The Nasrid Route

The starting point for this route is in Navas de Tolosa, where the decisive event took place which enabled the opening of Andalusia to Christianity.

The route takes you through bold landscapes to the town of La Carolina and ancient fortified villages like Baños de la Encina, with its castle from Caliphate period, to historic crossroads like Bailén and Mengíbar and to great cities like Andújar, surrounded by nature and the Nature Reserve.

The itinerary ends in the country districts of western Jaén: Arjona, Porcuna, Torredonjimeno, Martos, Torredelcampo, all synonymous with frontier towns, monumental enclosures and industrious settlements with olive oil playing a leading role.

Then the route follows the course of the upper Guadalquivir River, to Linares, and continues into the La Loma region. Here two gems deserve special mention: Baeza and Úbeda. Two Renaissance complexes, incomparable peaks of Andalusian history and art.

From here, the route skirts the Sierra Mágina mountains via Jódar and its fortress, Jimena and Mancha Real before entering Jaén, the administrative capital of Santo Reino, crowned by the Castle of Santa Catalina and the Cathedral.

The route then takes you through La Guardia de Jaén, through hills and mountain passes towards Cambil and Huelma, before entering the province of Granada via Guadahortuna, Piñar and Iznalloz.

Only the mountains of the Sierra Nevada separate us from what was the court of the Nasrid sultans. Meanwhile, the hamlets of Deifontes, Albolote, Maracena appear as precursors to the route's destination: Granada, brimming with living traditions reflecting the indelible heritage of the al-Andalus civilisation.