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Obejo is a
tiny village
located in the
Sierra Morena
of Cordoba,
with just 714
inhabitants.
The village is
located amid a
rolling
landscape just
45km from
Cordoba at a
height of 727M
above sea
level. The
municipality
covers an area
of 214,6km2.
The village
has seen
virtually no
tourism,
mainly due to
its location,
high in the
mountains. The
village does
however have
much to offer
in the form of
the most
beautiful
countryside
and a host of
opportunities
for outdoor
activities
such as
walking,
cycling and
horse riding.
In Obejo you
will be
guaranteed
peace and
tranquillity.
We visited
Obejo in March
2003 and found
that the
people made us
so welcome.
The village
has a central
square, the
Plaza España.
In this square
you will find
three bars,
one serving
meals and a
village shop
that sells
almost
everything.
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Obejo is an
ancient
village,
hardly touched
by time. Most
of the
residents work
in the
surrounding
countryside,
in the olive
oil industry.
Obejo has its
own school and
two banks.
There is also
a small, 13th
century church
worthy of a
visit, located
at the top of
the village,
close to the
castle ruins.
The town hall
has a tourist
information
desk where you
can collect
maps and
various
leaflets. 4km
from the
village centre
you will find
the Ermita de
San Benito
which dates
from the 18th
century. This
is the site of
the annual
ferias which
are of
national
importance. |
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Three times a
year, Obejo
becomes the
centre of
attraction
with a
tradition that
is as old as
the village.
On the 17th
January, the
village
celebrates San
Antonio Abad
with a
procession and
a dance that
has become the
symbol of the
village. In
March, on the
Saturday
closest to
21st, there is
the Romeria de San Benito.
The Romeria is
very much a
family affair
and the whole
village turns
out for
picnics at the
Ermita. Many
of the
residents
attend on
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The Romeria
has been held
every year for
as long as
anyone can
remember and
it is now well
known as a
major event in
the Cordoba
region. The
Romeria is
held at the
Ermita de San
Benito. The
tiny chapel is
packed to
capacity and
the statue of
San Benito is
displayed. It
is a tradition
for people to
visit the
statue and pin
money to its
gown. This is
supposedly to
redeem one's
sins. The
statue is then
paraded around
the feria
ground,
followed by a
dance. The
dance is quite
unique and is
a type of
sword dance.
The
participants
wear a
traditional
costume of
bright red,
yellow and
brown. Leather
boots and
chaps are
worn.
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The
celebrations
are also
marked with a
feria of
market stalls
and
amusements. It
is also
tradition to
eat a
specially made
cake, 'Dulce'.
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A similar
celebration is
also held in
July. The July
Romeria lasts
for four days
around the 2nd
Saturday of
the month
(11th-15th
July 2003).
The party
includes
various
competitions
and the
election of
the carnival
Queen. |
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The dance
finishes with
a mock
execution of
the dance
master in
which the
swords are
locked around
his neck. |
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