COSTA
OCCIDENTAL - BENAHAVIS INFORMATION
Located on the Southern face of La Serrania de
Ronda mountain range, Benahavis is the most mountainous village on
the western Costa del Sol. Its terrain is traversed by the Rivers
Guadalmina, Guadaiza and Guadalmanza. Regions of great natural interest
are to be found within its boundaries, such as El Cerro del Duque,
Daidin, Las Maquinas, El Charco de las Mozas and La Leche reservoir.
Further south are luxury housing estates, golf courses and other tourist
facilities, the result of the area’s significant development.
The Town still retains a few features of its origins as a white Arabic
village, forming a sharp contrast with the colour of the surrounding
mountains. Monuments of interest are Montemayor Castle and a former
16th century palace. History
Its name appears to be derived from the Berber tribe of Banu Habis,
who settled in the region.
Montemayor Castle, built near the village during the Moslem occupation,
was an important military enclave due to its unquestionable strategic
value, as from the spot on which the fortress once stood, now home
only to ruins, over one hundred kilometres of coast are visible and
the relief of North Africa can be seen.
In the 11th century, the fortress and the territory it controlled
were caught up in the struggle between the governing Málaga dynasty,
the Edrisitas and the Hammudies, lords of Algeciras.
In 1273, the king of Granada, Mohamed, seeing his throne to be in
jeopardy, requested help from the Benimerines, who, as they advanced
across the peninsula, occupied Marbella, Montemayor Castle and Málaga.
The village was conquered by the Catholic Monarchs in 1485, after
the fall of Marbella, which, along with Benahavis, was ceded to Don
Juan de Silva, Count of Cifuentes, in 1492, in return for his support
in the capture of Granada.
In 1572, King Philip II awarded Benahavis its own municipal charter,
thus granting the village independence from Marbella.
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