| |
|
 |
|
|
|
Benarrabá
Interesting facts
Geographical situation: In the lower region of the Ronda Mountains, 157 kilometres from Malaga at 622 metres above sea level
Tourist information:
Town Hall, Pósito, 7. 29490. Phone: 952 150 077 Fax: 952 150 208
Benarrabá is situated 37 kilometres from Ronda and 157 from Malaga, between the Vegetas and Infiernillo streams, forming part of a collection of municipalities in the valley.
The main natural feature of the area is the existence of large cork tree plantations, but there are also many oak, chestnut and pine trees growing in the region. The landscape is thus very beautiful as it runs down towards the Genal river, rich in vegetation like arbutus, heather, myrtle and a great variety of fern. The town itself sits on the side of a mountain, the streets narrow and winding in the typical style of the region and showing clearly its Moorish past.
The only indication of a Christian town here, from a distance, is the church tower with its tiled roof, with the 18th century houses showing a later European influence
 Overlooking the town was a castle that was very important for the defence of the region in its day, and historians speak of a subterranean passageway between the castle and Benarrabá, Gaucín and Casares. The name of the town derives from the Banu Rabbah family, the children of Rabbah, a tribe that populated the Genal Valley in the time of the Moriscos. Following the re-conquest, the town passed into the hands of the aristocratic Medina Sidonia family. Legend has it that there was a family of dyers in Moorish times that lived on the banks of the Genal river, and there made their exquisite crimson dyes. Their secret, it was said, was in the magic properties of the river water, from which they filled their wells. Their produce was sent to Cordoba, Granada and Malaga, and the magic formula remained in the hands of the dyer Abdesalam ben Arrabat, whose fame as an alchemist spread far and wide. In fact, he used sulphuric and nitric acid for his dyes, quite rare in those days
The festivals in Benarrabá tell us a great deal about the way of life in the towns of the Genal Valley. The festival in honour of the patron saint of the town, San Sebastián, takes place on January 20th, and on September 29th the festival honours San Miguel, this last one being the so-called Fiestas Grandes of the locality. On June 24th the Romería de San Juan takes place on the banks of the Genal river. There is a theatrical representation of the Auto de los Reyes Magos on January 6th, using the streets and squares of the town itself as a stage. When the theatrical performance ends, gifts are handed in to the church.
|
|
|
|
|
