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Despite its small size, just 16 square kilometres, the municipality of Cuevas
del Becerro displays some very distinctive characteristics that differentiate
it from the neighbouring areas of Antequera and
even those of Ronda by which it is surrounded. It
is already somewhat evident here, however, that one is on the verge of a much
more profound change in terrain, which is that between the lowlands of Antequera
and the Highlands. For more information about property
for sale in Spain in or near Cuevas del Beccerro please contact us. The
village houses are spread across a hill that is encircled by the Vijan mountain
range (905 metres) and the Los Tercios (948 metres) hill, with the River Las
Cuevas flowing between these heights. Considering that Cuevas del Becerro
is more than 700 metres above sea level, these mountains do not represent
a strong contrast but rather a kind of shelter for the village. Farther down
the Las Cuevas valley, the Castillón, Las Palomas and El Pilón
del Zorro hills are equally prominent, with elevations of around 950 metres.
The scenery is enriched with live oaks and rocky crests, while the lower areas
are covered by grain fields and olive trees.
This municipality could hardly be an exception,
among those of the area, with respect to the first appearance of human settlements,
especially since its location and topographic characteristics make it an absolutely
ideal natural pass between the regions of Ronda and Antequera. Thus, prehistoric
remains have been found in the environs of the Castillón hill, on the
north-eastern part of the Las Palomas hill–this is the most noteworthy
– and also adjacent to La Fuente del Zorro (El Zorro fountain). Once
again it was the Romans, however, who left the most interesting evidence of
their stay in these lands, as can be seen in Casas de las Villas, a site next
to the village football field and in which have been found stucco, paving
stones and coins from the Imperial age. The most significant find from the
Roman era, however, is of an olive-oil producing villa that also devoted itself
to pottery making. Two ovens and part of a third are preserved from this activity.
There is little documentation from the period of the Arabic domination, although
it is reasonable to suppose that the village’s activity in that era
was similar to that of adjacent areas for which concrete records do exist.
It is a known fact that the village was conquered by Alfonso XI of Castile
in 1330 during his second campaign against the Muslims, the same campaign
in which Teba, Ardales,
Cañete, Priego and Ortejícar also fell. The parish archives
preserve documents that begin in the eighteenth century, and the first ones
in the municipal archives are from 1867, when the lands on which the village
now sits belonged to the Marchioness of Cuevas del Becerro and Benamejí.
Fiestas
At the beginning of the year Cuevas del Becerro puts on its party clothes
to honour its patron saint San Antonio Abad on 17 January. This celebration
will be repeated on 3, 4 and 5 September, which is when the fair is held that
is also in honour of the local patron saint. 2 February is the Día
de las Candelarias (Bonfire Day). On that date bonfires are lit in various
places in the village, just as was done in years past when the workers left
town to go work in the fields. The San Isidro pilgrimage is held in mid-May.
This involves an outing to the country with traditional food, music, dancing
and a float competition. The Day of the Emigrant is observed in July in memory
of all the Cueveños who had to leave for other places in search of
broader horizons. Many of them return to the village on that date and take
an active part in the celebration. In early November, coinciding with All
Saints’ Day, it is traditional to go to the country and roast chestnuts.
One of this area’s most characteristic fiestas, and one that is common
in other mountain villages, is the celebration called “partir la vieja”
(“smashing the old woman”) that takes place during Lent. The villagers
go out to the country provided with food and drink, and amid a general din
proceed to destroy an effigy representing an old woman. This tradition has
remained intact down through the years, but the meaning of the fiesta has
not. It was intended to help forget the hardships imposed by Lent on all facets
of life, but today that is only remembered in collections of folklore or certain
religious documents.
Food
Pork products are very prominent in the local cuisine, as evidenced
by the fact that the most traditional dishes are cocido (stew) and menudo
(tripe), along with guisado de garbanzos (stewed chickpeas). The recipe collection
of Cuervas del Becerro in general greatly resembles that of the other villages
in its area, meaning that highly seasoned stews, typical of the Highlands,
are frequently encountered. As for confectionary, everyone should try the
dulces caseros (homemade sweets).
How to get there:
If you start from the city of Malaga take
the A-357 towards Campillos. About six kilometres
past Ardales turn left onto the A-367, and 30 kilometres
on this road will get you to Cuevas del Becerro. If the trip is done from
Ronda, take the aforementioned A-367, which leads
from that city straight to Cuevas del Becerro. The distance between these
two points is about 20 kilometres.
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Calle Real, 41 (29470). Telephone: 952 162 002; Fax: 952 162 00.
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