Villanueva del Rosario, Andalusia

Villanueva del Rosario is a town and municipality in the province of Málaga in the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. It is located off the motorway from Málaga to Granada and Seville. It is situated in the northeast of the province. It belongs to the comarca of Nororma.The white washed pueblo sits at the base of the Cerro de la Cruz, with rolling countryside on the other three sides. Famous for the quality of its olive oil, the countryside is naturally clothed with olive trees and wheat fields in between.The population is approximately 3,500. The feria is celebrated during the first week in August, and is known as "La Veladilla del Carmen". There is another feria in October to celebrate the patron called the "La Virgen del Rosario". Festivities however start earlier in the year on April 25 when the population, in common with other agricultural communities celebrate "La Romeria de San Marcos" who is the patron saint of the countryside. The pueblo acts as a base for potholers whot can explore the caverns in the Sierra, or for cycling horse riding or walking holidays. Several properties are available for 'rural tourism'.HistoryThe original village dates back to 1812 when it obtained its independence from Archidona, protected by Royal Decree from the Courts of Cádiz, and was called Puebla del Saucedo. The inhabitants of Archidona opposed this both bitterly and violently so that eventually the new village had to turn to the Council of the King's Chambers where the dispute was finally settled in 1827. Three years later the village changed its name to Villanueva del Rosario.