On 23rd November at 21:00, La Rosaleda will host LALIGA HYPERMOTION matchday 15. Málaga CF will face CD Mirandés in a game that will spotlight the town of Ojén, featured both on the official poster and on our captain’s armband.
Located just 10 kilometres from Marbella, between the Almadán Stream and the Blanca and Alpujata mountain ranges, Ojén is a whitewashed village that combines the serenity of the mountains with the mild climate of the Costa del Sol. Its slopes, rich in minerals and covered with holm oaks, cork oaks, and pines, form a unique Mediterranean landscape where valuable species such as the Iberian Ibex, the Golden Eagle, and the elusive Eurasian Eagle-Owl still thrive. From the Juanar valley to the viewpoint at the “Puerto de Marbella,” nature is displayed in all its spectacular glory.
Its history dates back to the Palaeolithic and gained prominence during the Andalusian period, when the town is first mentioned in the chronicles of Abd al-Rahman III, with a battle taking place at Ojén Castle during the Mozarabic rebellion. After the conquest of Granada, the village was repopulated by Old Christians, and by the 18th century, travellers such as Francis Carter described it as a simple and welcoming place. In the following centuries, landmarks like the Fuente de los Chorros and the Juanar Palace were built, now integral parts of its identity.
The town centre of Ojén features iconic sites such as the Church of La Encarnación, with its Mudéjar-style coffered ceiling and a tower built on a former minaret, the Fuente de los Chorros, and the Olive Oil Mill Museum. Complementing these is the Aguardiente Museum, which preserves the history of the famous Ojén liquor that achieved international renown and was mentioned by artists such as Picasso and Cela.
August nights come alive with flamenco at the Castillo del Cante; in July, the streets become stages for the OJEANDO Festival; and as autumn arrives, the Tostón Popular awakens the scent of roasted chestnuts, enveloping Ojén in its most cherished traditions.
Ojén’s old olive oil mill inspires Puche’s artwork for #MálagaMirandés. His piece highlights the traditional, handcrafted process used to produce olive oil for centuries, a craft that the Olive Oil Mill Museum preserves, complete with its original machinery still in operation.