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The mountainous territory of the municipality of Casabermeja is in the southern
part of the Torcal and Las Cabras mountain ranges and is crossed by the River
Guadalmedina. Since the most remote antiquity, it has been one of the entry
points from different localities on the coast, including the city of Malaga,
to the interior of Andalucia.
This access has been none other than the narrow and winding valley of the River Guadalmedina itself, along which runs a large part of the route of the A-4 (N-331) expressway, which has placed the village equally distant from Antequera and Malaga and has considerably shortened the distance between these three population centres. For more information about property for sale in Spain in or near Casabermeja please contact us.
The scenery in these lands is anything but topographically monotonous, owing to the combination of gentle hills and the varied tree cover and crops to be seen on them: olive trees, almond trees, low brush, broad fields of grain and ploughed fields around the numerous farmsteads scattered across the countryside.
Remains of prehistoric settlements (paintings
in Peñas Cabrera and an Neolithic burial site at Monte Calvario, among
other relics) have turned up in the environs of the village, but it was the
Romans who left the best evidence of their passage through the municipality.
The pottery at Cerro Alcalde, the La Cotonilla ruins (a place very close to
the La Molinera stream), and the ruins of the Las Parras fountain inside the
village on Calle San Sebastián all belong to this era.
The origin of the village’s name is very probably Arabic, from Qsar
Bemeja (Vermillion Castle). On the other hand, there is a popular tradition
but one of unknown reliability that attributes to Isabela the Catholic the
expression “Qué casa bermeja!” (“What a vermillion
house!”) on her first sight of the village. The Queen must have named
numerous localities in this way, since many villages preserve the same legend
about their names.
There is no doubt that the Arabs were present in this territory, and ruins of an ancient wall and the Torre Zambra (Zambra Tower), on a hill commanding a view of a broad landscape, remain from that era. The present village was founded by the Catholic Monarchs, according to a document signed later by Juana la Loca and Carlos I in 1529 and 1550, respectively. A few years later, in 1630, the villagers received permission to purchase the villa (royal burgh) from the Crown.
The construction of the modern expressway next
to the town has favoured its expansion and at the same the construction of
many dwellings, but the locality has not lost its original character, at least
as far as the original urban quarter is concerned. It still preserves narrow
streets and whitewashed houses of two stories at most, and some façades
even still have niches where images of saints and the Virgin are placed for
public veneration.
Fiestas
At the very beginning of the year, the village celebrates the day of its patron
saint, San Sebastián, on 20 January. The following month the pagan
takes the place of the religious during the carnival, which has happily recovered,
and constitutes a major event for the village. On 25 April, the San Marcos
pilgrimage takes place, a day when the people go to the country to fulfil
the tradition of “tying up the Devil” and eating hornazos (a kind
of pastry).
The four days of the Corpus festivals are observed
in this area amidst great pomp and ceremony. Splendid floral decorations cover
the streets and houses along the route of the Santísimo (Holy Sacrament),
which visits the street altars that have been erected in the open. On the
day of San Juan, the burning of the “Júas” (Judas) is used
as an excuse for a long night of fun.
In recent years Casabermeja has begun to regain the former splendour of its
Semana Santa (Holy Week). Thus now, after a difficult period, there are four
brotherhoods that bear their images in processions: on Holy Thursday, Jesús
Nazareno and the Virgen de los Dolores (Jesus of Nazareth and the Virgin of
Sorrows, anonymous eighteenth century works); on Good Friday afternoon the
brotherhood of El Cristo Crucificado y la Virgen de la Piedad (The Sacrificed
Christ and the Virgin of Piety), and that night El Santo Sepulcro y la Soledad
(The Holy Tomb and Solitude). The last of all, on Resurrection Sunday, is
El Resucitado y la Virgen de la Alegría (The Resurrected Christ and
the Virgin of Joy), which carries a mantle of flowers.
On the penultimate Saturday in June all Bermejos and many people from other
places impatiently await the opening of the Festival de Cante Grande (flamenco
music festival), which, over its more than 30 years of existence, has established
itself not only as the dean of all such festivals held in the province, but
also as one of those offering the greatest artistic quality.
Food
As is to be expected from its geographic setting, plato de los Montes
(a hearty dish of chorizo sausage, pork, fried eggs, peppers and potatoes)
is one of the most characteristic dishes here, without prejudice to conejo
al ajillo (rabbit in garlic sauce) and chivo en pepitoria (a stewed kid dish),
which are eaten at any time of the year. Summer is the time for the classic
gazpacho (a cold soup) and olla de la era (a soup), and winter for migas (a
dish made from fried bread crumbs, usually accompanied by the tasty local
wine), pipeo and puchero (types of stews). Borrachuelos (sponge cakes), magdalenas
(small pastries made in a mold), pan de bizcocho (an oven-baked pastry), roscos
de vino (spiral pastries) and tortas de aceite (olive oil cakes) are a good
sample of Casabermeja’s confectionery.
How to get there:
It is hardly more than a stroll to Casabermeja from the city of Malaga.
The A-4 (N-331) expressway leads straight to the village.
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Calle Llanote de Abajo, 2 (29160). Telephone: 952 758 377; Fax:
952 758 009. Tourist Office (from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays).
Telephone: 952 758 458
Casabermeja property
Casabermeja property for sale
Casabermeja
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