Riogordo

Riogordo is a village whose Moorish past is still reflected in the whiteness of its houses and the structure of its steep streets. Situated in the Axarquia regionIt is known for its ancestral buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries and for its representation of the Holy Week Passage.

Riogordo also enjoys a beautiful setting, perfect for enjoying nature or getting to know the customs of rural life in the area. This municipality in inland Malaga is part of the Oil and Mountains Route of the Axarquia.

The most notable monument in Riogordo is the church of Nuestra Señora de Gracia, dating from 1490. The church has a basilica floor plan, with naves separated by semicircular arches. Its chapel and square tower, with a four-sided roof, are the most outstanding features of the church. In the same street as the church is the Ethnographic Museum. Its facilities, located in an old oil mill, include oil and flour mills, wine cellars, a wine room, a wine press, elements of a 19th century house and a chapel of El Paso de Riogordo.

Strolling among the ancestral homes and whitewashed houses, you reach the hermitage of San Sebastián or of Jesús Nazareno. This 17th century building consists of a nave covered by a barrel vault with richly decorated lunettes. The chapel with the image of the Nazarene is a Baroque jewel.

Other examples of religious devotion include the thirteen niches-chapels scattered throughout the village and the mural dedicated to El Paso de Riogordo.

This municipality in the Axarquia It also treasures interesting archaeological remains, such as the Phoenician tombs of the Sierra del Rey or the Roman mosaics of the Village of Auta. In the Gomer pit and in the La Capellanía hill remains from the Neolithic and Bronze Age were found.

El Paso

The Paso de Riogordo is one of the most peculiar and well known religious autos in Spain. It has been staged since 1951 on Good Fridays and Holy Saturdays. It has been considered by some media as "the best Paso in Europe" or "an unparalleled stage performance".

Although there are traces that date back to the XVII century (pregones that were recited in the Parish Church at Easter...), we can say that the beginnings of what today is "El Paso de Riogordo" date back to 1951. From then until today it has not only survived, but has grown thanks to the contribution of all the people who have passed through it. There is not a single family in this village that does not have or has not had someone working in the staging.

The performance takes approximately three hours to complete, and is made up of 17 distinct scenes. It is one of the hallmarks of the province during Easter Week. It is a Fiesta de Singularidad Turística Provincial, which is also declared as Andalusian Festival of Tourist Interest y Festival of National Tourist Interest.

Discover RiogordoServices, Culture and Nature

Explore all that Riogordo has to offer: from its history and gastronomy to its services and natural spaces. Find here all the essential information you need to enjoy this charming municipality.