The municipal area of Casarabonela, which stands to the west of the Guadalhorce Valley, stretches from the valley itself to the Sierra de Alcaparain y Prieta, in the Serrania de Ronda range.
The village and its surroundings create a picturesque scene made up of orchards, olive groves and cereal fields, with a mountain vegetation backdrop. Though of Roman origin, the Arabs were responsible for the character and layout of its houses and streets.
Places of interest include the Town Hall, St. James Parish Church, and the caves of La Hoguera, Fuentequebrada and Las Columnas.
Though remains from the Neolithic period have been found in the municipal area, the first permanent settlement was Roman, as was the village’s original name “Castra Vinaria” (wine castle).
The second important episode in Casarabonela’s history occured during the Moslem occupation. The Arabs kept the village’s original name, which they modified to “Qsar Bonaira”, which was the origin of the present-day version; appreciating its strategic location, the Arabs also reinforced the old Roman fortress, which was the last bastion in the area conquered by the Christian troops sent by the Catholic Monarchs.
In the second half of the 16th century, the definitive expulsion of the moriscos (Moslem converts to Christianity), left the area practically deserted; it was repopulated by Old Christians from Extremadura and other parts of Andalusia.
In 1574, according to the Village Charter conserved in the municipal archives , Philip II granted it full village status.
