Parish church built
by the Duque de Osuna |
Villanueva del Trabuco is in the region of
Antequera, and can be reached from Malaga or Antequera by the autovía, only
3.6 kilometres from the town. Its ideal situation between Malaga and
Antequera has made it, in recent years, a favoured place of residence for
the people of the two larger urban centres.
The municipality of Villanueva del Trabuco is watered by the rivers
Guadalhorce and Higueral, on whose banks there are various trekking routes
sighposted. The town centre is very beautiful, especially in the Barrio de
los Villares, the oldest barrio in the town, with winding streets and low,
whitewashed houses decorated with window pots. In the centre too is the
Plaza del Prado, the social and business centre of the town, where one can
find the Fuente de los Tres Caños, from which water flows all the year
around, even in times of drought.
Villanueva del Trabuco has been lived in a very long time, although it is
not one of the oldest towns in the province. The place where the present
urban area sits was first settled in the time of the re-conquest, but some
historians believe the Romans had a loose settlement here too. The first
documented evidence we have of the town named Trabuco dates from April 12th,
1620, and the relevant documents are now in the Municipal Archives of
Archidona. It refers to a meadow called Trabuco with more than 300 fanegas
(a grain measurement) that belonged to the municipality of Archidona. The
urban centre grew up in the early 1700s, when Carlos III decided to
repopulate areas of Andalucía with German and Flemish settlers. The town
gained its independence from Archidona in 1808.
Places
to be visited
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Natural
surroundings
The town of Villanueva del Trabuco is situated in the extreme
eastern end of the Antequera area, at the foot of the Gorda and
San Jorge mountains. The proximity of the mountains provides the
place with wonderful landscape, ideal for walking or trekking in.
One of the favourite routes to take goes up to the Sierra de San
Jorge mountains alongside the bed of the Las Chozas stream. The
other end of the municipality, at the foot of the mountains, is
low hills and olive and cereal plantations, speckled in white with
the occasional tiny farmhouse. Two streams flow through the area
from the two mountains ranges mentioned above, and from the
Gibalto, to become the river Guadalhorce. These numerous streams
at the foot of the mountain ranges have water in them most of the
year around, and the result in much of the area is an abundant
riverside vegetation.
Urban centre and surroundings
The most interesting building in Villanueva del Trabuco is the
parish church, dating from the end of the 18th century
and restored in the middle of the 20th century. Of
particular interest outside is the white tower, visible from all
parts of the town.
Traditional products
The various olive oil and flour mills in and around the town
produce a high-quality product that can be purchased in the town
itself. In the field of craftwork, the principal items produced
are in metal, wickerwork and esparto grass. Some of the finished
products are actually used still in the countryside, and most are
available in local shops.
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| Where
to eat |
Bar Manolo.
Specialising in home cooking. Paseo del Guadalhorce.
Bar Juan María. Specialising
in home cooking and tapas. C/Almería, 57. Tel: 952 751 770.
Bar Fegosi. Specialising in
tapas and breakfasts. Plaza del Prado. Tel: 952 751 037.
Restaurante Porras. Specialising
in home cooking and tapas. Urb.El Pilón. Tel: 952 751 885.
Restaurante Talillas.
Specialising in home cooking, kid, barbecued meats and seafood.
Avda. Antoñico Rosa. Tel: 952 751 895.
Mesón Javi. Specialising in
home cooking. Urb. La Huerta. Tel: 952 752 020.
Hermanos Romero. Specialising
in home cooking. Cortijo El Cortijuelo. Tel: 952 752
080.
Restaurante Caserío. Specialising
in kid, rabbit, pork and bull’s tail. Avda. Antoñico Rosa. Tel:
952 752 121.
Bodeguita Frabriber. Specialising
in tapas. C/Antequera.
Bar Manolo II. Specialising in
tapas. Avda. de Málaga.
Bar Las Columnas. Specialising
in tapas and breakfasts. Plaza del Prado.
Bar Plaza. Specialising in
tapas and breakfasts. Plaza del Prado.
Bar Toledo. Specialising in
tapas and breakfasts. Plaza del Prado.
Antiguo Porras. Specialising
in tapas and breakfasts. Plaza del Prado.
Marisquería Cristina. Specialising
in fried fish. Urb. La Huerta.
Fermín (Cortijuelo).
Specialising in home cooking. Cortijo El
Cortijuelo.
Restaurante Paneque. For all
events. Ctra. Málaga-Granada, Km.50.
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| Where
to sleep |
Hotel
Paneque. Ctra. Málaga-Granada, Km, 50. Tel: 952 111
479.
Rural houses can be rented by calling 670 280 130 and 686 278 704.
Rural
Accommodation in the province of Malaga
(in
Spanish)
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The centre of
Villanueva del Trabuco has an interesting layout |
FIESTAS
The festival in honour of the patron
saint of the town, the Virgen de los Dolores, takes place in September.
The Candelaria takes place on February 1st, and the Holy Week
celebrations hold a special place in the hearts of the people of
Villanueva del Trabuco. The important days here are Holy Thursday and Good
Friday, with processions through the streets. The popular sanmarqueo
festival, in honour of San Marcos, takes place on April 25th,
in which the people of the town head out to the countryside to eat and
have fun. The Barrios de Beatas and the Cortijo festivals are in the
middle of May, and the annual Feria takes place in the first week of June.
A few days later the Barrio de San Antonio organises a festival in honour
of its patron saint. The festival of San Juan is very important in the Los
Morales barrio, and lasts two days. On August 24th, 25th
and 26th the most important cattle fair of the province takes
place in the town, known as the Feria de Agosto, and celebrated since
1853.
GASTRONOMY
The gastronomy of Villanueva del Trabuco is varied, but the most
traditional dishes are olla, made from pork and chickpeas; the San José
stew, the gazpacho and the fried porra. There is also a wide selection of
pork products available here. The pastries of the area are excellent too.
Villanueva del
Trabuco claims to be the town in the province with most painters,
inspired, no doubt, by the beauty of the surrounding landscape. In the
field of craftwork, the principal items produced are in metal, wickerwork
and esparto grass. Some of the finished products are actually used still
in the countryside, and most are available in local shops.
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