What To See And Do In Jaén, A Beautiful Andalusian City
Jaén is a Spanish province famous for its olive groves, where one of the most precious golden liquids in the world comes from: olive oil. And its capital, although it may not be one of the best-known cities in Andalusia on a tourist level, has many places to visit and discover. We tell you what to see and do in Jaén, a city that will make you fall in love.
Things to see and do in Jaén
Due to the influence of various cultures, this Andalusian city has beautiful monuments and unique corners in the world. These are some of the things to see and do in Jaén.
Its cathedral
The work of the illustrious Andrés de Vandelvira and of Renaissance origin, this cathedral set precedents for later constructions. Its imposing façade takes anyone’s breath away just by looking at it.
Inside we will find the Sacristy, the Chapter House and the Pantheon of the Canons, as well as several works of art that deserve a stop to admire them. Special mention should be made of its baroque choir, carved in noble woods and considered one of the largest in Spain.
Castle of Santa Catalina
It was erected in the 13th century on the remains of an Arab fortress on the Santa Catalina hill. During the Napoleonic invasion it underwent major transformations, but you can still see the prison, the keep and the parade ground.
Near the castle there is a large cross, raised by Ferdinand III the Saint and which is one of the symbols of the city. The Parador de Turismo is also a step away, from where you will enjoy wonderful views of the entire city.
Arab baths
Like any city that has been under Arab influence, you cannot miss the baths. They are found in the basements of the Villardompardo Palace and are one of the largest and best preserved in Europe.
They were built in the 11th century and in the 16th they would be buried when the palace was built on top. This, curiously, helped bring them to our days. A 500 m² facility in which you can visit both the lobby and the cold, warm and hot rooms.
By the way, the palace is the headquarters of the Museum of Popular Arts and Customs of Jaén. Of course, you have to visit its rooms calmly to get to know a little better the rich culture of Jaén.
The lizard of Jaén
In a city with so much history, legends could not be absent. One of them tells that there was a lizard in the city determined to devour all the people and animals in the area. It was located at the Magdalena fountain, one of the places where citizens went to collect water.
Fed up with this situation, they asked the king to send someone to fight the lizard. The chosen one was a prisoner who volunteered in exchange for his release. All he needed was a sheepskin, loaves, gunpowder, and a horse.
He used the loaves as bait for the lizard to follow him to a cul-de-sac where he threw the sheepskin at it with the burning powder. The insatiable hunger of the lizard betrayed him because he swallowed the sheep without thinking and boom! The people of Jaén decided to remember this event with a statue of the lizard in their favorite place, the Magdalena fountain.
Provincial Museum
This museum is divided into two parts: one of archeology dedicated to the period between prehistory and the Hispano-Muslim culture and another dedicated to Fine Arts, where works of French and late Middle Ages paintings are brought together. A tour of this place is essential in Jaén, as it gathers objects of enormous interest.
The Alameda
One of the things to do in Jaén if you hesitate is to walk the Alameda, one of the most beautiful walks in Andalusia. In addition, it is the oldest park in the city, since it dates back to the 16th century. A step away you will see the convent of the Bernardas, cloistered nuns.
You have already seen, there is much to see and do in Jaén. Take good note and take a tour of this beautiful city full of history.
