The
population is approximately 3,500 and the 'pueblo' has a number of
excellent 'tapa bars'. It is well worth visiting during the 'feria'
during the first week in August which is known as"La Veladilla del Carmen".
There is another Feria in October to celebrate the patron called the "La
Virgen del Rosario". Festivies however start earlier in the year
on April 25th when the population, in common with other agricultural communities
celebrate "La Romeria de San Marcos" who is the patron saint of the countryside
(campo). The 'pueblo' acts as a good base for potholers that can explore
the caverns in the Sierra, for cycling horse riding or walking holidays.
Several properties are available for 'rural tourism'.
The air
is clean and has been know to be beneficial to suffers of asthma, if not
allergic to pollen, due to its dry climate, being about 750 metres above
sea level.
History
The original
village dates back to 1812 when it obtained it´s independence from
Archidona, protected by Royal Decree from the Courts of Cádiz.,
and was called Puebla del Saucedo. The inhabitants of Archidona opposed
this both bitterly and violently so that eventually the new village had
to turn to the Council of the King´s Chambers where the dispute was
finally settle in 1827. Three years latter the village changed its
name to Villanueva del Rosario
The area
was originally inhabited by Romans, then there were Arabic and Visgoth
settlements by the river bank.
It is said
that the important Roman city of Ulisis was situated here on the area known
as Peñon
de Solis. It is rumoured that treasure lies below the peak but no one
has ever found it. Many Roman roads are still in existence, and a
number of object including coins, bracelets, glass and ceramic fragments,
have been found in the area. The town centre was founded in the eighteenth
century, it is said due to the abundance of willow trees (sauces), which
still now exist, that encouraged the settlement of Saucedo and today the
residents are still known as Saucedaños.
The two Copper
Age archaelogical sites in the municipality can be found at the Finca Tardón
and the other is in the Peñon del Oso mountain area.
Places to
visit
The Copper
Era sites, the Visigoth necropolis (burial grounds). these are found
in the hills, but most of them have been robbed or partially destroyed;
the shrine built in honour of the villages patron saint "La Virgen del
Rosario" which is situated above the village as you climb the sierra above
the pueblo on the way to "El Nacimiento", which is a spring at the base
of the mountain that supplies the village drinking water. Continuing
upwards the Hondoneros is reached high on the Sierra los Camarolos and
Sierra Gorda where many different species of flora and fauna can be found.
