Frigiliana

People sheltered in caves here at the end of the Neolithic period, and a standing stone survives from the later El Argar culture. Phoenician colonisers left a burial ground of tumuli at the site still known as Cerrillo de las Sombras, and Phoenician and Roman coins have also been found in the area. The town's name most likely derives from the Roman period — probably from a figure called Frexinius combined with the Latin suffix meaning "estate of" — though another theory links it to the Greek region of Phrygia.

The Moors arrived in 711 and transformed the landscape, building irrigation channels and reservoirs still partly in use today, and introducing sugar cane alongside other new crops. Towards the end of the period they raised a castle covering around 4,000 square metres, supplied by its own aqueduct. In 1569, after the Morisco uprising, Christian forces under Luis de Requesens destroyed the castle. The Moriscos were expelled to Extremadura and Zamora; the town was repopulated mainly by Christians from Granada and Valencia. Only fragments of the castle's foundations and its access ramp remain. Frigiliana calls itself the Village of Three Cultures — referring to its Muslim, Jewish, and Christian past — a designation marked by ceramic tiles and a fountain around town.

The old town retains its Mudéjar quarter. The most striking surviving monument is the Palacio de los Condes de Frigiliana, also known as El Ingenio, which now operates as the only active cane-honey factory in Europe. The Church of San Antonio dates from 1676, and the Reales Pósitos grain store from 1767.

Scattered around are the remnants of the Roman fort, the old fountain (La Fuente Vieja), the Palacio del Apero, and Neolithic, Phoenician, and Roman archaeological remains.

Málaga Airport is about 40 minutes away by car; a taxi from the airport costs roughly €78–100 for the 65 km journey. By road, take the A-7 coastal motorway to the Nerja exit (km 295), then the MA-5105 north for about 4 km. A taxi from Nerja costs around €6.

Buses connect Frigiliana to Nerja's central bus station via a shuttle line. There is a Thursday market near the bus stop on Ctra Circunvalación. At the village entrance, the grocery store "Bei Louisa" is small but well stocked.

Andalusian ceramics are sold at "Artesanía de Frigiliana," housed in a former factory at the village entrance. Restaurante Romántica on Calle San Sebastián has a terrace and locally produced Moscatel wine. A post office sits at the coast end of Avenida de Andalucía.

The town has 4G from all Spanish carriers; as of December 2024, 5G has not yet arrived.