Villanueva de la Concepción

Location

Antequera

Click to enlarge images below:

Interesting Facts of Villanueva de la Concepción

Surface Area: 73.5 square kilometres

Population: about 3,500

What the natives are called: Villanovenses

Monuments: the parish church, the bridges of El León and El Horcajo and the bridge over the Cauche stream, El Torcal, Paraíso Bridge, Verdiales Festival

Geographical Location: inhe southern part of the Antequera region at the edge of the Mountains of Málaga. It sits 575 meters above sea level and is 35 kilometres from Málaga. The yearly average rainfall in the region is about 550 litres per square metre and the annual average temperature about 15.5 º C.

The territory of Villanueva de la Concepción is almost at the geographic centre of the province of Málaga and stretches from the foot of the Sierra del Torcal range to the Mountains of Málaga, 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 Concepción, dominated by the impressive mountain mass of El Torcal, yield prodigious quantities of olives, almonds and wheat.

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 Málaga 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 Málaga 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 Nasrid period it was defended by a string of castles that also allowed passage to the city of Málaga. 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 Nasrids 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.

Outstanding Sights: parish church, El León and El Horcajo bridges, bridge over the Cauche stream, El Torcal

Road Directions

You can leave Málaga 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.

From Antequera the route is longer but less confusing. All that is necessary is to follow the signs towards El Torcal, and less than two kilometres from the city of Antequera will be the signs showing the way to the Parque Natural (Nature Park) by the A-6311. Go past the entrance to El Torcal and continue on this road, which leads directly to Villanueva de la Concepción.

Full graphical path: http://bit.ly/tWGJvd

Tourist Info

Villanueva de la Concepción
Ayuntamiento, C/ Blas Infante, 2
Villanueva De La Concepción
Málaga
29230

Tel: +34 952 75 31 76

Fax: +34 952 75 33 94

Send an email

Website:

Documents

Socios

Awards

Institucionales Asociado al Patronato 2010

What to See in Villanueva de la Concepción

The urban centre of Villanueva de la Concepción does not offer any particularly interesting architectural monument-except perhaps the late-nineteenth century parish church-due to the relatively recent foundation of the town, but it does possess an attractive layout of wide and well decorated streets and plazas, such as those of García Caparrós and Andalucía, where a large part of the commercial activity is concentrated.

The construction of the Camino Real in the mid-eighteenth century gave this municipality several works of some architectural distinction: the El León and El Horcajo bridges and the bridge over the Cauche stream. Construction began on them years after the Camino Real was put into service, after it was found that this route was impassable in some areas during times of rain. The modification to the Camino Real included these bridges, which are still useful for transportation and also mark the beginning of the recent history of the town.

The Plaza de Andalucía in Villanueva de la Concepción is the focus of activity of the municipality, it is the place where major events, functions and fiestas are held. The square, its orange trees and benches have witnessed the recent history of the municipality. It is rectangular in shape and has a red granite octagonal fountain, Which is the main water supply source of Villanueva. Another important square is that of García Caparrós, between Nueva, Plantel Juvenil and García Caparrós Streets. Curiously enough, it has a triangular shape and has a fountain with four dishes framed within a red brick platform.

Tourist Info

Villanueva de la Concepción
Ayuntamiento, C/ Blas Infante, 2
Villanueva De La Concepción
Málaga
29230

Tel: +34 952 75 31 76

Fax: +34 952 75 33 94

Send an email

Website:

Documents

Socios

Awards

Institucionales Asociado al Patronato 2010

Villanueva de la Concepción’s Fiestas and Gastronomy

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.

Our Lady ofImmaculate Conception), patroness of the town, is the subject 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. Of the festival held on the Immaculate Conception Day, the town embellishment contest is worthy of note. The neighbours choose a theme and decorate their street as they wish.

Foodies and traditional gastronomy lovers will love the tapas route. Visitors and locals go to every bar in town to taste their culinary specialties. There are prizes for those who manage to follow the entire route.

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 fratermities of Santo Cristo Crucificado (Holy Sacrificed Christ) and the Virgen de los Dolores (Virgin of Sorrows) stage the "Estación de la Penitencia" procession.

On 3 November, Villanueva de la Concepción celebrates the anniversary of its designation as Rural Village in 1880. This is a very important date in Villanueva, and the locals engage in sports, games and attend a huge popular party. A tribute is paid to the elders and the effort they made to include Villanueva de la Concepción in the group of villages and municipalities of Málaga.

Villanueva de la Concepción’s broad bean yearly yield amounts to 1 to 1.5 million kilos. Therefore, it comes to no surprise that the villagers hold a Broad Bean Day. More than 2,000 broad bean stew dishes are served. Activities start off at 10 in the morning, when bars offer beans with olive oil to the sound of verdiales, an old, traditional music. At noon, the 2,000 dishes mentioned above are offered to the public along with a wide variety of morsels based on this staple of the area.

Villanueva de la Concepción’s Gastronomy

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).

Tourist Info

Villanueva de la Concepción
Ayuntamiento, C/ Blas Infante, 2
Villanueva De La Concepción
Málaga
29230

Tel: +34 952 75 31 76

Fax: +34 952 75 33 94

Send an email

Website:

Documents

Socios

Awards

Institucionales Asociado al Patronato 2010

More Information About Villanueva de la Concepción

Nature in Villanueva de la Concepción

Villanueva de la Concepción

possesses a natural tourist resource of the first magnitude: El Torcal, at whose foot the town lies. By declaring it an Espacio Natural Protegido Andaluz (Protected Nature Area of Andalusia) in 1929, a Parque Natural (Nature Park) in 1978 and finally a Paraje Natural (Nature Area) in 1989 the Administration has only taken note of something that is obvious at first sight: the enormous value of this exceptional enclave for its flora and fauna, geomorphology and scenery, features for which it is known and recognised the world over.

Its more than 20 square kilometres are made up of "torcas" or "dolinas" (clay-bottomed depressions) "lapiaz" (rocks with furrowed grooves), "poljés" (depressions of considerable size), corridors and gorges. The action of the wind and rain over thousands of years has formed this prodigy of nature.

The visitor should follow the signs for the "green" and "botanical" routes, which combine with old roads marked with red and yellow paint, in order to facilitate his tour of this fantastic world of strange and evocative shapes. Any of the itineraries will lead the traveller to a fascinating world that will incite the imagination to give credence to the numerous legends that such whimsical karstic shapes have generated.

Within this stone forest is the Ventanilla viewing point, from which the Mountains of Málaga can be seen, as well as the valley of the River Campanillas, a tributary of the Guadalhorce, and in the background the blue edge of the Mediterranean. This awesome landscape has inspired such poets as Jorge Guillén and Salvador Rueda, who have extolled the beauty of the rocks and their weird and disquieting forms.