Places of Interest in Caniles
You can still see some of the houses of the gentry of times gone by, such as the fine mansions of the Fernández and Manceba families. The wonderful wrought iron balcony work is a fine demonstration of the artistic workmanship of the 18 th century.
There are two historical relics in Caniles which have been beautifully restored and are of great interest. One is the 17 th century Libro de Apeo y Exención (The Survey and Exemption Book) which officially records the payment made to Baza allowing Caniles to drop the name of Baza in its name. The other book is that the Libro de Reparto de Tierras (Land distribution book) from the same time.
Another very interesting piece of history from that era is the source of the tradition of the ' Robo del Santo'. During the time of the plague which ravaged the village of Caniles, somehow those who live in the San Sebastian Street, where the Hermitage was, were not affected by the epidemic. Naturally the people believed that the saint had intervened and protected these people from infection. Some families took up refuge in the Hermitage and even stole the image of the saint in an attempt to protect themselves. To this day, fights are re-enacted during the festive celebrations in Caniles each January. Nowadays they fight as a symbolic gesture and the losers have to pay the cost of the festivities.
The Caniles parish church was built during the 16 th and 17 th centuries in honour of Santa Maria and San Pedro. The main chapel reflects the rich Mudéjar style.
The Hermitage of San Sebastian also dates back to the 17 th century.
The restored Torre de los Moros (Moorish Tower) dates back to the 13 th and 14 th century.
The granary which was grain store, convent and theatre, is a fine example of 18th century civil architecture.