Sedella AREA: 32,40 km² ALTITUDE ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 689 metres AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: 670 l/m² AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE: 17 ºC POPULATION CENSUS 1994: 491
Sedella is almost equally divided between the sierra and mountains of the Axarquía. To the north, in the contact area between Sierra Tejeda and Sierra Almijara, the panorama brings an impressive backdrop to the Sedella town. The scarped hillsides of Sierra Sedella are joined to the deep gullies which separate the Fuente and Cuascuadra hills to descend between rocky places speckled with woods and pine groves until the outskirts of the town. From then on and coinciding with the limits imposed by the road, the view humanises and houses speckle the hills on which the pines share the territory with crops, thickets and pasturelands. The agricultural surroundings sometimes form spots of a special beauty, such as the spot near the town, in the terraced river beds which come out of the Fuente river where the road describes a large curve between Sedella and Salares. The view of these plots from the opposite side of the road, with the town and Sierra Tejeda in the background, is of great quality. As well as with the rest of the towns which form part of the Axarquía coast, it is most problable that the town has very old origins and that this area was known by the Romans, judging by the vestiges found (coins, ceramic remains, etc.). It is possible that the name comes from the Latin term "sedilia" which in the Low Empire, meant - rural settlement or possessions. In the 7th century, just before the arrival of the Arabs, Sedella appears with the name of Sedille, quoted in the bishopric map which the visigode king Wamba sent off to make, and previously as Sedilla by the Malaga bishop Teodulpo (617) as part of his episcopal congregation. After the Christian conquest in 1487 it was called Xedalia in the name of the forts keeper, Juan de Hinestrosa. During the Moorish rebellion, Sedella was one of the first towns to raise arms as one of the most outstanding leaders in this area was Andrés Xorairán, one of the warriors from the village. After the rebellion was suffocated, the lands were repopulated with old Christians from Carmona and la Mancha mainly. The earthquake in 1884 didnt cause any deaths, but caused a lot of damage with the collapse of houses.
Aswell as the forts ruins, it is worth visiting the San Andres church, which has a square two-bodied tower topped by an octagonal roof. Inside it conserves sculptures and objects of worship from between the 17th and 18th century. Next to the church is the Casa Torreón, a private house which conserves a Mudejar style tower with Moorish decoration. In sierra Tejada, for those who want to make contact with nature, there are places of interest such as the old Arrieros pathway, the Horeada cave, the Maroma peak, and the Salto de Caballo.
The area doesnt have any typical handicrafts, although they privately make objects with esparto grass.
The gastronomy is typical of the Axarquía region. Among the dishes which are characteristic of the municipality, there is kid with garlic, veal in wine, cabbage broth, and fennel broth to which the land's wine can be added. They also make baked rusks.
The patron saint's festivities take place on the 17th of January, and are dedicated to San Antonio Abad. Traditionally, after the mass, they blessed the horses which were to accompany the saint in the procession. In the first half of August, the day of Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza is celebrated. There is also the tradition of Corpus Christi and Easter Sunday.
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