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Manilva AREA: 35,30 km² ALTITUDE ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 128 metres AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: 750 l/m² AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE: 17ºC POPULATION CENSUS 1994: 5.192  
The municipal district is situtated in the southwestern extreme of the province of Malaga and covers the territory which extends from the Manilva river to the limits with the province of Cadiz. It consists of smooth hills separated by small brooks which pour directly into the sea (Peñuela, Estanquillo, Indiano, Alcorrin and Martagina). On one of these hills, the Martires, stands the town of Manilva looking out over the valley of the previously mentioned river and to the coast, where, a little over 2 kilometres is the second urban nucleus of the municipality, San Luis de Sabinillas. In the Manilva countryside there are vine covered hills, although there are also cereal crops, vegetables and fruit, the latter being in the bottom of the valleys. The presence of some areas of pastureland on nearing the valley of the Guadiaro river, offers a landscape which is characteristic of the neighbouring region of Cadiz in the Campo de Gibraltar. Manilva’s history is mainly joined to Casares, from which it was made independent at the end of the 18th century. Nevertheless there are more than enough signs to establish its own historical heritage, in which the Roman era stands out. At the site of the Cerro del Castillo, between the Alcorrín and Martagina brooks, they have discovered remains which could belong to a Bronze Age settlement, but it is the Roman rule which has more importance, as proven with the Roman villa which was discovered in the suburb of Sabinillas, the remains of a possible turret in the Hacho hills, as well as wall ceramics found in Haza del Casareño. There are also interesting findings of the Middle Ages in the sites of Cerillo de la Sepultura, Alcaría, Cerro del Tesoro, Terán, etc. As much the battlemented tower of Punta Chullera as the Duquesa tower could belong to the 15th century, but this is not confirmed. It is at the end of the 16th century, by desire of the Dukes of Arco, lords of the Casares county, to which Manilva belonged, when it is decided to erect the present town in order to facilitate the area’s repopulation. In 1624 it already had a parish and a stable population and in 1796 there is the definate segregation from Casares.
The main interest is concentrated on the Castle of Sabinillas, built in the times of Carlos III to defend the coast from the constant pirate incursions. It is also worth visiting the church of Santa Ana, whose construction began in 1776. It is a pretty, typical town and nearby there are thermal baths.
There is no known local handicraft, although there are shops which sell handicrafts from nearby towns.
As it is a fishing area, the local restaurants offer different ways of preparing red bream, red mullet, grouper or bonito, although the most popular dish is baked sardines. Another local traditional dish is tomato soup. The Muscatel grapes and the ‘mosto’ unfermented grape juice are excellent.
The local festivities take place on the 26th of July and the 6th of September
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History and Landscape
Places to visit
Shopping
Gastronomy
Festivities and traditions