Where can you sleep?
Staying in Jaén, means doing so in a place full of history and places to visit. Both in the capital as well as in the nearby cities, towns and villages, they will reveal something about the history of Spain.
In the capital, you will most of the accommodation offer in hotels, which are fully booked more often than not, specially during spring and summer, which means that you will have to search accommodation in advance if you're travelling during that time.
But one o the experiences that we recommend the most is enjoying of a rural stay in one of the many accommodations scattered in the small towns and villages around the province.
The best option to enjoy of this is, to begin with, the small town of Baños de la Encina, which has the oldest castle in Europe, Burglimar, offering one of the most spectacular views of the monument, especially at night when the city walls are illuminated.
The fortress of La Mota is one of the most famous ones in the whole country, in Alcalá la Real, a place full of history and where many important figures have left their mark on it, such as the Arcipreste de Hita, amongst many others.
We also recommend La Iruela, specially to nature-lovers, a place where they will find one of the best ways to access to Cazorla, Segura & las Villas Natural Park. A truly spectacular place.
What to do in the area?
Jaen's landscape is one of the landmarks of this region: the immense field olive fields that tinges its postcard-like landscape and towns, with green. This is why those who are looking to engage in a more active tourism can enjoy here of the different hiking routes and mountain paths that you will find in this area.
Visiting Úbeda and Baeza will allow you to discover two of the most important cities of the region. So much so, that they are both UNESCO world heritage sites because of their beauty and the good conditions in which their treasures from the Renaissance era, have been preserved.
To learn a bit more about its history, you can also visit some of its museums, such as el Museo del Aceite y el Jamón, two of the main economic activities of the province.
Back in the capital, you can visit the castle of Santa Catalina and the cathedral, two of the most important elements of the architecture of the city that mustn't forget to visit.
For a slightly different visit, we must let you know that there is also a desert in Jaén,the desert of Larva, which is one of the lesser known deserts in Spain. We recommend, for this very same reason, that you check it out.
What typical foods are recommended?
The gastronomy of the province of Jaén is, like the rest of Spain, the result of a combination of cultures and invasions from other civilizations throughout history, and which have left their mark also in the local cuisine.
What everyone know is that, none of the local recipes can be understood without their precious olive oil, the main protagonist of this province.
All of the local dishes contain this ingredient, preserving thus the essence and tradition of Jaén's past in the elaboration of them.
Getting to know the local gastronomy means trying the true taste of Jaén, where vegetables and game meat dishes predominante.
Some of the traditional recipes here are the 'andrajos' a dish inherited from the humble and agricultural roots of its people elaborated with a vegetable sauce and a main ingredient that can be either cod or rabbit.
You will also find rabbit in other dishes such as 'guilindorro', or the 'galianos'.
As an appetizer, there is a very common dish here called 'ajo atao' made of potatoes, olive oil and garlic that you should definitely try.
As for dessert, treat yourself with the sweet delicacy of 'panecillos de leche, a very typical dessert eaten in Easter.
Where are the festivities?
There are many festivities to celebrate in this province, which will give you a taste of the culture and traditions of this region. They are, therefore, one of the best moments of the year to get to know the villages, folclore and, in general, the traditions from here.
Also, depending on where you're staying, you will see that the local traditions will be more focused on religion, culture, or just having fun.
The Romería de la Virgen de la Cabeza, in Andújar, is held to honour the patroness of this town, and it usually becomes crowded with faithful churchgoers that have been walking up the mountain of Cerro del Cabezo, ever since 1304.
Easter is everywhere in Jaén one of the most important occasions celebrated, and one where you will be able to enjoy of the true essence of the province. You will see it has many followers, and some of them foreign visitors who also join the locals in their celebrations, street parades and processions.
The Fiesta de Moros y Cristianos, which takes place during August, is another of the main festivities in the area of the natural reserve of Sierra Mágina.
You will find these, and many other things to celebrate here and that you shouldn't miss.
