Except
for the area closest to the Ronda mountains, where the
topography is steep and irregular, most of the municipal
area of Almargen is made up of farmlands.
Thus,
there are only gentle changes in altitude and at most
the terrain shows only a few undulations whose extremes
of elevation are less than 200 metros. This makes it an
ideal place for productive agriculture (grain, sunflowers
and olives), a fact that even the first inhabitants of
Almargen knew how to take advantage of.
The highly suitable nature of these lands for cultivation
and the easy access to the region favoured human settlement
and the passage of goods since very ancient times in this
area, at least since the late Neolithic age as shown by
archaeological relics discovered by chance during the
construction of a road.
With
the arrival of the Phoenicians the region experienced
its first economic awakening, due mainly to the fact that
the transportation route between Tartesos and Mainake
lead through this municipality. Centuries later, the Romans
built the Vía XI, which joined Antikaria and Acinipo,
that is to say Antequera and Ronda la Vieja (Old Ronda).
This route also passed over the territory of Almargen.
From these facts it is reasonable to think that Almargen
has been a strategic point with considerable economic
activity for centuries.
Following the Romanisation of the area, which in the Antequera
region was especially intense, the history of Almargen
seems to enter a period of suspension that does not end
until after the Arabic era, of which the only things that
remain are the name of the municipality and some ceramics
that were discovered in the valley formed by the Rivers
Corbones and Almargen. Once the territory had been conquered
by Christian troops, the history of this village parallels
that of other nearby villages.
How
to Get There:
From the city of Málaga, take the N-331 to where
it connects on the outskirts of Antequera with the A-92
and follow that highway towards Seville. The turning for
Campillos via the A-384 will be seven kilometres ahead.
Continue on that road past Campillos until you get to
Almargen.
Interesting Facts:
Surface Area: 34.1 square kilometres
Population: 2,100
What the natives are called: Almargeños
Monuments: Inmaculada Concepción church, Roman
necropolis in the Sierra de Rebollo mountains.
Geographical Location: in the western part of the Antequera
region, within the River Guadalteba area. The municipality
adjoins the province of Seville; the village is 105 kilometres
from Málaga capital and lies 510 metres above sea
level. Average annual rainfall is 500 litres per square
metre and the average temperature is 15 ºC
Tourist Information: Town Hall, Calle Corredera, 36 (29330).
Telephone: 952 182 002; Fax: 952 182 039
How
to get there; region of Antequera.