The province of Málaga is known for its coastline and vibrant white villages, but it also has a less visible side: that of abandoned villages that, for various reasons, were left without inhabitants. Some disappeared underwater, others emptied due to a lack of opportunities, and some have even been revived decades later. Although there aren't as many completely deserted villages as in other provinces, there are several examples of abandoned villages in Málaga.
Peñarrubia
Unlike other villages that were gradually depopulated, this former municipality in the Guadalteba region was completely evacuated in the early 1970s. Its fate was sealed by the construction of the Guadalteba reservoir. Its residents were forced to leave, and the municipality was incorporated into Campillos in 1973.
Before its administrative disappearance, Peñarrubia had existed as an independent entity since the 19th century, after separating from Teba. Its economy was based on agriculture – particularly olive and wheat cultivation – as was common across much of inland Málaga.
Following the evacuation, many buildings were demolished to prevent reoccupation, and what remained eventually disappeared underwater. During periods of drought, however, the remains of the church and the old cemetery reappear – a reminder that a village of nearly 1,800 inhabitants once stood beneath the reservoir.
Casillas de Díaz
In the Guadalhorce Valley lies another story linked to abandoned villages in Málaga. Casillas de Díaz originated in the mid‑19th century around an initial family home and grew to reach nearly 200 inhabitants by the early 20th century.
The decline began between the 1950s and 1960s, when agriculture and livestock farming were no longer enough to sustain the population. Gradually, residents moved to nearby towns such as Zalea, Cerralba and Sierra de Gibralgalia in search of better opportunities, leaving the village virtually deserted for decades.
It was not until the late 1990s that some houses began to be acquired by buyers interested in restoring the village. Today, only a handful of families live there permanently, while others use the properties as weekend homes. Administratively, the village is divided between the municipalities of Cártama and Pizarra.
El Acebuchal
Between Frigiliana and Cómpeta, hidden in the mountains, lies one of the most interesting abandoned villages. El Acebuchal was deserted in the mid‑20th century, during the post‑war period, when its residents were forced to leave, and the settlement remained abandoned for decades.
For more than half a century, its houses stood in ruins, visited only occasionally by former residents. It was not until the late 1990s that restoration efforts began, led by descendants of the original families who chose to rebuild the homes stone by stone.
Today, El Acebuchal has been brought back to life. With several dozen restored houses, rural accommodation and a restaurant, it has become a peaceful destination surrounded by nature, despite once being completely deserted.
Moclón
Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra Bermeja mountains, within the present‑day municipality of Júzcar – known as the "Smurf village" – lies Moclón, an abandoned settlement with Andalusian roots. Several buildings and the old church, later converted into a wine press, can still be seen standing.
In the 16th century, before the Morisco uprising, Christians and Moors lived side by side in the area. After the expulsion of the latter in 1570, the territory was repopulated by Christian families from different parts of Andalusia by order of the Crown. However, this new phase did not guarantee long‑term stability either.
By the 18th century, the construction of the Royal Tinplate Factory of San Miguel nearby attracted the remaining inhabitants of Moclón, drawn by new employment opportunities – leading to the gradual abandonment of the settlement.
