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Source of the river Genal

The small town of Igualeja is on the way up from the Costa del Sol to Ronda, the first town we meet on entering the Ronda Mountains area by the Genal Valley. The road leaves behind the last curves of the Guadalmina Valley and heads into the small valley of the river Seco, a tributary of the Genal, between steep cliffs covered in pine trees on both sides. This is the best lookout point in the municipality, but if we keep going, passing by the access lane to the Nature Park of the Sierra de las Nieves, we find the Igualeja road just a little bit further on. For a few kilometres the landscape is scrubland, until we go into an area filled with chestnut trees, with the town of Igualeja in the middle. The mountainous terrain hardly allows us to distinguish between the small hills covered in olive trees and the huge chestnut trees. Down the valley one can make out another type of landscape: the small family fruit and vegetable plots, lending even more colour to the entire area. According to the latest information we have about the place, the origins of the town go back to Moorish times, when Igualeja formed part of the province of Takuranda, and later, following the Christian reconquest, it came under the jurisdiction of Ronda to become the property of the Infanta (Prince) Don Juan. When he died it passed on to his widow, and on her death it became crown property once more. From that time on we know little or nothing about the place, until a later period. The town’s coat-of-arms, sealed with the Royal Crown, shows a bridge in gold and a sword over silver and blue waves, with two golden houses behind, all on a blue background.

Places to be visited

Church of Santa Rosa de Lima The Church of Santa Rosa de Lima was built in the 16th century in honour of Santa Rosa, over an ancient mosque, and was modified a number of times during the 17th and 18th centuries. The only part remaining from the original structure is the tower, which in its day was the Moorish minaret. Inside, the most interesting piece is the statue of St. Anthony of Padua in coloured wood, carved in the Granada style of the 17th century. We can also see here the crucified Christ and the Child Jesus, both dating from the 18th century, along with the image of San Gregorio Magno holding in his hand a white silver three-armed cross, it too dating from the 18th century. Natural surroundings Leaving the town on the road that links Igualeja with neighbouring Pujerra, we cross a bridge over the river Seco to find ourselves in a riverbed with cliffs on both side, covered in pines and chestnut trees. This is the typical riverbed landscape, with lush vegetation and beautiful trees. Another alternative would be to follow one of the numerous pathways that lead into the trees, a route that is especially beautiful in the autumn when the leaves are gold. Urban centre Like so many other small towns in the Ronda Mountains, Igualeja is built on various levels, which means steep and winding streets in the urban centre. One of the prettiest sights on entering the town is to see the source of the river Genal. The town centre is small, with only two barrios apart from the centre itself, but all of it is worth seeing. The houses here are mostly of stone, whitewashed and low, and the streets are an authentic maze in the typical Moorish town plan.

The Misericordia Niche

FIESTAS 
The festive season in Igualeja begins in February with the Carnival, when everybody dresses up in disguise and takes part in the numerous activities organised by the Town Hall. Corpus Christi is another popular festival here, and is a tradition that goes back many years, with street processions and singing. The Day of the Calleja takes place a week later. Holy Week is very important in Igualeja too, with many religious processions and songs, and for the past 16 years, a theatrical representation. On Easter Sunday they have the popular festival known as the Huerto del Niño. The town’s annual feria, in honour of Santa Rosa de Lima, takes place on and around August 23^rd, and on March 12^th is the festival in honour of San Gregorio. One of the most traditional of all Igualeja’s festivals, common in this Ronda Mountain area, is the Fiesta de la Castaña, the Festival of the Chestnut, which takes place on November 1^st.

GASTRONOMY AND CRAFTWORK
The gastronomy of the town is similar to that of other towns in the area, with cold soups like salmorejo and gachas. Typical of the area too is the fried bread crumbs and gazpacho, especially in summertime. In the area of craftwork, many people here work in esparto grass, as much to make home items as for agricultural use.

THE BANDOLERO FLORES AROCHA
The famous bandolero Francisco Flores Arocha, who kept the Guardia Civil very busy for many years, was born in Igualeja. He died on December 31^st, 1932, in an area called the Arroyo Hondo in the municipality of Benahavís, at the age of 36. He had been married to María Gil González and had five children.

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