Teba
Municipalitty of the Antequera Region

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

AREA: 143,10 km² ALTITUDE ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 555 metres AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: 500 l/m²
AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE: 15 ºC POPULATION CENSUS 1994: 4.451

HISTORY AND LANDSCAPE

The municipal district of Teba is situated in the western third of the Antequera region and extends from the Guadalteba reservoir until the limits with the provinces of Malaga and Seville. Its landscape is mainly formed by small hills and undulations covered in cereals and olive groves and the Peñarrubia sierra stands out as an advance of the nearby Ronda highland. On the western extreme and hidden between the Camorra, Camorrillo, San Cristóbal, and Castillo hills, is the city of Teba. From its castle, situated in the Teba hills, one can contemplate a superb view of cereal fields which extend to the foot of the Ronda highland. In the central area of the Peñarrubia sierra there is an exceptional spot, formed by the Venta river, which fitting into the limestone of the sierra, has opened up an impressive ravine known by the name of Tajo del Molino.

The Venta river pours into the Guadalteba reservoir, which is another spot offering excellent views when it is full with water. And further from this place, up the Guadalteba, between banks of black poplars, white poplars, and plots, you get to the foothills of the Ortegicar sierra by the road.

The municipal district must have been inhabited since ancient times, shown by some stone and bronze utensils which where found in Pilarejo and in the Palomas caves. But it was in the Roman era when Teba, known as Attegua, reached certain renown, especially as the scene of the civil battles between Julius Caesar’s and Pompey’s partisans. The Romans built the first defensive bastion in what today is called Teba la Vieja and later, the Muslims reinforced and extended the castle giving it an important walled precinct whose remains can still be visited. It was in the Arab era, when the town began to move from the top of the hill to its actual site and which the Muslims called "Ostipo".

At the end of the 14th century, the troops of Alfonso XI of Castilla conquered the village and during the following two centuries it was the head of an important territory. One of the most outstanding episodes of Teba’s history was the death of Black Douglas before his castle’s walls. This character was a commanding officer of the Scottish army, who, on his way to the crusades and carrying the heart of the king of Scotland, Robert The Bruce, allied with the Christian army who at that moment were attacking the castle. There is a commemorative plaque of that battle.

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Places to Visit

There are remains of the Roman defensive system in the area called Teba la Vieja. There is also the Castillo de La Estrella, which is Roman on the first body of towers and walls, and Arabic on the rest, and from where there is a fantastic view of the city and its surroundings.

There is also the parish temple of Santa Cruz, built in the 18th century and in which its red marble columns from El Torcal in Antequera, capture the attention, as well as the collection of old gold/silver work which is exposed in the sacristy. On the outside, there is the front formed by an archway, and its tower ends with a pyramidal roof.

Another interesting place is the old convent of San Francisco, built in the 15th century, which conserves its facade. The urban nucleus of Teba is an obligatory visit, as it is a continuous speckling of mansions and stately homes which enhance its typically Andalusian streets.

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Shopping

There is no local handicraft, although there are people who work with artistic locks.

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Gastronomy

Regarding the typical gastronomy is the ‘porra tebeña’ and the pastoral lamb. The excellent local 'mosto' unfermented grape juice is recommended. There are also typical dishes which use such ingredients as asparagus, and goat’s cheese.

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FESTIVITIES AND TRADITIONS

The main festivities are celebrated the 10th, 11th and 12th of August. And they also pay hommage to the patron of the town, the Virgin of the Rosary, on the 7th of October with a procession through the town’s streets.

On the 15th of May is the pilgrimage in honour of Saint Isidore Labrador, usually in the reservoir near the Guadalteba.