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A
large part of Antequera’s extensive territory
might be considered the opposite of the rest of the province of Malaga.
The landscape seems exhausted by the rugged topography of great heights and
profound depths, generated by the endless mountain chains, and gives the impression
of taking a rest and unexpectedly lying down in these lands, which exhibit
the least broken terrain in the entire province of Malaga.
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for sale in Spain in or near Mollina please contact us.
The municipality of Mollina spreads across these plains. Its only appreciable contrast in elevation comes from the mountain range of the same name, which is of such modest height that it would go unnoticed in most Malaga villages. Mollina’s land is therefore suitable for grain fields and olive groves, and also for several decades now its vineyards have produced vintages of such acknowledged quality that they have earned the designation “Denominación de Origen” and provided a powerful economic impetus to the area.
The first humans in what is now the municipality of Mollina settled here in the Neolithic period, in some caves in the La Camorra range only six kilometres from the present village. Ceramic relics and a number of cave outline drawings attest to this. There are no later traces until the arrival of the Romans, who left a generous sample of their culture in the area. The origins of the modern village date back to the sixteenth century, when in 1575 the Village Council of Antequera distributed the lands of the so-called Cortijo de la Ciudad (Farm of the City). Its urban plan, modified in the seventeenth century, can still be seen in the Plaza de la Constitución. The village developed at such an economic and demographic pace that in less than a century Mollina became the area with the largest number of olive trees in the Antequera region, and for a period this territory was even called “Pago de las Olivas” (the plot where olives grow), and what had been the San Cayetano parish church changed its name to Nuestra Señora de la Oliva (Our Lady of the Olive).
The locality became independent of Antequera in the first years of the nineteenth century, at a time when the economic situation was not the best for forming its own municipal government and at a time of social unrest caused by the massive participation by residents of Mollina in a secret society called the Garibaldinos. It appears that the events known as the Loja Revolution of 1861 had their genesis in Mollina, where there were a number of people killed or wounded. Beginning in the second half of the twentieth century Mollina, like so many other villages in the province, suffered the consequences of emigration The population went from slightly more than 5,000 in the census of 1956 to 2,800 two decades later. Fortunately, the associative movement experienced surprising growth in later years, so that in a short time the municipality changed from an olive-producing to a grape-producing area, and now produces 80 percent of those wines with the designation “Denominación de Origen Malaga” (of Malaga origin).
Fiestas
The Candelaria fiesta on 1 February clearly has roots in the ritual of asking
for protection from fires in granaries and haystacks, the area’s rural
economic base. For this purpose, bonfires are built in several places and
people sing and dance around them. The tradition continues to be practically
the same as it was years ago, when the occasion was likewise used as an opportunity
for consuming local products. The Virgen de la Oliva (Virgin of the Olive)
pilgrimage takes place the second weekend of May at the Santillán natural
area. The image is transported in a flower-decorated cart accompanied by a
Rocío group, and the village streets are decorated for the occasion
with flowers, garlands and flowerpots. The Virgin is transferred to the Santillán
hermitage on Saturday afternoon, and there the most devout stay with the image
through the night. On Sunday morning a Rocío mass is said, and on the
next day there is a traditional verbena (street party) as a prelude to the
fiesta in the country on the following day.
The Feria de Agosto (August Fair, 13 to 16 of that month) is held in honour of the Virgen de la Oliva. On those days, there are religious and entertainment activities (sports competitions, float parades, children’s theatre) and these days are even used to present the Feria del Libro (Book Fair). At night, there are verbenas and concerts until the pre-dawn hours. The religious activities are notable for the colourful floral offering to the Virgin and her procession through the village streets. The Feria de la Vendimia (Grape Harvest Fair) could not help but have special significance in this village, which produces some excellent vintages. It is held on the second weekend in September on the Plaza de Atenas, where the different kinds of local wine are sampled. The fair by day and verbenas by night, horseback ring races, a poetry competition, wine tasting and other activities are held throughout this fiesta.
Everyone awaits the “pregón de la feria” (proclamation of the fair) with special interest, however. It is generally spoken by a distinguished literary figure. Among others, Antonio Gala, Fernando Quiñones, Caballero Bonald, Rosa Regás, and Espido Freire have been “pregoneros” in Mollina, so it is understandable that the pregón is considered the most remarkable event of all those that occur during these festivities.
Food
As well as the indispensable chacinas (cold cuts) that are still
made in the traditional way, notable winter foods in Mollina include migas
(a dish made from fried bread crumbs) and porra caliente (a hot soup), while
in summer gazpacho and porra (cold soups) accompanied by the excellent local
wines are popular. Worthy of special mention are gachas de mosto (a soup made
of flour and seasonings and, in this case, fresh grape juice), typical of
the wine-harvesting season. As for confectionery items, the most traditional
are pestiños (a sweet made of flour and beaten eggs), borrachuelos
(a kind of sponge cake) and magdalenas (a pastry baked in small molds), which
are available here throughout the year, as well as mantecados (shortcake)
and roscos (a kind of spiral pastry), which are more usual in the Christmas
season. Considering the importance of wine to this area reference must be
made to them and their names at least mentioned: Carpe Diem Dulce Natural,
Carpe Diem Malaga Añejo, Carpe Diem Málaga
Trasajeño, Montespejo and Judea. This last is the first young red wine
which received the “Denominación de Origen Sierras de Málaga”
denomination. In the opinion of connoisseurs, it is an elegant wine, with
a beautiful colour and much body.
How to get there:
If coming from the city of Malaga, take
the A-45 (N-331) expressway to the vicinity of Antequera
and there take the A-92 expressway towards Seville.
A well-marked exit from this expressway leads to Mollina.
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Calle La Villa, 3 (29532). Telephone: 952 740 044; Fax:
952 740 338.
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