Parauta

Region: Located north of Genal. A 105 kilometers from Malaga and rises 799 meters above sea level.

Area: 44 square kilometers

Number of inhabitants: 300

What: Parauteños

Monuments: Church of the Immaculate Conception

Tourist information: Town Hall, Tel: 952 181 028

The land in the municipality of Parauta is estiende by the southern slopes of the mountains of northern Oreganal l Genal Valley. Limiting the east by the Sierra de las Nieves nature reserve in which there are the oarques natural and Hutch Madroñal and San Luis Nava. Close proximity to it we are the important pinsapar of Parauta, on the north side of the hill Alcojona of 1440 meters of altitude. On the outskirts of the Parauta paiaje mixing the gray hills of the mountains with the green of the pines, oaks, olive and chestnut trees that cover the hills of Valle del Genal.

Parauta's history goes back to the Muslim period both the layout of its streets as the origin of its name comes from the Arabic occupation. Few documents precedence over the start of the municipality of Parauta, but we do know with certainty the birth of warlord Omar Ben Hafsun in this town. Omar was the son of a noble Visigoth and was born in the year 854 in an old farmhouse, or call Torrichuela Torrecilla (today belongs at the end of Pujerra). This character became part of history for leading the rebellion against the noble Cordoba, convincing the rest of the Andalucian territory to follow in their missions. His feat was the creation of an independent kingdom in Round the Caliphate of Cordoba led by the Umayyads. Ben Hafsun mantubo his reign until his death, which occurred in the strength of Bobastro in the year 917, there he was buried converted to Catholicism. After the recapture of the Catholic Parauta was uninhabited because of the expulsion of the Moors from the territory and later repoblaría as some of the municipalities in the region, with Old Christians from Cadiz and Seville.

The town is clearly of Arab origin, with winding streets and many of them still maintain the paving of the time. The village has two seats and three major sources. We also find when you visit the arch at the entrance to the street and Altillo worth admiring the oak Valdecilla of over 20 meters in height.

The most important building of Parauta is the Church of the Immaculate Conception. It is composed of a single ship of a Latin cross, which in the part of the cruise is covered with wood. At its currency the Mudejar tower facade with arches of half a point at which houses the bell and a roof to four waters. Inside the Church we can contemplate the image of the Dolorosa in the eighteenth century and an image of San Pascual Bailón in polychrome wood piece of Adrian Risueño, copying the original work of Pedro de Mena, in the Cathedral of Malaga.

Parauta offers a much admired for their beauty as for the ecological interest aroused as it is immersed in the beautiful Sierra de las Nieves.

The Sierra de las Nieves is one of the few living documents of the nature of Andalusia. The richness of its vegetation, the permanence of wildlife and their visual approaches us back in time, in times of Moors and bandits, in addition to giving the name of Protected Natural Park of the Sierra de las Nieves in 1989, and incorporate your territory to the International Network of Biosphere Reserves. A total of 17,000 hectares are the Natural Park Sierra de las Nieves in the space of 90,000 that make up the total of the Reserve. The park consists of a place with rugged crossed by ravines, gorges and cliffs of the mountains themselves Alpine refuge from the Neolithic to all cultures that passed through here.

The Sierra de las Nieves is named, in addition to its snowy appearance, and that in times of the Arabs was reflected in the snow pits for subsequent use in Andalusia. Inside the park there was no settlement population, but everything around it to serve the municipalities of Alozaina, Casarabonela, El Burgo, Guaro, Istan, Monda, Ojén, Parauta, Ronda, and Tolox Yunquera, towns that date back Stay Muslim, who retained despite the passage of time the structure of its narrow, winding streets, with large samples and architectural remnants.

The Sierra de las Nieves can be traveled by their routes, reaching the most beautiful, possessed of flora and fauna ls enjoy good food of their peoples, and the friendliness of its people. In this very rugged terrain at altitudes ranging from 1,100 meters at the peak is located in the Tordecilla of nearly 2,000 meters.

The artisanal tradition is maintained in Parauta and enjoys estimable reputation. To highlight the activity of the arrería to which it devotes much of the neighbors of Parauta. His works are sold in craft Round and around Malaga and Marbella and even require them. They are also very popular mats produced by hand.

Within the traditional cuisine of Parauta highlight dishes such as pot, gazpacho, soups or tomato soup boiled as protagonists in the gastronomy of the Serrania de Ronda. They add to their recipes products grown on their land delicious vegetables. The oil Parauta also enjoys significant addition to its quality, noting how to extract the oil with procedures ancient craft while preserving the customs of their ancestors.

The major celebrations of Paraura takes place during the month of August in honor of the Virgin of the Rosary between 15 and 20. These days turn into a party full of color and constant joy. We can participate in the various activities being carried out, performances and contests. The natural Parauta who had to relocate for various reasons advantage this time to go back and be reunited with their origins and its people.