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The
municipality of Tolox belongs to the Guadalhorce valley region for administrative
purposes but it is also geographically linked to the Ronda
highlands, especially to the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park. This area
bestows upon this municipality some of the most beautiful scenery, between
Puerto de los Pilones and the La Torrecilla peak (1,919 metres), to be found
in the entire province of Malaga. When it is covered
with snow, as it is for only a few weeks per year, the setting increases in
beauty and is simply spectacular. For more information about property
for sale in Spain in or near Tolox please contact us.
A little farther north, at Cañada de las Carnicerías and on the River Los Horjacos, the mountain range exhibits some imposing cliffs, but despite their steepness, small pine groves seem to defy the laws of gravity by growing on them. The terrain then begins to smooth out and olive trees and grain fields begin to appear. These make way, down on the banks of the River Grande, for numerous fruit orchards and vegetable gardens. The first human settlement in this area dates back to the Neolithic period, judging from the remains (three decorated ceramic vases) that have been in the Cueva de la Tinaja (La Tinaja cave) near Peñón de los Horcajos, some five kilometres from the modern village. As for remains from the Roman era, a tombstone from the grave of a child has been found and in the early twentieth century, several inscriptions were found embedded in the walls of the church.
The first accounts of Tolox from the Islamic period refer to the occupation of its ancient castle by the Muladí chieftain Omar Ben Hafsun in the year 833. Upon his death the fortress was inherited by one of his sons, Soleiman, who in 921 was defeated by Abderramán III, whose troops destroyed the castle. When the village surrendered to the Christian troops in 1485, the fortress was rebuilt but in 1498 it was again levelled. This locality, along with Monda, was granted as a feudal holding to the Marquise of Villena and Duke of Escalona in 1509. The repressive work of the Inquisition was noted in Tolox, and in 1560 it publicly repressed the local mayor because the villagers were singing and dancing in the Arabic manner during some family celebrations. After the Morisco uprising and their expulsion, the municipal territory was practically unpopulated until Old Christians arrived from Castile and Galicia in the time of Felipe II.
Fiestas
The patron saint fiestas in honour of San Roque are celebrated in mid-August.
These are very active days, with the whole village taking to the streets to
have fun and honour the local patron saint. 16 August is a day of special
interest, the date of the saint’s procession. From the moment it comes
out of the church it is accompanied by large numbers of the faithful, who
stage the so-called “cohetá”. This is nothing more than
a massive display of fireworks-about 60,000 of them-which accompanies the
image of San Roque during his entire journey through the village streets.
The “Día de los Polvos” (Day of the Powder) has fully as much drawing power. This fiesta is held a few days before Ash Wednesday to coincide with the carnivals. It is traditional, especially for the young people, to hurl talcum powder at each other until they are completely covered with it. In years past the young men used this game to seduce the girls; they would not go out on the streets on that day and thus the boys had to dream up ingenious ways to powder their preferred targets. Some chronicler states that this custom originated in a dispute between a Morisco and a Christian girl who were in love with the same man. Both worked in a bakery, the argument grew more heated and they ended up throwing all the flour they could find at each other. Nowadays courtship has taken a new direction but the tradition of throwing powder on one another without distinction as to sex or origin continues, and many outsiders come to Tolox on that day to take part in such a peculiar fiesta.
The “Baile de la Guasa” (Joke Dance)
is also held during the carnival. In this dance satirical verses are sung
about the year’s most remarkable events. On 8 December (La Inmaculada,
day of the Immaculate Conception) the cowbell-themed festival of the “Día
de las Mozas” is held. This fiesta commemorates a legend that describes
how when the Christians of Alozaina were warned of the danger that the residents
of Tolox were in during the Morisco rebellion they made use of a trick to
rescue those who had sought refuge in the church. The small group that set
out to come to the aid of the refugees in the church rang cowbells and made
noise with other rudimentary instruments to give the impression that hundreds
of soldiers were approaching.
Food
This area’ most characteristic dishes are sopa tolita and bolo
(types of soup), chivo en caldereta (stewed goat meat) and gazpacho (a cold
soup). Its confectionery is notable for its exquisite pan de higo (fig bread).
How to get there:
Take the A-357 to Cartama from Malaga.
About two kilometres past that village you must turn onto the A-355 in the
direction of Coin and continue by way of the A-366
in the direction of Alozaina. Four kilometres
short of Alozaina you will see the signs for the
road that leads to Tolox.
Tourist information:
Casa de la Cultura, Calle Encina 54 (29109). Telephone: 952 487 333;
Fax: 952 487 108.
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