THE CITY OF JAÉN
If you wish to explore Jaén outside of the Conference tours, there are many culturally rich and budget friendly tourist attractions in the area. The information below will provide you with a information about Jaén and the surrounding area.
Province: JaÉn / Autonomous Region: Andalusia
Jaén is a town just north of Granada, rich in history and culture and is a great place to go explore. Santa Catalina is a small mountain upon which a majestic moorish castle sits. "El Sagrario" a parish church is also atop the mountain. Santa Catalina offers a fantastic view of the olive groves and city of Jaén below. Some other fascinating sights of interest are the churches of La Santa Capilla de San Andres, the Convent of Santo Domingo, and the Church of La Magdalena with its charming courtyard.
With just 116,012, Jaén is the least populated capital of all the provinces in Andalucia. Historically called the "capital of the holy kingdom", Jaén dates back to the pre-Roman era. Within Jaén you can see Iberian and Roman walls, Arab baths, and Renaissance churches, and is home to the world's largest collection of Iberian objects. In the 1970s, a unique collection of sculptures dating from about 500 BC were discovered nearby and they are now proudly exhibited in the city's main museum. The Castle of Santa Catalina, built originally during Arab occupation, presides over the city of Jaén. The city is home to our hosts, the University of Jaén, whose own history dates back to the fourteenth century. Jaén is in the middle of the olive oil center of the world with 60 million olive trees nearby!
Jaén does not have its own airport - the nearest one is at Granada, about one hour away. Below are handy links:
DON'T MISS these sites:
MUSEUMS:
- Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares (Jaén) - One of the main ethnological museums. Its collections bring together lifestyles from before the industrialization of Jaén. They contain examples of textiles and ceramics, construction techniques, local religion and trades, etc. Click on the link above for more information.
- Museo Provincial de Jaén (Jaén) - This is a museum dedicated to Iberian Art. It is divided into two large areas, one dedicated to Fine Arts and the other to Archeology. Click on the link above for more information.
- Museo Internacional de Arte Naïf "Manuel Morán" (Jaén) - An art museum whose collections focus on Contemporary and Modern Art. See works by national and foreign artists including works by Miguel García Vivancos and Lorenzo Aparicio Boliche, among others. Click on the link above for more information.
MONUMENTS:
- Castillo (Jaén) - A castle among olive trees. Its position allows visitors fabulous views of the city of Jaén and of a wonderful natural area.
- Catedral de Jaén (Jaén) - A beautiful example of the Andalusian Renaissance. The cathedral temple houses the cloth of the Holy Face which, according to tradition, was used by Veronica to dampen the face of Christ.
- Palacio de Villardompardo - Villardompardo Palace (Jaén) - The palace hides Arab baths. It was build in 1592 by order of Fernando de Torres y Portugal, former viceroy of Peru.
NATURE AREAS:
- Parque Natural de Despeñaperros - The natural pass from the Meseta .The famous defile of Despeñaperros, with walls that are virtually vertical, is the product of the waters of the river with the same name.
- Parque Natural Sierra Morena de Andúja - In the heart of Sierra Morena, the Sierra de Andújar is one of the most important hunting reserves in Spain.
- Parque Natural de Sierra Mágina - An area dominated by the mountain goat. Also home to the wild boar, to holm and gall oaks, to olive and cherry trees.
WHAT TO EAT IN JAÉN:
Jaén is the largest producer of olive oil in the world. So, not surprisingly, much of Jaén's local gastronomy uses olive oil in more generous proportions than most of the rest of Spain. The local dish, ajilimoje, is made with olive oil, vinegar, potatoes and red pepper and is delicious spread on thick chunks of freshly-made bread. Another local dish is pipirrana, salads made from ingredients chopped very finely - a bit like un-puréed gazpacho). Fresh game is a common dish all over the province, roasted, grilled or eaten in stews, and local lamb, goat, beef and pork is delicious too. As far as fruit is concerned, the peaches grown in Alcaudete are famous all over Spain for their flavor, as are melons grown in Grañera and figs in Quesada.
WHERE TO EAT IN JAÉN :
- Restaurants in Jaén: Casa Antonio, traditional and creative; Asador La Abadía, traditional dishes with local produce; Casa Vicente, traditional and creative; Mesones 14, typical Andalusian cuisine.
- Tapas bars in Jaén: Meson Rio Chico and Bar Nuevo, both in the pedestrian street, Calle Nueva; El Gorrión near the Cathedral; El Pilar del Arrabalejo in c/Millán de Priego.
- Restaurants in the Province: Juanito: one of Spain's classic restaurants and certainly a must for visitors.