THE VILLAGE OF CASABERMEJA LIES IN THE NATURAL PARK OF LOS MONTES DE MÁLAGA, JUST 20 KILOMETRES FROM THE CAPITAL OF THE COSTA DEL SOL. ITS FERTILE LANDSCAPE OF OLIVE AND ALMOND TREES, ALONG WITH ITS REMARKABLE CEMETERY, ARE THE MAIN ATTRACTIONS OF THIS PEACEFUL INLAND VILLAGE.

Casabermeja clings to the contours of the hills, skirted by the meandering A-45 highway. This village drawn in white can be made out from afar thanks to its beautiful church tower and the distinctive cemetery which ironically gives life to the village, attracting many of its visitors.
Divided at its northern edge by the River Guadalmedina Casabermeja serves as the prelude to the provincial capital. The Neolithic burial sites incovered within the borough indicate a human presence in the area since prehistoric times. The documents kept at the municipal archive link the foundation of Casabermeja with the Catholic Kings, confirmed by their daughter Princess Juana in 1509 and 1529, and again by the Emperor Carlos V in 1550. Nonetheless, it would seem originally to have been a Moorish settlement, as suggested by the allusion made by the monarchs in its founding charter, and the remains and ruins still to be found near the cemetery.

Visits of interest.
Casabermeja preserves all the charm of its old quarter despite the proliferation of modern buildings. One can still enjoy its narrow streets and two-storey houses, with whitewashed walls and niches of their most revered effigies.
On the outskirts of the village itself is the cemetery, standing on the edge of the highway. The unique nature of its tombs, with their pantheons, sepulchres and spires, saw it declared a National Monument in 1980.
The Church of Our Lady of Succour is the village's other cultural symbol. Built in the first half of the 16th century, it underwent considerable modification up until the mid-18th century. Its interior features three broad naves separated by pillars and half-pointed arches, with a side chapel on the left housing the image of Our Lady of Carmen, well worth a visit for its magnificent Baroque decoration.
The right-hand chapel is given over to Jesus of Nazareth. Outside, rising above the village, is the rectangular tower, with five blocks topped by Moorish tiles.

Some four kilometres from the village is the Zambra Tower, an Arab look-out post built in the 13th century. Its undeniable historical value goes hand-in-hand with its strategic location, offering the most panoramic views of the province of Málaga, Granada, and even North Africa.
Casabermeja is also home to numerous archaeological sites, such as Castellum Aquae and Cerro Alcaide, both dating from Roman times; the dolmen-style Acropolis of Chaperas, El Tajillo del Moro, Villanueva, El Cortijo del Hospital, the Cerro Mogea and the Peñas de Cabrera caves, site of some important cave paintings.

 

 

 

Useful information
Location: 20 kilometres from Málaga city, the main access route is by the A-45.

What to visit: The cemetery, declared a National Monument; the Church of Our Lady of Succour, the Zambra Tower; the Neolithic and Roman archaeological sites; the Natural Parks of Montes de Málaga and el Torcal.

What to eat: Casabermeja has a rich and varied culinary tradition, with notable dishes including the stew "olla de la era", and "migas", or fried breadcrumbs.