Sunny Walkers 190322: Casares- Sierras Molina/ Crestellina and The Roman City of Lacipo

This hike takes us through the natural landscape of the Sierra Crestellina located in the municipality of Casares at the southwestern end of the province of Malaga adjacent the Sierras Bermejas littoral.
We start our hike in Casares undoubtedly one of the most picturesque villages in Andalusia and the birth place of Blas Infante, considered the father of the Andalusian homeland and founded
according to tradition by Julio Cesar. Although its urban layout is of Arab origin.

It has 2 summits, the Sierra de Casares (906 meters) to the South and the North,
Cerro de las Chapas (946 metres)
The trail takes us through the pine forest of the area around the base of the mountains and out towards the Roman ruins of Lacipo with panoramic views of the surrounding area.
We continue on the trail back to Casares and our starting point for some well earned refreshments.


LACIPO: This is an Ibero-Roman city, documented by Ibero-Romanian historians, the Confederate municipality of Rome, which occupies a strategic place in communications between the coast and through the Genal - Guadiaro axis, with the Ronda area and the Betic countryside. Said urban settlement had the privilege of coin minting. As peculiarities of this nucleus, located on a plateau, of low height, there is considerable amplitude on a hill called the Torrreón or hill of La Pelliscosa, the plateau having an elongated shape, of something more than 300 meters. in length for about 50 meters. with its main axis, oriented from NW to SE. While the enclave, is practically inaccessible on the South and East sides, because of the natural relief with pronounced cuts, the west and north slopes, concentrate the walls defenses, of which canvases of different size and height are preserved, as well as Remains of defensive towers.
Located 4 km. from the town itself, at Cortijo de Alechipe (a private estate), it still retains part of its walls, though these are largely in ruins.

The layout of the village is clearly defined; in fact, it is the second best-preserved Phoenician settlement in Spain. An altar dedicated to youth and another to the fortune of Augustus can be found here. In the north of the village, two small turrets some 8 metres in diameter can be seen. Each features two observation posts in the northern face, two in the sides and a further two on the southern side.

Lacipo was of vital importance during Roman times due to its strategic position within the peninsula and its proximity to Africa. Later, it was used by the Visigoths as a burial ground, remains of which have been discovered in recent times.

Lacipo was founded in the second century BC for the local population. It grew considerably and its economic strength was based on olive oil. The town was a seat of government for the immediate area until it declined in the second century AD. The largest remain structure that can be seen today is a south facing section of town wall standing 30 feet high. Lacipo's ruins don't offer the traveler who can be bothered to climb the hill a great temple or amphitheatres, but a stunning view and a remarkable insight of two types of architecture standing side by side long after the people who knew then , lived and loved and worked in them have vanished into the years.