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Campillos AREA: 150,70 km² ALTITUDE ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 461 metres AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: 510 l/m² AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE: 15 ºC POPULATION, CENSUS 1994: 8.046  
Campillos is situated in the western extreme of the Antequera region, in the centre of a plain surrounded by small hills. Among them are the Romeroso (550 m.), La Mezquita (526 m.), Acebuche, Cerro Gordo (619 m.), Barrancos (663 m.) and Pernías (638 m.). Most of the territory is covered in olive groves and cereal fields which cover smoother terrains, while in the hills there are more thickets and scrubland. In the municipal district, near the roads which go to Antequera and Teba, there is a lagoon complex which although dry most of the year, have sufficient ecological interest to have been declared a Natural Reserve by the Environmental Agency of the Junta de Andalucia. The most important ones are: Dulce, Salada, Redonda, Capacete, Marcela, Cerrero and Camuñas. To the south of Campillos there are beautiful landscapes formed by the Guadalteba and Guadalhorce reservoirs, of which the waters cover most of the land which used to belong to the now missing municipality of Peñarrubia. The recent road, now opened, which joins the two banks of the reservoirs at the height of the dams, gives access to the Parque Ardales in this municipality, as well as making an attractive route. Campillos occupies a good geographical situation as it communicates with important cities such as Antequera, Ronda and Osuna (in the province of Seville). This has favoured the transit of people and merchandise through its lands, since ancient times. Pre-historic man inhabited these lands, as proven by archaeological finding in some hills close to the town, in which neolithical vestiges have appeared. In the Castillejos they have discovered remains which indicate the presence of an Iberian-Roman settlement, in which ceramics and coins have been found. Also, judging by the three capitals found in Moralejo (area by the San Jose school), it seems that there could have been a visigode enclave here, which the historical chain would uninterruptedly link up to the presence of the Arabs. In spite of all the previously mentioned vestiges, the first certain news about the nucleus which today is Campillos, comes from the 15th century when, after the Christian conquest, the site was created with people from Teba and Osuna, being united administratively to Teba until it achieved independence in 1680 through the privilege of jurisdiction. During the 17th century the growth of the town was important due to the influx of immigrants from other parts of the region, which obligated the modernisation of the streets and square’s outline. In 1975, the lands of the municipality of Peñarrubia, whose town disappeared under the waters of the Guadalteba reservoir were incorporated into the municipal district of Campillos.
The most outstanding monument is the parish church of Nuestra Señora del Reposo which dates from the 16th century, although the building suffered important modifications at the end of the 18th century and beginning of the 19th century leaving it with its present configuration, especially on the main facade, which is baroque and considered to be one of the most spectacular in the Antequera region. The interior of the temple consists of three main naves and a third for chapels which presents an exuberant decoration. Inside, the tower rises with several bodies, the last to hold the bells, and crowned with a ballustrade and the cover has a pyramidical form covered with ceramic tiles. Another monument in Campillos is the chapel of San Benito, patron saint to the town, which was probably built between 1578 and 1596 an reformed in the 18th century as far as the structure goes. Outside the town and because of its geo-strategic situation, there are archaeological sites such as the Capacete (Roman villa and thermes), Castillón de Gobantes (Roman era), Cortijo La Cuesta (Roman necropolis), the castle (medieval), the Castillones (Roman town), the Aguilillas, etcetera.
The economic industry revolves around tanning and manufacturing hides and is renown outside the province of Málaga.
Pork products - loin in lard, spicy sausage, black pudding, barbecued steak, and cured ham- are the key to the Campillos all year round gastronomy, to which other, also pork, elaborations have to be added such as stew, and 'porra antequerana'. Apart from these dishes, other specialities are purée of soup to which they add orange, fried fish, cod, etc. Chick pea broth lentils, broad beans, breadcrumbs fried with garlic, and cold soup completes this rich gastronomic offer in which you can add sweets such as home made fairy cakes, and not so sweet buns made with oil.
On the 5th of January they celebrate the Twelfth Night parade, the carnival and Easter. On the 10th and 11th of July are the patron saint's festivities with the San Benito festival, and around the middle of August during four days, they celebrate the annual fair. Campillos, as with other Malaga towns, has its own songs and dances, like the fandango and malagueñas. Also, because of the geographical closeness and other influences, they have sevillanas.
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