History

Town of ancient origin, where remains of Argar and Phoenician cultures have been found. It was Salambina for Carthaginians, Segalvina for Romans and Salawbiniya for Moors.

Under Roman rule it was part of the route linking Castulo and Malaka. It was also an important fortress in the Middle Ages and Alfonso I, where the Warrior expedition reached up here in his incursion in Andalusian territory.

Conquered by the Catholic Monarchs in 1489, it was defended years after by Francisco Ramí­rez from a Moorish attack.

In the 18th and 19th centuries it suffered dearly the attacks of Turkish pirates, forcing the inhabitants to retreat to safer places in the nearby mountains.

In the 20th century it started a period of prosperity due to the production of sugar cane and tropical species as well as tourism.

Important characters
Abu Ali al-Salawbini, Andalusian grammarian of the 12th century.