Where is Benaojan?
Situated inland from Marbella on Spain’s Costa del Sol, Benaojan lies just a few kilometres west of the ‘white town’ of Ronda. Whilst being within easy reach of the large coastal resorts, Benaojan lies in the heart of the beautiful Andalucian countryside.
What kind of place is Benaojan?
Benaojan is one of the ‘pueblos blancos’, the white villages which are so typical of Andalucia. Set on the side of a limestone mountain, this small village retains its Moorish character, with typically narrow streets and whitewashed buildings.
Although only small, Benaojan does have its own claim to fame – its chorizo. The hard, spiced pork sausages are produced from free range pigs which are reared in the oak forests that cover the surrounding hills.
What is there to do and see in Benaojan?
A rather down-to-earth, though extremely pretty, Andalucian working village with few pretensions, visitors to Benaojan cannot expect to be met by the raft of tourist facilities that can be found in the coastal resorts – but this is part of its charm.
The often steep and winding streets of the village converge upon a square where the local 15th century church, the Iglesia de Nuestra Senora del Rosario, is located. The village is also home to the hotel Molino del Santo, which has gained some notoriety for miles around for its fabulous cuisine.
The other place in the village which is noted, not only for its tasty food, but also for its spectacular view, is the local railway station. La Cantina serves traditional tapas on tables which are set out underneath a row of orange trees, and it is here at the station that the village hosts one of its most important annual fiestas, the Verbena del Tren, at the end of July. The celebration marks the arrival of the railway line to the village, and with it the opportunity to distribute their famous local produce. Visitors are treated to dozens of kilos of chorizo and gallons of sangria.
What is there to do and see in the area generally?
Moving outside the village, one of the most noteworthy and fascinating places to visit is the Pileta Cave, which was discovered in 1905. In the excavations which have taken place since then, numerous ceramic remains have been discovered, as well as cave paintings which are believed to date back to the Palaeolithic age. Most of these depict animals such as goats, horses, deer and buffalos, as well as bison and fish.
For the more energetic visitor, the area offers not only many hiking trails and climbing opportunities, but also the chance to take on the challenge of the 4 kilometres of the potholing system of Hundidero-Gato in the Parque Natural de Grazalema.
The neighbouring village of Montejaque sits so close to Benaojan as to be virtually indistinguishable. Here, you will find the Parish Church of Santiago El Mayor and an old mansion house which has now been converted into a hotel, the Palacete de Marara.