Click here to request info about property for sale in Villanueva de la Concepcion Spain.
The
territory of Villanueva de la Concepcion is almost at the geographic centre
of the province of Malaga and stretches from the
foot of the Sierra del Torcal range to the Mountains of Malaga,
but its topography is more closely identified with the Antequera
region than with the latter mountains, although it is no doubt influenced
by both. Thus, broad and fertile plains give way, sometimes rather abruptly,
to very rugged country. Nevertheless, the lands of Villanueva de la Concepcion,
dominated by the impressive mountain mass of El Torcal, yield prodigious quantities
of olives, almonds and wheat. For more information about property
for sale in Spain in or near Villanueva de la Concepcion please contact
us.
There are traces of human settlement in this region that go back to the Middle Paleolithic period, but the presence of Neolithic man is much better documented since polished stone axes have been found in such places as La Alhaja, Pilas de Cobos, El Cortijillo, Fuente Pareja and several others, not to mention other similar sites from the same era in the neighbouring municipalities of Casabermeja (Chaperas) and Almogía (Cortijo de Gálvez). The Iberians founded the city of Oscua, the first habitation of which anything is known within the boundaries of this municipality, and which would later be one of the Roman villas in the province of Malaga mentioned by the historians Pliny and Titus Livius in their writings. The symbol of the peaceful and indolent lion that appears on the coat of arms of Villanueva de la Concepción originates with this ancient Roman city that, according to the most recent studies and judging from the archaeological relics found at Cerro León, would have had temples, a forum, a theatre and other services. According to the Malaga historian Juan Temboury, Oscua must have had its own necropolis.
The fall of the Roman Empire was followed by several centuries that provide no documentation whatever about what may have happened in these parts. The most likely thing is that the few remaining residents sought protection in Antikaria, which would come to be an important Muslim city, so much so that during the Nazarite period it was defended by a string of castles that also allowed passage to the city of Malaga. In this sense the castles of Cauche, Hins Almara and Xébar-the latter in the municipality of Villanueva de la Concepción- served to safeguard the three natural passes to the coast. The importance of the Xébar castle is demonstrated by the fact that after the conquest of Antequera by the Infante (Crown Prince) Don Fernando on 4 September 1410, the Nazarites again occupied that fortress in the autumn of that same year and carried away whatever they could and then destroyed the castle. The alcaide (castle commander) of Antequera rebuilt it, but once the war of Granada ended, the enclave lost all strategic value and began to be slowly abandoned until it was in ruins.
The territory of Villanueva de la Concepción was now depopulated but regained a certain importance when in the second half of the eighteenth century construction began on the Camino Real (Royal Road) that would link Málaga and Madrid. Along this road farm communities and farmhouses begin to appear that with time would evolve into the present town, which was issued an official charter as a Población Rural (Rural Settlement) on 3 November 1880, at practically the same time that the “new towns” that sprang up in the Antequera region during this era received the same treatment. The special treatment from which the new settlement benefited-exemption from taxes, and from military service for the young men who were entered on the census- favoured rapid population growth. After years of demands the Council of Government of the Assembly of Andalusia conferred upon Villanueva de la Concepción the status of Autonomous Local Entity on 25 February 1992, thus culminating, although not completely, the process of separation from the municipality of Antequera.
Fiestas
The Candelaria fiesta on 1 February and the carnival at the end of that month
open the festive schedule of Villanueva de la Concepción. The fiesta
of the “hornazos” (a type of egg pastry) held on the day of San
Marcos (25 March) is one of the town’s most popular and includes a contest
for the best hornazos. On the day of San Isidro (15 May), the residents organise
a pilgrimage to El Torcal in honour of the saint. The area where the pilgrimage
is held is, of course, of incomparable natural beauty. The Inmaculada Concepción
(Immaculate Conception), patron saint of the town, is the axis of devotion
during the Feria de Agosto (August Fair), in which an enormous number of people
participate and that also hosts the celebration of the Fiesta de los Verdiales
(a type of traditional Andalusian music), which is the oldest of its type
in the province of Málaga and was declared a Fiesta of National Tourist
Interest in Andalusia in 2000. The best “pandas” (traditional
music groups) in the province fill the streets and plazas of this locality
with ancestral tradition. This event occurs on the last Saturday of July or
the first Saturday in August.
One of the peculiarities of Villanueva de la
Concepción’s Semana Santa (Holy Week) is that the processions
are organised by the local government. On Holy Thursday, the images of Jesús
Nazareno and María Santísima de los Dolores are borne through
the streets. The first image is an outstanding sixteenth century carving that
came from Antequera, and the second, which has been much restored, is from
the eighteenth century. The most emotional moment is during the encounter
that is celebrated between these two images in Andalucía Plaza, when
the bearers raise the two thrones aloft by hand. On Good Friday the cofradías
of Santo Cristo Crucificado (Holy Sacrificed Christ) and the Virgen de los
Dolores (Virgin of Sorrows) stage the “Estación de la Penitencia”
procession.
Food
Olives, chickpeas and almonds are some of the basic products in the
preparation of this town’s traditional cuisine, whose recipes are notable
for the use of aliño de espárragos trigueros (wild asparagus
seasoning), gachas (a gruel-like dish) and guiso de caracoles (stewed snails).
The local livestock provides the table with high quality meats including chacinas
and embutidos (cold cuts and sausages). Roscos de huevo and roscos de vino
(ring-shaped pastries made with eggs or wine) are this region’s most
typical pastry, to which specialties can be added magdalenas (small rolls
cooked in a mold), tortas de aceite (olive oil cakes) and borrachuelos (Muscat
wine buns).
How to get there:
You can leave Malaga and take Expressway
A-45 (N-331) towards Antequera. After going two
kilometres past the locality of Casabermeja,
you will come to a multiple crossroads where you can get onto MA-436, which
leads to Villanueva de la Concepción. Another possibility is to continue
on the A-45 and after going some 7.5 kilometres past Casabermeja,
right at Puerto de las Pedrizas, to follow the sign towards Antequera
and to watch for the sign announcing the route to Villanueva de la Concepción
before leaving the multiple junction area which is Puerto de las Pedrizas.
Be alert, you may not spot it otherwise.
Error! The codelock file is missing...