Hermitage of Our Lady of Candelaria

Description

The Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria is the main religious temple in Colmenar and houses its patron saint, the Virgen de la Candelaria, together with San Blas. Its current structure dates back to the 17th century, although it has been reformed on several occasions.

It stands out for its Baroque and Mannerist style, with a flat-roofed nave, a presbytery with a hemispherical vault and a decoration rich in cherubs and plant motifs. Its façade, simple but elegant, has a large semicircular arch and a belfry with three arches. Inside is the image of the Virgin, a sculpture from the 17th century Granada school, restored after the Civil War.

What to do in Colmenar, Malaga

Manor houses

Colmenar, Malaga

A stroll through Colmenar will allow visitors to see Andalusian manor houses and courtyards from the mid-19th century.  Two- and three-storey manor houses, some with Andalusian courtyards, dating from the mid-19th century. The streets are wide in the lower part of the town and, as they climb towards the church, they become narrower and steeper, clearly defining the historic centre.

On your sightseeing tour through the town’s streets, you’ll also be able to admire the niches that can still be seen on many of the façades.

Francisco Blanco Winery

Colmenar, Malaga

A family-run winery that has been passed down from generation to generation to the present day, producing wines using the most traditional techniques that have long brought prestige to the wines of the Montes de Málaga. It uses the old presses still found in its traditional wine-treading cellar and its oak casks for ageing.  He is currently working on dry, sweet and reserve wines, and currently has a wineskin containing wine “Pedro Ximénez”, dating from 1962. It is, naturally, the winery’s oldest wine.

The building that currently houses Francisco Blanco’s winery is one of the oldest in Colmenar: It used to be a village school, and it seems there was also a prison there. It has recently been refurbished, creating a space that can be visited as a small ethnographic museum, featuring tools used for farm work and the grape harvest.

 

 

Málaga Honey House Museum

Colmenar, Malaga

The town has an Interpretation Centre dedicated to promoting beekeeping, housed in the former headquarters of the Farmers’ Guild.

The The Honey Museum is an interpretation centre for beekeeping which has a an extensive collection of objects used throughout history for beekeeping and for its conservation. The Honey Museum houses themed galleries, a classroom-workshop, a shop and the offices of the Málaga Beekeepers’ Association. The centre features information panels, seven large screens and large-scale models of beehives and a bee over two metres long.

The site welcomes visits from school groups and tourists looking for cultural and educational experiences. Guided tours to the beehives, wearing a beekeeper’s suit. Groups wishing to visit the Honey Museum, including a field trip to our beehives, should book a date and contact the Museum. This is organised accompanied by instructors specialised. Guided tours are available on weekday mornings and afternoons, and at weekends and on public holidays only if booked in advance for groups of at least 10 people.

Palace Garden

Colmenar, Malaga

A tranquil garden at the top of the village, situated next to the Church of the Assumption, and from where you can enjoy some wonderful views. A place something to bear in mind if you want to take some time out in the shade, breathing in the fresh air and enjoying the peace and quiet.

Puerta de la Cruz

Colmenar, Malaga

The main entrance to the village is crowned by what we call the «Puerta de La Cruz». This consists of an artistic monolith which greets us and welcomes us beneath a belfry crowned by a semicircular arch.

In this construction, sThis is where the town’s coat of arms is displayed depicting a beehive with seven bees flying above it. We can also see a historical scene that takes us back to 25 May 1488, the date on which Hamet el Zuque transferred ownership of this village’s estate to Francisco de Coalla.

Archaeological Sites

Colmenar, Malaga

A recent piece of archaeological research that is of direct interest to us is that of José E. Ferrer. Thanks to him, we know that Colmenar is rich in Roman and Arab archaeological finds. The subject of the study was a necropolis, situated near the village, consisting of small rectangular megalithic cists, which could not be reliably dated either chronologically or culturally as they had been looted; however, it appears that these burials had contained, alongside the funerary pottery grave goods, skeletal remains in a foetal position.

en_GBEnglish

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Don't miss the best plans to enjoy the Axarquia!