Colmenar: Churches, Landscapes and Festival Traditions

When planning a stay in Colmenar, four thematic areas can be distinguished: church architecture, agricultural history, landscape and festival traditions. They reveal different sides of the town. To compare historic architectural styles, you can look at the parish church and the chapel side by side; the landscape, by contrast, can be understood by its features in each direction. If you are looking for a hotel in Colmenar, these themes can help you organise your interests for your stay.

Church Architecture in Colmenar

The Iglesia parroquial de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción was completed in 1658. Its interior is divided into three naves separated by pillars; the tower still shows some Mudéjar influence. This brings two distinct features of the building into focus: its layout and its tower. The Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria dates from the early 17th century. It is where Colmenar’s patron saint is venerated. Its single-nave interior includes a presbytery and a Camarín. The Camarín is a work from 1719 and has a hemispherical dome with elaborate Baroque decoration. In 1996, the Ermita was entered for declaration as a monument. Comparing the two buildings therefore takes you from the three naves and the tower’s Mudéjar influence to a single-nave space with a particularly ornate Camarín.

Agricultural Architecture and Landscape

The Museo de Historia y Tradiciones de Colmenar y los Montes de Málaga offers another perspective on the region’s architectural history. It focuses on interpreting and celebrating the agricultural architecture of the mountains of Málaga from the 16th to the 19th century. This includes mountain wine presses, known as lagares de montaña. This focus complements the religious buildings with an agricultural building tradition spanning a long period. The museum is currently listed as closed; check whether access is possible before planning a visit.

The landscape around Colmenar has clear distinctions by direction: rocky mountains lie to the north and south, while olive groves and grain fields form part of the landscape to the east and west. The Sierra de Camarolos is one of Colmenar’s most scenic areas. In this way, rocky mountain areas and agriculturally shaped land offer contrasting landscape impressions.

Festival Programme and Getting There

At the Fiesta del Mosto y la Chacina, exhibitors offered sausages and other cured meats, cheese, wine, extra virgin olive oil, bread and confectionery for sale. The range of products may vary from one edition to another. The festival programme also included a tapas route through the bars in Colmenar town centre; this feature, too, may vary from one edition to another. If you would like to plan a stay around the Fiesta, check the dates and the programme for the relevant edition in advance.

Bus route M-251 runs between Málaga, Casabermeja, Colmenar and Riogordo. If you plan to use the route to get there, check the timetable for your intended travel date.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: El Sexmo, Fuente De Piedra, Alfarnatejo, Gaucín, Alhaurin De La Torre, Teba, Arroyo Coche, Villanueva Del Rosario

For the main travel overview: Málaga.