Colmenar

Colmenar is a lovely village nestled in the northern part of the Málaga mountains (Montes de Málaga) right on the edge of both the Axarquía and the municipality of Antequera. The area where the village is located has a rather ancient history thanks to the fact that it is on the route that links the Axarquía and the Guadalhorce Valley. However, the village itself could be classified as one of Andalucia’s "younger" pueblos as it wasn’t actually established until after the Christian King’s conquest and it didn’t become an independent township until 1777.

In fact, Colmenar was actually the name of an estate which produced honey (the Spanish “colmena” means beehive”). Even today you can buy honey made in the Colmenar area along with fresh locally milled flour – both white and whole grain - and also lovely raw and brown sugars. It seems the traditions behind the name "Colmenar" are still alive today.
Colmenar is not only a village, but also a municipality – one of seven municipalities in the Axarquía. The actual town is 700 metres above sea level. It is part of the "Olive Oil and Mountain Route" (Ruta del Aceite y los Montes).

The layout of Colmenar village is typical of Andalusian villages – even though it does not date back to the Moorish era when narrow, winding streets were the norm.
According to legend, the Candelaria Hermitage is a 17th century building that was erected by a group of sailors from the Canary Islands who were miraculously saved by a storm off the Málaga Coast. Supposedly the hermitage was meant to be a public display of their gratitude.
The Asunción Church was built in the 16th century and includes the remains of arab-style architecture.