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Despite
the fact that the municipality of Moclinejo has no very high elevations (its
highest points are the Cordoba hill in the north
at 708 metres and the 673 metre Piedrasblancas hill, over one of whose slopes
the village is spread) its terrain is especially steep and cut by deep ravines
due to the proximity of the Malaga mountains. For
more information about property for
sale in Spain in or near Moclinejo please contact us.
The streams that cross the municipality (Valdés and Granadilla) are short and only have water after fairly heavy rains, so vegetation is scant and arboreal species are limited to olive and almond trees. Together with grapes, these form the basis of the Moclinejenses’ economy. Use of machinery for tilling the soil is difficult because of the steepness of the terrain except in the area drained by the Valdés stream, where there are productive market gardens and orchards.
As there is no record whatever of settlements before the arrival of the Arabs it can be accepted as fact that this village is of Muslim origin, as is clearly shown both by the site that was selected for the village and by the layout of the streets in its old quarter. The origin of the locality’s name, however, is less clear. In fifteenth and sixteenth century chronicles, it appears without discrimination as Moclinetum, Molinete, Moclinete, Mohinete or Molinillo.
An important historic event occurred in these lands a few years before the conquest of Malaga. A Christian army of 2,700 cavalry and 1,000 infantry under the command of Alonso Aguilar arrived at Moclinejo in March 1483 and its residents immediately grabbed their belongings and ran to seek refuge in the castle. Finding no booty of any kind in the village or the nearby farmhouses to carry away, the infuriated Christian army set fire to the community. In response, the Muslims emerged from the castle and launched large quantities of arrows and rocks from the highest point, resulting in numerous casualties among the Christian army. In memory of that resounding defeat, there is a ravine that is still called “Hoya de los Muertos” (Valley of the Dead).
There is nothing at all remarkable about Moclinejo’s history in later eras. Like the rest of the villages, it was conquered by the Christians and saw the expulsion of the Moors in the sixteenth century. Its economy slowly came to depend on grapes and wine until the appearance of the phylloxera pest in 1875, whose first outbreaks were detected here. It destroyed more than 200,000 vines the first year and put an end to the village’s main product.
Fiestas
The patron saint fiestas in honour of San Bernabé are on the weekend
closest to 24 August. A string of fireworks announces the start of the days
of revelry, which begin early with a children’s ring race on bicycles
and other games. The village is decorated for the occasion and everyone watches
the saint’s procession pass through the centre-most streets and afterwards
goes to the verbena (traditional street party). On Saturday the Noche Flamenca
(Flamenco Night) is celebrated, and a Rocío mass on Sunday. The fiesta
is bid farewell until the next year by a fireworks show.
On the day of San Marcos on 25 April the Moclinejenses prepare “hornazos”, a spiral pastry made with olive oil and with an egg in the centre and which here is called “palomita” (little dove) from the way the dough is shaped. The villagers generally go out to the country on this day to have a picnic lunch. On the eve of San Juan (24 June) everyone comes to the village square to witness the burning of the “júas” (Judas), and the young people go to the El Chorrillo fountain to carry out the face-washing tradition.
Semana Santa (Holy Week) is the most popular
and traditional celebration in Moclinejo. The parade with palm and olive branches
takes place on Palm Sunday and on Good Friday are the Dolorosa (Stations of
the Cross) and Sepulcro (Burial) processions. Easter Sunday is perhaps the
most awaited day. On the Plaza de España a bower is erected in which
the Cristo Resucitado (Resurrected Christ) is placed, and when the throne
of the Virgin arrives at that place the Christ is taken out and both images
are the object of great devotion and singing.
Food
Sopa de maimones (a soup made with bread, garlic and olive oil) is
the most prominent item in the cuisine of Moclinejo, which also includes ensalada
de bacalao (codfish salad), gazpachuelo (a fish soup), migas (a dish made
from fried bread crumbs) and ajoblanco (a cold soup). The greatest mention
should be made, however, of the sweet local wines. These are the product of
the September grape pressing and have achieved a fame that is more than justified.
This municipality’s wine has a caramel colour and is quite thick and
high in alcohol content.
How to get there:
If coming from the city of Malaga, take
the Mediterranean Expressway towards Motril-Almería. Shortly before
Rincon de la Victoria exit onto the
MA-107 and take it to Benagalbon, and there take the MA-108 to Moclinejo.
Once you have left the coast the route is short but very crooked.
Tourist information:
Town Hall: Plaza de España, 7 (29738). Telephone: 952 400
586; Fax: 952 400 505.
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