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Coín
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Town history
Gastronomy
  • The town of Coín is located in the region of Valle del Guadalhorce, stretching from the Sierra de Alpujata to the centre of the region and it has a great diversity of landscapes where visitors can enjoy nature from the heart of the historical centre. In this regard, Coín has a great wealth of religious and architectural heritage. The churches that bring the town to life, such as the Encarnación, San Andrés and San Juan churches, together with the Nuestra Señora de la Fuensanta chapel, which are the main monuments in this town, closely related to its traditions.

    There is a large British community in this town, as in many other towns in the province of Malaga.

    MUST SEE SITES IN COÍN

    MONUMENTS

    The Catholic Monarchs order the Santa María de la Encarnación church to be built on what was the former Arab mosque. It has a nave with a ribbed dome and a plaster relief walls. The convent was built later during the 18th century and it is now used for cultural activities. The entire building has three halls in which various ethnographic, artistic and, of course, archaeological exhibitions are held.

    The town"s mixture of styles resulting from the cultural diversity of its history is reflected in the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista. Built during the 16th century, it has classic, gothic, Mudejar and baroque elements. Inside there is a sculpture of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles and the image of the Virgin of Fuensanta, the patron saint of Coín and the origin of a number of traditions and local festivities.

    An ancient chapel is the centre of some local festivities in honour of Nuestra Señora de la Fuensanta, dating back to the 16th century. The sanctuary offers a unique view given its privileged position offering views over the entire area, with the Pereila river running through it. This area offers images of rural art illustrated in mills, ancient bridges, now abandoned, a Roman road or the Llano de la Virgen site, declared a Site of Cultural Interest.

    There are four L-shaped temples in Andalusia, one of which is located in Coín. The Hospital de la Caridad, built in the middle of the 16th century, it has its own chapel and was later converted into the San Andrés church. This architectural feature was designed to add a wing perpendicular to the chancel in order to separate those suffering from illness from other believers. The restrained beauty of the building is enlivened by its Mudejar style and neo-classical main door.

    Coín also has a unique tower with a triangular base. This tower belonged to the church of the Trinity Convent and although the building was destroyed, the tower is the only remnant of its existence.

  • Coín’s importance means that it has the most connections out of all the towns in the Valle del Guadalhorce. It’s 36 kilometres from Málaga, making it perfect for a day trip.

    It’s best to drive along the A-357 and take the Cártama/Coín except to continue along the A-355. Another option is to go on the N-340 and then go on the A-366.

  • NATURAL RESOURCES

    Coín is located between the Sierra de Alpujata and the centre of the Valle del Guadalhorce. If you are an outdoor sports enthusiast and enjoy hiking, the surrounding areas of Coín offer countless routes to be enjoyed on foot, by bike or on horseback. We highly recommend visiting the natural springs of El Nacimiento and Barranco Blanco, given their incomparable ecological value.

    LEISURE CENTRES

    The Ciudad del Cine (The Coín Film City) was a project that began in Coín some years ago and it is where a number of series and movies were filmed. Since its inauguration, it has been used to film both national and foreign productions. Since the production of the Andalusian series called Arrayán came to an end, a few other productions have been filmed there sporadically and it is currently offering various tourism activities that are bringing it back to life again.

    LOCAL FESTIVITIES

    Given the local agriculture, the Fiesta de la Naranja (Orange Festival) is held in May, coinciding with the end of the harvest period. This celebration promotes the local products of Coín, where residents and visitors alike can sample dishes in which the orange is the star product, as well as additional activities and events.

    Coín is well-known for its fondness for the world of horses. And this is reflected in the two important events held throughout the year. The Concentración Caballista (Equestrian Gatherin) is held in October, and the Salón Andaluz del Caballo de Pura Raza (the Purebred Spanish Horse Exhibition) is held in April. The Traditional Dance and Flamenco signing festivals are held during the summer months.

    The patron saint of Coín is the Virgen de la Fuensanta and in May she is taken to her chapel in a pilgrimage in which locals and visitors take part. The following month, in June, the devout of the patron saint of Coín take her image to the sanctuary, with this journey being organised by means of a competition between the ox-pulled carts so the winner has the privilege of carry the image back to her normal chapel in the Iglesia.

