Viñuela

Viñuela is a municipality in the province of Málaga in the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. It belongs to the comarca of La Axarquía. The village of La Viñuela is situated 47 kilometres (29 mi) from the provincial capital of Málaga and 19 kilometres (12 mi) from the coast at Torre del Mar. The village sits at a height of 150 metres (490 ft) above sea level. Inhabitants are called viñoleros. One of its hamlets is Los Romanes.

La Viñuela
Lake Viñuela
Coat of arms
La Viñuela
Location in Andalusia
Coordinates: 36°51′N 4°08′W
Country Spain
Autonomous Community Andalusia
Province Málaga
ComarcaAxarquía - Costa del Sol
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • BodyAyuntamiento de Viñuela.
 • MayorJuan José Jiménez López (PSOE)
Area
 • Urban
27.22 km2 (10.51 sq mi)
Elevation
150 m (490 ft)
Population
 (2018)[1]
 • City2,020
 • Urban
1,980
Demonym(s)Viñoleros
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
29712 and 29713
Calling code+34 (Spain) 95 (Málaga)
Municipal location in the province of Málaga.

La Viñuela is dominated by the landscape of La Maroma, which belongs to the mountain range known as Sierra de Tejeda and at a height of 2,068 metres (6,785 ft) is the highest mountain in Axarquía.[2] Another dominant feature of the landscape is that of the reservoir known in English as Lake Viñuela; it holds 170 million cubic metres of water and is surrounded by picnic areas, some with barbecues. Swimming and non-motorised water sports are also permitted here.

Climate
  • Average temperature: 17 °C
  • Hours of sun per year: 2900
  • Rainfall: 568 L/m2

History

The village grew during the 18th century around a building called La Venta La Viña, which fed and watered weary travellers en route between the coast and inland Granada, which is still a centre for the old men of the village to meet for a game of dominoes. The village was named after the vines that grow in the area and from this building where local wine was sold. In 2011 the population was 1980 inhabitants according to data from the INE,[3] the Spanish Institute of National Statistics.

It became a town in 1764 with its first appointed mayor Juan Lucas García del Rey, however, this was not the first time the area had been inhabited: when the excavation work to create the reservoir began, 14 archaeological sites dating back to Neolithic and Roman times were found, including the remains of wattle and daub huts, a smelting furnace and an abundance of stone tools and ceramics.

Politics
List of mayors since the democratic elections of 1979
Term Name of Mayor Political Party
1979–1983 Juan García Clavero PSOE
1983–1987 Juan García Clavero PSOE
1987–1991 Juan García Clavero PSOE
1991–1995 Juan García Clavero PSOE
1995–1999 Juan Millán Jabalera PSOE
1999–2003 Juan Millán Jabalera PSOE
2003–2007 Juan Millán Jabalera PSOE
2007–2011 Juan Millán Jabalera (Resigned)
Juan J. Jiménez López (Since 2011)		 PSOE
PSOE
2011–2015 Juan J. Jiménez López PSOE
2015–2019 Juan J. Jiménez López PSOE
2019– n/d n/d

Monuments and places of interest
  • Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows
  • San José Church
  • Embalse de La Viñuela (Lake Viñuela)
  • Atalaya Tower
  • The Miraculous Chapel

Local festivities

The local fiestas begin at Easter, usually mid-March or April. In May there is the pilgrimage from the village to the hamlets of Los Gómez and Los Romanes. In mid-July they celebrate the Feria de Los Gómez in honour of the Virgen del Carmen. At the end of July/beginning of August are the celebrations for the feast day of the town's patron saint, the Virgen de las Angustias (the Virgin of Sorrows) at the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows which is located in the area of Los Ramírez. Mid-August sees the fiesta of Los Romanes, which honours the Virgen de la Milagrosa (Virgin of the Miraculous). Finally, in mid-September, they celebrate the Feria de la Pasa, to coincide with the harvesting of grapes to be made into raisins.

Gastronomy

Some typical dishes from La Viñuela are sopa de tomate (tomato soup), gazpachuelo (similar to hot gazpacho), potaje (vegetables and pulses cooked in water), migas with orange and pomegranate, ajoblanco, gazpacho, asparagus omelette and Russian salad with orange.

Leisure Activities

There is a local football club aptly named Aston Viñuela[4] which has male adult team in the local league and a male veteran side for over 35's. Recently, they have become involved in Walking Football for anyone aged 60 or over and are currently competing in Spain's first walking football league. Training and home games are played at the municipal football pitch located on the A402 (turning for the Hotel La Viñuela).

There is also a local photographic club called Lake Viñuela Photographic Club[5] which meets once a month. The group has many members of varying abilities but share a common interest, a love of photography, especially in the beautiful surroundings of La Viñuela.

References
  1. Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  2. http://www.malagahoy.es/article/malaga/91668/tejeda/es/pico/mas/alto/la/provincia/malaga.html
  3. INE
  4. http://www.facebook.com/AstonVinuelaCD/
  5. http://lvphotoclub.com/
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