Canillas de Aceituno lies 51 kilometres from Malaga and 21 kilometres from the coastal town of Torre del Mar.
The village is situated on the scenic Mudejar Route, at 645 metres altitude in the foothills of the Sierra Tejada mountain range, on the highest mountain in La Axarquía, La Maroma, which reaches 2,080 metres. The natural spring from the mountain attracts people from far away due to a belief that if the pure water is drunk, illness is prevented. Nearby is the spectacular canyon of the River Almanchares, where picnic and barbeque areas are provided.
The village is of Moorish origin, from which time a water tank and tower are preserved. The tower, which stands opposite the town hall, is known as The Moorish Queen and has paired arches in Mudejar style. The church of Nuestra Señora del Rosario, built in the 16th century, is of Gothic-Mudejar style and stands at the top of the village. The village was a refuge for Mozarab people – Christians that kept their religion and customs during Muslim dominance.
The town derived its name from the 8th century Moorish name of Azeytuni, the Arab word for a coloured fabric made with silk. During the 16th and 17th centuries, under Christian rule, the village continued to trade in silk.
There is a public outdoor swimming pool on the outskirts of the village. The whole village is surrounded by superb mountain, lake and sea views.