Salayonga
Town with a population of 1.200 inhabitants and which
belongs to the administrative district of La Axarquía,
is situated at 9 kilometres from the coast. Its town
centre is composed of one main street around which
intricate and winding street lets, typical of the
area, are positioned. Some of them are so narrow (the
street of La Alcuza) that on walking through, one's
elbows may brush both sides.
The area's economy is practically kept going
with the production of vine, although of late, tropical
fruit plantations have been introduced. The historical
origin of this town is confusing and, although its
foundation is contributed to the Arabs, the etymology
of its name is latin: saya- longa, which means "long
tunic". During the times of Arabic occupation
in the Iberian Peninsula, what today is the sanctuary
of "La Rabita" is built, in which, as
from the Eleventh Century, warrior monks in order
to defend the district were quartered. With the oncoming
of Los Reyes Católicos, Sayalonga falls into
Christian hands but when the town is exiled, its inhabitant
join up with the Moorish rebellion which was totally
crushed in the Battle of Frigiliana in 1569. The most
significant places to be visited are the Church of
Santa Caralina, of Mudejar style and built in the
Sixteenth Century, the above mentioned Sanctuary of
La Rabita and, a few kilometres from Sayalonga, the
centre of Corumbela which appears to hang from and
watch over a high hill and with a beautiful square
on which its church, dedicated to Saint Peter, is
built. Worthy of note for its peculiarity, the "Cementerio
Redondo", the only existing round cementery
in the country. "El Día del Níspero",
celebrated in May, is one of the place´s most
important feasts. The summer festivities are at the
end of July and the Patron Saint of Sayalonga, "Nra.
Sra. Del Rosario", has her festivity in October.
"La sopa cachorreña" is the town's
best known dish, although fried calabash, traditional
Arabic dish, fried breadcrumbs with herring and grapes
and calf fried in a garlic base are very recommendable.
Antequera Villages
Costa del Sol Villages
Valle del Guadalhorce Villages
Ronda Villages
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