This web page uses its own cookies and the third-party cookies to collect the information which help us make the service as good as possible. By no means is our intention to use it for gathering personal data.

Cookies policy

Mudejar Minaret of Archez

Diputación de Málaga
Alminar Mudéjar de Árchez

Mudejar Minaret of Archez

Zip Code 29753
Monuments and Art > Minaret and Mosque

Árchez still retains a minaret that once belonged to its mosque and is now used as a belfry, standing alongside the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora De la Encarnación. This minaret is a 14th century example of fine Almohade architecture. The tower, 15 metres tall and built from red brick, is the only remaining jewel of the Nazarî period. Its exterior is decorated with geometric figures, including interlaced curved-line rhombuses cut from the brickwork itself.

Its polychrome colour scheme is still in evidence in the shape of the shades of red that adorn the four smooth-cornered faces of the building. This section of the building is crowned by a strip of tiling that forms rhombus shapes, above which a second, smaller section features a series of interlaced horseshoe arches. The minaret was partially restored and declared a National Monument of Historical and Artistic interest via a Royal Decree of the 20th of April 1979. Ten years later, in 1989, it was restored completely.

The minaret’s belfry contains two bells, known as Nuestra Señora del Pilar and Marîa de la Encarnación.

The latter bears an inscription that, translated into English, reads "I was made by Ramón Rivas when Ildefonso Tomê y Garcîa was Priest and Antonio Garcîa Azuaga was Mayor. 1876".

How to get there

More information

Discover more about the province of Malaga

Discover more about the province of Malaga