Campillos: Lagoons, Archaeology and History

The landscape around Campillos encompasses extensive agricultural plains, wetlands and mountain ranges such as Peñarrubia and Sierra Huma; it offers a great diversity of landscapes, ecosystems and colours.

Nature

Near Campillos lies the Reserva Natural de Las Lagunas de Campillos, a seasonal, endorheic lagoon complex comprising Laguna Dulce, Laguna Salada, Laguna de Capacete, Laguna de Camuñas and Laguna del Cerero; Laguna Dulce is the largest.

The Reserva Natural de Las Lagunas de Campillos was designated a nature reserve in July 1989.

The Centro de Interpretación de la Reserva Natural Lagunas de Campillos provides information about the various lagoons and the wildlife and plant life found there.

Campillos offers hiking trails through the Reserva Natural de Las Lagunas de Campillos.

Culture

The Cerro de los Castillones archaeological site in Campillos is protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in the Zona Arqueológica category.

Cerro de los Castillones is home to a rectangular Roman structure that partly rests on Iberian structures.

The Necrópolis de las Aguilillas is a prehistoric complex comprising seven burial sites in artificially created caves, dating approximately from 2100 to 1900 BC.

Through its architectural forms, human remains and archaeological grave goods, the Necrópolis de las Aguilillas has provided particularly extensive insights into the life and death of the early inhabitants of Guadalteba.

The Hispano-Visigothic necropolis comprises around one hundred Roman and Visigothic tombs from the 1st and 2nd centuries and from the period between 450 and 550 AD.

The Iglesia de Santa María del Reposo was built in 1506 during the 16th century; its last major structural alteration took place between 1805 and 1821.

The Iglesia de Santa María del Reposo is a three-aisled church with several chapels and a tower covered with blue and white tiles.

The main façade of the Iglesia de Santa María del Reposo reflects Sevillian Baroque; the main portal was designed by the architect Antonio de Figueroa.

The Ermita de San Benito was built from 1578 onwards, blessed in 1596, rebuilt in 1756 and extended with an exterior veranda in 1814.

The Cortijo de las Mezquitas is a mosque that was converted for use as a farm.

The mosque at the Cortijo de las Mezquitas dates approximately from the 10th or 11th century, features numerous horseshoe arches and has an almost square courtyard measuring 28.25 metres on each side.

The Torre del Tejar preserves the chimney of a brickworks and brick factory in Campillos, which began operating in the 1950s and continued until the end of the 1960s.

The Torre del Tejar was restored by the Ayuntamiento de Campillos at the end of 2017 and is considered an industrial landmark within the urban fabric of Campillos.

Activities

Campillos offers a route to the Las Aguilillas burial complex.

Parque Multiaventuras Campillos has twelve games of varying difficulty levels and a zip line; participants are secured to a safety course with harnesses and safety ropes and are accompanied by staff.

The Circuito Internacional de Karting Campillos has a 1,500-metre track and offers rental karts for adults and children.

The Festival Flamenco de Campillos has taken place during the summers in Campillos since 1969.

Practical information

Campillos is approximately a ten-minute drive from the Antequera-Santa Ana AVE railway station.

Campillos has a free public motorhome parking area with a septic tank.

Further destinations

Further destinations include Benalmadena, Mijas, Benamargosa, Alfarnate, Villanueva Del Trabuco, Benaoján, Coín and Teba.

Cuisine

The Feria del Jamón and the pork products made from it were recognised in 2010 as a Fiesta de Singularidad Turística Provincial.

Every year, the Feria del Jamón offers the opportunity to purchase traditionally produced pork products such as morcillas, salchichones and chorizos.

For the higher-level travel overview: Málaga.