Cartajima - Serranía de Ronda

Cartajima is located in the Serranía de Ronda (Alto Genal), to 18 kilometres from the town called Ciudad del Tajo and to 140 kilometres from the capital. This beautiful town is located to 850 above sea level, the average rainfall in this area is 1.300 l/m2 and the annual temperature is about 14º Degrees.

The urban area of Cartajima is located like a watchtower, in a hill with 800 metres above sea level. We can observe terraced houses, with whitewashed façades located at both sides with winding and steep streets. Cartajima has a typical appearance of the area in Valle del Genal.

We have not historic information about the origin of the town that support the theories that are mentioned on the subject, but there are proofs that show many finds and that date from the Greek Age. In this period we can find the sepulchres found when the foundations of a building are carried out in Las Peñuelas. In these sepulchres appeared human remains and some coins, according to a chronicle of the place. Except for this description and some legend, there is no more information about the history of Cartajima, although we can relate its history to the rest of the neighbouring towns and suppose that in this town the Arab presence was important. But we find proofs about the historic events derived from the Christian conquest and later expulsion of the Muslims.

Monuments

Church of Ntra. Sra. del Rosario 
Archaeological Sites

Gastronomy

In Cartajima just like the rest of the towns in the Valle del Genal, the gastronomy has a long tradition which has combined the land products with the food diet depending on the Seaton of the year; like this, we can taste the hot gazpacho, typical in winter, just like the fried breadcrumbs, or the fresh gazpacho, eaten in summer. During the spring we can taste the stews with wild herbs like tagarninas, fennels, collejas (corn-salads) or wild asparagus. During all the year we can taste the pots from the sierra and varied chickpea stews, and, among the meat, the stews of rabbit and the large variety of dishes and sausages from the pork. Just as a chestnut stew with cinnamon, that made you warm up, and for dessert quince jelly.

How to get there

To get Cartajima you have to take the Motorway from the Mediterráneo (AP-7, N-340) and on the same latitude of San Pedro de Alcántara you have to take the Motorway A-376 towards Ronda. Some kilometres before you arrive Ciudad del Tajo take the MA-525, that cross Cartajima.

Distances

To Ronda 17 km  
To Málaga 110 km  
To Sevilla 150 km  
To Marbella 56 km 
To Alpandeire 13 km  
To Faraján 9,5 km  
To Juzcar 5,5 km