At the bottom of the mountain range of its name, whose crest limits the border with the Jaén province, in the spurs of the Coloma Mountain range and next to Noalejo, the villa of Montillana is located, one of the strangest estates in Spain of the XVIII century. Because being its holder Don Fernando de Aranda, it only included, according to the Dictionary of Tomás Lopez, "the lands that will form league and a quarter, but not the neighbourhood nor the land that the population occupies". Dependant in those times of Colomera, as much in the administrative as in the ecclesiastic issues, it obtained its own City council during one of the constitutional stages of the first half of the XIX century.
Although it is located over one thousand meters of altitude, its houses rise on an extensive plain. The town centre is dominated by the tower of the parochial church, consecrated to Santa Ana
According to tradition, this town has its origin in a cortijo called Bridge of Don Gonzalo. According to existing data in the Real Chancillería of Granada, at the end of the XVI century there was a certain Fernando Alvarez de Sotomayor, natural of Noalejo (Jaén) that adjudged the title of Sir of La Montillana. In the same file data that specify that Montillana belonged to Colomera appear, and that, in 1836, it was granted to it the corresponding part of own, according by agreement of both towns the separation of Colomera. From the demographic point of view, the roturation implied a fast ascent of the population, during the second half of the XIX century and the first years of the XX. The most benefited area was, indeed, the Montes Orientales, that according to Madoz, experienced a population increase of 500%. It is then when new towns arise as prolongation of old cortijadas.
The dishes that are elaborated in Montillana are very varied and go from maize gachas, going through migas, the pork and sausages in Orza to the Tortas de Carda. Also good oils, and exquisite homemade desserts are produced. As curiosity the migas with melon stands out.
© Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Granada I Diputación de Granada
