Yunquera

The village still showcases its Arabic heritage through its steep, narrow streets lined with whitewashed houses, many of which feature rooftops that open up to reveal small terraces. The most significant evidence of its Andalusi-Arabic origins is the Mozarabic chapel, located about 500 meters from the village.

Other points of interest are Our Lady"s Chapel, the tower at Las Abejas Pass and, in Sierra de las Nieves Natural Park, locations which afford excellent panoramic views such as Hoyo de las Colmenas, La Caina Gorge or La Fuente de la Perdiz.

History

Archaeological remains of several Roman country houses have been discovered in a settlement that the Romans referred to as Juncaria, meaning "meadow of reeds." Just outside the village, there is a building known as the Arabic Chapel, along with remnants of an old wall from the Andalusi-Arabic period.

During the final stages of the Emirate of Córdoba (886-912), Yunquera was part of the kingdom of Omar Ben Hafsun (854-916). Hafsun was a notable muladí, which refers to a Christian convert to Islam, born in the Serranía de Ronda region. He took control of a significant portion of eastern Andalusia and established his stronghold at Bobastro. The exact location of Bobastro is uncertain, but it is thought to have been located in or near the Serranía de Ronda. After the fall of Bobastro in 928, following the defeat of Omar's sons by the first Caliph Abd-Al Rahman III, the village became part of the cora (region) of Rayya (Malaga), within the Caliphate of Córdoba.

The village was captured on behalf of the Catholic Monarchs by Diego de Barrasa in 1485. Following the expulsion of the last remaining moriscos (Muslim converts to Christianity) in the 16th century, the village was repopulated by Christians from Estepa (Seville).