Villanueva de Tapia
Municipality of the Antequera Region

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

AREA: 17,40 km² ALTITUDE ABOVE SEA LEVEL: 661 metres AVERAGE ANNUAL RAINFALL: 750 l/m²
AVERAGE ANNUAL TEMPERATURE: 15’6 ºC POPULATION CENSUS 1994: 1.618

HISTORY AND LANDSCAPE

The municipal district of Villanueva de Tapia is situated at the western border of the Antequera region, on the limits of the provinces of Granada and Cordoba. Its territory offers a landscape of smooth reliefs, which are only altered by the presence of some hills and above all with the penetration, on the southern border of the municipality, of the Sierra del Pedroso (1.025 m.). With the exception of the area which corresponds to this sierra, in which there are remains of old holm-oaks and pine groves with scrubland among rocks, the main part of the surroundings of the municipal district corresponds to olive groves and some cereal fields which are generally to the north, between the road which leads to the Iznajar marsh and the limits with the province of Cordoba.

After the Christian conquest, the lands which now form the municipality of Villanueva de Tapia were the object of lawsuits between Iznajar (Cordoba), and Archidona, who meant for these lands to remain in their respective domains. From there, this municipality got its name of "Entredicho", (interdict) by which it is also know. That is how the place is named in documents from the 16th century in Iznajar's Municipal Files.

In order to end the problem, the advisers of the Royal Treasury decided that the polemic district of the El Entredicho would form part of the Royal Inheritance, which occured on the 20th of June of 1602. But later on, Felipe III, on considering that the new lands of the Crown were not very cost-effective for its heritage, decided to sell them to a memeber of the Supreme Counsel of Castilla, called Pedro de Tapia. Thus, this town emerges in the 17th century under the patronage of the counts of Tapia with the same name it is known as today.

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Places to Visit

Although it doesn’t have any especially significant monuments, the town has a typical Andalusian enchantment with its steep streets and whitewashed houses. Amidst the houses, there is an old inn, Santa Barbara which has a special significance, although it is today a private property.

There are scattered remains of the Roman and Arab presence in the area.

The parish church stands out among the white houses in the town because of its colour and height. It has a slender tower with two bodies, and ends with the typical four sided roof adorned with coloured tiles.

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Shopping

It lacks handicrafts of any special significance, although it does produce excellent quality oil and flour.

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Gastronomy

The typical food of the Antequera region, such as the ‘porra’, have a special stamp in Villanueva de Tapia, where they also make their own version of ‘gazpacho’ cold soup, as well as stuffed peppers and stew. They have ‘piñonate’ candied pine-nut at Easter and cold meats from their own slaughters. Among the sweets there are fairy cakes, and oil buns.

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FESTIVITIES AND TRADITIONS

San Antonio is usually celebrated between the 12th and 14th of June. On the 12th of October are the festivities dedicated to the Virgen del Pilar, which traditionally coincide with the cattle farm. Lately, they also celebrate the day of the emmigrant on the second weekend in August.