Día de la Chanfaina (Chanfaina Day). Totalán. November. Unique Festival
This festival has been declared to be of Tourist Interest by the Provincial Council of Málaga.
Please check with the local Town Hall or Municipal Tourism Office for the festival date before planning any sightseeing activities.
Totalán sits under the shade of the Montes de Málaga, on a little hill in the centre of the valley. This municipality has a beautiful landscape of gentle slopes covered with olive, carob and almond trees, and displays a white maze of narrow, steep streets revealing its Arabic background.
Its cuisine is closely linked to the Mediterranean diet, as can be seen in many of its dishes including fried pumpkin, tomato soup, gazpachuelo, zoque, ajoblanco, and chanfaina.
The latter is the prime dish of the locality. According to historical records, it has been feeding every farmer who harvested olives in the winter for years.
Chanfaina is low-priced and easy to prepare. It contains ingredients such as potatoes, oil, vinegar, and a varied range of spices—oregano, saffron, and bay leaf. If desired, it can be complemented with offal or sliced black pudding.
The festival begins on the last Sunday in November with the opening of tasting stands for typical local delicacies (olive tree, vineyard and cold meat products). At midday, the exquisite chanfaina dish is offered to all visitors.
An extensive programme of activities rounds off the celebration, featuring the unmistakable chords of the “pandas de verdiales”, some orchestra music, exhibitions of old farm implements, and the Chanfaina Awards, granted by the Town Hall.
This municipality of the Axarquía region is a must-see, especially on Chanfaina Day. Not only will visitors enjoy a unique event, but they will also be delighted to experience monuments from the 16th century. For example, the Santa Ana Parish Church, the Salazar Tower, and the Cerro de la Corona Dolmen (built in the 4th and 3rd millennium BC). Not to mention the residents' hospitality and joy, as well as its proximity to Málaga city and the seaside.
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