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The
municipality of Villanueva de Tapia is on the eastern edge of the Antequera
region, on the border of the provinces of Granada
and Cordoba. Its topography is barely disturbed
by a few hills that introduce a certain variety to the landscape. Only in
the southern part, with the El Pedroso mountains (1,025 metres) in the background,
does the terrain attempt to turn rugged but is not entirely successful because,
after all, these notable heights are harmoniously incorporated into the cheerful
surrounding landscape. For more information about property
for sale in Spain in or near Villanueva de Tapia please contact us.
In the mountain district the plant cover is made up of pines and low brush and there are even a few old live oaks, remnants of the vanished greenery of long ago. Most of these lands, however, are devoted to olive groves and grain fields. The latter crop is especially abundant on the fields closest to the province of Cordoba. Ruins of Roman and Arabic construction show that both civilisations were established in this municipality but those widely scattered archaeological sites do not provide enough information to form even a minimal time line for the history of Villanueva de Tapia.
Its first documents appear in the sixteenth century and refer to some lawsuits between the localities of Iznajar (Cordoba) and Archidona. Surely taking advantage of the confusion arising from the distributions made after the Christian conquest, both were claiming the territory of present-day Villanueva de Tapia. The situation of being pushed and tugged between one municipality and the other soon gave rise to the name El Entredicho (“In Question”) being used to refer to the area that generated this conflict of interests between Archidona and Iznajar. This term appears in a sixteenth century document that is preserved in the Municipal Archives of Iznájar. As it seemed that the dispute was never going to end the Royal Treasury had to intervene, and its counsellors ruled on 20 June 1602 that El Entredicho would become part of the Patrimonio Real (Crown Property).
The Crown’s lack of liquidity led to Felipe III’s decision to sell at least a part of its less productive lands, and among those unproductive lands was El Entredicho. The property was bought by a member of the Supreme Council of Castile, Pedro de Tapia, under whose patronage the village now known as Villanueva de Tapia began to take shape in the seventeenth century.
Fiestas
The La Candelaria fiesta in honour of the Virgin of the same name is celebrated
on the night of 1 February. The residents light bonfires in different places
in the village and form circles around the fire and sing ancient traditional
tunes. During the Carnival in late February the women, besides wearing the
traditional disguises, form circles and throw pitchers or jugs back and forth
until one of them drops the receptacle on the ground. It is traditional to
spend 25 April, the day of San Marcos, in the country, where people eat roscos
de carete (a kind of spiral pastry) and pavita de San Marcos, a kind of hornazo
(a pastry containing a boiled egg that is typical of this day and this village).
From 12 to 14 June the Feria de San Antonio (San Antonio fair, also known
as the Feria Chica, or Little Fair) is celebrated, as it has been since 1934.
The Festival Internacional de Cante de Poetas (International Poets’ Recital Festival, in July) is one of the most distinctive events in this locality. It consists of singing or reciting verses known as “coplas”-some of which are of such a high quality that they could be classified as poems-in an offhand and improvised manner. This ancient tradition, whose origin would be found in the Middle Ages, has taken on new life in recent years. At the present time with the founding of this international competition it is an attraction for the best local troubadours and those from such countries as Cuba, Brazil, Puerto Rico, and Panama and even some European countries. The Semana Cultural (Cultural Week) is held during the second week of August and brings together theatrical presentations, verbenas, concerts and sports activities. It is customary on the last day to prepare an Andalusian breakfast from traditional local products.
The Real Feria de Ganado (Royal Livestock Fair)
is another of this locality’s primary celebrations. It takes place from
10 to 12 October and has been held since the mid-nineteenth century. Since
it is the season’s last fair of this type buyers and sellers are anxious
to close deals and many of them will be formalised in the ancient manner,
that is to say with a simple handshake. In addition to this fair there is
that of the Razas Caprinas Andaluzas (Andalusian Goat Breeds) and, of course,
the sampling of indigenous products, especially chivo al lechal (a kid dish).
The Semana Santa (Holy Week) begins on Holy Wednesday and concludes on Holy
Saturday. During those days several brotherhoods parade their sacred images
through the village streets, amid the fervour of the residents. The most outstanding
part of Holy Week, however, is the presentation of El Paso (a kind of Passion
Play). Passages from the Old and New Testaments are presented with the villagers
as amateur actors, and an unusual feature is that the ancient Castilian texts
are spoken in verse form.
Food
This area’s rich gastronomic tradition is also abundantly represented
in the kitchens of Villanueva de Tapia. Among the most characteristic dishes
are ajoblanco and gazpacho (cold soups), guisillo de la Virgen (a type of
stew), guiso de habas or “sobrehusa” (a stew containing broad
beans), naranjas en aceite (Oranges in olive oil), papuecas con miel or papuecas
con bacalao (a kind of fritter with honey or codfish, respectively), pimientos
rellenos (stuffed peppers), piñonate (a sweet made from pine nuts),
the classic porra antequerana (a cold soup) and puchero (a kind of stew).
As for confectionery, mention should be made of bollos de aceite (muffins
made with olive oil), roscos de carete (a king of spiral pastry) and bollos
de manteca (muffins made with lard).
How to get there:
From any place on the Costa del Sol, go to Malaga
via the Mediterranean Expressway (A-7; N-340). In the provincial capital,
take the route for Antequera - Granada
- Sevilla - Cordoba
by way of the A-45 (N-331) expressway. Just before arriving at Puerto de Las
Pedrizas get into the right lane in order to continue towards Granada
via the A-359 (the signs are very clear). When you get to the multiple intersection
at Estación de Salinas get onto the A-333, which leads straight to
Villanueva de Tapia.
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Avenida de la Constitución, 50 (29315). Telephone:
952 750 179; Fax: 952 750 273.
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