Interesting facts
Population: approx 3,200
What the natives are called: Bermejos
Monuments: Nuestra Senora del Socorro Church, Cemetery, Torre Zambra ( Zambra Tower ) and Penas Cabrera prehistoric complex.
History:
Casabermeja faces north: a corridor of greens, gold's, ashen and browns that alternate, blend and just happen throughout the year. In the horizon, the imperturbable greys of the “Torcal las Sierras de Cabra”, “Sierra Del Co” and “Sierras De Los Camorolos”, close the circle. From the alter come down the river beds of the “Arroyo Coche” and the “Guadalmedina” (The City River). It gives the impression that these furrows of an interior sea within the night ocean were to embrace just at the point where the white and the vermilion of the village emerge. And yet, after kissing its feet, almost in a bow, they keep off, going into exile, telling their tales which are those of the places present and past.
It is said that, from thousands of years back, along their banks, men and woman labour and express themselves through a primitive art. Vestiges of this work are, amongst others, the cave paintings of “Piedras De Cabrera”, The megalithic tomb of the Hospital, the Chapera Dolmens, the Roman Potters workshop of Alcaide and the Roman hydrolic works of “Fuente De Las Parras” and “Casa De Arias”.
More recent history tells us of a Red Castle (Cars Bermeja) that gave name to the village: Casabermeja.
From this period, rising up like a guardsman, stands “Torre Zambra” (Zambra Tower) dating from the 13th Century.
That Casabermeja was a population of Moors is proved by the foundational order issued by the Catholic Monarchs, confirmed by Doña Juana and later on by the Emperor Charles V in 1550. The letter of confirmation says that “A place in the most convenient location of said place of Camara be built and populated where a place existed before during Moorish domination. The village started growing around “ Nuestra Señora Del Soccoro” Church, built immediately after the reconquest.
Remains of prehistoric settlements (paintings in the Penas Cabrera and a Neolithic burial site at Monte Calvario amongst other relics have turned up in the area the village. It was the Romans who left the most exciting evidence of their existence in the village, the pottery at Cerro Alcalde, the La Cotonilla ruins (located near the La Molinera stream) and the ruins of the Las Parras fountain inside the village on Calle San Sebastian all belong to the Roman era.
Over the centuries the village has expanded and many of the buildings constructed are of the whitewashed walls, red roofed dwellings of Andalusia, the village has preserved its narrow streets and some facades even still have the niches where images of saints and the virgin are placed for public viewing.
Amenities:
The village has both a junior and senior school with excellent facilities. There is a bus which provides a service to Malaga and surrounding villages. The medical centre has an urgencies which provides a 24 hour service. You can also find a dentist, doctors and various shops and bakeries serving fresh cooked bread daily.
Where to Eat:
There are several good restaurants in the village of Casabermeja where one can sample the local dishes such as the “Plato de los Montes” (Dish of the Mountains), “Conejo o Pollo al Ajillo” (Garlic Rabbit or Chicken), “Chivo en Pepitorilla” (Fricasse of Goat), etc. Also one can eat delicious Pork or Beef Steaks with a selection of sauces.
How to get there:
Heading north from Malaga onto the A-45 ( N-331 ) expressway Casabermeja can be found after you have driven through two small tunnels in the mountains, the exit leads straight into the village.