Plan a trip to Jaen

Jaen is a city in Andalucia in South-Central Spain which has, in recent years, enjoyed a great increase in cultural tourism. Known as the World Capital of Olive Oil, the city is the largest producer of the oil which the locals have dubbed “liquid gold.”

Because of its varied geography, Jaen is home to imposing natural beauty - flat countryside with olive groves and lush vegetation alternating with the ridges and rocky ranges of the Santa Catalina Mountains. The city’s historic center is characterized by steep, narrow streets and landmarks such as churches and Gothic, Renaissance, or Baroque style castles and palaces.

Saint Catherine's Castle (Castillo de Santa Catalina) sits on the top of a hill overlooking the city. The Roman Catholic Jaen Cathedral, constructed from 1570 until 1802, is a significant Renaissance-style cathedral which was designed by one of the foremost Renaissance architects of Andalusia, Andres de Vandelvira. The cathedral contains an important Christian relic – the Veil of Veronica, a piece of cloth which is said to bear an image of the face of Jesus and produced by supernatural means.

The San Ildefonso Church is another highlight in Jaen, with each of its facades designed in a different style – Gothic, Renaissance, and Neoclassical. The Villardompardo Palace is a cultural center that houses several museums:  the Naif Manual Moral International Art Museum and the Museum of Arts and Popular Customs, and the Baths of Ali, the charming 10th century Arab baths which were hidden under the palace.