In the interior of
the Axarquía, just 25 kilometres from Malaga, and 451 metres
above sea level, Moclinejo is known as the gateway to the Raisin
Route. The most direct route there is by the main road, the autovía,
observing the road signs once past the La Cala del Moral. The centre
of the village, of Moorish origin, consists of one or two storey
houses made of rubble and slate, which give the place quite a unique
appearance. On some of the facades you can still see small niches
containing images of saints. As for the streets, although they are
made of tarmac, they have kept to their original unruly and winding
routes.
The Plaza de España is considered to be the most attractive
part of Moclinejo and is the meeting place for local residents.
It is a spacious open area with attractive paving, enclosed by the
Town Hall, the back of the church and the village’s most important
buildings.
As far as the village’s history is concerned, above all it
is worth mentioning a tragic incident in this area that gave the
name to the Hoya de los Muertos or the Cuesta de Matanza. In 1483,
Mulay Hacen was dethroned in Granada and took refuge in the castle.
The provocative attitude of the Moors enraged the Christians, who
attempted to punish him, but the Moors fought back forcefully from
the hilltop and decimated the Christian troops. Mulay Hacen gained
great prestige from the victory.
Later, after it became part of the kingdom of the Catholic King
and Queen, Moclinejo went from strength to strength thanks to its
vineyards, which were destroyed after the phylloxera plague in 1878,
having started in the municipality and later spread throughout the
province of Malaga. The municipality managed to recuperate its vineyards
many years afterwards, and they now form the base of the local economy,
along with the production of olive oil. Both the wine and the raisins
from the area are well known in the province as a whole.
Area
Map of Moclinejo
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| PROVINCE: Málaga
DISTANCE FROM THE CAPITAL (km): 24
DISTANCE FROM Vélez (km): 32
ALTITUDE ABOVE SEA LEVEL (m): 432
RAINFALL (l/m2): 582
AREA (km2): 14
Nº OF INHABITANTS: 1.029
NAME FOR PEOPLE: Moclinejenses
POSTCODE: 29738
PHONE NUMBER FOR INFORMATION:
Town Hall: 952-40-05-86
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