The Village
The River Guadalhorce and Higueral run through the village, offering many lovely country walks along their banks. In the town centre there are many pretty areas to found, like the oldest quarter, el Bario de los Villares. This area captures all that is typically Andalucian, with the smart little whitewashed houses lining the steep narrow streets. The splash of brightly coloured flowers spilling out of the well tended terracotta window boxes make a walk through the village a real delight.
The heart of the village is the Plaza de Prado where you will find most of the shops. This is also where most people tend to gather for social events or simply to meet up for a chat with friends and neighbours. This main square is also where you will find the Ayuntamiento (Town Hall), as well as the renowned fountain known as the 'Fuente de los tres Caños'. The water from this fountain which is said never to dry up even in times of drought is apparently one of the best sources of water in the province.
Although this is not one of the oldest villages in the area, some historians say that there are signs of Roman settlements here. The first documented evidence of Villanueva de Trabuco dates back to 1620, when reference is made to a large area of pasture land called Trabuco which then belonged to the municipal area of Archidona. About a hundred years later Carlos III decided to repopulate some Andalucian areas with foreign colonies of Catholics and Germans, and in 1808 Trabuco became segregated from Archidona.
The Parish Church of the village of 'Nuestra Señora de los Dolores' was built at the end of the 18th century and then restored during the 1950s. The landmark white tower of the church can bee seen from any point of the village.
Location
The village of Villanueva de Trabuco is one of the attractive Andaluz white villages in the Antequera area and is just 45 kilometres north of Malaga City. It is around 700 metres above sea level and has a population of approximately 5,000 and still retains a very traditional Andalucian lifestyle. The village is easy to reach by road, being just about three and a half kilometres off the main A359 Malaga to Loja/Granada road
Natural Landscape
Villanueva de Trabuco in the far eastern side of the Antequera area nestles at the foot of the Gorda and San Jorge Mountains, which provide very beautiful surrounding scenery to the village and the fields around it. There is a lovely river side walk which leads up the Sierra de San Jorge (San Jorge Mountain). In contrast to the steep rise the foothills form a soft landscape of olive groves and wheat fields dotted with houses and farmhouses. The rivers and water springs present in the area add to the lush landscape enriched with different species of poplars and ash trees, which provides welcome shade for a long lazy summer day in the country.
Local Produce
The olive oil as well as the flour for bread is still made in the old fashioned way without additives or new processes. So it is worth buying some pure olive oil and sampling the local bread during your visit.
Many of the other hand made crafts have been lost apart from the wrought iron work and bamboo and basket weaving. Much of the basketwork is used for collecting the olives during the harvest time (from December to February).
Fiestas and Festivals
Candelmas
The fiesta of Candelmas is celebrated in the village on the 1st of February and at the end of the month there are colourful Carnival celebrations.
Easter Week
Easter week is a particularly pretty time to visit when the village streets are alive with processions and tradition. A particularly good time to go is after 8.p.m. on Thursday and Friday when Semana Santa (Holy week) has its most important processions.
San Marcos
On the 25th April the San Marcos festivities see the whole village taking to the countryside for a huge picnic to celebrate the patron saint of the 'campo' (countryside).
The first week of June lights up with festivities, followed a few days later by the San Antonio quarter of the village organizes a festival in honour of the patron saint. This is followed by two days of celebrations for the night of San Juan.
Annual Fair
Towards the end of the hot month of August the village celebrates is annual fair which dates back to 1853, when it was considered the most important cattle fair in the region.
Local Dishes
Although there are many different types of cooking to choose from in Villanueva de Trabuco, this is the place to try a good home made stew particularly the popularly named 'Olla' (hotpot). The famous artisan bread of the Antequera area is known as 'mollete' and is delicious at any time of day. Other delights are the variations on gazpacho, such as the exquisite cold soup, 'ajoblanco' made with almonds and garlic.
If you would like to take something away with you, pop into a local butcher's shop and buy some of the wonderful home made cold meats and sausages such as chorizo, morcilla.
There are many excellent local bars and restaurants where you can stop off and simple many of the local dishes and wines.
If you decide to stay on for longer than a day, then you may be able to rent a 'casa rural' or stay in a nearby hostel or hotel. The Ayuntamiento (Town Hall) will be able to advise you on offers available. Or if you have come at the siesta time, weekend or public holiday and the Town Hall tourist office is not open, try asking in one of the local establishments. Andalucian village life is usually able to lend a helping hand to anyone who appreciates the beauty of their surroundings.
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A Family Holiday
The base for our tours in Villanueva Del Trabuco is within easy driving distance from the main Costa Del Sol resorts so integrating it into your family holiday is a great idea. Your partner can laze on the beach while you ride off-road motorcycles in the mountains! Benalmadena, Malaga, Mijas, Torremolinos and Fuengirola are all within an hours drive - we can even meet you on the outskirts of Trabuco and guide you to our tour base.
