Iznájar

The town of Iznájar is the last town to the south of the province of Córdoba, almost in the geographical centre of Andalucía. It is located to 110 kilometres from the capital, at the slope with the provinces of Granada and Málaga. It belongs to the region of Sierras  Subbéticas. The municipal area covers an area of 137,6 km2. It is crossed from east to west by the river Genil, from here goes its middle banks forming the Iznájar Reservoir , the largest in Andalucía with 981 hm3.

It has a population of 4.854 inhabitants, according to the latest census of 2002. The population is shared out between the town and many villages highlighting the El Higueral, Los juncares, La Celada, Lorite, La Hoz, La Cruz, La Fuente del Conde or Los Ventorres de Balerma. The village is located at 37 º 16 'north latitude and 4 º 18' west longitude, at 533 metres above the sea level. At its feet we can observe the waters of the marsh that have shaped the Peninsula. On the hill where the village is situated there are in a natural way numerous caves that in some cases are still inhabited nowadays.

The town was called by the Arabs Hins Ashar (stone castle), which may give us a clue about its foundation around the VIII century (considered the founder of Fald ben Salama). During the late Middle Ages, due it was border between the kingdom of Granada and the surrounding Christians, it has changed hands several times.

In the XII century, according to al-Idrisi, had a large population and a well frequented market.

In 1431 took place the last taking of the city by the Christian forces, under the reign of Juan II.

After the dynastic struggles between Enrique IV and the Prince Alfonso in 1466, the village will become dependent on Diego Fernández de Córdoba, Lord of Baena and Count of Cabra, together with the villages of Rute and Zambra.

In the XIX century, Iznájar was the birthplace of the most important bases of support to the uprising led by the veterinarian of Loja, Rafael Pérez del Alamo (in other sources Pérez del Llano), thus beginning a great popular uprising, the first of Diaz del Moral called "indigenous socialism."

Monuments

Iznájar Castle, VIII century, Moorish fortress rebuilt and enlarged consecutive times until the XV century.
Santiago Apóstol Parish Church (Renaissance, XVI century). Located next to the castle in the neighbourhood Alto de la Villa, Hernán Ruiz "El Joven", with a great eighteenth-century altarpiece of Franco Roldán.

Ermita de la Antigua or La Piedad, de Damián de Castro, construction from the XVII century.

Church of San José.

Archaeological Sites

Copa de vidrio from the I-II B.C. centuries from Iznájar (Museo Arqueológico Provincial).

Town Planning

Viewpoints in the Plaza Nueva, Cruz de San Pedro, and Las Peñas, from which you can see magnificent views of the Villa and its surroundings.

Antiguo Patio de las Comedias and San Rafael.
Teatro al aire libre. C / Cruz de San Pedro. With excellent views of the castle.

Municipal public library, local old granary in the castle square; it stands out for its architecture as the number and quality of volumes.
Museums
Museo de aperos de labranza.

Gastronomy

Iznájar is a rich town in its gastronomy; homemade pork products are highly prized. The typical dish is the guisillo, made with stale bread can be prepared in many ways but generally with fish.
They are also typical dishes such as the salmorejo de naranja and cod and the porra which is a dish made with tomatoes, bread, pepper and bits of ham. The huevos “volaos are a delicious dessert made with egg, milk, mostachones and cinnamon.
In carnival it is traditional the stuffing, a cold meat made with egg, breadcrumbs, slices of ham and turkey breast. At Christmas, there are prepared the tortillitas, the rosquillos almibarados and homemade dairy ice cream. At Easter are delicious sweets the pestiños and huevos de santo.

How to get there

Iznajar has good road communications. Its privileged situation makes us find a little more than an hour from the capital, Córdoba. One hour is the time taken to get to Granada and in less than 75 minutes we get Málaga. The regional road A-333 (Iznájar-Alcaudete) crosses the municipal area, connecting with the A-92 in Salinas (Málaga) and 334 local road, regional nowadays A-331 (Lucena - Loja), leaves us in the A-92 passing through Loja. 
From Córdoba:
• N-IV highway exit towards Sevilla to link with the road N-331 that leads directly to Lucena.
• From Lucena go towards Rute-Iznájar (A-331)

From Granada:
• Take the A-92 motorway towards Granada-Sevilla salida 175 (Salinas, Vva. De Tapia, Iznajar). It is clearly marked on the highway itself.
From Málaga:

• Autovía E-902/N-341 towards Antequera-Granada
• To 35/40 Km. from Málaga division of dual carriageways 'Antequera-Sevilla' to the left and 'Granada' to the right.
• Take direction Granada (A-359) and then the Salida 1 (Salinas)
• To 20 km. from the exit with direction Iznajar (A-333)

Distances