Let's Discover Casarabonela in the Sierra de las Nieves natural park, in southern Spain

The village of Casarabonela lies on the western side of the Guadalhorce valley, although the municipal district stretches westwards towards Ronda where it borders the Sierra de las Nieves natural park. The town has two peaks, Alcaparaín at 1,200 metres and Preita at 1,521. To the west and north-west the municipality is bounded by the River Turón and the municipality of El Burgo.

The mountainous countryside is composed of limestone rock covered with pine trees, making for a spectacular backdrop to this little town. Much of the area surrounding the village is terraced and planted with vegetables and fruit trees.  The rugged outcrop of La Robla (563 metres) stands right in the middle of the municipal district, surrounded by olive groves and cornfields.

Casarabonela has been inhabited since Neolithic times although not much physical evidence remains. When the Romans came they called this place 'Castra Vinaria' (wine castle).  The Romans built roads right across the area, the remains of two of them still being visible today.  One goes south towards Malaga and the other runs west towards Ronda.

When the Moors arrived they reinforced the old Roman fortress.  The Arab name for the place was 'Csar Bonaira'. The quality of the Arabic building work made Casarabonela one of the most difficult villages for the Christian troops to seize during the so-called "re-conquest". After the expulsion of the Moors the land was shared out among Christian settlers from Extremadura and other parts of Andalucía. In 1574 King Filipe II gave the village the title of "villa" or town, recorded in an historic charter that is still to be found in the Town Hall archives. Much of the Moorish town is still well preserved today with its typical Arabian cool, winding streets. One of the most charming spots is the Town Hall Square, where the Town Hall building itself stands, with its balconies, lamps and clock. Many of the whitewashed houses are indented with little niches for images of saints.

Today Casarabonela is a quiet backwater fed by its many fertile kitchen gardens. The local cooking is based on year round dishes such as the stew pot in diverse modalities, rabbit with garlic, fricassée of kid and especially in the winter are the soups, and broth. Bread and olives have special acceptance. Wine rusks and oil cakes are home-made bakery products.

Fiestas

Things to do and see:

The Church of Santiago (St. James) is an old collegiate church built in the 15th century in the late Gothic style.  It stands on the site of a former mosque which may well have been desecrated by the Christians. The church stands in the highest part of the village and very near the ruins of the Arabic castle.  It has three naves separated by arches and rectangular pillars. The choir stalls in the main chapel and the side chapel are among its most interesting features. An 18th century painted wooden image of Our Lady of the Rosary, made by Rafael Ruíz Liébana, stands on the main altar. The façade is marked by the Cross of St. James and topped by an impressive church tower with a pyramid-shaped roof covered with ceramic tiles.

In Casarabonela there are many hornacinas, niches set in the walls for religious statues. These hornacinas are distributed throughout most of the town, in the corners of the main streets as well as in the facades of  buildings. The tradition probably dates back to the 16th century.

The Museum of Sacred Art, in the parish of Santiago Apostle, was established in 2001.  The idea was to collect under one roof all the numerous religious patrimony that existed dispersed in the municipality.  The Museum was a joint venture between the Town Hall of Casarabonela and the Bishopric of Malaga. The Museum is located in the dependencies of the old sacristy and School of Christ of the Church, after the greater altar. In this building they are possible to be contemplated more than one hundred and forty elements that conform an artistic treasure of incalculable value, in which they are an important collection of realised jewellery in silver, dated from century XVII. Between their pieces numerous crossings exist, policromadas paintings and sculptures, embroideries and numerous books. This patrimony comes from individuals that have made donations for their exhibition and from the cessions that the Bishopric of Malaga has realised. 

The 18th Century Ermita de Veracruz (Hermitage of Vera Cruz) is situated in Calle Veracruz in the lower part of town, next to a small square.  It has a single nave chapel with a hemispherical dome and is relatively well preservedwith rich plasterwork decoration. Outside is the original brick façade divided into three sections and three streets. This building is the headquarters of the Virgen de la Pastora, also known as "Madonna of the Rondel" which comes out in procession on the evening of December 12th each year.

Tavilla and Los Villares archaeological sites: Tavilla is a Roman settlement to the south of the town while Los Villares is a medieval settlement. 

Don't miss the caves of La Hoguera or the Fuente Quebrada spring

Molino de los Mizos (Los Mizos Mill), a traditional 19th century olive oil mill that still has all its gear and tools.

Also not to be missed are the El Chorredón waterfall, San Cristóbal and San Julián areas, the Cortas and La Jácara hills.

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