Tolox

Tolox is a town and municipality in the province of Málaga in the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. The municipality has a population of 2,317 (2006). It is situated in the centre of the Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park at the foot of the Sierra Blanca and the Sierra Parda. In addition to La Torrecilla peak (1,919 m.), there are ancient woodlands of Spanish Fir and gall oak. The municipality covers 94 km2, has a mean elevation of 285 m. and mean geographical coordinates of 36° 41' 11" N, 4° 54' 16" E. The channel of the Rio Grande flows through the town from northeast to south.VillageThe village of Tolox has winding streets, with white-washed houses and doors and window boxes overflowing with flowers in season.HistoryWhile the area was inhabited in Paleolithic times, the village of Tolox bears a Phoenician name and a Phoenician origin is confirmed by archaeological evidence. It was occupied by Rome and considerable rebuilding was done under Roman rule. Later it fell to the Visigoths and then to the Ummayad Arab invaders. Tolox was freed from Córdoba rule in 883 by Umar ibn Hafsun, who developed it to one of his main bases in the Serranía de Ronda. It did not fall until 921 when his son Süleyman surrendered it to Abd-ar-Rahman III.