At about fifty kilometres from Málaga, on the A-92 towards Seville, we find this peaceful town of about 3,500 inhabitants.

There are two main versions concerning the origin of the town's name: the one that affirms that it is derived from "La Torre Mollina" and the one that relates it to the latin term mollis, meaning "mild and smooth drizzle".

Archaelogical works have given access to Neolithic remains in the "Sierra de Camorra", even though it was the Roman Civilization that left the main number of constructions, amongst which it is worth nothing the mausoleum of "La Capuchina" and the "Castellum de Santillán", a rustic villa adjacent to a walled fortification.

It is interesting to highlight the agricultural economy in this town. From the Sixteenth Century, an important effort was carried out in ploughing and crop-growing until it became the place with the greatest quantity of olive trees in the district of Antequera. But during the years of emigration in the middle of the Twentieth Century, Mollina suffered a drastic reduction in its population forcing another innovative agricultural effort, to the point of yielding, in about thirty years, 80% of the wine named of  "Málaga Origin".


             

For the lovers of history, visits to the church of "Nuestra Señora de la Oliva", built in 1687, the convent of "La Ascención" and the above-mentioned Roman sites, are highly recommended.

"La Candelaria" is celebrated on the 1st of February. "La Virgen de Nuestra Señora de la Oliva", the town'sPatron Saint, has its pilgrimage on the second Sunday in May and its local fair in the month of August. Another of the festivities with greatest popular participation is the Fair of Vendimia, on the second weekend of September.

Thr gastronomy offers "migas" and "porrillas" as conclusive dishes for winter and "gazpacho" and "porra", more suited for the mid-summer heat. Furthermore, it is recommended the sampling of the cold-cuts (chacinas) from the traditional pig-slaughtedring season and the home-made confectionery like "pestiños", "borrachuelos" and "magdalenas".