Villanueva Del Trabuco
is
situated in the foothills of the Sierras which dominate the landscape. The
valley is green
and the wildlife abundant. The local people are some of the
friendliest you will find anywhere in Spain and once you have discovered it’s
charm you will understand why so many British are buying holiday and permanent
homes here.
Every September the village stages the Grand Fiesta and the fun,
activities, processions, dancing etc. etc. goes on for 6 days, culminating with
a superb firework display which lights up the whole village.
Only
40 minutes from
both
Malaga
and Granada
Airports,
and just off the autovia you
enter another world, far removed from the
Costas yet with all the amenities you
would expect in a small provincial town.
Villanueva Del Trabuco has
just over
6000 inhabitants and is still growing. New houses are being built in the town at
the moment whilst
many of
the houses in the old town are nearly 200 years old. These old properties have
not, however, been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair. Most are occupied
and many have been lovingly restored to provide traditional homes with modern
facilities. There are
four
banks, all the usual shops, a three storey furniture store, a small indoor
fruit and wet
fish
market, and a weekly outdoor market for the
bargains!
There is also an excellent Medical Centre which is staffed 24 hours a day, two
dentists, an opticians, a veterinary surgery,
a municipal
open air
swimming pool complete with palm trees, and a lovely woodland walk above the
town with viewing points and seating.
The area is a major producer
of olives and olive oil and the town is surrounded by olive groves as far as the
eye can see.
Villanueva Del Trabuco
is situated in the extreme eastern end of the Antequera region, at
the foot of the Gorda and San Jorge mountains. The proximity of the mountains
provides a wonderful landscape, ideal for walking or trekking. One
of the favourite routes to take goes up to the Sierra de San Jorge mountains
alongside the bed of the Las Chozas stream. The municipality of Villanueva del
Trabuco is
watered by the rivers Guadalhorce and Higueral, on whose banks there
are various trekking routes signposted.
The village is one of the typical 'white
villages' or 'pueblos blancos', especially in the Barrio de los Villares, the oldest part of the town, with winding streets and low, whitewashed
houses decorated with window pots. In the centre too is the Plaza del Prado, the
social and business centre of the town, where one can find the Fuente de los
Tres Caños, from which water flows all the year around, even in times of drought.
Villanueva del Trabuco has been lived
in for a very long time, although it is not one of the oldest towns in the province.
The place where the present urban area sits was first settled in the time of the
re-conquest, but some historians believe the Romans had a loose settlement here
too. The first documented evidence we have of the town named Trabuco dates from
April 12th, 1620, and the relevant documents are now in the Municipal
Archives of Archidona. It refers to a meadow called Trabuco with more than 300
fanegas (a grain measurement) that belonged to the municipality of Archidona.
The urban centre grew up in the early 1700s, when Carlos III decided to
repopulate areas of Andalucía with German and Flemish settlers. The town gained
its independence from Archidona in 1808.
If you want to swim in the sea or ski in the mountains, both options are less
than an hour away. Birdwatchers and walkers will also enjoy this area and even
if you just want to take gentle drives in the car to appreciate the diversity of
the landscape, then there are many good local restaurants where you will be made
most welcome along your journey.