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Architecturally interesting facade

Cañete la Real sits on the border between the Ronda mountains and the municipality of Antequera, at 742 metres above sea level. Its principal river is the Guadalteba, which crosses Cañete to follow its course irrigating the land beyond and feeding the reservoir of the same name. The countryside around Cañete is beautiful, the mountains around it filled with pine and oak forests on the lower slopes. Here too, amidst the scent of thyme and rosemary, one can see the occasional fox or mountain cat, the most interesting of the species in the region. The origin of the name comes from the Arabic Hins Cannit or Qanit, which means "castle", and the word "Cannit" refers to the water channels that were once part of the now urban landscape. The present name derives from these, and the title "Real" (Royal) was granted by King Alfonso XI. The oldest archaeological remains date from Neolithic times, and the Iberians established a base here on a hill close to the municipality called Sabora. The Romans later transferred the urban centre to the plain. The emperor Vespasiano granted the town its municipal title, and in response the local people erected statues and minted coins in his honour. They called the place Flavia Sábora, which was changed by the Moors to Qanit when they arrived. Cañete changed hands between Moors and Christians a number of times during the 14th century, until it was finally conquered definitively by the Christians in 1407 and incorporated into the Kingdom of Castille. Such political upheaval resulted in the fortress being almost totally destroyed, and it is only in our day that serious restoration work has begun.

Places to be visited

Church of San Sebastián The parish church of San Sebastián was originally built in the 15th century, and following an earthquake it was re-constructed in the 18th century. It was at this time that the Baroque entrance was built. The interior is divided into three naves, covered in barrel vaults. A small room opens from one of these where the image of the patron saint, the Virgen de Cañosantos, is kept. The most interesting aspect of the outside is the brick-faced tower with its roof of tiles in geometric designs. Other religious buildings Among the other interesting works of religious architecture in Cañete are the two buildings that make up the 17th century Convent of San Francisco, which has a small cloistered area built onto the church, and the Monastery of the Santísimo Sacramento de las Mojas Carmelitas, dating from the 18th century. Archaeological remains There are more than a hundred different archaelogical sites all over Cañete la Real, along with six buildings dating from the 15th to the 18th centuries. The Hins Cannit castle is currently under re-construction and will soon be open to the public. In the town centre there are the remains of two defensive towers known as the Priego and the Ortegíca. The layout of the town follows the typical Andalusian plan, the most characteristic being calle San Sebastián, with some beautiful examples of houses whose facades date from the 17th to the 19th centuries, and the Carmelite Convent buildings. There are also many interesting facades, typical of this mountain region, on calle Grande. Most of the houses are no higher than two storeys, although there are some up to four storeys high.

Where to eat

Mesón El Postigo. Specialising in barbecued meats and pellá (pork). C/Juan Ramón Jiménez, 1. Tel: 952 183 343. Restaurante La Piedra. Ctra. de Almargen, s/n. Tel: 952 183 138.

Where to sleep

Albergue Juvenil Al-Jalid. C/Nueva, s/n. Tel/Fax: 952 183 342 and 667 776 699.  Rural Accommodation in the province of Malaga (in Spanish)

The church tower dominates the town

FIESTAS
The festival in honour of the Virgen de Cañosantos takes place in September in Cañete la Real, the fun beginning with the Musical Band competition, in which the people of the place dane in the streets. This goes on for three days, with free distribution of locally made dishes, sports competitions and other activities taking place in the marquee set up by the Hermandad de la Virgen (Brotherhood of the Virgin). One of the most popular events in this festival is the Floral Offering on the Saturday night, where the people of the town meet to make floral offerings to the Virgin and sing in her praise.
The festival ends with a procession on the Sunday, and this is the most emotional part of the entire event. The procession goes through the main streets of the town, stopping at the windows of the convent and turning the statue of the Virgin towards the Carmelite nuns within, so that they can greet the Virgin too. People of the town who have emigrated to the large cities all over Spain come back for this festival, as do many visitors from the surrounding areas.

GASTRONOMY AND CRAFTWORK
One of the most typical dishes of the town is the porra, a dish made from garlic and other local produce, along with the various pork products for which the region is famous. The people of the town also make delicious pastries, and one of the most sought-after items are the buns made by the nuns in the convent. In craftwork, there is a workshop dedicated to decorative tiles, and the work of the restorers from the Restoration School in the castle. And finally, there is a women’s association that works with dried flowers, calling itself "Jacaranda", in the Town Hall’s Casa de la Cultura (Culture Centre).

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