History of Mollina
The present-day town largely dates from the 16th century, during the Reconquest, when the area was repopulated under Christian rule, and the surrounding land was brought under cultivation. Unlike many Andalusian towns that grew up around castles or fortified sites, Mollina developed around the Convent of La Ascensión, which became the heart of the new community.
Agriculture, in particular olive cultivation, played an important role in the town’s development. The parish church, originally devoted to Saint Cayetano and completed in 1687, was later dedicated to Our Lady of the Olive, reflecting the importance of the olive harvest to the local community.
Mollina became independent from nearby Antequera in the early 19th century. Nowadays, it is an attractive residential town, which is why its population has grown steadily in recent years.