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Canillas
de Aceituno AREA: 42 km² ALTITUDE ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 645 metres AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: 670 l/m² AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE: 17 ºC POPULATION CENSUS 1994: 2.726  
Canillas de Aceituno extends over the sides of the Sierra Tejeda, to the north of the Axarquía region. Its lands rise to the vicinity of the Maroma peak (2.065 m.) through a landscape of pines and rocky places which cover almost all the northern half of the municipality. The spectacular nature is present in every corner of the sierra, as much for its attractiveness as for the panoramas one can contemplate. But if one had to chose a particular spot, this would be the ravine of the Almachares river, which cuts the mountain between the Ravita and Jalana mountain passes and comes out among gorges and pine groves at Las Raijes, next to the road which goes from Canillas de Aceituno to Sedella. There, the visitor can use the installations to stop awhile and enjoy the shade of the woods and the water from the springs. On the south, Canilla de Aceituno has the characteristic landscape of the Axarquía mountains: hills which are sometimes craggy and other times rounded, covered in vines and olive trees. And where the landscape and the existence of water permits, there are small areas of irrigated land, where vegetables, citrus and fruit trees grow. In this typically Axarquia panorama there are an abundance of farmhouses, often accompanied by areas for drying out the raisins. The characteristics of the Canillas de Aceituno enclave make one think that its origins were from the Arab era, and its situation can be related with two factors: the existence of abundant springs and the possibility of refuge and defense. Although pre-historic man roamed these lands, as demonstrated by the remains found in the Alfájora bowl, it is also possible that Phoenicians and Romans were also here. The first news we have of its history corresponds to the Arab rule. An era in which it is most probable that the primitive town's nucleus was created, originally called Caniles and later Canilla Azzeitun. Although it is known that it belonged to the kingdom of Granada, the exact date of its conquest by the Christians is unknown. But there are documents regarding its participation in the Moor rebellion in the 16th century. The Muslim town kept away from the conflicts at the beginning, until a Moor called Alamden or Muezzin arrived, who had fought in the Alpujarras uprising and had come to rescue his wife who was being held captive by a Christian in Canillas, and he raised the spirits of the local inhabitants. He joined the rebel Andres de Xoraixán, from Sedellas, and together with a group of Moors from Canillas, Sedella, Salares and Curumbila (today Corumbela, belonging to Sayalonga), they attacked the inn of Pedro Mellado in Venta Baja (Alcaucín). After suffocating the rebellion, the king ordered the demolition of the town’s castle, of which only a few remains are left today, and the Moors were expelled. The town was later repopulated with people from Lucena, Cabra (Córdoba), Archidona and Antequera. It is also believed that families from Andújar (Jaen) came, to which they owe the veneration of the Virgen de la Cabeza, patron saint of Canilla and Andújar. The only remains of Arabic origin which are left in the town are a well next to the Huertezuelo fountain, and a tower known as the Reina Mora (Moor Queen), in the centre of the town.
The town with Arabic physiognomy and architecture, of which the only remains of the era is the previously mentioned well. It is a town with narrow and windy streets and few open spaces apart from a few widenings which have been to place the county council, as an example of the popular buildings in the Axarquía region.
There are works in marble and esparto grass, such as matting, baskets, panniers, etc. for working in the fields. The home-made wine can be bought in some bars in the town.
The local gastronomy is based on dishes that can be eaten the whole year round, such as roasted kid, tomato soup, cod omelette, porridge with grape juice, so called "puercas" usually in the winter, and Roman bread. As for the confectionery there is orange sweet, rusks, wine rusks, oil cakes, and sweet wine.
The festivities in honour of the Virgin de la Cabeza, patron saint, are celebrated on two occasions, once on the last Sunday in April under the name of the 'morcilla canillera' due to the great quantity of blackpudding eaten, and in the middle of August with the traditional fair where there are processions with the image of the Virgin. As with all the Axarquía, on the 7th of September are the bonfires for the end of the harvest collection.
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History and Landscape
Places to Visit
The
high part of Canillas de Aceituno is a natural balcony from which you can see the major
part of the Axarquía, and even the mediterranean sea. The most important monuments are
the parish church of the Virgen del Rosario and San León Magno, built on the highest part
of the town during the 16th century and very reformed all along its history. This church
was built over the site of a mosque, under the Gothic-Mudejar architectural canons, with
an impressive tower, which has a quadrangular base and is crowned with a second octagonal
body. The inside of the church has three naves, separated by arches, covered with wooden
armour, interlocking braces and semiespheric vault over the transept. In the gospel nave
there are two 18th century baroque chapels. Another outstanding building is the Casa de
los Diezmos or Reina Mora, which has a Mudejar style tower which has twin blind arches.
The Mudejar route in the Axarquía ends in Canillas de Aceituno. On the outskirts of the
town there are many interesting caves.
Shopping
Gastronomy
Festivities and traditions