Cómpeta is a town and municipality in the

comarca A ''comarca'' (, or , or ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, ...

of Axarquía, and province of Málaga, part of the

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Andalusia Andalusia (, ; es, Andalucía ) is the southernmost autonomous community in Peninsular Spain. It is the most populous and the second-largest autonomous community in the country. It is officially recognised as a "historical nationality". The t ...

in southern

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

. The municipality is situated approximately 18 kilometres from the coast ( Costa del Sol), and 52 kilometres from Málaga, the provincial capital. It is situated at 638 metres above sea level in the foothills of

La Maroma La Maroma, also known as Tejeda, at an altitude of 2069 m, is the highest peak of the Sierra de Tejeda, Penibaetic System, Spain. The summit is located in the region of Axarquía on the border between the provinces of Granada and Málaga. The na ...

(the highest peak of the

Sierra de Tejeda Sierra (Spanish for "mountain range" and "saw", from Latin '' serra'') may refer to the following: Places Mountains and mountain ranges * Sierra de Juárez, a mountain range in Baja California, Mexico * Sierra de las Nieves, a mountain range i ...

). The population is spread over the southern slopes of the

Sierra de Almijara The Sierra de Almijara is a mountain range in the provinces of Granada and Málaga in southern Spain. The rocks are mainly marble, giving a white or gray color to the narrow ridges and deep ravines. The range is mostly protected by the Sierras ...

. Cómpeta has a population of approximately 4,000 residents and the natives are called ''competeños''. Cómpeta residents are diverse in both culture and nationality, with many residents originating from other countries across

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

such as the UK and other Northern European countries including

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

Denmark ) , song = ( en, "King Christian stood by the lofty mast") , song_type = National and royal anthem , image_map = EU-Denmark.svg , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of Denmark , establish ...

The Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

and

Norway Norway, officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe, the mainland territory of which comprises the western and northernmost portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The remote Arctic island of Jan Mayen and the ...

. Cómpeta's patron saint is San Sebastian. During the last weekend in July, Cómpeta celebrates its patron saint by holding a fiesta ( fair). On 15 August of every year (

Assumption Day The Assumption of Mary is one of the four Marian dogmas of the Catholic Church. Pope Pius XII defined it in 1950 in his apostolic constitution ''Munificentissimus Deus'' as follows: We proclaim and define it to be a dogma revealed by Go ...

), Cómpeta celebrates the 'Noche del Vino' ('night of the wine'), which is a festival declared of tourist interest by official government decree ('Declaración de Interés Turístico National de Andalucia'). It takes approximately one hour to reach the village from Málaga Airport, along the coastal motorway and then inland via the well maintained mountain road.

Geography

Mountains

The town is southwest of the

Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park The Sierras of Tejeda, Almijara and Alhama Natural Park ( es, Parque natural de las Sierras de Tejeda, Almijara y Alhama) is a protected area in the Spanish provinces of Málaga and Granada. It contains the Sierra de Tejeda and Sierra de Almijara ...

. The Tejeda and Almijara mountains, declared a National Reserve of Major Hunting and included in the Catalogue of Areas and Protected Goods of the

Junta Junta may refer to: Government and military * Junta (governing body) (from Spanish), the name of various historical and current governments and governing institutions, including civil ones ** Military junta, one form of junta, government led by ...

of Andalusia, extend over an area of approximately 20,543 hectares. They include the municipalities of Alcaucín, Canillas de Aceituno, Sedella, Salares, Canillas de Albaida, Cómpeta, Frigiliana and Nerja. The highest point visible from the town is the Maroma (2,065 m). The topography of the terminus is quite hilly, especially in the northwest, which borders the province of Granada. Other important elevations are Cerro Lucero (1,779 m), Cisne (1,600 m), Verde (1,554 m) and Tajo de las Grajas, which has a length of 200 metres. File:Cómpeta Complete Panorama View Golden Hour 2014.jpg, Panoramic overview of Cómpeta

Neighbourhoods

Cómpeta has a neighbourhood on the mountain called El Acebuchal which recently has built a chapel for its few inhabitants. Their houses are spread over a hillside to the other side across several kilometres to Frigiliana.

History

Cómpeta has Roman origins. Its name derives from the Latin phrase ''Compita-Orum'', which means "crossing of roads." It was a place where the Romans held their feasts and offerings. It was also a place to shop and sell products. This is believed to be the town's origin as there are no written documents to support it.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Competa Municipalities in the Province of Málaga