History of La Malahá
According to archaeological remains found in the municipality, we know that population settlements existed here since the Late Bronze Age (between 900 and 800 BC). Flint and pottery remains have been found at La Atalaya, confirming the existence of a significant settlement dedicated to shepherding. There is also a small Iberian-era settlement on a gentle hill.
The Roman villa from the first century AD is of particular importance, and remains of a lime kiln used for oil production have been found. During the Roman era, La Malahá experienced a period of great prosperity, flourishing economically and culturally, with a growing population and the establishment of an important colony.
During the Nasrid period, La Malahá was an important defensive point for Granada, which, along with the towers of Alhama, Alhendín, and Dílar, protected enemy access from Vélez-Málaga. Great writers were born in La Malahá, such as Abu-l-Qasim Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahid al-Ghafiqi al-Mallahi and Sebastián Urbano Baena. Thanks to its thermal and salt waters and its geographical location, La Malahá boasts a rich historical and cultural heritage.
From 1500 onwards, the Quempe region (El Temple), along with the Tierra de Alhama, was repopulated, but many Muslims were allowed to remain in their homes as Mudéjars, thanks to the capitulation of 1491 and its extension in 1492. Later, they became Moriscos, following the Pragmatic Sanction issued by the Catholic Monarchs on February 14, 1502.
The land survey book, which is in the Provincial Archive of Granada, was compiled by Licenciado Loaysa in 1572, and a copy of it was made in 1772. This hamlet is surveyed as the head of a district, not as a farmstead, as are the other hamlets located in Quempe. Regarding the land distributions, which we assume were late in this area, we can deduce that they were carried out through jurisdictional lordships. By the eighteenth century, most of El Temple belonged to the Marquis of Mondéjar or the College of Santiago. However, the distribution of property in La Malahá was so fragmented that it prevented the reconstruction of the land parcels.
The study carried out by the Marquis of Ensenada in 1752 on this population centre reveals an important description of its crops, livestock, and saltworks. He grants it the status of a town and indicates that it was under the jurisdiction of the Marquis of Alhendín.
The thermal waters of the town have been exploited since ancient times and reached their peak in 1845. Currently, there is a thermal pool with a capacity of two hundred and fifty people, with therapeutic qualities for ailments of the nervous system, skin and diseases such as rheumatism.