Lentegí

Lentegi is a town with steep narrow streets situated in the southern foothills of the Sierra de Almijara, with splendid rugged mountain scenery, groves of pine trees and aromatic plants, and fountains and springs. The area is suitable for hiking and other outdoor activities. From the environs of Entresierras , Guardajama and Aguas Blanquilla  you can enjoy magnificent views of the area. In Guardajama is a fresh water spring that supplies all of the surrounding plain. El Sequero is a well equipped recreational area.

Since ancient human times occupation of this area has been documented.  A prehistoric cemetery was discovered in the area known as Umbria Tinajas, of the Argaric / Bronze Age, dating from the second millennium BC, it was found in 1933 and excavated in the late 30's, the remains found are in the Archaeological Museum of Granada.

The origin of the village came about because of the transport of fish from Almuñécar to Granada via Lentegí and Venta Marina from Roman times. The first written mention of Lentegí was in the reign of Abderrahman III in 941.

Its Arabic name was QAZYAAL-INTIS (which means "joy") and possibly evolved through ALENTEXIT, LENTEXIT, LENTEXI to Lentegi. Lentegi consists of three neighborhoods: The neighborhood of Lentexit or high area, Pilar or low area and the Haarataljima, (Carthage?) or area of the Great Mosque, with its mosques and cemeteries. The irrigation water came from WADI-I-HAMA (Guardadamas) and there were three canals each leading to a neighborhood. On the site occupied by the Alijama Mosque (the principal Mosque), the current Mudejar style church was constructed in the 16th century (1543-1547).

During the war of the Moors, on March 7, 1570, the village was attacked and destroyed by D. Antonio Luna, with 200 soldiers from Almuñécar, the Moors strengthened Lentegí, but it was attacked again in late March by Captain Antonio de Berrio. After the expulsion of the Moors in the same year, during the reign  of Philip II, Lentegi was repopulated in 1572, starting  with 30 residents from other peninsular areas, as can be seen in the books of ‘propping’ and the remains of the early settlements within the town are a real treasure.

The church was also burned and was rebuilt in the 17th century, leaving only the central nave, (originally there had been three naves.)  In the Cadastre of the Marquis of Ensenada in 1752, Lentegí has 59 inhabitants, 64 houses, 383.25 acres of marshes, and 235 acres of dry land, 20.5acres planted with vines, 1901 olive trees and 141 mulberry trees.

 For about the last 70 years, with the arrival of subtropical crops and medlar trees, village life has gradually changed. Today Lentegí is a mainly agricultural town whose most important crop is the medlar tree, followed by other subtropical fruits such as avocado and cherimoya, although to a lesser extent there are other fruit trees (citrus, pear, peach, etc),  and of course Mediterranean olives. Because of this, the population who were steadily migrating towards the French wine harvest or the harvest in Motril or Salobreña, are now needed to return to work in Lentegi.

Recently, the Municipal Corporation has focused on its tourism, providing better services to the municipality and promoting other activities such as hiking, due to the suitable landscape. Also, the terrain allows for slightly risky and adventurous sports like rock climbing, mountain biking, paragliding and canyon walking.

Monuments

Parish Church Our Lady of the Rosary

Gastronomy

The cuisine of Lentegí mixes the use of subtropical products grown in the area with traditional products. Among subtropical fruit par excellence in the locality is the loquat, but also cultivated are avocado and cherimoya, and on a smaller scale, and mainly for the supply of the local population, other fruits and vegetables. There are also almond and olive plantations, which provide excellent oil for home consumption.

Directions

From Granada:
Take the A-44 motorway towards the coast and the exit for Padul Otivar, the road known locally as the Ibex (currently A-4050), with incredible views 1 kilometer before reaching Otívar, you will find, on the left, the access road to Lentegi, a 5km climb.

From Málaga:
On reaching Almuñecar, you will see an information poster with directions to Almuñecar,  Jete and Otívar (Lentegí is not mentioned), pass Almunicar by the ring road and take A-4050 to Lentegi.

Distances