The municipality of Casares dates from pre-Roman times. We can find
traces of our ancestors of the Palaeolithic and Neolithic periods in the caves of the Crestellina,
Utrera and Bermeja mountains and in the towns of Ferrete and Utrera.
In neighbouring Alechipe
we find the ruins of Lacipo, a town once surrounded by walls, which survived from 600 B.C. until
300 A.D. Many artefacts of the Roman age have been found, including coins minted there, pottery
and two altars dedicated to Youth and Fortune.
There are Roman bridges in Hedionda and aqueducts in Crestellina. Legend tells us that Casares was founded by Julius
Caesar in gratitude for regaining his health when he had a bath in the sulphuric waters of
the Hedionda Baths. It is said that he ordered the construction of the bath which is still
used today, they are called Bańs de la Hedionda.
Signs of the Arabic age are evident too, for example
the castle, a strategic stronghold, part of which is of Muslim construction.
In 1361 the
Christian king Pedro I, the Cruel, and the defeated Grenadian king Muhammad V met here to sign
the "Casares Pact".
In 1485 the conquest of Ronda resulted in the people of Casares changing from the Muslim
religion to Catholicism.
ln 1570 during the rebellion of the Moors there was a meeting there between the Muslim leaders
and the Christian Duke of Arcos, which put an end to these uprisings.
A suitable base for
guerrilla warfare Casares was never occupied by the Napoleonic troops