Andújar
Andujar is located at the foot of Sierra Morena, to the West of the province. Its municipal area is included in the Parque Natural de las Sierras de Andújar, formations of half-way up the mountain that have a real Mediterranean ecosystem made up by many Holm oaks, cork oaks, gall-oaks, pines, oaks and thickets. In it live many species of the fauna that add it a great hunting value.
It is surrounded by the River Guadalquivir that has an impressive bridge which possibly has a Roman origin, the ancient Iberian Liturgi is an attractive city, that mix its Serrano component with its olive groves tradition and its connection with the Guadalquivir. The urban landscape is made up by stately houses, modern buildings and housings with traditional architecture, in which we can find huge buildings like the Church of Santa María, the Church of S. Miguel, the Church of S.Bartolomé, the Palace of Cárdenas, the tower of Fuente Sorda, the Tower of Tavira, the Town Hall.
In its municipal district we can find the Sanctuary of Virgen de la Cabeza, where it is celebrated one the most important processions of the Community and the ancient in Spain, awarded with the Gold Medal of the Junta de Andalucía.
Andújar, at a height of 212 metres and over the valley of the river Guadalquivir, located in one of its terraces, is a village with many stories. Not very far from the present urban area and towards the East there were found lithic remains that belong to the Achelense Culture. We can say that an Iberian village, the oretanos, were the ones who settled these surroundings and came into contact with the turdetanos, Phoenicians, Greeks and Carthaginians; it was an Iberian village that stood out by its fortress cities like Obulco (Porcuna), Cástulo (Linares), Iliturgi (Mengíbar), Isturgi (), etc.
When Romans arrived all this area became Romanized very soon, first under the organization of the Hispania Ulterior and later under the Bética and inside the Conventus Cordobensis. The Viejo Bridge has a Roman origin, although it is much redesigned. The “villae” settled all bank of the River Guadalquivir when fell the Roman Empire and follows Visigoth organization, “la territorio” under an “iudice”.
After the battle of Guadalete in 711 all the peninsular South turned into Al-Andalus. Just us Inb Idarí tells, during the emirate of Muhammad V in 853, it took place a war in Anduyar (Andújar), and this was the first time that the name of Andújar appears in a historic source; in 888 Abd Allah orders to fortify Andújar and about the middle of the XII century the almohads fortify the city once and for all and whose remains have very damaged.
Andújar already was a production centre of pottery going on with the tradition of the hispano-roman “sigillata”. In 1225 Fernando III gets the city to the Almohads in a peaceful way, starting very soon the change from an Islamic city into a Christian one; these are late middle ages and it will appear the first churches with gothic structures. Andújar is declared free land by the monarch, giving the Fuero de Cuenca. This was a rich final in the Middle Ages: in 1368 a nasrid race expect take the city and this will disable its governor Juan González; in 1446 the king Juan II will give the village the title of “city” because of its fidelity to the crown; in 1466 Enrique IV turns it into “In very honest and Loyal”. In 1472 Pedro de Escavias was a perpetual governor, man of letters, man of sing and man-at-arms. During these years it is also formed the shield with all its elements. With Isabel la Católica will appear the chief magistrates, in 1478 Francisco de Bobadilla is the same who orders demolish the fortifications and obey the royal order. In 1478 militias of Andújar take part in the conquest of Málaga, like before had took part in the conquest of Moclín.
During the XVI century, with the foreign trade towards the Atlantic, the town will live splendour times, and result of it will be the ennoblement due to a booming aristocracy and a great proliferation of religious orders that will locate in the new town -convent started in the outside by the suburbs of San Bartolomé y de San Miguel.
Monuments
Bridge with Roman origin.
Church of Santa María, XIII century. Gothic style. Inside it is located La Oración en el huerto de El Greco and a painting of the Purísima, by Giuseppe Cesari, known like the gentleman D'Arpino.
Church of Santiago. Gothic style. Baroque chapel and renaissance grilles. It is closed and it is only used to cultural events.
Church of San Bartolomé. Gothic style. It was reformed in the XVII century. Inside we can emphasize an altarpiece of the Renaissance and a worked grille.
Church of San Miguel, XVI century. Gothic style. Inside there is a beautiful coffered ceiling and a plateresque altarpiece.
Sanctuary of Virgen de la Cabeza. In the middle of Parque Natural de Sierra Andújar.
Town planning
Plaza de España.
Palace of Cárdenas, XVI century. Renaissance style.
Bridge possibly with a roman origin.
Tower of Fuente Sorda, XII century. Remains of a Moslem fortification.
Tower of Tavira. Remains of a Moslem fortification.
Town Hall. With a neoclassical front. Ancient Casa de Comedias.
House of the servants from Mieres, XVIII century.
House of the Cárdenas de Valdivia.
House of the Gome Valdivia.
House Albarracín. The first chapter in Andújar.
Gastronomy
The peculiar gastronomy of Andújar is important because of its hunting meat: stag, wild boar, rabbit, partridge..., seasoned with species from the sierra. The gastronomy of Andújar has the aromas of its hunting meats, of the mountain, and sprinkles its dishes with the taste of the renowned olive oil.
To meats from big game, the main condiment is the marinade, to what each cook gives his personal touch. The pickled partridge or with beans can follow a scrambled eggs with wild asparagus or many dishes cooked with many dishes made with the agricultural produce. We can also find sweets like the porridges, a typical dish of the rural after-lunch in the All Saint’s Day.
We cannot forget some native dishes such as the flamenquín (made with ham or pork, parsley, garlic and other spices), the cantosmade with bread, tomato, and cod, accompanied with olive oil and olives; the ajo blanco (a kind of gazpacho); the alda de choto…
In Spring you could taste the delicious snails with chocolate, that are very claimed and offered in bars and pubs in May and June.
How to get there
- Motorway of Andalucía (E-5), km 323.
From Madrid: 2h 30min
From Sevilla: 2h
From Córdoba: 35min
- National Road N-323:
From Granada: 1h 30min
From Costa del Sol: 3h
- National Road N-322:
From Albacete: 3 hours.
Distances
To Jaén 44 km
To Mengíbar 32 km
To Bailén 27 km
To Arjona 15 km
To Marmolejo 11 km
To Villa del Río 25 km
To Pilar de Moya 33 km
To Martos 49 km
To Linares 43 km
To Baeza 63 km |
