Cuevas Bajas: Genil Landscape, Festivals and Historic Sites

Cuevas Bajas combines a Genil landscape with festivals, traditional customs and traces of history. At its centre is the present-day Iglesia Parroquial de San Juan Bautista, located on a square in the town. It dates from the first half of the 18th century and was built over a smaller earlier church.

Other destinations at the same level include Cortes De La Frontera, Benalmadena, Villanueva Del Trabuco, Antequera, Istán, Romo Cuevas, Periana and Mondrón.

Culture

The parish church has three naves, separated by round arches resting on sturdy pillars. On the left-hand side is the Capilla del Sagrario, considered an unusual feature of the church. A sign more than 15 metres long on Calle Archidona welcomes visitors arriving in Cuevas Bajas.

The historic monuments of Cuevas Bajas include the Hornos del Cedrón. They include a former 19th-century mill that was used to grind olives for oil production. The counterweight tower, with a regular floor plan and hipped roof, has been preserved. In the Jewish-influenced hamlet of El Cedrón, a recently restored communal oven preserves the memory of another local feature. The Moorish-influenced hamlet of La Moheda has an old public fountain along the route.

Landscape

The Noria de la Agusadera is a 19th-century irrigation waterwheel. In the La Agusadera area, it drew water from the Genil and forms part of the landscape of the Soto del Río Genil.

The route through Cuevas Bajas described in Birds and Landscapes is linear, 3,100 metres long and rated as easy. It passes through riverside vegetation, scrubland, olive groves and cereal fields. There is a birdwatching point near Lago de los Fernández. The described section is suitable for family outings because of its flat and downhill stretches. Its linear format, length and varied landscapes provide different reference points for planning the day.

Festivals and Cuisine

Holy Week in Cuevas Bajas has its origins as far back as the 17th century and includes processions on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. The San Marcos festival on 25 April includes the local tradition of Atar al diablo, which involves tying a knot in a jaramago plant.

The San Marcos tradition also includes tortas de aceite and hornazo, a ring-shaped bread with an egg baked into it. The San Juan festival includes a pilgrimage among the poplar groves along the Genil, as well as a traditional paella meal.

The Zanahoria Morá celebration takes place every year on the first Sunday in December and includes activities for children, as well as gastronomic, musical and cultural events. The Fiesta del Agua y la Siembra is held every year during the last week of July and marks the sowing season for Cuevas Bajas's distinctive purple carrot.

Resoli is a traditional drink from Cuevas Bajas made with aguardiente, coffee, sugar, cinnamon, lemon peel and lemon verbena. Family recipes vary and are passed down through the generations.

Routes and Activities

La ruta de la fuente connects Fuente del Pilar with Fuente del Botijo and leads to important sights and local traditions in Cuevas Bajas. When rafting on the Genil, both the meeting point and the relevant section of the activity are in Cuevas Bajas.

The recommended season for rafting on the Genil in Cuevas Bajas begins in April; in summer, the river carries more water.

For the broader travel overview: Málaga.