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Benadalid AREA: 20,80 km² ALTITUDE ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 690 metres AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: 1172 l/m² AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE: 14’6 ºC POPULATION, CENSUS 1994: 272  
In Benadalid, the most outstanding element in its landscape is the small mountainous alignment, formed by the Peñon de Benadalid (1.116 m.) and the Loma de la Sierra (1.137 m.) in the Benalauría municipality. The limestone rock forms escarpments and crests which strongly contrast with the surrounding reliefs, and above all, with the vegetation which covers them. In Benadalid, the characteristic forest in the Genal valley (cork-oaks, pines, holm-oaks and chestnuts) are situated in exact locations in the municipality such as the Arroyo Gorgote (brook) giving way to landscapes of great beauty. The predominant layer of vegetation consists of olive groves, almond trees, cereal fields and vines; the first being the most abundant in the Genal valley (around the town) and the others in the lands which form part of the Guadiaro valley. The town is situtated next to the road at 688 metres altitude above sea level, between the Espichi and Frontón brooks, which join together to form the Benamaya brook which pours into the Genal river. It seems to be that here there was once a Roman military base with a fort, which was taken advantage of later by the Arabs. Its foundations correspond to the Berber tribe, Banu Jalid, from which Ben-Addalid derives, meaning - sons of Jalid - which would give the origins of the actual name of the town. In this case, its history would be parallel to the neighbouring town of Benalauría, which was also founded in similar conditions by a Berber tribe, a few years after the Arabs entered the peninsula. Benadalid, which is the capital of the region called Ta Kurnna, formed part of the territory controlled by the legendary leader, Omar Ben Hafsun, who registered the revolt of the Muladis in the highland and other areas of the caliphate of Cordoba. Once the rebels had been defeated, the town became part of the kingdom of Granada, and due to its strategic position on the access route to the region, it served as a frontier between the kingdoms of Granada and Seville, from 1286 until it was conquered by the Marqui of Cadiz in 1485, and joined the kingdom of Castilla.
The town is the protagonist of the traveller's visit, as in many other villages in the highlands. It is the urban layout of steep streets which retain the original outline and lead to the main square, where the Town Hall and parish church are located, which capture one’s attention, as well as an 18th century fountain and the two-storey whitewashed houses on which some of them still bear their coats of arms. Outside the village there is an old Arabic castle with cilindrical towers and the cemetery inside.
All year round one can eat pork products, vinager soup, and cooking with fennel. In the winter there is porridge, hot soup, breadcrumbs fried with garlic and offal. At Easter there is broth, and cod omelette, and in the summer cold soup. The confectionery is based on rice pudding, sticky buns, sugar cane, and honey. They also make home made unfermented grape juice.
During the paton saint's festivities of San Ildefonso, they stage play the battles between the Moors and the Christians while trying to abduct the image of the saint. This takes place on the 27th and 28th of August.
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