Benalauría is a small village in the Ronda Mountains (Serranía de Ronda) in the Genal River Valley. The populations hovers around 500 and the natives are known not as "benalaurianos” – as one might expect – but as "jabatos”.
Like the whole string of white villages in the Ronda Mountains, Benalauria enjoys rich natural surroundings with easy access to a wide array of outdoor sports and rural tourism opportunities. It is surrounded by forests of chestnut, pine and walnut trees along with a wide array of Mediterranean mountain plants. There are well marked walks along shady forest tracks to neighbouring villages , Benarrabá, Benaladid, Jubrique & Genaguacil . This is a perfect weekend break place for dog owners, tracks are mainly off road and safe for unleashing dogs.
The village clings to a hillside, and has a little myriad of charming cobbled streets and some beautiful architectural features. Views are panoramic as one would expect from a hillside village. Although seemingly remote. It is just a short 6 minute drive off the A-369 Gaucin – Ronda road, and a short 35 minute drive into Ronda town or 18 mins to Gaucin .
There is a true wealth of great restaurants to choose from all along and off the A.369
SIGHTS TO SEE
For being such a small village, there are a good number of things to see and visit in Benalauría. Head for the main square to see the town hall, which is a beautiful example of local 18th century architecture. You might also visit the Santo Domingo Church built in the15th and 16th centuries. The town also has an Ethnography Museum on Alta Street. It is housed in an 18th century olive oil factory.
A really special little place is the Bodega 28 metros cuadrados ( meaning 28 square metres ) So named as Jose´Verdugo amd this partners make wine on this surface, it is unsurprisingly the smallest winery in the province of Malaga ! First production was 1,200 bottle of their dry Muscat. Bodega 28m2 is a recommended winery on the Ronda and Malaga wine route. Owner Jose´states it is probably the smallest winery in the world !
"It is a small family winery, we had an old square, we like wine, we are a group of friends and we wanted to set up something," said Verdugo about the origin of this winery, which is located in the heart of the town of Benalauría. "Exactly, the winery has 28 square meters, the floor of the building," he added and explained that this September they plan to launch a Tempranillo.Regarding his first wine, Verdugo stressed that it is a wine that is powerful in aroma, fresh and dry. "Usually, muscats are sweet, but we understand that in this area the muscat has much more outlet, beyond a liqueur wine," he said.
Outside of the town of Benalauría there is an archeological site dating back to the first century after Christ. This is a Roman cementary called the "Columbario Romano del Cortijo del Moro”.
SHOPPING
The most typical items "Made in Benalauría” are fashioned out of cork. This is part of the local artisan tradition and there is a move to keep the industry alive. Therefore, every December the town participates in the Genal River Valley Artisans’ Fair – just one more event for the Andalucian traveller’s diary.
GASTRONOMY
If you’re planning to sample the gastronomy in Benalauría, expect traditional mountain fare with hearty stews made with herbs and garbanzos, even hot gazpacho (a variation of the traditional Spanish gazpacho and all the typical products that come from the annual pig slaughter: sausages, cured ham and other delicacies. If you feel a magnetic attraction to bakeries, try the fresh baked buns called "buñuelos” – another speciality in Benalauría!
FESTIVALS AND FAIRS
The most popular festival in Benalauría takes place on the first Sunday in August and it is the big Moors and Christians festival. Also in August there is a fair in honour of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. Other important celebrations include Holy Week with a very special procession on Holy Friday. This town also holds a Chestnut festival on the 1st of November. In Spanish it’s called the "Tostón de Castañas”.
