Jaén

Favourite / Share

Arch of San Lorenzo
It is the only remains of the Church of San Lorenzo. In the lower part, we can see the chapel, which has mudejar decoration on the walls and the altar.
Puerta del Ángel. It is the only entrance to the city that remains.
Museum of Naïf Art.
Museum of Popular Arts and Traditions.
Palace of the Nicuesa family.
It has a monumental façade from the 17th century. In its interior, a Baroque oratory stands out. It was declared a Historic Artistic Monument in 1975.
Palace of the Vilches family.
It is the only remains of the Market Square, formerly the city’s main square. The arcade is 17th century. The palace was restored in the 19th century, and the central patio and main staircase are from that time.
Monument of Las Batallas.
Museum of the Province
Built in 1920, the museum incorporated the main doors of the 16th century Posito (a communal granary), and the main façade of the Church of San Miguel, which no longer exists. It houses the best collection of Iberian objects in the world.
Real Monasterio de Santa Clara
The monastery was founded by King Fernando III after the conquest of the city. In its interior, the higher and lower choirs stand out, both with coffered ceilings. The 16th century image of Cristo del Bambú is also worth mentioning. It has a beautiful cloister. It is at present occupied by a closed order of Franciscan Nuns.
Church of San Juan
This is a very old church, and in its interior we must highlight some polychrome images such as Nuestra Señora del Socorro and the Easter week paso of El Calvario, work of Sebastián Solís in the 16th century. Next to the church, we have the Torre del Concejo Tower, where we can see the city’s official clock and a large, bronze, 16th century bell.
Church of San Bartolomé
Built between the 16th and the 18th centuries. The main façade is 18th century. In its interior, a beautiful mudejar coffered ceiling must be mentioned. The main altarpiece is work of Sebastian Solis in the late 16th century. In one of the Chapels, we can find the the outstanding image of the Expiration of Christ, one of the best crucifixions in Jaen’s imagery, attributed to José de Medina.
Bernardas Convent
It was founded in the 16th century commissioned by the auxiliary Bishop of Toledo Don Melchor de Soria y Vera, who had been born in Jaen. Its original name was Convent of Concepción Franciscana, also known as Las Bernardas because Cardinal Don Bernardo de Sandoval y Rojas took it under his protection.
Royal Monastery of Santo Domingo
It was founded over the former Arab palaces that King Juan I gave to the Dominican Order in 1382. It was seat of the University of Santa Catalina, the martyr, and from the 19th century onwards, a hospice. It is, at present, the home of the Province’s Historical Archive. The church has a Renaissance façade, and in its interior we must point out the frescoes in the vaulted ceilings. The patio, from the 16th century, has an outstanding arcade.
Chapel of San Andrés
It was founded by Don Gutierrez González Doncel in 1515. It seems, it was previously a synagogue. In its interior, we must highlight the main altarpiece (18th century), paintings and images throughout the church and a richly decorated wrought iron railing from the 17th century. It was declared a Historic Artistic Monument in 1931.

History

The first stable human settlements date from the Palaeolithic. Iberians, Carthaginians and Romans also lived here. It was called Aurigi in this period.

Scipio takes the city in the 207 B.C. The fortress is extended in this period.

It enjoyed a great splendour during the al-Andalus period. It was an important and much disputed city throughout this period in history.

The Christian conquest was led by King Fernando III in 1246, and the Bishop's seat moved here from Baeza. After the conquest, the Christians took advantage of the city's border location to raid Muslim lands. Many legends and popular songs relate these episodes.

After the fall of the Kingdom of Granada, the city loses its strategic importance. It enjoys a certain resurge from 1833 when it became the capital of the province..

Eminent citizens
Yahya al-Gazal, poet.
Ibn Faray, poet.

Menu

Interesting

Jaén

History