That Andalusia is a province with authentic treasures is a reality. the always wonderful Ronda, the most visited town in Malaga; either Iznájar, in Córdoba, surrounded by waterare just an example of what this beautiful province hides.
Today we travel to Jaén, but we do not visit the medieval town with the best preserved castle in Spain, but one that is somewhat lesser known but equally impressive. For National Geographic it is one of the most beautiful towns in Jaén, and for good reason, because in addition to having been declared a Historic-Artistic Site in 1985, it is the ideal place to escape.
we talk about La Iruela, a small town located in the northeast of the Sierra de Cazorla Region.
La Iruela in Jaén, a natural paradise
Although it is located on the slopes of the Sierra de Cazorla, and crowning the Guadalquivir valley, it is the highest town in the entire region, at 932 m. above sea level. It belongs to the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park and with that alone it would be worth a visit, because one of the bases of its economy is nature tourism.
Sierra de Cazorla
Many hiking routes depart from La Iruelasuch as the Nordic Walking route or the Barefoot route, but in La Iruela there is much more than nature and hikingand can be seen by taking a look at a panorama of the town.
An impressive image that dominates its medieval castle and the ruins of the Church of Santo Domingo de Silos, located at the highest point of the town and a symbol of its medieval history.
The Castle of La Iruela rises imposingly on a steep rock and at its feet a medieval quarter reflects the Muslim occupation of the 8th century. Of Almohad origin and built on pre-Berber foundations, in the 12th century it became the first fortress enclosure of the three that we can see today, together with a parade ground surrounded by a series of defensive towers and the Homage Tower, headquarters of the Order of the Knights Templar and that it was built in the highest part of the rock when Fernando III conquered this area.
The ruins of the Church of Santo Domingo, a Renaissance building from the 16th century and located inside the walled enclosure of the castle, it is another of the essential stops on our getaway to La Iruela.
The third is the Town Hall, a Toledo Mudejar-style monument from the late 15th century which in the mid-nineteenth century was enabled as the Town Hall of La Iruela.
The sunsets in its streets are worth mentioning, with the olive trees in the background from the highest streets, and the entire mountains within reach of our eyes. An ideal getaway at any time of the year.
Photos | iStock (seven lifes, bluebird, Miguel Perfectti, Josep Sala Francas and m-martinez)
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