Outlying districts of Totana: El Pareton and Cantareros

An agricultural area between Totana and Mazarron with a small expat community

El Paretón and Cantareros are theoretically two villages in the south of the municipality of Totana, although in reality they have now merged into one.

They are located on the RM-E27 road, which runs more or less parallel to the RM-3 motorway from Camposol and Condado de Alhama to the RM-315, which takes drivers to Totana (click for map location). The area borders on the municipality of Mazarrón, and along with El Raiguero is the closest part of Totana to the Mediterranean coast.

The outlying district in which the two villages stand is distinctly agricultural in its nature and, indeed, its history, although over the last couple of decades it has also become fairly popular among expats who are searching for homes in the sun but prefer a taste of “real” Spain to the properties on offer at the nearby resort-style developments of Condado, Camposol and Mazarrón Country Club.

It is believed that the village of El Paretón dates back to the 16^th century, when the opportunities of crop farming brought more settlers to what had previously been a part of Spain which was considered too dangerous on account of its proximity to the border with the Moorish kingdom of Granada. The risk of Moorish incursions ended with their expulsion from Spain in 1492.

The area was made more attractive still by the construction of the Paretón dam over the River Guadalentín in the 18^th century, allowing farmers access to water for irrigation all year round, and these days, while retaining its agricultural traditions, El Paretón – Cantareros is the largest of the outlying districts of Totana in terms of population.

Especially important to the local economy is the cultivation of small round red peppers, and in the month of August the locals literally paint the town red as the peppers are left to dry in the sun on the ground close to the local church.

See Torta de Pimienta

Among the main fiestas in El Paretón are the performance of a Three Kings play on 6^th January, the Carnival celebrations and the fiestas in honour of the Virgen del Carmen in July and the Virgen de la Asunción in August. 

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