Excursion "This mysterious Casabermeha."

The area where the town is now located

Casabermeja has been inhabited since the late Neolithic (as indicated by excavations, cave paintings in the cave of Penas de Cabrera and the dolmen of Tajillo del Moro). However, the first written references to it date back only to the late 16th century, namely the letters of the Queen of Castile dona Juanna and her son Emperor Carlos the Fifth from 1505, 1529 and 1550. There is every reason to believe that this village arose on the ruins of an old Muslim settlement, which was depopulated during the Reconquista. The name Casabermeha, according to most historians, comes from the words Casr bermeja, which in Arabic means Red Castle.

The decision that the settlement that was conquered from the Muslims by the Catholic Kings Isabel of Castiles and Fernando of the Second Aragon should be restored dates back to 1550.

6.5 kilometers from Casabermeha, on top of a high mountain, stands the Sambra Tower, built by the Arabs in the thirteenth century. This watchtower is perfectly preserved to this day and it offers amazing views of the Natural Park “Mountains of Malaga”, as well as you can see the lands of the province of Granada, the snow-capped mountains of La Maroma, the Torcal Nature Reserve and even the coast of Africa. The lands on which this tower stands are called El Burro (which translates as “donkey”) and through them runs an ancient royal road that will lead us to the ancient tavern “Benta de Patas Cortas” with an indescribable spirit of antiquity, which gives it a preserved interior, as well as excellent rustic cuisine. Once the area produced excellent wine, but after the defeat of vineyards with phylloxera in the late 19th century, the vineyards never recovered. But almond trees are now planted here and in January-February, among the still dull winter landscapes, the light lilac color of almonds, visible everywhere, pleases the eye.

After enjoying the views of the flowering almond tree and watching the snow-capped peaks of La Maroma, we can continue our journey. And we will head to the virgin Andalusian forests of cork oak and chaparral. There, on the mountain, among the rocks scattered by the glacier, the Penas de Cabrera caves hide from human eyes.

And that means it's time to talk about the mysteries that our ancestors left us 35,000 years ago. After all, so many years have passed since the ancient inhabitants of these caves tried to capture on the walls of their dwellings that surrounded them, that was part of their world, part of their daily life. One hundred and thirty figures are painted or carved on the walls of the twenty-nine caves of Penha de Cabrera! These are figures of people and animals, geometric drawings written with a finger or engraved in a rock. These are whole compositions of several figures, and the figures of people are depicted with different details, such as weapons, hairstyle, jewelry. The drawings are made in red tones, because ochre was used as paint.

These figures, mainly depicting a man, had ritual significance and also served as an astronomical study of ancient people. An example of such astronomical significance is the depiction of a human figure with his hands brought together in a circle. From this point, observations were made of the summer solstice, located at the level of the peaks of Fraille, Homer and Dona Ana.

Excavations show that there was also a workshop for the manufacture of silicon tips for arrows and spears.

And, finally, the most significant discovery of archaeologists in these places – the dolmen, called Tajillo del Moro – a megalithic structure, which is an oval chamber with a corridor divided into two parts and with sarcophagi for the burial of three bodies. His research is carried out by the scientific project Sociedades, Territorios y Paisajes en la Prehistoria Reciente de las Tierras de Antequera, as well as the scientific program Conjunto Arqueológico Dólmenes de Antequera.

At the same time, this area is accessible to any inquisitive tourist and explorer. You only need to be patient to find these archaeological sites located on Mount Calvario in a heavily rugged area overgrown with virgin forest. For serious research or for a meticulous tourist who wants to see everything, it will take a day or two to go through the entire route. You can spend the night in the town of Casabermeja, in the old inn "La Casa de Corruco" (house - 200 years), located on the street Real, number 86. The original interior of the house has been completely preserved, except that electric light bulbs hang above the ceiling, and even that – electrical wiring for a hundred years! Labyrinths of very narrow ladders, door openings are not higher than seventy meters, the ceiling is bamboo on rafters. But everything is clean and tidy. Cook yourself in the same old kitchen. In general, settle down for the night, feel like a rural hidalgo (like Don Quixote was). Quietness and fresh air are guaranteed. In the morning, in the mountains! Casabermeha doesn't like beds!

transfer of Malaga - Casabermeha - Malaga, guide fee