. The most notable aspect of the exterior is the square-based tower that still retains its 16th century decoration. The Church of Nuestra Señora de la Expectación was re-constructed in the 18th century.

Hermitage of Santa Ana
This hermitage dominates Canillas de Albaida from its elevated position, and still preserves its original decoration beneath its facade. Simple in design the Hermitage dates from the 16th century and was built with a single nave covered by a barrel vault. The exterior of the Hermitage has an atrium opened by semicircular arches. Thick buttresses support the sides of this building.

Hermitage of San Antón
The Hermitage of San Antón is in the lower part of Canillas de Albaida, 1/2 kilometre from the centre, towards Árchez. It dates from the 17th century and is built with a small single nave whose ceiling is structured of wood.

Las Cuestas Moorish road
This is a winding road of Moorish origin and is made of stone, as is the bridge over the rivers Cájules and Turvilla. Behind the parking area, at the entrance to the village, there is the old public washing area, where the women of the area did their laundry, using the water from the stream.