Hojiblanca Museum
The Hojiblanca's Museum's aim is the recuperation and exposition of the Hojiblanca's region's patrimony. In this sense, they have started off with three mills, but the idea is to recapitulate other elements not only linked to oil, olive plantations or olives, but linked to agriculture in general.
Furthermore, in the back part of the Museum, a park with different types of olive trees is going to be established.
1st century Mill
This wind-mill was situated in La Quinta (between the towns of Antequera and Hojiblanca). The local archaeologist, Manuel Romero, dated it to the 1st century. The pressing room was found, along with other elements and we also re-constructed the wood press. The mill worked with a system of ropes tied to the ceiling sustaining the weight that would press on the olives. They also found some fossils of olive seeds that were taken for analysis to the Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos y de Montes de la Universidad de Córdoba. The fossils found, were from a tree which is a predecessor of the Hojiblanca species. The Hojiblanca Group is now working on establishing the origin of the olive trees in Antequera.
The discovery of this mill isn't a coincidence, it's another fact that proves the importance of the oil culture in the Roman era. Manuel Romero has studied the area and has found over 40 roman olive-growing villas.
19th century Mill
It was given to us by the local Business-man Manuel Acedo. It's a pressing room made out of oak that has required restoration. This kind of press was used commonly but was soon succeeded by other types of presses based on water power.
17th century Mill
This is the main piece of the Hojiblanca Museum (donated by the Cuadra Rojo familia), and was situated in the valley of Antequera. Once reconstructed original elements such as tins, vases, etc. have been kept in their original positions. This press worked using animal power to turn a round stone that pressed on the olives to obtain the juice. All the elements used for this process are still there. This Mill stopped being used after the Civil war, and was later used to store grain and wheat.
>> Download the Museums Leaflet (pdf 1430kb)
VISIT THE MUSEUM
You can visit the museum on week days:
- October to May: Mornings (Monday to Friday) from 9:00 to 13:30. Afternoons (Monday to Thursday) from 16:00 to 17:30.
- June to September: Mornings only (Monday to Friday) from 8:30 to 14:00.
