Interesting facts
Population: approx 3,200
What the natives are called: Colmenarenos
Monuments: Santisima Virgen de la Candelaria hermitage, Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion Church, Puerta de la Cruz ( the Cruz Gate )
History:
Colmenar can be found in the northern part of the Malaga mountains region bordering on the Antequera and Axarquia regions. Standing beside the old road to Granada comprising a scenery of rocky mountains to the North and South and olive groves and cereal fields to the East and West. The village is made up of the typical white walled red roofed narrow sloping streets to be found in all areas of Andalusia. Its most noteworthy monument is Our Lady's Church whilst the Camarolos and El Jobo sierras are its most scenic locations.
Archaeological sites have been discovered in some parts of the municipality which show beyond any doubt that there were human settlements in this area in Prehistoric times, remains found in the Cueva de las Pulseras date from the Neolithic period whilst artefacts found at El Cortijo de Gonzalo along the Las Zorreras stream are from the Metals ages. Except for a few coins and ceramics from the Roman era, there are no Roman remains to be found indicating a city or fortress. There is also no remaining construction or ruins of any kind from the Arabic domination, the only find was a slate mold for casting coins found at the Las Guajaras farmstead.
Very little is known of Colmenar prior to the taking of Velez Malaga by the Christians in 1487, it is of the opinion of some historians that Colmenar was an estate rather than a village then, like so many others in the Malaga province. It is known that in 1488 the Mayor of Comares acquired the farmstead of Colmenar on behalf of the Catholic Monarchs and it was not until 1777 that it gained its independent municipality status. It would later be the judicial district seat for several neighbouring villages.
With a population of just over 3,200 people it is still largely untouched by the commercial tourism of the coast and continues with a traditional way of life where mules are still a common form of transport. The olive, almond and grape harvests are an important part of its social calendar. Every year they host a number of fiestas, from the spring festival in honour of the Virgin de la Candaleria, Semana Santa. The mid summer feria and the autumn festival to celebrate the grape harvest. The nearby villages and towns of Riogordo, Comares, Casabermeja etc all have there own fiestas and ferias at similar times so there is always somewhere to go and something to see.
How to get there: The best and most scenic route is to leave Malaga on the A-6103, known as the Carretera de Colmenar ( Colmenar Road ) which brings you through pine woods and beautiful countryside. The road is the old route into the interior of Andalusia and is very twisty and curvy, on the way in you will get to see the stone steeple called the Puerta de la Cruz showing the coat of arms of the town as a beehive with seven bees flying over it. Of course you can take the Autovia ( N-331 ) and once you have passed Casabermeja take the turn A-356 to Colmenar.