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On exiting the sierra, the gullies and torrents give way to a hilly relief covered in olive groves, and which on becoming smoother, turns into cereal fields and as it descends until the plains of the river Grande’s banks, becomes a landscape of vegetable plots and fruit trees which seek the Guadalhorce river.
The municipal district must have been inhabited since remote times, judging by the neolithic remains found in the Tinaja cave. Tolox was in the territory influenced by Tartesides, although it seems that the first nucleus was established during the Roman rule. The fort of this era, of which there are still remains of the wall in the Castillo suburb, was extended during the military rebellion of Omar Ben Hafsun, until it was destroyed by the loyal troops of the caliphate from Cordoba, Abderramán III.
After the Christian conquest in 1485, Tolox was the scene of the fights caused by the Moorish rebellion in the mid 16th century. The defeat of the rebels and their later expulsion caused the depopulation of almost the whole municipal region, until it was repopulated with colonies from Castilla, Galicia, and other areas of Andalusia in the era of Felipe II.
PLACES TO VISIT
The most outstanding feature are the remains of the castle’s walls, of Phoenician origins, which later fell in Roman hands, and in 883 was occupied by the rebel leader, Omar Ben Hafsun, who converted it into one of the most important ones in his kingdom.
This town also has a typical Arabic outline, with narrow and windy streets, and whitewashed houses full of flowers. The visitor must pass by the Rinconado del Castillo suburb, in which there are examples of its Arabic past.
The parish church of San Miguel is also worth visiting, in which there are three naves separated by arches which date from the 16th century. It also has an interesting elliptic vault over the choir in the main nave with decorative motifs.
SHOPPING
In handicraft material, there are works with esparto grass, and decorative objects such as figures made with date bread and decorated with almonds. There is also wood works.
GASTRONOMY
The main typical dishes are ‘tolita’ soup, ‘bolo’, kid stew, and ‘gazpacho’ cold soup. And the date bread is typical of Tolox.
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