Hidden among the modern homes and developments of Sitio de Calahonda, the historic Cortijo of Calahonda is a fascinating reminder of the area’s rural past. Once visible from the beach and surrounded by farmland, the building has witnessed centuries of change and remains one of the most interesting historic landmarks in Calahonda and the wider Mijas Costa area.
Today, the building is home to the Norwegian Church in Calahonda, continuing its role as an important part of the local community.
A History Dating Back Centuries
The Cortijo of Calahonda appears on 19th-century maps as a cortijo-lagar, indicating a traditional Andalusian agricultural estate associated with farming and wine production.
One of the most fascinating clues to its history comes from an advertisement published in the Gaceta de Madrid in March 1816. It described the sale of a large estate called CALAHONDA, situated between Mijas and Marbella by the sea.
The estate included vineyards, woodland, farmland and extensive pasture, together with a newly built house described as being large enough to serve as an inn. The advertisement even suggested that the location could be suitable for establishing a settlement with a seaport.
It paints a very different picture of the Costa del Sol from the busy residential and holiday destination we know today.
Traditional Andalusian Architecture
The building’s architecture has also attracted interest from historians. Comparisons have been made with the Lagar of Jotrón, another historic agricultural property near Málaga.
According to research by Professor María Begoña Villar of the University of Málaga, the Lagar of Jotrón represents a traditional Andalusian design centred around an enclosed courtyard, providing natural ventilation, shade and shelter.
The similarities between the two buildings have led to speculation that the Cortijo of Calahonda may have been designed by José Martín de Aldehuela (1729–1802), one of Málaga’s leading architects of the late 18th century. Aldehuela is particularly famous for the New Bridge of Ronda.
However, his involvement with the Cortijo remains a historical theory rather than a confirmed fact.
Links to the Maury Family
The history of the cortijo may also be connected to the influential Maury family, French merchants who established themselves in Málaga.
Jean-Baptiste Maury commissioned the Lagar of Jotrón and had connections to Joseph Bonaparte during the Napoleonic period. His son, José María Maury, became a colonel of a regiment formed in Málaga in 1810.
Interestingly, the 1816 advertisement for the Calahonda estate mentions Josef LaChambre, who served as an aide to José María Maury. These connections have led historians to suggest that the Calahonda estate may also have been associated with the Maury family, although this has not been conclusively established.
Calahonda During the Napoleonic Wars
The cortijo also played a role during the Napoleonic invasion of Spain. In 1810, French troops occupied the building and reportedly converted it into a defensive position, adding shooting embrasures.
It is a fascinating reminder that the peaceful residential community of Calahonda once formed part of a very different landscape, shaped by agriculture, military activity and international political events.
From Country Estate to Modern Calahonda
By the early 20th century, the Calahonda estate was associated with Málaga businessman and politician José Nagel Disdier (1857–1940).
The estate eventually became the foundation for today’s Sitio de Calahonda, now a popular Costa del Sol destination between La Cala de Mijas and Marbella, known for its beaches, golf courses, restaurants, holiday apartments and villas.
In the 1970s, the historic cortijo was rebuilt and converted into Hotel El Campanario. It later became a private residence before taking on its current role as the Norwegian Church.
A Link to Calahonda’s Past
Today, it is easy to overlook the history of the Cortijo when surrounded by the modern development of Sitio de Calahonda. Yet its story stretches back to a time when vineyards, farmland and open countryside dominated this part of the Costa del Sol.
From agricultural estate and possible military stronghold to hotel and community building, the Cortijo of Calahonda has experienced a remarkable transformation.
For anyone interested in Calahonda history, Andalusian architecture or the heritage of the Costa del Sol, El Campanario is a fascinating piece of local history, and a reminder of how dramatically this corner of Mijas Costa has changed.