Chilches: Beach, Coast and History

Playa de Chilches is a very extensive beach with dark sand and moderate surf. It is divided into three sections: “Estación”, “Puerta de Hierro” and “El Cañuelo”. Each part of Playa de Chilches therefore has its own clearly designated name.

History and Buildings

Torre de Chilches has Arab origins. After the conquest of Granada in 1492, it was rebuilt to improve coastal defence. As a structure, it is a truncated-cone-shaped coastal watchtower made of stone and brick. Its shape and the materials used are among the defining features of this tower.

The Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción in Chilches was built in the 17th century. The church is simple and has a single nave; its architecture includes a wooden roof. There are four niches on the sides of the church. The niches contain images of the Immaculate Conception, Saint Joseph, Saint Pancras and the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Paths and Connections

Chilches is located near the N-340 and is connected via the Autovía del Mediterráneo. A section of the Senda Litoral connects Arroyo Chilches with the El Cañuelo urbanisation. This section is almost 1,200 metres long, providing a specifically stated route length for planning your day.

In the western part of the municipality of Vélez-Málaga, the Senda Litoral includes a section that connects Benajarafe and Chilches with the municipality of Rincón de la Victoria. The names Benajarafe, Chilches and Rincón de la Victoria thus identify the places and municipal affiliations mentioned along the route.

Several names are important for understanding the geographical layout of the coast: the specific path section uses Arroyo Chilches and the El Cañuelo urbanisation as named reference points; the broader route additionally mentions Benajarafe and the municipality of Rincón de la Victoria. In these details, Chilches appears both in connection with a section almost 1,200 metres long and as part of a connection between municipalities. Together with the N-340 and the Autovía del Mediterráneo, the beach, coastal path and road connections are thus presented as different geographical reference points of the town.

Feria and Cuisine

The Feria de Chilches is a traditional festival in honour of the Immaculate Conception and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Feria includes a solemn procession. The festival’s religious references are therefore also reflected in the images in the niches of the Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción.

At the traditional Moraga popular of the Feria de Chilches, sardines, gazpacho and ajoblanco are offered for tasting. Sardines are part of the stated selection, as are gazpacho and ajoblanco. The food is prepared by the Asociación de Mujeres de Chilches. The association is thus linked to the tasting as the responsible party.

Other Places

Other places: Trapiche, Torre Del Mar, Mezquitilla, Almayate, Benajarafe, Almayate Alto

For the overarching travel overview: Vélez-Málaga.