Sample Real Spain
There is no reason at all why you can't base your annual holiday right in Villanueva Del Trabuco as there are lots of things to do for the whole family. There are some lovely villa's, apartments and bed & breakfast facilities available which we would be very happy to help you with. It's a great place to sample traditional Spain away from the main Costa's. |
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Whilst Villanueva Del Trabuco is far removed from the hustle and bustle of the coast - which is one of the reasons we are based here - there are plenty of restaurants, bars and clubs right on the doorstep and within very easy walking distance from our Bed and Breakfast. From traditional Spainish restaurants and bars to fast food outlets (well we say fast, but this is Spain we are talking about!) and night clubs there is plenty to keep you entertained and fed in the village.
Andy and Fran will point you in the right direction for all your desires once you are out here!
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We like to take things a little easier over here in Spain. Away from the larger cities such as Barcelona and Madrid life takes on a much more sedate feeling, more peaceful and less stressful. It's a refreshing outlook on life where family life is more important than logging in to Facebook or Twitter to see what someone 100 yards down the road are up to - we simply pop in and see them face to face! Its a very sociable community where people look out for your well-being. We hope that we can show you this side of things if you come and visit us. Below is a little bit more about Andalucia and the wonderful things that await you.
Andalucia is culturally rich offering Flamenco music and dance, Fiestas, bull fighting, ceramic art, outstanding food, sherry and the obvious influences of cultures from Prehistoric man to the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs and Moors.
Andalucia has diverse architecture such as the Moorish styled white washed villages, the Alhambra Palace, the Mesquite of Cordoba and much, much more!
Andalucia has many traditions with Easter being the most important and Semana Santa, (Holy Week) celebrated all over Andalucia, the biggest processions being in Malaga, Seville & Granada. The various Hermandads, (Brotherhoods), make their solemn procession through Malaga every night of Holy Week with Good Friday being the most sombre and moving, with the gilded floats carrying the Virgin weeping into a black lace hanky or crowned and ethereal under a canopy surrounded by lilies and candles.
Visitors come from far and wide to join the locals in Riogordo as more than 400 take part in the Passion Play, an extremely moving spectacle and at some of the scenes there is hardly a dry eye. Easter Sundayis a day for rejoicing with the floats of Jesus and Mary dancing in the streets of many towns and villages.
Navidad (Christmas), is a real family time where most homes will set up a Belen, a representation of the Nativity and can be very modest or extravagant, and no Spanish home would be without one. Nochebuena, (Christmas Eve), is of greater significance than Christmas Day, and by early evening the shops will be closing and streets emptying as everyone heads home for the traditional Christmas Eve feast, followed by Midnight Mass.
Christmas Day is quiet and then the build up to Nochevieja, (New Years' Eve), begins. Young ones go to one of the many discos which go on until dawn and often include breakfast of hot chocolate and churros, or you can join the crowds outside the Town Halls for champagne and grapes, traditionally eating one for every chime of the clock. Also it is supposedly important to wear red underwear, although it has to be given to you by a friend. After a subdued New years Day the excitment mounts as the Day of the Three Kings (January 6th) approaches. Children leave their shoes out for gifts from The Kings on the night of 5th January, and there are processions all over Andalucia heralding the arrival of The Kings.
Malaga Feria lasts for 10 days and nights in August, so, as you can imagine, not a lot of work gets done, (it's too hot anyway!!). Malaga welcomes tourists to join in the festivities and the Malaguenas are renowned for their hospitality and joie de vivre.
There is something for all ages with the old quarter full of horses, decorated wagons, and men and women in traditional dress. After dark the fun moves to the fairground where one of the biggest fun-fairs in Spain is set up. Lots to do all night with the 'casetas', bars come meeting places, inviting you to sample their cuisine and drinks and generally enjoy yourself.
Pilgramiges, (Romerias), are numerous, the most famous being El Rocio. Gypsy wagons pulled by paired oxen, crowds in festive dress ride behind or follow on foot, girls riding with men, their skirts billowing over the horses rumps, to finalise in a huge picnic in the campo, with much singing, dancing, eating and drinking. "If you get about the best beauty and nought else, You get about the best thing God invents". An apt saying by Robert Browning
Flamenco originated in Andalucia and its Moorish origins can be heard in the wailing chants that are so much part of the dance. There are two basic types of flamenco - the slow, emotional 'Cante Jondo', (deep song), and the bright, cheerful 'Cante Chico', (light song), with rousing melodies and of course the wonderful, rhythmic clapping, stamping and castanet palying.
The Grananda gipsies made their home in the caves of the Sacromonte, high behind the city, and you will be drawn by the drumming of the zapateado, haunting guitar music and swirling Sevillana dresses. Close your eyes and imagine the stirring music, castanets, clapping and rhythm of the most famous gypsy of all, Carmen.
Celebrations in honour of the patron saint of all fishermen and sailors, the Virgen Del Carmen, takes place all along the Costa del Sol around 16th July. Devotion goes back many centuries and the links between the Virgen Del Carmen and the people of the sea is indestructible. Religious processions start on land and then continue out to sea.
There are many more religious festivals in Andalucia with the Night of the Candles in Comares during September, the May Crosses on May 3rd held in many towns and villages, stunningly beautiful, and Noche De San Juan, the night when an effigy of Judas Iscarriot is burnt on bonfires, with beach parties heralding the start of Summer.
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