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Although
it is near the coast, the terrain within the municipal boundaries of Sayalonga
is more characteristic of the inland regions of La Axarquía, with mountains
that are steep and rugged but not very high. The highest point in the municipality
is La Rábita (672 meters), followed by the peak of El Mercado (638
meters), in the outlying township of Corumbela. For more information about
property for sale in Spain in or
near Sayalonga please contact us.
The rivers that cross these lands are short and seasonal, due to the level of rainfall in the region. The River Sayalonga runs from north to south and upon leaving this municipality takes the name Algarrobo, while the River Güi, also known as the Huit, runs through the eastern part. Both receive the waters from several tributaries but these only have a small flow during the rainy months. Despite the diminutive area of the municipality (a little more than 18 square kilometres), Sayalonga has both a separate village, Corumbela, in its northern part that takes up 20 per cent of the municipal territory and the curious outlying hamlet of Carraspite in the south, which is made up of a good number of small farmhouses that are only occupied between August and September during the season of greatest agricultural activity.
The origin of Sayalonga is undoubtedly Arabic, but it is not known at what moment in history it began to take shape as a town, and the meaning of the name is equally a mystery; some studies support the theory of its Roman or Visigothic origins. Historical records on the locality begin to appear beginning with its surrender to the Christian troops as a consequence of the fall of Vélez, in order to prevent bloodshed that would have been useless in view of the strength of the Catholic Monarchs’ army against the ever-weakening Muslim resistance.
At one time, the modern outlying district of Corumbela played a greater historic role than Sayalonga, and even the farm community of Batarxis, of which today only traces remain to show its location, is more often mentioned in chronicles than the main population centre of the municipality. In any event, the Moors of this entire region took a very active part in the uprising that ended in the famous battle of Frigiliana. The so-called Andalusia Earthquake (25 December 1884) also damaged Sayalonga, but in contrast to other towns in La Axarquía, there was no loss of human life here.
Fiestas
The practice of holding fiestas to promote a particular local product has
so taken hold in the province of Malaga that at
the present time many places carefully prepare a festive programme to publicise-
or keep in the public eye- a fruit, an oil or a long-popular dish. Thus, although
most of these fiestas are more or less recent creations they ave become true
traditions in their own right, without which the town’s festival calendar
would suffer. In Sayalonga’s case, it is a matter of praising-and with
good cause-the excellence of the níspero (medlar), a fruit that acquires
extraordinary quality in this district. The celebration takes place in May
and in addition to nísperos, many other local products are consumed
accompanied by a suitable beverage, usually the exquisite local wine.
The “fogatas de la Candelaria” or “Lumbres” (the “Candelaria bonfires” or simply “the fires”), are an obviously pagan tradition, surely pre-Roman, that is celebrated on 7 and 8 September, during the grape harvest. These fires are usually set at the doors of farmhouses, which are all occupied on these dates. Participants gather around the fire and sing, dance, dine, and drink, and those who remember them intone a few ancient “verdiales” (traditional Andalusian tunes). Aguardiente (raw brandy) with “garbanzos tostaos” (roasted chickpeas) is the drink par excellence during these celebrations.
And from the pagan to the religious, with the Virgen del Rosario patron saint pilgrimage on 7 October. On that day, the Virgin is conveyed from the parish church to a place outside of town called El Lavadero, next to the River Algarrobo. The journey is made amid incessant fireworks, and once the pilgrims are assembled at the chosen place, there is an exciting paella show while a band enlivens the day with music. The outing ends at sundown and once back in town the Virgin is borne through the main streets. The fiesta concludes with a final resounding string of fireworks. The most important day of Semana Santa (Holy Week) is Domingo de Resurrección (Resurrection Sunday), when instead of bearing an image pertaining to the Passion through the streets the patron saint is borne in a procession, and after filing through the most important central streets, the people go out to the country to eat.
The town’s fair generally coincides with
the last weekend in July, before the people go to the farmhouses for the grape
harvest. There are verbenas (street fairs), musical events and sports competitions.
Food
Potaje de hinojos (fennel stew), migas (made from bread crumbs) and
sopas cachorreñas (soups made with bitter oranges) are this place’s
most traditional dishes, but choto al ajillo (kid with garlic) is also very
popular. Revoltorio, which is nothing more than a salad of tomatoes, roasted
and raw peppers, onions, grilled codfish and one or two other ingredients,
all seasoned with a suitable amount of vinegar, olive oil and salt, is very
typical of these parts. Corumbela’s homemade bread baked in wood-heated
ovens is also to be recommended, as is, of course, the homemade sweet wine.
How to get there:
If you turn off the Mediterranean Expressway (A-7 or N-340) between
Velez Malaga and Torrox
onto A-6203 it will take you to Sayalonga by way of Algarrobo.
Tourist information:
Tourism Office, 2 Constitución Plaza (29752). Telephone: 952
535 206; Fax: 952 535 206.
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