Andalucia # 12 - Ciudad Ojen by billcody
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Hello again!
This here is one of the so called "white villages" of Andalucia. As a protection agains pirates from the Mediterranean Sea the founders built their villages some miles away from the shore, often on steep rocks and rock plateaus as eagle´s nests.
Villages like this can be very, very old. They were founded in moorish times (711-1492), others are from Roman times - or even older!.
This village here is OJEN, has recent more than 3 000 inhabitants and is situated 10 kilometers north of MARBELLA on a level of 310 meters. It has a moorish core with medina (the small houses in the middle) and bigger houses in the outer parts from modern times.
OJEN was first named in 910 in a chronicle about RAHMAN III., the Emir of Cordoba, who fought against christian rebels near Malaga.
Some of the white villages were founded by Romans nearly 1000 years before the moors and some places were settled by humans since nearly 3 000 years!
In 1503, eleven years after the Christs victory against the Muslims, Ojen got a christian church at the place of the moorish mosquee.
Hope you enjoy this pic. Please feel free to send some comments, they are all wellcome. Thanks for your comments for my older pics here.
Bye, billcody

Comments (11)
Gorgeous
too crouded for for mi taste.
cool
I wonder if it is 'the law' that every building must be painted white?
I´m not sure, but I am thinking its against the heat, it reflects the heat very well. In summer the temperature reach nearly 50° Celsius. Even in late October it was very hot and we learned very quickly to move slow and search for shadow in every situation. Some of these villages are part of the World Heritage of the UNESCO, nothing could be changed. I have seen villages like this in Morocco with the full islamic life scenery (Mosquees, Markets u.a.). Thanks for yopur comment.
Such interesting information! One of my students who comes from Marbella sent me a postcard of this but with no explanation. Now I know, Thankyou!
great shot!!
That is a fantastic shot ! what a beautiful area
beautiful panorama
Great shot Wolfgang and fantastic background information. I have been through some of these villages, not this one, and the streets are very narrow, not suitable for vehicular traffic, and we were always surprised at the local communications system. When we, meaning us servicemen, were in town, the whole town seemed to know. I think the old women, dressed in black, had a very sophisticated way to pass on any news.
The whole town seem to know? He,he, I can imagine very well! The old ladies have nothing to do then watching whats going on outside! It must be an old arabic tradition, hehe.... Thanks for your comments for my pics, Sig!
An outstanding capture Wolfgang and wonderful information too!
Marvelous cityscape and fantastic capture... Very great POV also.