Igualeja

Region: Valley Genal. A 142 kilometers from Malaga and rises 693 meters above sea level.

Area: 43.8 square kilometers

Number of residents: 1002

What: Igualejeños

Sights: The Birth of the river Genal, Cave of the Fuensanta, Church of Santa Rosa de Lima, hermitage Divine Shepherd, niche of Our Lady of Misercordia

Numbers of interest:

City Hall 952 18 15 03

Guardia Civil 952 18 15 01

Igualeja is the first town we found to introduce in the Ronda, through the valley of Genal, coming on the road linking the Costa del Sol with Ronda. As we get closer, leaving behind the latest land in the valley of Gadalmina and we are entering the small river valley Seco, one of the tributaries of the river Genal, accompanied by deep ravines filled with pine forests on its slopes. If we stop here, and raise the light we see one of the most beautiful landscape images of Valle del Genal. Later we will find the access that goes to the Natural Park of the Sierra de las Nieves and e Igualeja.

The spectacular setting of Igualeja is made up of chestnut forests and rocky areas of bushland. Due to the rugged terrain where it was found Igualeja, surrounding the town is rich with forests of chestnut and its cultivation of olive trees nearby mountains. As we enter into the village beauty is in addition to crops and orchards around the stream of private farms.

The origin of this people, according to sources there, dating from the time of occupation Arabic, apparently the first settlements of Igualeja occurred in the province for cora or Takuranda. After the recapture at the hands of the Catholic Kings, the municipality of Igualeja, came to belong to the jurisdiction of Round lordship as the son of the Kings, the infant's Don Juan.

At his death, the territories that formed his lordship became used by his widow, Margaret of Austria and following the death of it, once again belong to the Crown. There were no further details of the road later documented in the history of Igualeja. The coat of Igualeja, Ringer of the Crown Royal, consists of a bridge in one eye in gold, Mazon Sabretooth on waves of silver and azure, mounted on two houses cleared of azure sea bream, brought to strip on the flanks, everything on this field of azure.

Like most people who are in the Valley of Genal within the Highlands, located on the slopes of the mountains Igualeja also is full of streets with steep slopes between an accused and another neighborhood, the only two of the town. They erected stone houses, liming and forming a labyrinthine layout typical of people with Moorish heritage.

The building Igualeja is more emblematic of the Church of Santa Rosa de Lima, built in the sixteenth century on an ancient mosque. In the church have completed a number of reforms during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Retains as in the Christian era tower, which at times made Arabs functions minaret. Inside the church keeps the image of San Antonio de Padua in polychrome wood, belonging to the school grenadine of the seventeenth century. They also contemplate the images of a crucified Christ Child Jesus and of the eighteenth century, in addition to the sculpture of San Gregorio Magno of the eighteenth century silver cross wearing a white three arms.

Leaving the village, the road that connects with Igualeja Pujerra arrive at the bridge that passes over the river Seco. It is a good time to enjoy the landscape and nature of the environment. On the river gorges rise slopes covered with pine and chestnut trees and riverside vegetation, along with its banks, punctuated by beautiful walnut trees.

We can also go down the chestnut through the many trails, walked so often and so the beauty of the natural color of chestnuts, changing depending on the season, in this frame almost magical.

In Igualeja maintaining the artisan tradition in the manufacture of esparto lawsuit for domestic and agricultural use. It was also conducted work in leather and leather goods

Inside the typical cuisine of Igualeja, very similar to that of the rest of the people of the Highlands, to highlight the months of cold porridge and the crumbs in the summer months and gazpacho. It should be noted craftsmanship of one of the most typical dishes in the salmorejo all its variants with rice, potatoes, eggs and so on.

In the month of February begins the calendar of festivals of Igualeja with the celebration of the popular Carnival, where activities are undertaken where participants and contests, comparsas and groups of people dress, filling with joy and color the streets.

Another very festival held in the town is the day of Corpus Christi procession which has a tradition of ancient times and one week after they celebrate the Day of Calleja. They are also very important for the people of the processions Thursday and Good Friday through the streets of Igualeja and theater that takes place on these dates repeated every Easter for 16 years. The week culminates with Easter Sunday Resurrection and the celebration of the traditional feast of the Garden of the Child.

The big festivities in honor of the people to their employers have been held on March 12 by worshiping at San Gregorio and Aug. 23 at Santa Rosa de Lima.

We can not forget the popular holiday chestnuts on the day of All Saints, celebrated by all peoples of the mountainous follow ancient customs and traditions of the region.