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The
visitor should get his camera or video recorder ready and be prepared to shoot
film like it it’s going out of style because this village he is coming
to, presents one picture postcard scene after another. He won’t be able
to resist the temptation to take home images of one of the villages that best
preserves the traditional Andalusian character, without those additions and
creations that are sometimes used to try to recreate what never existed. For
more information about property for
sale in Spain in or near Casarabonela please contact us.
This municipality’s territory penetrates the Ronda region in the Alcaparaín (1,200 metres) and Prieta (1,521 metres) mountain ranges and approaches the River Turón. The terrain decreases in elevation towards the central part of the territory, where olive groves and grain fields abound, while in the environs of the village the effects of man’s efforts can be seen to contour the land and form terraces that yield fruits and vegetables.
Aside from a few Neolithic relics that attest to the presence of prehistoric man within the boundaries of Casarabonela, the most important ancient remains are from the Roman era. Every indication is that the first settlement in this place was founded by the Romans, who called it Castra Vinaria, but this theory, credible though it is, has yet to be proven. Nevertheless, there are remnants of the roads that linked Casarabonela with Malaga and Ronda, and it is a known fact that when Rome built a road the towns that it ran through were important or useful, if not both.
The Arabs, who never wasted an existing defensive structure, extended and reinforced the old Roman fortress, and they must have done it with such skill that it was the very last fortress to fall to the Christian troops during their battles in this region of al-Andalus. It was also the Arabs who, from the original Roman name, derived Csar Bonaira (Palace of Bonaira), which the Christians changed into Casarabonela at the beginning of the sixteenth century.
After the village was conquered and the Moors were expelled after their armed uprising, the territory of Casarabonela was divided between arrivals from Extremadura and other parts of Andalucia. In 1574 Felipe II conferred upon it the status of villa (royal burgh), as is recorded in a document that is preserved in the municipal archives.
Fiestas
The fair in the last week of July in honour of Santiago Apóstol (the
Apostle Saint James) is preceded by meticulous preparation by all the villagers,
who decorate the village streets for the greater enjoyment of the verbenas
(traditional street parties) and various performances, both popular and traditional,
that are held during those days. The Virgen del Rosario (Virgin of the Rosary)
pilgrimage is celebrated on 7 October, and in early May (3 May) the fiesta
of La Cruz (the Cross). The Virgen de los Rondeles festivities (12 December)
are obviously special, having been designated a Fiesta of National Tourist
Interest in Andalucia, and the Fin de Año (Year End) night is hugely
popular. On this night the villagers join together on the Plaza del Ayuntamiento
for the tradition of eating grapes to the cadence of the clock bells.
Food
“Pipeo”, a kind of stew, is the most traditional dish
in the Casarabonela cookbook, but the different varieties of olla (another
kind of stew), chivo en pepitoria (a kid dish) and conejo al ajillo (rabbit
in garlic sauce) are also deeply engrained, and one should not forget sopa
perota (a cold soup) and puchero (a vegetable soup). The most typical local
confectioneries are roscos de vino (a spiral pastry) and tortas de aceite
(olive oil cakes).
How to get there:
The more advisable of the two access routes to Casarabonela from
the Costa del Sol is by the A-357 from the city of Malaga
to Ardales. In that village take the MA-446, and
after travelling about 12 kilometres turn onto the MA-445, which leads to
Casarabonela. The other route leaves the A-7 (N-340) expressway on the section
between the airport and Torremolinos. the
A-366, in the direction of Coin, will take you to
Alozaina, and there you must take the A-6208 on
to Casarabonela.
Tourist information:
Tourist Office, Calle Real, 5 (29566). Telephone: 952 456 067.
Casarabonela property
Casarabonela
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