Marmolejo

Culture

Among its artistic heritage, the following sites stand out:

• Marmolejo Spa. The waters of the Marmolejo Spa have been used since Roman times in Hispania. At the end of the 19th century, the present-day spa was built alongside its three springs: San Luis, Buena Esperanza and Fuente Agria. These springs were declared to be of public utility in 1816 and their waters were recognised as medicinal mineral waters in 1869. It is the most renowned spa in the province and has received awards at the Universal Expositions in Paris, London and Chicago. Distinguished figures such as Armando Palacio Valdés, Santiago Ramón y Cajal and Charles Chaplin visited the spa. These iron-rich bicarbonate waters are recommended for liver, digestive and kidney ailments. The golden age of this jewel of Marmolejo can be discovered at the famous "Doctor's House", now converted into an interpretation centre. The building and its gardens have been declared a Historic Site and a Site of Cultural Interest.
• Hygieia Goddess – Nereid by Mathurin Moreau. This is undoubtedly the most important sculpture in Marmolejo's artistic heritage and the one with the greatest sentimental value. Cast at the French Val d'Osne foundry and sculpted by Mathurin Moreau at the end of the 19th century, this bronze sculpture is popularly known as the Goddess Hygieia. It stands in the gardens of the Marmolejo Spa.
• San Bartolomé Bridge. A magnificent Renaissance bridge spanning the Guadalquivir River. Designed by Benito del Castillo, it is one of the most spectacular bridges across the river. Built between 1550 and 1587, it consists of seven semicircular arches supporting barrel vaults. These rest on piers reinforced by semicircular cutwaters with conical tops on one side and triangular tops on the other. The bridge was remodelled in the 19th century, preserving the three largest arches from the original 16th-century structure. It has been declared a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC).
• Parish Church of Our Lady of Peace. This is the most outstanding monument in the historic centre. The building that houses the parish church was constructed in the 14th century. The transept was added during the 15th and 16th centuries, and the two entrance façades were built in the 18th century. However, the church's current appearance is the result of a renovation carried out at the end of the 19th century by the architect Justino Flores Llamas. Inside, the most remarkable feature is the central 18th-century Baroque altarpiece, brought from a Dominican convent in the town of Benavente (Zamora).
• Church of Jesús. The Hermitage of Jesús is of Baroque origin and was one of the many hermitages that once existed in the town. It is the only one that has survived, thanks to its reconstruction in 1887. It takes its name from the statue of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno, which can be seen inside alongside the largest collection of images carried in Marmolejo's Holy Week processions, as well as the Virgin of La Cabeza.
• Aragonesa Castle. Located on the border between Jaén and Córdoba, in the Guadalquivir Valley, it stands near one of the branches of the Roman road that followed the river. Two distinct construction phases can be identified: the first, of Muslim origin, when the Berber fortress was built; and the second, during the Christian period, when the keep of the rural castle that replaced the fortress was erected. This tower dates from the late 13th or early 14th century. In 1985, it was declared a Site of Cultural Interest (BIC) by the Regional Government of Andalusia.
• Mayte Spínola Museum of Contemporary Art. Founded in 2004, the museum was created from donations made by artists belonging to the "Proarte y Cultura" group, founded by artist and patron Mayte Spínola. New works are regularly added to the collection. The museum's board of trustees is chaired by the Mayor of Marmolejo, Manuel Lozano Garrido. It houses an eclectic collection reflecting the diverse trends in contemporary art from the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Today, it contains more than 300 works by Spanish and international artists, making it a true oasis of art in the province of Jaén, as it is the only museum of its kind in the province.
• Hermitage of the Holy Christ. A small, single-storey building dating from 1910, located at the end of Calvario Street on the boulevard connecting Marmolejo's town centre with its spa.
• San José Market Hall. A local market designed by Ramón Pajares and inaugurated in 1953 under the "Regiones Devastadas" reconstruction programme. Even today, fresh fruit and vegetables from Marmolejo's fertile gardens remain the market's main products.
• La Pepa. A sculpture dedicated to the 1978 Spanish Constitution, popularly known as "La Pepa", created by the artist Miguel Fuentes del Olmo. The female-shaped sculpture symbolises the right path to follow, while the folds of her dress feature a representation of Spain's physical map.
• Esquina de los Solises. This is one of the most emblematic and oldest places in Marmolejo. The building on this corner is constructed from local azucarera stone. Its name comes from the nickname by which the owners of the shop located there, Solís Bazaar, were known, preserved just as it was during Marmolejo's golden age. There is a popular local saying referring to this place: "You're older than the Solises Corner."
• Paseo de la Libertad. This is the largest green and recreational area in Marmolejo's urban centre, dating from the early 20th century. It stretches from the La Pepa sculpture to the water tower, better known as La Torre. In its central area stands the town's most iconic ornamental fountain, featuring the word "freedom" written in more than forty languages.
• Marmolejo Town Hall. In 1929, Luis Berges, architect of the Jaén Provincial Council, remodelled the former municipal building, which originally had only one floor, by adding a second. The building seen today preserves the 1929 structure, although it underwent further renovations in 1989 and 2014.
• San Lorenzo Castle Square. To recover the history of the former San Lorenzo Castle, part of the castle wall has been reconstructed in the former Juan XXIII Square. The castle, of Roman origin and successively adapted during the Hispano-Muslim and later Castilian periods, once stood near this location. The discovery of the old well has also enhanced the square's historical and heritage value.
• Spa Visitors' Boulevard. An accessible promenade leading to the spa, where visitors can read murals featuring passages from the book The Life of the Spa Visitor in the Famous Town of Marmolejo, written by Doctor Thebussem and published in 1893. This is the route followed by thousands of spa visitors over the centuries in search of relief from their ailments through Marmolejo's renowned medicinal mineral waters.

