A postcard village in Malaga is hoping to attract new residents thanks to its affordable homes, which can be rented for just €300 per month – or from as little as €50,000 to purchase.
It’s all part of a project aptly named Ven a Vivir a un Pueblo (Come Live in a Village), which is attempting to make inland towns and cities appealing again.
The project offers advice, support, and inspiration for anyone curious about swapping an often cramped apartment in urban capitals like Madrid or Malaga for a fresh start in Spain’s forgotten corners.
Among the towns taking part in the scheme is Arenas, a medieval white-washed village tucked into the hills of the Axarquia region of Malaga province.
The town of just 1,000 residents is only a short drive from the more bustling Velez-Malaga, but feels worlds away in terms of pace – and price.
According to the initiative’s website, houses here start at €50,000. Rentals? Around €300 a month. In a housing market that’s pricing out even the middle class, it’s an increasingly rare thing: affordable.
But this isn’t about cheap living alone. Arenas is also actively recruiting. Jobs exist in construction, agriculture, and the local service sector.
Local incentives are part of the package too: rebates on property taxes, help with birth expenses, subsidies for fixing up façades, and various other programmes.
Daily life in Arenas comes with its own set of modest but solid amenities, including restaurants, grocery shops, a pharmacy, a library, a computer centre and a municipal swimming pool.
There’s a school in town and a secondary school 10km away. Healthcare is also covered, with a local clinic and a full hospital just 15 minutes down the road.
Sports lovers will find a padel tennis court and a sports hall, while nature lovers have plenty to explore.
The town itself is typical Andalucia, featuring cobbled lanes, flower-filled balconies, and whitewashed homes tumbling down the hillside.
Its crown jewel is the Church of Santa Catalina Mártir, a 16th-century Mudejar gem that’s stood watch over the town for centuries.
But the real prize lies just above: the ruins of Bentomiz Castle. Perched on a hilltop and steeped in Moorish history, the fortress offers panoramic views of both the mountains and the coast. The hike up is steep but worth every step.
Arenas also lies along the Ruta Mudejar, a cultural trail linking several towns in the Axarquía with deep Moorish roots – a route made for slow exploration and storytelling.
