Discover Iznate: Church, Springs and Festivals

Culture and Townscape

On Iznate’s main square stands the Mudéjar Church of San Gregorio VII, built in the late 16th century. It has a single-nave layout with a wooden ceiling. The church houses a painting of Saint Francis of Paola attributed to the painter Zurbarán. The whitewashed houses and winding streets are reminders of Iznate’s Andalusian past.

Landscape and Views

Iznate’s agricultural landscape includes vineyards, almond trees, and olive groves. Iznate is known for its Muscat grapes. The Iznate-Marruecos viewpoint is located at the highest point in the town and offers views of the Sierra Tejeda Almijara, the Mediterranean, and the eastern Costa del Sol. On clear days, the Moroccan coast and the Atlas Mountains can also be visible from there.

Squares and Springs

The Fuente del Encime, also known as the Fuente de los Tres Deseos, was built during Muslim rule. The Fuente Blasonada stands on the Plaza de la Virgen de los Dolores and is named after the coat of arms of the Marquesado de Campos, which adorns the fountain. One spring in Iznate has Arab origins; its name may possibly derive from a large walnut tree that once grew beside it. One spring in Iznate provides natural water and has been used since earlier times for drinking-water supplies and as a watering place for working animals.

A walk through Iznate takes you along steep streets adapted to the differences in terrain. It passes whitewashed façades decorated with flowerpots, small squares, and secluded corners.

Routes through the Surrounding Area

The Ruta del Sol y del Aguacate includes, among others, Rincón de la Victoria, Macharaviaya, Vélez-Málaga, Benamocarra, Iznate, and Benamargosa, connecting Iznate with the five other municipalities named.

Festivals and Performances

The Semana Cultural de Iznate is a cultural and leisure week featuring an extensive programme of events. This week includes the Día de la Uva Moscatel, which is designated a festival of provincial tourist interest. The Día de la Uva Moscatel takes place every year in early August in Iznate. It begins with a thanksgiving Mass for the fruits of the previous harvest. In the afternoon, during the Día de la Uva Moscatel, a food route leads through Iznate’s main streets.

Iznate’s patron saint festivities coincide with Holy Week and combine religious events with leisure activities. The Búsqueda del Niño Resucitado is a performance described as a live reenactment, held on Easter Sunday in Iznate. In this performance, twelve residents portray the apostles and wear masks and garments in the style of Hebrew clothing from that period. The procession begins after Mass at this church, passes through the streets of Iznate, and reaches the cemetery chapel, where the performance takes place.

Other places: Marbella, Los Morales, Benamargosa, Comares, Pizarra, Alozaina, Mollina, San Pedro de Alcántara

To the main travel overview: Málaga.