A Moorish water mill from 1400

Where Moorish history and modern hospitality merge

The Moors understood as that this was an exceptional place

Around 1400, the water mill El Molino Santisteban was built by the Moors on the banks of the river Río Grande. The area around the Río Grande with the Ardite ridge has been inhabited since prehistoric times. The Dolmen found here in the hills is proof of this. The Phoenicians and Romans (between 1000 BC and 400 AD) also settled in this valley for its sheltered nature and fertile soil.

Sierra de las Nieves

Due to the abundance of water from the mountains of the Sierra de las Nieves and the river, the Moors built a water mill and an ingenious water system (acequias) that could irrigate the surrounding land and drive the mill. To this day, farmers in the area still use this irrigation system. The three arches (arcos) of the water mill indicate great productivity and is the only one of this size in the province of Málaga. The water mill focused mainly on grinding grain and cattle-fodder. The millstones (piedras) and one of the wheels (rodezno) are still present.

From Moorish mill to Spanish treasure

After 700 years of Moorish presence in Andalusia, Málaga was conquered by the Reyes Católicos in 1485, and in 1491 the watermill, then already known as El Molino Santisteban, was seized as a war treasure and handed over to one of their loyal knights Fernando Pérez. In the years that followed, the watermill remained active and changed hands many times. The family of the last miller still lives in the neighboring village of Alozaina.

Authentic character

In the 1970s, however, the water mill was sold to American John Andersen, who renovated it, made it habitable and turned the mill room into a dining hall. However, the waterways remained intact so did its authentic character. In 1980 he built a large guesthouse around an Andalusian-style patio on the property next to the water mill. This building now serves as a hotel.