Nature

Marmolejo is located at the foothills of the Sierra Morena mountain range, separated from it by the Guadalquivir River. It is popularly known as the "town of the three harvests", as it produces olives, fruit and vegetables, and cotton.

It has a large number of mineral water springs scattered throughout its lush landscape. Many of these springs are officially recognised as medicinal mineral waters with remarkable therapeutic properties.

This municipality lies between two natural parks: Sierra de Andújar Natural Park and Sierra de Cardeña y Montoro Natural Park, in the heart of the Sierra Morena mountain range.

Three major rivers flow through the municipality: the Guadalquivir, the Jándula, which forms the boundary between Marmolejo and Andújar, and the Yeguas River, which also marks the border with the province of Córdoba.

The Yeguas Reservoir, inaugurated in 1989, supplies water for local communities, irrigation and hydroelectric power generation. Another reservoir on the Guadalquivir River is also located within the municipality of Marmolejo.

In the northern part of the municipality, in the heart of the Sierra Morena, there are natural ecosystems such as the dehesas, where scrubland has been cleared to leave isolated trees, mainly holm oaks and cork oaks, along with herbaceous species suitable for livestock grazing.

Other plant formations include holm oak woodlands and cork oak forests, mixed with Portuguese oaks.

The area is also rich in aromatic plants such as Spanish lavender, rosemary, thyme and marjoram. Along the banks of the Yeguas River, gallery forests of willows, ash trees, tamarisks and tamujos can be found.

The wildlife is also rich and diverse. Birds of prey include the golden eagle, booted eagle, short-toed snake eagle, black kite, lesser kestrel and common kestrel, as well as numerous small bird species.

Among the mammals are the Iberian lynx, otter and Egyptian mongoose. Other carnivores include the fox, weasel, stone marten, genet, badger and wildcat. Reptiles include lizards and the snub-nosed viper.

The reservoirs provide habitat for water birds such as the purple heron, black-crowned night heron and western marsh harrier.

