Málaga. España.

May 17, 2008

MONTEFRIO

Montefrío still looks like a small rustic mountain village, and, indeed, it is situated in a most attractive part of the province but it also has much more to offer, including an impressive host of monuments and a backdrop which takes travellers centuries into the past, toa n Arab era, when the town played an important part in defending the trade route which led down towards the coast via Vélez-Málaga. The impregnable Arab fortress and the village church protrude from among numerous olive groves. The former, a recognised historical and artistic monument occupies the site where the old mosque once stood. From it an impressive panorama can be beheld.

HISTORY

Archaeological finds in “Las Peñas de Los Gitanos” show that the colonización of Montefrío goes back at least to the Neolithic Middle period. The name “Hiponova” suggest that the village was a Phoenician foundary which was later inhabited by Romans and Arabs until it was conquered by the Catholic Monarchs on 26th June, 1486.
By the middle of the XIth century, Montefrío was part of the Nazarí kingdom of Granada. The Albencerraje dynasty crowned Ismail III at Las Angosturas. Sadly, much of the village´s cultural and artistic treasures were destroyed by successive Christian attacks which caused the devastation of its fortresses and the scorching of the surrounding land. The geographical conditions of Montefrío, surrounded by rugged hills and rounded hillocks turned the whole area into an important fortress. It was a part of the Millenary Roiute, which started at “Torre del Mar” and “Vélez-Málaga”, stopping at Montefrío before arriving at the fertile plains of Cordoba and the Guadalquivir valley. Montefrío was vital for the defence of the north-western area of Granada. The village, shielded by its castle, was an excellent defensive bastion, due to its being protected by a steep gorge. Thus, it defended the route to Granada. It was from this fortress that many incursions into enemy territory were made. It also collaborated with Illora in controlling the main routes which led out of Alcalá la Real.

FESTIVALS

20 th January, festival of Saint Sebastián.
1 st February, bonfires.
3 rd May, celebration of the Cross.
15 th May, Pilgrimage of Saint Isidro Labrador.
Summer festivals, first week of June.
Mid August, festival of the village patron “Nuestra Señora de los Remedios”.
Autumn festival, 3 rd week in September.

MONUMENTAL HERITAGE

The Arab fortress, built in the XIVth century by Yusuf I. the village church can be found inside the fortress. It is in this church that the Centre of Interpretation of the Las Frontier of Al-andalus “el Centinela” is presently to be established.
Church of the Encarnation.
Town Hall.
Trades Guilg.
Hospital of San Juan de los Reyes
Church of Saint Antonio.
Pósito.
Roman bridge.

NATURAL HERITAGE

“La Peña de los Gitanos” beauty spot situated to the east of Montefrío. The Neolithic dolmens make this one of the most important archaeological sites in the province. The gorges, balconies and terraces offer a magnificent calcareous landscape, interspersed by abundant vegetation.
At “El Barranco de los Molinos” travellers can visit ruins of Roman mills.
“La Sierra de Parapanda”, situated between the municipalities of Montefrío and Illora, is the highest point of the area (1,604m).

GASTRONOMY

Thick soup containing peppers and oranges.
“gachas de mosto”
Typical dish of rabbit and partridge, in the hunting season.
Faggots.
Cakes: traditional cakes made with wine and olive oil.