September 2010 Guide To Manilva

Manilva offers some cheap property and for those of you property hunting you might want to know a bit more about Manilva before you arrive. Manilva contains five urban centres between the River Manilva and the border of the Provincia de Cadiz that originated in different eras and among which the population is distributed the actual village of Manilva, Sabinillas, El Castillo, Hondacavada and El Puerto de la Duquesa.



The landscape, far now from the rugged interior of the province, displays the topographic features of the nearby Gibraltar area being a succession of low hills creased by short streams that empty directly into the sea Alcorrin, Martagina, Indiano, Estanquillo, etc. On one of these hills, specifically that of Los Martires, sits the village at less than three kilometres from the coast. It is known that these lands were covered with vineyards at least since the sixteenth century and they continue to be, but they do not constitute the only crop as there are also areas devoted to grain, vegetables, fruit trees and pastures. The last two are more abundant the closer one gets to the River Guadiaro on the border of the province of Cadiz. Manilvas location, very close to the Straits of Gibraltar, has meant that practically every culture that has passed through the Iberian Peninsular has also passed through this territory.



There is no doubt that since the Neolithic period there has been uninterrupted human settlement of one sort or another right up to the present time. There are late Neolithic remains in some caves in the Utrera mountain range, and at the Cerro del Castillo archaeological site Bronze Age remains have been found. In 1528 Carlos V ordered the construction of a tower at El Salto de la Mora, and shortly afterwards half a hundred residents of Casares set up residence on the Los Martires hill. These would be the first settlers of the original Manilva, which would continue to be subordinate to Casares until 1796, the year it achieved its independence. As for modern day Manilva many activities are available for the resident and tourist alike-



throughout the busy summer season and into the short winter period when thousand of visitors flock to the area for its world class golf courses, warm winter climate and pristine blue flag beaches. Festivals abound with each community holding their own festival throughout the year. It is a period when the locals celebrate historical and cultural events. Manilva town council prepare eagerly and generously for each Manilva feria and festival with carnivals, spectacular shows, flamenco spectaculars and fire work displays. This is the best time to soak up the culture and tradition and everyone who attends the events is guaranteed to have fun



I hope you enjoy your visit to Manilva