The territory of Villanueva de la Concepción is almost at the geographic centre of the province of Málaga and stretches from the foot of the Sierra del Torcal range to the Mountains of Málaga, but its topography is more closely identified with the Antequera region than with the latter mountains, although it is no doubt influenced by both. Thus, broad and fertile plains give way, sometimes rather abruptly, to very rugged country. Nevertheless, the lands of Villanueva de la Concepción, dominated by the impressive mountain mass of El Torcal, yield prodigious quantities of olives, almonds and wheat.

There are traces of human settlement in this region that go back to the Middle Paleolithic period, but the presence of Neolithic man is much better documented since polished stone axes have been found in such places as La Alhaja, Pilas de Cobos, El Cortijillo, Fuente Pareja and several others, not to mention other similar sites from the same era in the neighbouring municipalities of Casabermeja (Chaperas) and Almogía (Cortijo de Gálvez).
The Iberians founded the city of Oscua, the first habitation of which anything is known within the boundaries of this municipality, and which would later be one of the Roman villas in the province of Málaga mentioned by the historians Pliny and Titus Livius in their writings. The symbol of the peaceful and indolent lion that appears on the coat of arms of Villanueva de la Concepción originates with this ancient Roman city that, according to the most recent studies and judging from the archaeological relics found at Cerro León, would have had temples, a forum, a theatre and other services. According to the Málaga historian Juan Temboury, Oscua must have had its own necropolis.

The fall of the Roman Empire was followed by several centuries that provide no documentation whatever about what may have happened in these parts. The most likely thing is that the few remaining residents sought protection in Antikaria, which would come to be an important Muslim city, so much so that during the Nazarite period it was defended by a string of castles that also allowed passage to the city of Málaga. In this sense the castles of Cauche, Hins Almara and Xébar-the latter in the municipality of Villanueva de la Concepción- served to safeguard the three natural passes to the coast.
The importance of the Xébar castle is demonstrated by the fact that after the conquest of Antequera by the Infante (Crown Prince) Don Fernando on 4 September 1410, the Nazarites again occupied that fortress in the autumn of that same year and carried away whatever they could and then destroyed the castle. The alcaide (castle commander) of Antequera rebuilt it, but once the war of Granada ended, the enclave lost all strategic value and began to be slowly abandoned until it was in ruins.

The territory of Villanueva de la Concepción was now depopulated but regained a certain importance when in the second half of the eighteenth century construction began on the Camino Real (Royal Road) that would link Málaga and Madrid. Along this road farm communities and farmhouses begin to appear that with time would evolve into the present town, which was issued an official charter as a Población Rural (Rural Settlement) on 3 November 1880, at practically the same time that the “new towns” that sprang up in the Antequera region during this era received the same treatment. The special treatment from which the new settlement benefited-exemption from taxes, and from military service for the young men who were entered on the census- favoured rapid population growth.
After years of demands the Council of Government of the Assembly of Andalusia conferred upon Villanueva de la Concepción the status of Autonomous Local Entity on 25 February 1992, thus culminating, although not completely, the process of separation from the municipality of Antequera.

 

 

Outstandings Visits:
The urban centre of Villanueva de la Concepción does not offer any particularly interesting architectural monument-except perhaps the late-nineteenth century parish church-due to the relatively recent foundation of the town, but it does possess an attractive layout of wide and well decorated streets and plazas, such as those of García Caparrós and Andalucía, where a large part of the commercial activity is concentrated.
The construction of the Camino Real in the mid-eighteenth century gave this municipality several works of some architectural distinction: the El León and El Horcajo bridges and the bridge over the Cauche stream. Construction began on them years after the Camino Real was put into service, after it was found that this route was impassable in some areas during times of rain. The modification to the Camino Real included these bridges, which are still useful for transportation and also mark the beginning of the recent history of the town.

How to Get There:
You can leave Málaga and take Expressway A-45 (N-331) towards Antequera. After going two kilometres past the locality of Casabermeja, you will come to a multiple crossroads where you can get onto MA-436, which leads to Villanueva de la Concepción. Another possibility is to continue on the A-45 and after going some 7.5 kilometres past Casabermeja, right at Puerto de las Pedrizas, to follow the sign towards Antequera and to watch for the sign announcing the route to Villanueva de la Concepción before leaving the multiple junction area which is Puerto de las Pedrizas. Be alert, you may not spot it otherwise.
From Antequera the route is longer but less confusing. All that is necessary is to follow the signs towards El Torcal, and less than two kilometres from the city of Antequera will be the signs showing the way to the Parque Natural (Nature Park) by the A-6311. Go past the entrance to El Torcal and continue on this road, which leads directly to Villanueva de la Concepción.

Interesting Facts:
Surface Area: 73.5 square kilometres
Population: about 3,500
What the natives are called: Villanovenses
Monuments: the parish church, the bridges of El León and El Horcajo and the bridge over the Cauche stream, El Torcal
Geographical Location: in the southern part of the Antequera region at the edge of the Mountains of Málaga. It sits 575 meters above sea level and is 35 kilometres from Málaga. The yearly average rainfall in the region is about 550 litres per square metre and the annual average temperature about 15.5 º C.