Sierra de Yeguas

Sierra de Yeguas occupies a sizable area in the northern part of the region of Antequera on the border between the provinces of Málaga and Seville. Here the terrain seems to have set aside thoughts of great heights and deep gorges and displays a gentle surface, as befits a territory that abuts the countryside of Seville. Right on the border of the two provinces, however, the municipality does have higher elevations in the Los Caballos Mountains. Despite not being of any great altitude (just 748 metres), they are one of the area’s points of reference.

Llanos de Navahermosa, adjoining the Los Caballos mountain range, is another of the more remarkable places in this municipality. This is a vast agricultural plain located on an ancient flood zone, with such unique characteristics that it is covered by the province of Málaga’s Plan for Protection of the Physical Environment. Sierra de Yeguas’ plant cover is composed mainly of olive groves but in some areas and on a lesser scale there are also almond trees and vineyards. The mountains have been replanted with pines and have low brush and a few live oaks, remnants of the live oak forests that years ago completely covered this territory.

The first human settlements in this municipality date from the Neolithic Period, as is show by some polished rock artefacts that have been found at various sites in the area. The Roman archaeological sites are larger and better preserved, and in them have been found ceramics, columns and a few coins, as well as ruins of villas and of some bathhouses.

After the Roman period, there is no other record until the sixteenth century to serve as a base for reconstructing the history of this municipality; not even the Arabs during their centuries-long stay left evidence of their presence in these lands. It is believed that Crown Prince Don Fernando spent a night on the banks of the River Yeguas during the conquest of Antequera. There is no documentary record of this rather insignificant event, either, although it is very probably true.

It is documented, however, that in 1549, the village was under the jurisdiction of Estepa, and in fact, the coats of arms of the Marquises of Estepa are displayed on the parish church. In the sphere of religion, due to its connections to the Marquisate of Estepa the village belonged to the “Verenullius” vicariate, meaning that it came under the direct control of Rome. For civil purposes, the village was part of the province of Seville until the nineteenth century.

How to Get There

You must start from the city of Málaga to get to Sierra de Yeguas, and can choose between two routes. One option is the A-45 (N-331) expressway in the direction of Antequera. On the outskirts of that city, and without your having to enter it, this expressway connects with the A-92. After eight kilometres on this latter expressway, you will see the turning for Campillos via the A-384, and from that village you will arrive at Sierra de Yeguas by way of the A-365.

The other option, also starting from the city of Málaga, is to take the A-357 to Campillos, and just as in the first case once you get there take the A-365 to Sierra de Yeguas.