Without a doubt, this is an ideal area for hiking along the many trails that cross the region. Visitors can also take part in the traditional muladas, group excursions by mule or horseback with friends or local associations. The most popular route crosses the heart of the Sierra Morena and Sierra de Andújar Natural Park to reach the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Head. This section forms part of the GR48 long-distance trail, which runs from Portugal to Santa Elena (Jaén), and can be explored on foot or by bicycle, passing the Cristóbal Relaño Viewpoint and the Virgin of the Head Viewpoint.

Other recommended hiking trails and routes include: the Las Flores Trails, Yeguas River Riverside Route, Guadalquivir Riverside Route, Birdwatching Route, El Pintado Route, Las Fuentes Route, and the Reservoir–El Comisario Path.

The Sierra de Marmolejo offers fantastic areas for stargazing, as it is part of the Starlight Reserve and Tourist Destination network. It has been recognised as one of the cleanest night skies in Europe for observing the stars.

In addition to enjoying this wonderful experience, visitors can close their eyes and sharpen their hearing to witness one of the Sierra's most majestic natural spectacles each year: the deer rut (La Berrea). One of Marmolejo's main sources of wealth is hunting. Small game hunting takes place in the southern part, in the northern Jaén countryside, while big game hunting is practised in the northern area, which lies within the Sierra de Andújar Natural Park.

Marmolejo also offers excellent opportunities for fishing, thanks to the Yeguas Reservoir, where species such as black bass, carp and Iberian nase can be found.

Festivals and Events

The local festival calendar is marked by religious celebrations. Among the most deeply rooted festivities are:

• Three Kings Parade. It is considered one of the most creative and colourful parades in the province.
• Feast of Our Lady of Peace. On the afternoon of January 24, the image of the Virgin is carried in procession by the town's young people.
• Candlemas Day. Celebrated on the weekend closest to February 2, when residents of different neighbourhoods light bonfires throughout Marmolejo.
• Carnival. It is one of Marmolejo's liveliest and most popular celebrations, earning a prestigious place among the festivities held throughout the province of Jaén.
• Holy Week. Marmolejo's Holy Week has a long-standing tradition and enjoys great popular participation. Its highlight is the early-morning Maundy Thursday procession of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno. It is an explosion of devotion and tradition that fills the town's streets with the scent of incense and candle wax.
• Pilgrimage of the Virgin of the Head. It is probably the oldest pilgrimage in Spain and takes place on the last Sunday of April. On the Sunday before the main pilgrimage week, the image is transferred from the Church of Jesús to the Parish of Our Lady of Peace. On Saturday morning, the streets fill with colour, songs and joy as pilgrims, horses and decorated carts make their way to the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Head, located in the heart of the Sierra Morena.
• San Isidro. Celebrated on the weekend closest to May 15, when the people of Marmolejo gather in the hamlet of San Julián, where Mass is celebrated and paella and cascaflote are served in the village square.
• Corpus Christi Festival. It takes place sixty days after Easter Sunday, although in Marmolejo the celebrations are moved to the following Sunday. The streets are decorated with traditional coloured sawdust carpets, altars and balconies adorned with festive draperies to welcome the Blessed Sacrament during the procession.
• Marmolejo Fair and Festival. Held on the third weekend of August. During these days, a wide variety of sporting, cultural, entertainment, musical and traditional activities bring the town to life.
• Feast of Saint Julian. San Julián is a hamlet located 7 km from Marmolejo. The feast is celebrated on the weekend following September 5, when the image of the saint is carried in procession from the parish church to the Hermitage of San Julián on a cart pulled by a mule, accompanied by the annual chief stewards and devoted pilgrims.
• Our Lady of the Pillar Day and All Saints' Day. On the weekends closest to October 12 and November 1, the people of Marmolejo gather in natural areas such as La Centenera, La Dehesilla, the Spa, El Baldío and the Fuente de Los Socialistas recreational area.