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The
small municipality of Totalan is crossed north to south by the stream of the
same name, and spreads its irregular and elongated surface between the La
Axarquía region, to which it belongs, and the Hoya de Malaga
(Malaga Valley). As might be expected of such a
frontier between two zones its landscape shows some characteristics of each,
but it can be seen that the Malaga Mountains slightly
predominate. For more information about property
for sale in Spain in or near Totalan please contact us.
This is, then, a terrain mainly of hills and ravines whose plant cover is made up primarily of olive and almond trees, brush and pastures, and only along the riverbanks are there a few orchards and market gardens. This small territory is surrounded by such low to medium elevations as the Salazar (512 metres), Vareno (501 metres) and Las Herrerías (664 metres) hills. The Totalan stream only flows part of the year but sometimes has very high water. There are very few historical records available with which to reconstruct the history of Totalán before the Christian conquest, and they are not plentiful even after that event. It is known to have belonged to the “alfoz” (district) of Málaga, and it is also known that there was a tower of which practically nothing remains today. It is documented, however, that in 1483, a few years before the fall of Malaga, El Zagal defeated within the boundaries of this municipality part of the Christian army that advanced along the route of the Totalan stream towards this area from Antequera to attack the Muslim force camped near Moclinejo. The Arabs received timely warning about the Christians’ approach and emerged victorious from the confrontation.
There is one popular theory that the village’s
name is Arabic for “torta” (a kind of pastry). There are also
a number of documents that note the existence of several small communities
in the area called Tortela, Tortila and Tortalán, which according to
this theory indicates that in one or more of these places this typical Andalusian
confectionery must have been produced. So far, however, no trace of the existence
of such a craft has been found. There is also the belief that the Totalan
stream had a strong current during the Muslim period, which explains the existence
of an olive oil mill in this territory. In any case, given the lack of documentation
of any kind of any important event in this municipality, there is every reason
to believe that the history of Totalan beginning with the Christian conquest
followed the same path as that of the adjoining villages. Its history was
so similar that it suffered, and suffered greatly, from the phylloxera pest
in the late nineteenth century that destroyed all the grapevines that had
been the base of the area’s economy. The destruction of Totalan’s
main resource, the grapevine, resulted in the gradual abandonment of farmsteads
and lands. The greatest population exodus, however, came about in the 1940’s,
well into the post-war period, when many of its residents moved to the Malaga
neighbourhood of El Palo in search of a livelihood in the provincial capital.
Fiestas
The Totalan fair and fiestas are in the last week in May and are held in honour
of its patron saint, the Virgen del Rosario (Virgin of the Rosary), who is
borne in a procession through the village streets. After the religious ritual
has been complied with, the villagers organise a verbena (traditional street
party) with both traditional dances and modern music. The second festive and
religious event is the pilgrimage. The Virgin is transferred to a place called
Los Baltasar, where there is a gathering in which a large quantity of paella
is consumed by the attendees. The Corpus Christi fiesta is another of the
village’s most important celebrations. In the centremost streets, the
villagers set up altars with small items from their household goods (quilts,
shawls, fans, etc.), to which they add a lavish floral decoration. The balconies
of the houses that the monstrance is to pass by are also decorated, and it
travels over its route under a shower of flower petals.
On 23 June, the day of San Juan, bonfires are prepared for the traditional burning of the “júas” (Judas) figures. These are a kind of shabby effigy that represents the spiritual evils that one must rid himself of, and of course, there is no better way than fire to achieve total purification. When the flames have died down the young men leap over the embers in a show of strength and daring as their respective or future mates look on. Semana Cultural (Cultural Week) is celebrated in October and encompasses a broad schedule of activities that are not exclusively cultural. In addition to the days devoted to forums and discussions about subjects of general interest, there are confectionery competitions, street parties and even games such as treasure hunt. Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Totalán displays a seriousness not often encountered in southern villages. On the night of Good Friday, the image of the Crucified Christ is carried exclusively by women. The Virgen de los Dolores (Virgin of the Sorrows) follows it and both thrones perform an itinerary in which silence and absorption, barely broken by the crackle of candles, envelop the village in a strange atmosphere that is only seen once per year.
Food
In this municipality, the predominant dishes are “spoon foods”
such as chanzaina (gentian), gazpacho (a cold soup) and gazpachuelo (a fish
soup), as well as sopa de ajo and sopa de tomates (ajo and tomato soup, respectively).
To these first courses should be added cazuela de arroz (rice casserole),
potaje de lentejas (lentil pottage) and puchero con garbanzos y habichuelas
(stewed chickpeas and beans). Small quantities of a highly esteemed homemade
wine are produced in this area.
How to get there:
The exit for Totalán via the MA-179 is shown by signs on the
Mediterranean Expressway (A-7; N-340) at Rincon
de la Victoria.
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Calle Pasionaria, 8 (29197). Telephone: 952 400 215; Fax:
952 400 254.
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