    The Coín fair is held in August and it is divided into two areas, the daytime fair or, Feria de Día, in the centre of the town where you can enjoy tapas, drinks and even listen to a band or an orchestra. The Feria de Noche, held during the evening in the fairground, where there is a whole host of acts and rides for the whole family to enjoy.

    GASTRONOMY

    Oranges are the start product of Coín, given its excellent local produce. The sopa "hervía" or cachorreña (potatoes, cod and orange juice) is a typical dish of Coín, although other traditional specialities include, potajes, (stews), puchero (a creamy chickpea broth, with vegetables and meat), gazpachuelo (cod with boiled potatoes in a mayonnaise and lemon soup), pepper and tomato soup, mojete (salad with oranges, tomato, onion and olives) and gazpacho a chilled tomato soup using other products from the vegetable garden).

    Coín is famous for its oven-baked sweet potatoes which are also produced in the entire region, together with fig bread, traditional doughnuts or gachas con arrope (a soft pap made from flour with grape syrup).

  • Town history


    The area where Coín is located today has been inhabited by man since the dawn of time, as attested by the archaeological evidence from the Copper Age found in the mountains of Ardite and Carranque, and in Llano de la Virgen, an Asset of Cultural Interest. Remains from the Iron Age were unearthed in Cerro del Aljibe, while pieces belonging to Greek, Phoenician, Iberian, Roman and Visigothic settlements have been found in various points in the municipality. To these findings we should add the eighth- to tenth-century cave church pointing at the presence of a large Mozarabic community in the area.

    Under Islamic rule, Coín played a key role in in the military campaigns led by Abd-ar-Rahman III against the Christian leader Umar ibn Hafsun. Hish Dakwan – the village"s name in Arabic – reached its zenith between the thirteenth and the fifteenth century, becoming the administrative and judicial capital of Algarbía (Western Málaga). Authors like Ibn Battuta and Ibn al-Khatib described it as a land with lavish vegetation, abundant water and a mild weather.

    Hish Dakwan was seized by the Christians in 1485 – one of the most striking events in the conquest of the Nasrid Kingdom of Granada, as the local population fought tooth and nail. In the end, they succumbed. The forces of the Catholic Monarchs tore the fort down and divided the land. They also built their first church on the ruins of the grand mosque. It was the Church of Santa María de la Encarnación.

    Some historians believe that both Christopher Columbus and Miguel de Cervantes visited Coín. The former was seeking support from the Catholic Monarchs for his trip to the Indies, while the latter worked as a tax collector for the King. In the seventeenth century, Coín was on the way to Spain"s overseas colonies, for it was a strategic point on the Royal Itinerary. In the eighteenth century, it had risen to prominence, courtesy of its commercial and agricultural activity. In 1773, the village had as many as 700 gardens producing all kinds of fruit and vegetables.

    In the early twentieth century (1913), Coín got its first railway line, linking it to Málaga City. In 1930, King Alfonso XIII granted this village in the Guadalhorce valley the town charter, allowing the city authorities to be referred to as "Your Excellency".

     

    Legend has it…: Abindarráez and beautiful Jarifa

    The love story of Abindarráez and Jarifa is told in a sixteenth-century romance. He was Muslim; she was Christian. They chose to put their love above the interests of the communities they belonged to. One day, when he was visiting his girlfriend, Abindarráez was captured by a Christian knight, who nevertheless allowed him to see Jarifa for the last time, on the condition that he should go back to prison after the meeting. Abindarráez did as he was told. Surprised by the Moor"s honourable behaviour, the man set him free.

     

  • Coín’s cuisine stands out for the products coming from its fields. These include the “hervía” or cachorreña soup that’s the star of the region’s cuisine, along with our regional standouts like stews, puchero, gazpachuelo, pepper and tomato soup, mojete and gazpacho.

    Oranges are the star crop in Coín. Other locally-made delicacies include chorizo, blood sausage, cured sausage or pork loin in lard.

    Baked sweet potatoes are Coín’s exemplary pastry as all the ingredients come from in the region. The fig bread, rosquilla or gachas con arrope also hold a special place in the hearts of Coín’s inhabitants.


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Characteristics

  • Inhabitants (10,001-25,000)
  • Inland area

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