Mengíbar

Mengíbar is a jiennense town located at the easternmost point of La Campiña. Traditionally it has kept a balance between the agriculture and the industry, since it used its strategic location at the foot of the N-323 Bailén-Motril (motorway of Granada). With reference to the farming, the municipal district of Mengíbar is divided into the herbaceous crops and the olive grove, being all its area irrigated lands and emphasizing the fertile lowlands of the Rivers Guadalquivir and Guadalbullón. The dominant crops are the olive groves, the sunflower, the cotton and the cereals (wheat, barley and maize). We can see a varied industry, from the paper mill until the textile, the telephony, the one of metal, the oil and the one of refinery.

The Iberian town of Ossigi, located by Cayo Plinio next to Mengíbar, will be the scenario of fights between the Romans and the Carthaginian general Aníbal. When the Carthaginians were defeated, the Romans impose to the Iberian nucleus a tax, Ossigi will deny to pay and years later will be devastated and its inhabitants put to the sword.

The Christian conquest was carried out by the king Fernando III and later ceded to the Orden de Santiago.

In the time of the king Alfonso X it will appear with the name of Mexibar.

In 1574 the king Felipe II gives the independence of the jurisdiction of Jaén in exchange for 22.500 ducats.

In 1808 it will be scene of the first defeat of the Napoleonic cavalrymen during the Independence War.

Monuments

Parish Church of San Pedro, XVI and XVII centuries. It was built by Alfonso de Barba, Vandelvira’s disciple.  
Tower of Mengíbar.
Hermitage of El Señor de las Lluvias
Hermitage of Santa María Magdalena
Palace House of the counts of Garcíez, XVI century.
Town Hall 
Sanctuary of La Virgen de la Cabeza. 
 
Archaeological Sites
 
Remains of Moslem fortresses.
 
Town Planning
 
Mountain town.
Arcade Square.

Museums
Historical local Museum.

Gastronomy

Pipirrana (a typical summer dish) 
Migas (fried breadcrumbs with chorizo, radish, herrings, cod)
ratatouille of tomato and pepper (typical in fair)  
Meatballs of cod (typical in Lent days)

How to get there

You have to exit Jaén and continue through the road J-14. In the roundabout, take the exit 2 and continue through E-902 / A-44 towards Bailén - Madrid. Take the exit towards: Salida 18 - Villargordo - Mengibar. Then continue towards Mengíbar and take the Motorway A-6000, later the A-313 towards Mengíbar.

Distances

To Jaén 29 km
To Espelúy 9,5 km
To Sevilleja 23 km
To Cazalilla 7,5 km
To Jabalquinto 12 km
To Tobaruela 21 km
To Villargordo 10 km
To Caserío de Torrubia 31 km
To Villanueva de la Reina 12 km