Information on Jaen city and province, where to go and what to do while in Jaen city and province.
Jaén Province has much more to offer than the largest percentage of Spain’s 220 million olive trees and being the world capital of olive oil.
Since the 7th century BC. Jaén's principal source of income has been olive growing and olive oil making, throughout the Roman Empire and under Moorish rule.
Today much of the cultivated land in the province is gentle slopes covered with marching lines of olive trees. The poet Antonio Machado described it as “Silvered Jaén” but in addition to its silvery leafed olive plantations there are the beautiful mountain ranges of four natural reserves, making Jaén the province with the largest area of protected natural space in Spain.
Recently given the title “paraiso interior” inland paradise, by the regional tourist board Jaén boasts several important Renaissance towns, a variety of arts and crafts, many festivals, traditions and pilgrimages and varied gastronomical delights.
Jaén the province lies to the north-east of Andalucía, bordering Castilla-La Mancha (Ciudad Real and Albacete Provinces) to the north. To the west, east and south it joins the Provinces of Cordoba and Granada.
The River Guadalquivir the longest in Andalucía has its source in the rocky mountains of Spain’s largest national park, Sierra de Cazorla, Segura and,Las Villas, and flows across the terrain to meet the sea at Sanlúcar de Barrameda on the Atlantic coast.
Hosting some of the largest Arab baths in Europe, Jaén is also one of the principal centres of Renaissance art. Andrés Vandelvira among others have left an outstanding legacy in the towns of Baeza, Úbeda, Sabiote and Jaén the capital city of the province.
The arts and crafts of Jaén range from the hand-embroidered rugs, wickerwork and ceramics to the making of guitars and castanets in Marmolejo.
The traditional celebrations and religious processions of Andújar, Baeza, Villacarillo and Villardompardo are well worth a visit, along with the Easter celebrations of Jaén, Úbeda and Baeza which have been declared World Heritage sites.
For traditional cuisine the local delicacies are pipirrana (a mixture of garlic, egg-yolk, bread, spicy tuna and of course olive oil) choto al ajillo ( kid with garlic). An ideal local accompaniment would be an amontillado wine from Lopera, Porcuna or a Valdepeñas from Bailén or Torreperogil.
A good way to see the city of Jaén is to climb the winding rocky hill to the Castle of Santa Catalina. Walk to the end of the elongated hill past the Parador and castle entrance to the large white monumental cross. This is said to mark the spot where Ferdinand III , the Holy, stuck a cross into the ground after the conquest of Jaén in 1246.
The views from one side of the hill are olive trees marching in military lines into the distance. From the cross the entire city lays sprawls below. The old white town nestles into the rocky base of the hill. While on the other side the Sierra Morena towers imposingly above.
The castle we can see today is the second on the site, and is partly accessible with a nominal entry fee. The older Moorish Castle or Alcazar badly destroyed by many battles, was replaced in 1965 by a State-run luxury hotel or Parador, which is said to be a replica of the original stronghold.The Parador restaurant is very good and serves many traditional dishes.
Jaen Cathedral, one of the works of Vandelvira occupies the site of a mosque, demolished in 1368. Although the present day cathedral was not started until the late 15th century, it’s monstrous in size and a visit is a must.
The Jaen tourist board produces an excellent annual booklet for visitors containing a street map and a suggested walking itinerary of 24 monuments of architectural and historical interest, a great way to see the city. Don’t forget the frequent stops in the many bars for your free tapas to keep you going.
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