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This
municipality’s territory, squarely within the Antequera
lowlands, form a kind of corridor between Fuente
de Piedra and Mollina that widens slightly
on the border of the adjoining province of Seville. To the north, the terrain
is almost without contrasts of elevation; it is a gently rolling plain dominated
by dry land farming, mainly grain fields and olive trees. In the southern
part, the Humilladero mountain range, next to which the village lies, breaks
the plain of the horizon with its 650 metres of altitude, and also adds a
sizable area of pine woods that provide a certain amount of greenery to the
setting. For more information about property
for sale in Spain in or near Humilladero please contact us.
The urban landscape is characteristic of an Andalucian locality founded during the Modern Age. Thus, its streets, far from being the torturous Moorish layout of other villages, are wide and often show the use of the surveyor’s line in their design. Despite this, the houses do display the centuries-old Andalucian whiteness, and there are a number of noteworthy buildings.
Some chroniclers date the founding of the village to before the conquest of Antequera by Christian troops, but the likeliest theory is that it originated in 1618, the date that is inscribed on the Cruz del Humilladero (El Humilladero cross; “Humilladero” means where one kneels or “humbles himself”) at the village entrance and from which it takes its name. There are those who respond to this theory by stating that this date is simply that of the inscription and not of the village’s foundation and that it probably sprang up in the fifteenth century around an estate called El Convento.
As far as the name of the village is concerned, according to tradition it comes from the oath performed by the Crown Prince Don Fernando of Antequera before conquering that city. The story says that Don Fernando met in this place with Per Afán de Ribera, who came from Seville and brought with him, besides his troops, the sword of Fernando III the Saint. The Crown Prince knelt, that is to say he “humbled himself”, before the sword, kissed it and swore that he would never return it to its sheath until he had conquered Antequera. In commemoration of this act, the Cruz del Humilladero was erected at the entrance of the village.
Fiestas
Although the Día de Andalucía (Andalusia Day, 28 February) is
a fiesta that is held throughout the Autonomous Community, there are places
where this celebration is especially important, and such is the case in Humilladero.
While it is the Town Hall that is in charge of organising the events, the
village associations actively work with it, in preparing cycle races, assorted
competitions and a well-attended luncheon to which everyone is invited.
The carnival is another fiesta that is deeply rooted in the customs of Humilladero.
There are parades, masquerade balls and a colourful street party. Another
unusual thing about the festive calendar of Humilladero is the Labour Day
fiesta on 1 May, which is celebrated here both as a platform for voicing demands
and as an entertainment event. Thus, the evening before that date, the people
are in the habit of going to the country and gathering around large bonfires
to spend a few fun-filled hours, while the next day the custom is to go up
onto Sierrecilla mountain and spend the day in the outdoors.
On the day of San Juan on 24 June the fair
arrives, and with it a prolonged series of activities including ring races
on horseback or motorcycles, bicycle races of different kinds, sports competitions
(football, basketball, handball), cooking contests, folklore performances,
an orchestra at the fairgrounds and beauty contests.
During the first week in August, the village remembers the many people who
had to emigrate years ago in search of a better economic situation by holding
the Feria del Emigrante (Emigrant’s Fair). Many emigrants who now live
elsewhere return to the village on those days and are treated to theatrical
performances, flamenco music and samplings of characteristic local products.
Two brotherhoods participate in the Semana
Santa (Holy Week) processions. The turn of the Cristo de los Gitanos y la
Virgen de los Dolores (Christ of the Gypsies and the Virgin of Sorrows) is
on Holy Wednesday, and that of the brotherhood of Los Dolores is on Good Friday,
when it bears the Cristo Crucificado (Crucified Christ, also called the “Christ
of the Girls” since it is the women of the village who carry it) and
the Virgen de los Dolores. The statues perform a moving encounter in the centre
of the village.
Food
Porra antequerana (a cold soup), and especially the “majá”
variety (crushed or ground), is the most traditional dish in Humilladero.
It is closely followed by migas (a dish made from fried bread crumbs), adobo
(a type of sauce), gazpacho (a cold soup), picadillo (a stew of diced meat
and vegetables) and guiso de patatas (stewed potatoes). Pestiños (a
sweet fried in oil and served with syrup), roscos (a spiral pastry), and magdalenos
(a small pastry baked in a mold), are the most notable confectionery products.
Locally produced olive oil is used in their preparation, as it is with any
other dish.
How to get there:
If coming from Malaga, take the A-45 (N-331)
expressway to the outskirts of Antequera and
there connect with the A-92 in the direction of Seville,
which will take you to an intersection where two roads begin. One of these,
the A-6211, leads straight to Humilladero.
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Avenida del Emigrante, 1 (29531). Telephone: 952 737 023;
Fax: 952 737 292.
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