Jubrique - Deserted medieval settlements

Jubrique - Deserted Medieval settlements

The present day village of Jubrique sits on a post conquest site, the municipal district of Jubrique actually has four deserted medieval settlements to explore. 

Jubrique la Vieja

The easiest one to find is Jubrique la Vieja, which can be found by taking the semi paved road on past the football pitch at the top of the town and onwards to Farajan.  Within less than a kilometre, you will reach a large group on buildings called Bodega de la Manga Solana.  In the 18th century, a purpose built vineyard reinhabited this area and the flatter land seems more appropriate to the growing of grapes.  However, as already stated, the epidemic of the 19th century destroyed this industry and what we see today is a skeleton of this thriving community.  As to the ruins of the Moorish village and an almost associated chapel look towards the tree line on the right.  This spot should have a haunting feel to it, as this was the location of the church that was packed full of Moriscos and burnt to the ground.

Monarada

Moving back to the village, the deserted site of Monarada is harder to find.  In the last 100 years a second road led off from the water deposit, heading north for about 2 kilometres, terminating at another post conquest bodega.  On route not far above the modern Estepona road is Cortijo Monarada.  This is the only indication that this was once a Moorish village that had a population of 185 in 1492.  The community is only recorded once after this date in the Coplas de Sierra Bermeja in 1500 and therefore, it can only be presumed that it was closed down soon after and merged with Jubrique.  Access today is via the forest road that turns off to Pujerra, found 2 kilometres north of the Pueblo and requires a drop down into the wooded area.  Other than giving the lost name to a lonely homestead, the nearby stream has inherited the name (Rio Monaradilla)  

Rotillas

Down towards the Rio Genal, two other settlements once stood in the more fertile valley.  Rotillas is today represented by one isolated finca that carries the memory of this community.  Located very near the Genalguacil road junction, the pueblo sat just above the Rio Genal, where it is met by Rio Monaradilla.  Speculation by local historians say that because the place name is Latin based, this could have been a Mozarabe creation.  As we have seen before, it is more likely to have been a Castillian corruption of a Moorish name.  The population size was not recorded in 1492, though it was named as one of the Duke of Arcos' possessions when the Senorio de Casares was founded in 1491.  Again, when the Parish of Casares Parish was founded in 1505, Rotillas was once again listed as one of the flock.  However, soon after this period any further records simply disappeared and it is presumed that the population was merged with Benestepar

Benameda

Taking the Genalguacil road and almost on the municipal border, the hilltop of Benajaron can be seen on the right.  Up on its northern side is an area and group of farmsteads in a district named Benavaro.  Both these names are of Moorish origin and give us the clue that this is the site of Benameda.  Not so isolated in the medieval period, as the trackway between Jubrique and Genalguacil took a more direct route and passed this way.  Again records are very sketchy though some form of re-population was made, though after the 1570 uprisings in the area, the village was formally abandoned so that it could not be used as a place of resistance and banditry.  For more details of this episode read about the entry under the neighbouring lost community of Benestepar.

 

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Jubrique

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Jubrique Hotels

La Posada de Mirador de Jubrique, plus a number of apartments to rent and casas rurales. More >

Jubrique History

Genalguacil is the only village named after the River Genal, that played an important role in agricultural development. More >

Deserted Villages of Jubrique

Jubrique la Vieja,Monarada, Rotillas, Benameda re the names of deserted Moorish villages near Jubrique. More >

River Genal

Where the road crosses the Genal River you can find a popular roadside restaurant called Venta de San Juan. More >

Camping Genal

Camping Genal is located right beside the Genal river in a woodland location. Swimming is popular in the river in the summer. More >

Sierra Bermeja

Only a few places in the world where a 1449m summit is so close to the sea. More >

Charco Azul

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