Tolox

The municipality of Tolox belongs to the Guadalhorce valley region for administrative purposes but it is also geographically linked to the Ronda highlands, especially to the Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park. This area bestows upon this municipality some of the most beautiful scenery, between Puerto de los Pilones and the La Torrecilla peak (1,919 metres), to be found in the entire province of Málaga. When it is covered with snow, as it is for only a few weeks per year, the setting increases in beauty and is simply spectacular.

A little farther north, at Cañada de las Carnicerías and on the River Los Horjacos, the mountain range exhibits some imposing cliffs, but despite their steepness, small pine groves seem to defy the laws of gravity by growing on them. The terrain then begins to smooth out and olive trees and grain fields begin to appear. These make way, down on the banks of the River Grande, for numerous fruit orchards and vegetable gardens.

The first human settlement in this area dates back to the Neolithic period, judging from the remains (three decorated ceramic vases) that have been in the Cueva de la Tinaja (La Tinaja cave) near Peñón de los Horcajos, some five kilometres from the modern village. As for remains from the Roman era, a tombstone from the grave of a child has been found and in the early twentieth century, several inscriptions were found embedded in the walls of the church.

The first accounts of Tolox from the Islamic period refer to the occupation of its ancient castle by the Muladí chieftain Omar Ben Hafsun in the year 833. Upon his death the fortress was inherited by one of his sons, Soleiman, who in 921 was defeated by Abderramán III, whose troops destroyed the castle. When the village surrendered to the Christian troops in 1485, the fortress was rebuilt but in 1498 it was again levelled.

This locality, along with Monda, was granted as a feudal holding to the Marquise of Villena and Duke of Escalona in 1509. The repressive work of the Inquisition was noted in Tolox, and in 1560 it publicly repressed the local mayor because the villagers were singing and dancing in the Arabic manner during some family celebrations. After the Morisco uprising and their expulsion, the municipal territory was practically unpopulated until Old Christians arrived from Castile and Galicia in the time of Felipe II.

How to Get There

Take the A-357 to Cártama from Málaga. About two kilometres past that village you must turn onto the A-355 in the direction of Coín and continue by way of the A-366 in the direction of Alozaina. Four kilometres short of Alozaina you will see the signs for the road that leads to Tolox.