Guaro
Municipality of the Guadalhorce Valley

[History] [Places to Visit] [Shopping] [Gastronomy] [Festivities] [Additional Information]

The municipal region of Guaro is situated in the region of the Guadalhorce valley, between Coín and Tolox and next to the Grande river, one of the main tributaries of the Guadalhorce river. The territory is occupied by smooth hills, mainly covered in olives and almonds with scrubland spots and some scattered cork trees in the areas which have not been used for agriculture. To the north of the municipality, the meadow of the Grande river becomes the main axis of the municipality, as it includes the most important road link and is part of the outstanding rich agriculture.

The first settlement in the municipal district was in a place called Guaro el Viejo, although the exact date of its foundation is unknown. This was on a small hill which is near the crossroads of the regional Ronda road which has access to Guaro. Guaro el Viejo was situated at the foot of a tower which formed part of a chain of forts which marked the Guadalhorce valley in the Arab era. After the taking of Coín in 1485 it was handed in to the Christian troops and it is known that it was one of the towns where Mudejar and Christians cohabited in peace. The tower of Guaro el Viejo was given by the Reyes Catolicos to Miguel de Arazo with all its annexes (vines, 31,80 acres of irrigated land, and about 318 acres of unirrigated land).

Guaro received the title of villa and was designated capital of the county of Guaro in 1614 by Felipe IV, as a reward for Don Juan de Sotomayor Carillo de la Vega services as Listener of the Crown of Castilla.

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Places to visit

On the side of a hill, the town snakes uphill terracing one or two storey, white houses. And right at the top, crowning the town, is the 16th century parish church of San Miguel, reformed at the beginning of the 17th century and after its destruction in 1936. It presents a Latin cross base and has a balcony on the front.

Near the town there are archaeological sites such as the Cerro del Polvillar and Guaro el Viejo (medieval settlements.)

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Handicraft works in forging, and the possibility of buying the local confectionery based on almonds, as well as pork products (cold meats).

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Gastronomy

The popular cooking creations which can be eaten all year round are kid with thyme, almond soup, tomato soup, home-made delicatessen, soup boiled with asparagus, and a rice dish with shellfish and meats. Regarding the pastry making, the most popular are the a type of round biscuit made with almonds, flour and egg.

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Festivitites and traditions

During the last week of August, from the 23rd to the 26th, the main festivities take place. The 15th of May they celebrate the Pilgrimage of San Isidro which lasts two days and goes to the chapel situated near the town. In December, Inmaculada’s day, they continue the tradition of the fair of the "Mayordomas", in which they make a procession with the Virgin accompanied by youngsters previously selected from the area.