Colmenar

Colmenar
Colmenar
Colmenar is located at the most westerly point of Axarquia, on the scenic Route of Olive Oil and Mountains. It is situated 30 kilometres from Malaga and 30 kilometres from the coast at Malaga or Rincon de la Victoria. The town has an altitude of 694 metres and a population of 3,600. The foothills of the Sierra de Camaroles lie to the north and Mount Miraflores to the south.

Colmenar is known for its cold meats and sausages and hosts an annual Wine and Chacina (dried pork meats) Fiesta each December. During the fiesta, visitors are invited to taste all kinds of the best local cold cuts accompanied by thousands of litres of local wine. A contest is held in which specialists prepare sausages and other delicacies in front of the public whilst folk and contemporary music continue long into the night. Details of Colmenar´s other annual festivals can be found at the fiestas link at the bottom of this page.

Colmenar Facts
Size of Municipality: 66 km2
Altitude: 694 m
Distance to Malaga: 30 km
Distance to coast: 30 km
Average sunshine per day: 7.67 hrs
Population: 3,600
Inhabitants: Colmenareños

The economy of the town is based on agriculture, livestock farming and several food and drink industries including the production of honey. In the surrounding countryside there are numerous beehives from which the town name was derived (‘colmena’ is Spanish for beehive).

Colmenar has two distinct areas; an upper area with steep, narrow streets clustered around the 17th century hermitage of Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, and a lower area of more recent construction. There is also a 17th century parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción.

Villages and hamlets within the municipality are: Solano, Majada del Moro, Caravaca and Gonzalo.

Colmenar Popular Fiestas:
February 2nd
August 16th
Popular Fiestas:
Early February – Virgen de la Candelaria
June 24th – Fiesta de San Juan
Mid August – Feria de Colmenar
Mid December – Mosto y La Chacina (Wine & Sausage) Fair

Colmenar Useful Numbers:
Emergency Doctor: 061
Medical Centre: 952 730 311
Guardia Civil: 952 730 030
Local Police: 952 730 001
Emergency Police: 091
Town Council: 952 730 000
Council website: www.colmenar.es