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Sierra
de Yeguas occupies a sizable area in the northern part of the region of Antequera
on the border between the provinces of Malaga and
Seville. Here the terrain seems to have set aside
thoughts of great heights and deep gorges and displays a gentle surface, as
befits a territory that abuts the countryside of Seville.
Right on the border of the two provinces, however, the municipality does have
higher elevations in the Los Caballos mountains. For more information about
property for sale in Spain in or
near Sierra de Yeguas please contact us.
Despite not being of any great altitude (just 748 metres), they are one of the area’s points of reference. Llanos de Navahermosa, adjoining the Los Caballos mountain range, is another of the more remarkable places in this municipality. This is a vast agricultural plain located on an ancient flood zone, with such unique characteristics that it is covered by the province of Malaga’s Plan for Protection of the Physical Environment. Sierra de Yeguas’ plant cover is composed mainly of olive groves but in some areas and on a lesser scale there are also almond trees and vineyards. The mountains have been replanted with pines and have low brush and a few live oaks, remnants of the live oak forests that years ago completely covered this territory.
The first human settlements in this municipality date from the Neolithic Period, as is show by some polished rock artefacts that have been found at various sites in the area. The Roman archaeological sites are larger and better preserved, and in them have been found ceramics, columns and a few coins, as well as ruins of villas and of some bathhouses. After the Roman period, there is no other record until the sixteenth century to serve as a base for reconstructing the history of this municipality; not even the Arabs during their centuries-long stay left evidence of their presence in these lands. It is believed that Crown Prince Don Fernando spent a night on the banks of the River Yeguas during the conquest of Antequera. There is no documentary record of this rather insignificant event, either, although it is very probably true. It is documented, however, that in 1549, the village was under the jurisdiction of Estepa, and in fact, the coats of arms of the Marquises of Estepa are displayed on the parish church. In the sphere of religion, due to its connections to the Marquisate of Estepa the village belonged to the “Verenullius” vicariate, meaning that it came under the direct control of Rome. For civil purposes, the village was part of the province of Seville until the nineteenth century.
Fiestas
The carnival is held around the third week in February, and in this municipality,
it has a deeply rooted tradition. The Feria del Espárrago (Asparagus
Fair) is held between March and April (the date varies). In a short time,
it has grown to be one of the celebrations with the greatest drawing power.
Thousands of people come from different points in the province to sample Sierra
de Yeguas’ exquisite asparagus, which is served in omelets, scrambled
or grilled. Dozens of stands also offer the public the most diverse assortment
of products, from cheese to kitchen furnishings, all of which are made in
the district and bear the distinctive local touch. There will also be no shortage
of musical performances on this day. Like the agricultural locality that it
is, Sierra de Yeguas organises its own San Isidro (Saint Isidore the Farmer)
pilgrimage on 15 May, in which carts and riders in traditional Andalusian
garb participate. The village celebrates its main fiestas from 24 to 26 August
in honour of San Bartolomé. These are days of intensive activity and
great fun, with massive participation in the numerous activities that are
organised.
In times past, the Corpus Christi celebration
had very distinctive features in this locality. Because it lies on the border
of Seville and belonged to that province for many
years, the two neighbourhoods into which the Albina stream divided the village
were called Sevilla and Triana, and maintained
a rivalry during the Corpus Christi festivities to see which of the two could
put up the best altars and decorate the most streets. To keep the rivalry
from detracting from the Catholic celebration, the procession would travel
through Sevilla on the date shown on the calendar
and through Triana on the day that coincided with the Octave. The first mentions
of the Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions in Sierra de Yeguas date from
the seventeenth century. Beginning in that century the village began to greatly
enrich its cofradía (brotherhood) heritage, although it would not be
until the first years of the twentieth century that the brotherhoods began
to take legal form. The disturbances of the Civil War temporarily halted a
centuries-old tradition that has been gaining a great deal of new life over
the last several decades. At the present time, there are six brotherhoods,
but the days that arouse the most interest are Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
On the night of the latter day, the Santo Entierro (Holy Burial) and María
Santísima de la Soledad (Holy Mary of Solitude) march, and their gathering
at the church marks a yearly milestone. On Easter Sunday, the children carry
little thrones in their own street procession.
Food
Porra campera and gazpacho (cold soups) are the most characteristic
and traditional dishes in Sierra de Yeguas, where ensalada de pimientos asados
(fried pepper salad) and migas (a dish made from fried bread crumbs) are also
very popular. Perdiz (partridge) and conejo (rabbit) are important main courses.
As for confectionery, mention should be made of brazo de gitano (a pastry
with filling), magdalenas (pastries baked in a small mold) and suspiros (a
sweet made of sugar, flour and egg).
How to get there:
You must start from the city of Malaga
to get to Sierra de Yeguas, and can choose between two routes. One option
is the A-45 (N-331) expressway in the direction of Antequera.
On the outskirts of that city, and without your having to enter it, this expressway
connects with the A-92. After eight kilometres on this latter expressway,
you will see the turning for Campillos via the
A-384, and from that village you will arrive at Sierra de Yeguas by way of
the A-365.
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Plaza de Andalucía, 1 (29328). Telephone: 952 746
002; Fax: 952 746 176.
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