Almogia

What to See in Almogía

The parish church is the most outstanding monument in the place, as is usual in many Andalusian and Spanish villages. In Almogía’s case, it is the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, which was built in the sixteenth century and much restored in the nineteenth, since it had suffered major damage to its infrastructure from the earthquake that occurred in the province of Málaga in the late nineteenth century. An excellent Mudéjar coffered ceiling graces its central nave, and it contains three eighteenth century paintings of commendable artistic merit (one of the Immaculate Conception, one of the Child Jesus and one of Saint Paul the Hermit) by unknown artists.

The Santo Cristo chapel’s original structure dates from the eighteenth century, but it also had to be repaired in the late nineteenth century. In its interior, which is small and built to a square floor plan, is venerated the painting of a crucifixion scene that years ago constituted one of the fourteen Stations of the Cross.

The Almogía castle was used as a defensive fortress between 1410 and 1487. It was later occupied by the Christians, who used it to keep the Mudéjars under control. Of the castle’s seven original towers only one, the Torre de la Vela, still stands.

The castle of Santi Petri or Huns-Xan-Biter

The Tres Cruces chapel is located on the boundaries of Almogía, Alora and Cártama and near to the boundary of Pizarra. It is a small eighteenth century structure in whose surroundings these four municipalities hold the "Cruces de Mayo" (May Crosses) gathering, with groups performing verdiales, a kind of traditional Andalusian song.

The Sagrado Corazón de Jesús chapel houses the images of the patron saints of the locality, San Roque and San Sebastián. It was built in the eighteenth century and stands in the highest part of the village. It used to be a part of the Sagrado Corazón convent, which no longer exists.

In the field of popular architecture, the Lavadero de la Noria (La Noria Washing Area) is always interesting, at least from the standpoint of anthropology. It is an unusual nineteenth century construction that was used until 1990. It preserves 30 washtubs, each with its scrubbing stone, grouped around a cistern.

Extremely interesting archaeological finds have been made in the area known as Venta del Fraile. These consist of cave paintings and prove that prehistoric man passed through this region. At Cortijo de los Galvez, Cortijo Chirino and Los Moras remains of Roman bathhouses and several villas have been found.

is also from the medieval period. In the times of the Caliphate and during the uprising by Omar Ben Hafsun against the Omeyas, it played a decisive role in the defence of Bobastro. While the confrontations with the troops of the Catholic Monarchs were going on, the fortress served as a prison for captured Christians. It was destroyed in 1487 by the Christian army during its campaign to take Málaga. Today one can only contemplate its ruins.

Almogía’s Fiestas and Gastronomy

In common with the tradition of other villages in Málaga, Semana Santa (Holy Week) is of special significance in Almogía, where it likewise revolves around the competition between "Greens" and "Purples." On Holy Thursday the images of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno (Our Father Jesus of Nazareth) and María Santísima de los Dolores (Holy Mary of the Sorrows) are borne in a procession, and on Good Friday the Nuestra Señora de la Soledad (Our Lady of Solitude) brotherhood takes to the streets. On Resurrection Sunday these two brotherhoods accompany the Resurrected Christ in the processional march.

The Fiesta de Verdiales de las Tres Cruces (Three Crosses Verdiales Fiesta) is as popular as the Semana Santa and has been designated a Festival of Provincial Tourist Singularity in 2009. It takes place the first Sunday in May around the Tres Cruces chapel, located on the boundaries of the municipalities of Almogía, Pizarra, Cártama and Alora. "Pandas" (singing groups) from these four villages perform the peculiar "choque" (clash) among themselves, which is nothing more than a demonstration of the great folkloric work done by each of these groups.

Residents from the four aforementioned villages, and from many others in the surrounding area, divide their time between witnessing performances of verdiales and sampling typical foods that are usually washed down with the good local wine.

In order to provide some information to those not familiar with this type of folklore, it should be pointed out that verdiales are a very primitive form of the fandango that took root in some mountain enclaves. They are a genuine Málaga phenomenon, with three well-defined styles corresponding to as many places: Almogía, Montes and Comares. Almogía-style verdiales differ from the others in that the tempo is considerably faster.

The traditional verdiales costume is notable for the large sombrero decorated with bright-coloured ribbons and a countless number of small multi-coloured objects.

The municipality of Almogía pays tribute to verdiales in more ways. In August, for example, it organises the Cuna de Verdiales Contest, a festival that will turn 25 in 2010. A special award is given to the so-called Fiestero de Honor, a person that has stood out for studying or playing verdiales.

In Almogía, they also honour one of their staples celebrating Almond’s Day, a date on which they set up stands. Over fifty people showcase products manufactured in the locality such as meats, cheeses, cold meats and, of course, lots of foods made from almond. Visitors will learn how almonds –a product that the Moors used to prepare so many dishes– are cultivated and harvested. Almond’s Day gathers thousands of people who will taste traditional dishes like chanfaina, porra blanca, ajoblanco, vino dulce, quesadas de almendra, etc… The event is livened up with traditional music, verdiales, and features workshops and demonstrations of traditional trades such as saddlery, straw weaving, or almond processing.

There is yet another traditional festival honouring an old trade –Fiesta de la Trilla or Threshing Festival, which takes place the first week in August. The event recalls earlier threshing methods used to separate grain or seeds from a cereal plant by beating with a flail. Visitors eat stew, pringá and gazpacho.

The Corpus, the San Isidro Labrador pilgrimage (15 May), the day of San Juan (23 June) and the August fair (early that month) are some other very popular fiestas in Almogía.

Almogía’s Gastronomy

Chanfaina

(kid seasoned with almonds) is probably the most characteristic dish of this locality’s cuisine. Along with that dish, sopa de puchero (a stew), ajoblanco and gazpachuelo (cold soups) and salmorejo (a pepper and vinegar sauce) form the list of the most traditional recipes of this region. Borrachuelos (wine buns) are the most notable pastry.

More Information About Almogía

Nature in Almogía

Almogía and especially Monterroso are included in "Mira quién vuela. Guía de itinerarios ornitológicos por el Valle del Guadalhorce," a birdwatchers guide including 16 tours and 8 sites of interest to ornithologists. From the privileged site of Monterroso up to 200 bird species can be seen, some of them being black stork, Bonelli’s eagle, dipper, olivaceous warbler, black wheatear, orphean warbler, little bittern, Dartford warbler, and purple heron.