Benaoján

Geographic location: Nestled in the Sierra de Líbar.A 17 Kilometers from Ronda, and 573 m. altitude.

Area: 31.90 square kilometers

Number of residents: 1683

What: Benaojanos

Monuments: Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, Cave of the Pool Cave Cat and Torre del Moro.

Numbers of interest:

City Hall 952 167 103 / 952 16 70 46

Ambulatory 952 16 73 74

Taxi 952 16 71 94

Guardia Civil 952 16 71 46

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Benaojan township is located in the Sierra de Líbara about 565 meters above sea level, stretches over the little valley of the stream of Montejaque. The landscape in which it sits is quite bumpy, which highlights the sharp contrast between the bare limestone and oak forest that is joined at half-slope. Saws hosting landscapes of great beauty or Pozuelo The small plateau near the Cave of the Pool, in addition to the high peaks such as the Window of 1284 m. and the Palo of 1373 meters. Of special attraction are also the places in the river valley Guadiaro, as the Tajo de la Dehesa and the vicinity of the station. This town has also Guadiaro with tributaries of the river as the stream of the Nativity or the Barranco de la Dehesa with water all year.

We know the origins of these people with cave paintings found in the cave of the Pool. Another cave is the Cave of the Cat, along the river Guadiaro. It also offers the archaeological interest, an important geological sample, since it within at and leaving the waters of the river Guadares after a journey of 4 miles underground. It also settled there, the Phoenicians, Romans, Visigoths, Arabs and Christians. As in most of the people of the Highlands was during the time when Arab Benaoján assumes greater importance, yet remains La Torre del Moro, opposite the station. The name of this village is also governed by the Arabs, Benaoján comes to some of "Children of Oján" Berber tribes here and installed for other means of home bakers.

Castle Benaojan surrendered to the Christian troops in 1485, the Moors would remain in Benaojan, participating in the rebellions that followed until they were expelled once stifled in the sixteenth century.

The visit to Benaojan we will see how this charming village of 1638 benaojanos, has kept their customs and traditions, adapted perfectly to the social and economic changes without leave behind their roots.

Cave of the Pool.

The Cave of the Pool was discovered by Jose Lobato Bullón in 1905. The entrance is located on the slopes of the Sierra de Líbar, 700 meters above sea level. Cave collects samples of the first settlers of the area: cave paintings and artefacts dating from the Paleolithic of such quality that became a National Monument in 1924. The oldest paintings are geometric and figurative, representing animals such as goats Hispanic, rhinos and the ox, painted with his fingers. There are also depictions of fish, bison and mare, drawn in red and black belonging to different stages Magdalenian. In one of the rooms were preserves the skeleton of a young woman. Besides the paintings inside the cave have found remains of pottery and other artefacts from the Paleolithic and Neolithic. Inside you contemplate numerous galleries that in addition to their cave paintings are adorned with stalactites and stalagmites. A gap created by internal as undercurrents running through the mountain range offers a unique setting. The environment around the Cave of the Pool offers a unique landscape full of natural caves created in the calendar of limestones rocks Benaoján.

Cueva del Gato

The Cave of the Cat awakens the archaeological, geological and visual of any visitor. At first it had a rich reservoir and exploded. Located next to the river Guadiaro, for it within at groundwater Gaduares River on a stretch of four miles, then leaving the area for their entry.

Church of Our Lady of the Rosary

Within the framework of urban Benaoján that keeps the structure from time Arabs, the most prominent building is the church of Our Lady of the Rosary dating from the mid-seventeenth century, although it was later refurbished. It retains the Gothic vault that covers the presbytery, its initial construction while the rest is covered with wooden armor. In the front we can see the cover, a half-point arc with pediment, with a niche which houses the image of the Virgin and Tower, two rectangular bodies.

Natural

Due to the location where you will find Benaoján within the Natural Park Grazalema, your entire environment is an unparalleled beauty, a few miles are the Alcornocales The Parks and the Sierra de las Nieves. As the river enters Guadiaro between the mountains of the southern town landscape becomes more rugged contrasting greenery of the forests of oaks with limestone formations. Inside the mountains are beautiful corners Pozuelo or as the small plateau near the Cave of the Pool. We can not forget the attractive river valley Guadiaro, with corners as the Tajo de la Dehesa and close to the station.

Highlight especially their famous sausages result of good breeding pigs in natural conditions unbeatable. It is also working on a craft the sample pole wicker cane and especially to farm.

Within the gastronomy of Benaoján emphasize the tradition of over a hundred years in the development of pork sausages from backs such as lard or sausages in wine, because of a high quality of parenting between oaks of pig herds.

Other specialties include gazpacho hot and tasty rabbit to garlic.

In Benaoján can enjoy celebrations like the sharing of gifts on Twelfth Night, the carnival in February, the day of San Marcos in April, the festival of Children's Orchard on the first Sunday in May, the day of the Virgen del Rosario 7 October and especially in summer, late July early August, when it celebrates the Verbena Train at the Station Barriada commemorating the arrival of the railroad into town. For three days are organized various activities, performances, dances and is offered to all gathered sangria and sausages for free.