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The
Sierra de Líbar range imposes its rugged and broken terrain on the
municipal territory of Benaoján, with outstanding features being the
peaks of La Ventana and El Palo (both about 1.300 metres high), the River
Guadiaro, which winds among the mountains through some places of extraordinary
environmental interest, and the Parque
Natural de la Sierra de Grazalema (Sierra Grazalema Nature Park), a region
where nature has held back none of her gifts. For more information about property
for sale in Spain in or near Benaojan please contact us.
The treeless limestone of the summits, contrasts with the greenery of the evergreen oak forest that covers the mountain range to halfway up its slopes. In such surroundings are found landscapes that are not only strikingly beautiful but are also the sites of the first dwellings of primitive man, as in the cases of the La Cueva de la Pileta and El Gato caves.
It is clear, then, that the sign of man in this region dates back some 20,000 years and that civilisations nearer to us in time also appeared in these lands, including Phoenicians, Romans, and Visigoths. The documented history of Benaoján, however, begins with the arrival of the Arabs, as is the case with so many other villages in Malaga.
Some historians, basing their judgment on the prefix “ben” which means “son of”, believe the name of the village, Ben-Oján, means “sons of Oján”. Others believe the meaning is “house of the baker”, deriving from the Arab name Ibn Uyan. The first theory, however, seems more probable than the second does. The Torre del Moro (Tower of the Moor) in front of the railway station is the only Arabic legacy that is preserved in the village. Its Christians conquered the castle in 1485 after the villagers surrendered, and it was later destroyed, as it was impossible to maintain a garrison in it.
After embracing the new faith and being converted
into newly minted Christians or “Moriscos”, the residents of Benaojan
took part in the sixteenth century rebellion and as a result once the uprising
had been squashed they were driven off their lands. From that time forward
the march of history in this village parallels that of many others in the
region, where the intricate terrain was taken advantage of by nineteenth century
bandits, and later by the “maquis” (resistance).
Fiestas
Benaojan’s festive calendar centres on two celebrations, that of San
Marcos on 25 April and that of the Virgen del Rosario (Virgin of the Rosary),
patron saint of the village, on 7 October, although the latter stretches out
for three days. On these dates a traditional verbena (street party) is held
in the main square where everyone is invited to “dance ‘til you
drop”. This opportunity is also used to sample pork products, which
in Benaoján have acquired well-earned fame for their fine quality.
Food
The village’s gastronomy is defined by its pork products, so
among its most typical dishes one finds lomo en manteca (pork loin in lard)
and chorizos al vino (chorizo sausage in wine). Once due note is taken of
the predominance of pork in the region, whose climate and grazing are also
favourable for sheep and goat herding, one must mention the delicious conejo
al ajillo (rabbit with garlic) and the always enticing gazpacho (a cold soup).
How to get there:
Benaoján is reached from the town of Ronda
by the A-376 road. A few kilometres from the city is the MA-556 turning, which
passes by the railway station and leads to the village. You can also turn
off the A-376 onto the MA-505, which leads to Montejaque
and immediately afterwards to Benaojan.
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Plaza de San Marcos, 1 (29370). Telephone: 952 167 103; Fax: 952
167 337
Benaojan
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