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Benamocarra AREA: 5,70 km² ALTITUDE ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 126 metres AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: 559 l/m² AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE: 17’6 ºC POPULATION, CENSUS 1994: 2,816  
Benamocarra looks over the valley of the Vélez river from a height of 126 metres over the Loma de la Quera, which separates the Jurado and Capanaja brooks, the latter being a tributary of the Iznate river. To the west of this river the Benamocarra territory is a succession of small hills, generally covered in olive and almond trees, while to the east of the Iznate river, at the bottom of the valley, the landscape is changing in the last years thanks to the advance of subtropical crop plantations, mainly avocados, which ascend the smooth hills in plots up to the town, mixing with orange and lemon groves. The name Benamocarra, which means - sons of Mukarran - denotes its Arabic origins, and its history before the Christian conquest is narrowly connected to other nearby towns which were originally farmsteads. It is known that soon after the Christian conquest in the 16th century, the place was mainly inhabited by Moors who were expelled two years later and substituted by old Christians coming from Seville and Antequera. Some vestiges are left of the primitive Muslim town near the Luchina well. The musician from Malaga, D. Eduardo Ocón Rivas was born here, and his house still exists in one of the town’s streets. The city of Malaga has dedicated the Paseo del Parque auditorium to him.
The urban physiognomy of Benamocarra presents the characteristic traces of its Arabic past in some of the houses which have archway entrances and interior yards. The only monument in existence is the parish church of Santa Ana, built in the 16th century and reformed in 1949. It consists of three naves and its octagonal upper part has a Mudejar armour covering in the main nave. Outside, the tower corresponds to the Mudejar style of the region, built on a rectangular base in brick and on the upper part it has four gaps for bells.
Works in vegetable fibres and cane for making baskets and chairs. There is also the manufactoring of leather in making saddlery etc.
The town's gastronomy is ample and varied and it actually fits into the oil route and the raisin route in the Axarquía region. All year round, one can eat popular creations of culinary art, such as Moor fry up with black pudding, avocado salad and mayonnaise soup. The typical winter dishes are soup made with bread and oil, breadcrumbs, soup at Christmas, cod omelette at Easter, porridge, tomato soup and cabbage. The summer dish is 'ajoblanco' a cold soup, and regarding the confectionery there are wine rusks, aniseed rusks, and sweets at Christmas. The muscatel wine, the local wine, and grapes in brandy (aguardiente) complete the menu.
On Easter Sunday, the same as in other places in the province, on San Marcos day, the 25th of April, the people of the town go to the countryside where they celebrate "la pava" and they drink and eat (specially Easter cake) to their delight. The meeting place is by the banks of the Iznate river. On San Isidro day, the 15th of May, a pilgrimage to a place called the Coto Escolar is organized after the mass in the parish church. In the first week of September they have bonfires which they call "patacos" in the town as well as in the countryside. The third Sunday in October are the patron saint's festivities in honour of the Cristo de la Salud. In this town they have lost the Moors and Christians festivities which used to last two days with a very special stage play of the conflicting gangs and in which during certain moments of the play, many historical personalities made their entrance.
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History and Landscape
Places to visit
Shopping
Gastronomy
Festivities and traditions