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You
may have the sensation of having made a wrong turn when you leave the main
road (A-369) and take the MA-535 towards Benalauria. There is nothing to indicate
you are approaching a village but it suddenly appears, with no outlying houses
to announce that a population centre is near. This is the first but by no
means the only surprise in store for you on your visit to this locality, which
has been almost arbitrarily set down in a beautiful site between the Genal
and Guadiaro river valleys. For more information about property
for sale in Spain in or near Benalauria please contact us.
One’s first impression of this village is of the instinctive equilibrium of cubic volumes between its white houses that climb the mountain slope and the rocky and likewise whitish background of the peaks of the nearby Loma de la Sierra and Peñón de Benadalid ranges, which rise to more than 1,100 metres. Closer at hand, near the village, stretches a multi-hued forest mass of chestnut, pine and walnut trees that share space with olive groves. The River Genal augments the beauty of the riverside landscape with its capricious bends and turns, while the Guadiaro provides gentle terrain for grain cultivation.
There is nothing in the village or its environs to indicate prehistoric human settlement, and not even the Roman presence left any mark here. The history of Benalauría begins under Muslim rule; the year 715 is thought to be when the locality was founded by the Arabs, to be precise the Berber tribe of Ben Al Auría (son or sons of Auría), the name that was given to the village in that precise form. The first cultivated crops were raised in that era, taking advantage of the abundant springs.
These lands were conquered by the Christian
troops in about 1485 and granted by the Catholic Monarchs to the Count of
Feria, who in turn sold them to the Duke of Alcalá. After the expulsion
of the Moors in 1570 the Duke brought people from his other feudal holdings-from
Coronil, it appears-to repopulate these properties. Later the lands would
pass into the hands of the House of Medinaceli, which, bit by bit, sold them
to local residents. In the late nineteenth century the municipality achieved
official status with the establishment of a representative local government
composed of the citizens.
Throughout the eighteenth century this region experienced remarkable economic
growth based on vineyards, grain and olives, and nearly tripled its population.
These economic good times can be seen today in the construction that was carried
out, such as the “Pósito de labradores” (farm labourers’
granary), the parish church, the Town Hall and a number of secular buildings.
Fiestas
The Carnival in February is the first festive date of the year in Benalauria,
followed by the curious tradition of “Los Mandaítos” on
Good Friday. This village’s fiesta par excellence, however, is that
of the Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians) on the first Sunday in August.
This is a celebration with five centuries of history. In this case the dispute
between the two bands is over the kidnapping of the image of Santo Domingo
de Guzmán, patron saint of the village.
The confrontation ends when the Christians victoriously enter the castle and
the infidels have no alternative but to embrace the Christian religion. In
this enactment, organised by the Asociación de Moros y Cristianos (Association
of Moors and Christians), practically the entire village participates, and
on that day it shows off the splendid costumes inspired by the garments of
the era being recreated.
On 7 October there is a lively verbena (street party) in honour of the female
patron saint of the village, the Virgen del Rosario (Virgin of the Rosary).
In early November the “tostón de castañas” (chestnut
roast) is held, and in Benalauria there is no shortage of this product.
Food
The cuisine of Benalauria is determined in large measure by local
products Thus, potaje de hinojos con garbanzos (fennel stew with chickpeas),
sopa de tomates (tomato soup), gazpacho caliente or gazpacho frío (a
soup served either hot or chilled) and chacinas (cold cuts derived from pork)
are the most typical dishes of this locality, while noteworthy confectionery
products are tortas de masa (a type of cake made with honey), tortas de chicharrones
(a cake containing cracklings) and buñuelos (fritters). If a meal composed
of some of these dishes is followed by a glass of the locally produced anise,
you will have experienced the most delicious repast that this region has to
offer.
How to get there:
The route to Benalauria starts from the A-7 expressway or the old
N-340 in the western part of the Costa
del Sol. At San Pedro de Alcántara take the A-376 to Ronda,
and in that town take the A-369 to past Benadalid
and then turn onto the MA-535, which leads to Benalauria. If you start from
Manilva take the A-377, and after going through
Algatocin turn onto the MA-535, which goes
to Benalauria.
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Plaza Teniente Viñas, 1 (29491). Telephone 952 152 502;
Fax: 952 152 538
Property for sale Benalauria
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