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The
municipality of Cutar, halfway between Benamargosa
and El Borge, is a prime example of La Axarquía
landscape, beginning with the village itself. It is spread along the side
of a hill, the Cerro de Cutar in this case, that is, in turn, surrounded by
a succession of hills of varying heights covered by vineyards and olive trees.
If you arrive at the village on the road from El Borge,
you will make out in the background the Cerro de Comares hill, one of the
most unforgettable images of La Axarquía. For more information about
property for sale in Spain in or
near Cutar please contact us.
Two short rivers, the La Cueva and its tributary the River Cutar, each shapes in its own valley an area of great scenic beauty, not only for the fertile gardens and orchards that line their banks but for certain topographic features that are worth a short detour to see, such as the Salto del Negro (El Negro waterfall).
Traces of the presence of prehistoric man in
the area from the Neolithic to the Bronze Ages have been found at Peña
del Hierro and on the River La Cueva, which is entirely reasonable since this
territory is a natural pass between Upper and Lower La Axarquía. It
is reasonable to think that these lands continued to be inhabited by the different
civilisations that established themselves in the La Axarquía region,
but likely as this hypothesis is, there is no proof of it.
Thus, despite the discovery of a number of Roman coins and ceramics, the situation
in Cutar is the same as in other locations in Malaga
in that its documented history begins with the arrival of Islam. The village’s
name seems to derive from the term “hisn aqut”. This translates
roughly as “sharp castle” and in any event, this fortress has
disappeared, but the present village grew up around it. Although some researchers
state that Cútar was the scene of the Battle of La Axarquía,
there is also not enough data to confirm this hypothesis.
It does seem that the municipality enjoyed a certain amount of prosperity under Muslim rule, mainly due to raisin exportation, but the Moorish uprising and its subsequent squashing by Christian troops brought those economic good times to a violent halt. The economy began to recover with the repopulation of the area by Old Christians from other places, but destitution would return centuries later in the form of the phylloxera pest. (It seems one of the first outbreaks occurred in Cútar’s territory due to its proximity to Moclinejo.) The urban district of Cutar was also greatly damaged by the earthquake on 25 December 1884.
Fiestas
The August fair, in the middle of that month, is the most popular celebration
in Cutar. On the eve of the fiesta a merry fireworks display announces the
arrival of the entertainment to the villagers. After a mass is said in honour
of San Roque, patron saint of the village, and of the Virgen de los Angeles
(Virgin of the Angels) there is a procession through the central streets of
the village, and on the next day everyone gets ready for a grand “paellada”
(paella banquet). One last round of fireworks at five in the morning draws
the revelry to a close. Before this, on the Saturday closest to 15 May, the
San Roque pilgrimage is held, and on the day of San Juan bonfires flicker
all over the village.
Food
Puchero con garbanzos y chorizo (chickpea and chorizo sausage stew) is this
area’s dish par excellence, but sopa de maimones (a bread soup made
with eggs, garlic and olive oil) and gazpacho and ajoblanco (both cold soups,
one based on veggies and the other with garlic)) are deeply engrained in tradition.
As for confectionery, torta de leche (milk cake) holds first place. The locally
produced wine is of excellent quality.
How to get there:
If you are coming from the Costa del Sol take the Mediterranean Expressway
A-7 (N-340) and turn onto A-335 in the direction of Velez
Malaga. It is not necessary to go into Vélez, about three kilometres
past that place (at Trapiche) you can turn onto the MA-145, which connects
with two other roads, the MA-146 and the MA-178. The first will take you to
Benamargosa and from that village to Cutar.
The latter road (MA-178) will lead to Almachar,
El Borge and finally to Cutar. Both routes are
practically the same length.
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Calle Fuente, 13 (29718). Telephone: 952 554 247; Fax: 952 554
229
Cutar property for sale.
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