Cómpeta
or Compita-Orum (in Latin) means a crossing or meeting place.
Years ago it was considered the gateway to Granada and other
internal towns and villages.
Nowadays Cómpeta, situated in the foothills of the Almijara
Mountains, next to the National Park, has a population of 3000
inhabitants. The village is shaped by its narrow, winding streets
and white houses with balconies filled with flowers.
The Gastronomy of Cómpeta includes
‘
Las Migas’ (fried breadcrumbs), ‘El Potaje de Semana
Santa (Easter hot pot), olive oil, honey, raisins and the famous
Cómpeta Wine which is celebrated on the 15th August, ‘The
Night of the Wine.
Visitors
can observe how the wine used to be made and taste it while enjoying
the typical songs and dances that celebrate it.
Other
Celebrations
The
Fair (23rd – 25th July). The fair celebrates the patron
saint of Cómpeta, Saint Sebastian, with live performances
of singing and dancing every evening. On the last evening there
is a pilgrimage around the village.
Bonfire
Night (7th September). The hillsides
light up with bonfires and the sound of conch-shells as people
celebrate in their country houses.
The
Day of the Cross (3rd
May). The population of Cómpeta creates a cross from different
coloured carnations and, after a few hours of dancing, traditional
foods and games, the cross is taken up to the ‘Cross on the
Mountain’.
Easter
Week Good Friday begins with the ‘Via Crucis’ a men-only
procession, which takes place at seven in the morning and where
an image of Christ Crucified is carried around the village.
The last procession of the evening is of ‘La Soledad’ (Solitude)
which is for women and only married men are allowed to carry her
image around the village.
