Jaén's architecture bears witness to the many civilisations that have inhabited the city and its surroundings throughout the centuries, resulting in an outstanding monumental heritage that includes both religious and civil buildings. Its historical and artistic legacy showcases a variety of architectural styles, including Gothic, Mudéjar, Renaissance, Baroque, and Neoclassical.

Among its most important monuments are the following:

• Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin, a masterpiece by one of the greatest Renaissance architects, Andrés de Vandelvira, and the inspiration for the construction of many cathedrals throughout Latin America. It is regarded as one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in Andalusia, which is why the process to obtain UNESCO World Heritage status for the cathedral began several years ago. The city's first cathedral was built on the foundations of the former Great Mosque following the conquest of Jaén by King Ferdinand III of Castile, known as Saint Ferdinand, in 1246. Later, during the 14th century, Bishop Nicolás de Biedma brought to the city the relic of the Holy Face (Santa Faz or Santo Rostro), believed to be one of the three cloths that, according to Christian tradition, Saint Veronica used to wipe the sweat and blood from Jesus' face on his way to Calvary. The presence of this relic in the first Christian cathedral transformed it into an important pilgrimage destination, making its expansion necessary in the Gothic style. Elements of this Gothic phase can still be seen in the apse of the present cathedral. Due to structural problems that arose during the 14th century, a new Renaissance cathedral was commissioned from the architect Andrés de Vandelvira. Although construction continued for nearly three centuries, Vandelvira's original design remained largely faithful throughout the project, resulting in what is considered the most architecturally balanced, harmonious, and proportionate cathedral in Andalusia, with one of the most solemn and majestic interiors in the region.
• Basilica of Saint Ildefonsus. After the Cathedral, it is the largest church in the city. The earliest records of the original building date back to 1248, when it was established as a chapel serving the Cathedral. Two centuries later, in 1430, it became the setting for the famous miracle of the descent of the Virgin Mary to the city of Jaén. Following this event, it became a sanctuary dedicated to the image of the Virgin housed inside, under the title of Our Lady of the Chapel. In the 16th century, the Virgin of the Chapel was proclaimed the patron saint of Jaén. Finally, in 2010, Pope Benedict XVI granted the church the status of Minor Basilica. The building features three entrances: the oldest, in Gothic style, is located at the rear of the church. The side entrance, in Renaissance style, displays a relief depicting the Chasuble Bestowal upon Saint Ildefonsus. The last to be built was the Neoclassical main façade, crowned by a statue of the saint to whom the basilica is dedicated.
• Santa Catalina Castle. An ancient Caliphal fortress stood on the summit of Santa Catalina Hill as early as the 9th century. Centuries later, following the conquest of the city by King Ferdinand III in 1246, the Christian castle that survives today was built. During the 19th century, the castle underwent several modifications to strengthen its defensive structures in response to the Napoleonic invasion. Close to the castle, the building that now houses the National Parador was constructed in the 1960s. From the summit there are spectacular panoramic views of the city and its surroundings, especially from the Cross Viewpoint. The fortress also houses an Interpretation Centre that explores the history of the castle.
• The Arab Baths. They are the largest and best-preserved Arab baths in Spain. Built in the 11th century during the reign of Abd al-Rahman II, they are located beneath the Villardompardo Palace in the heart of the city's historic centre. Covering an area of 450 square metres, they still preserve Almohad decorative elements, suggesting that they were restored towards the end of the 12th century. Between the 14th and 15th centuries, after they ceased functioning as public baths, the rooms were converted into tanneries. Later, at the end of the 16th century, Fernando de Torres y Portugal, Count of Villardompardo and Viceroy of Peru, built his palace above them. At the beginning of the 20th century, together with several adjoining buildings, they became part of a women's hospice. A section of the baths was rediscovered in 1913 and, a few years later, they were declared a National Monument. Today, following a restoration project that received the Europa Nostra Award, they form part of the "Arab Baths" Cultural Centre, which also houses the Museum of Popular Arts and Customs and the International Museum of Naïve Art.
• Chapel of Jesús (Camarín de Jesús). The chapel and the convent church of Saint Joseph are the only surviving remains of the former Convent of Saint Joseph of the Discalced Carmelites, founded in the 16th century. The recently restored church, with its characteristic Carmelite façade featuring a niche, houses both the chapel and the Camarín de Jesús, created in the 17th century to enshrine the celebrated Renaissance sculpture of Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno ("El Abuelo"). The image belongs to the brotherhood founded in this very convent in 1588 and is carried in procession during the early hours of Good Friday before thousands of worshippers and pilgrims. The façade is adorned with a beautiful terracotta sculpture of Saint Joseph by the renowned ceramic artist Paco Tito.
• Church of La Magdalena. Originally the city's Great Mosque during the Islamic period, it was converted into a parish church following the Christian conquest. Its main façade and interior are Gothic in style, while one of its towers still preserves the former Arab minaret. The church contains several important works of art, including Calvary by Jacobo Florentino "El Indaco", a panel of Our Lady of the Pillar attributed to Pedro Machuca, the 16th-century Christ of Clemency by Salvador de Cuéllar, and the 18th-century image of Saint Mary Magdalene by Mateo de Medina. The courtyard of the former mosque, with its rectangular ablution pool, served various public purposes during the Christian era and was landscaped with gardens and ornamental fish during the 20th century.
• Church of Saint Bartholomew. It is one of the oldest churches still standing in the province of Jaén. Dating back to the medieval period, this religious monument features a Baroque exterior and a Mudéjar interior. Among its highlights is a green glazed ceramic baptismal font decorated with 15th-century Gothic inscriptions.
• Provincial Council Palace. This palace was built in the mid-19th century by architect Jorge Porrua. Originally, the site was occupied by the Convent of Saint Francis, commissioned by King Ferdinand III in the 13th century. A century later, King Peter I of Castile ("Peter the Cruel") granted it to the Franciscan friars. Following the ecclesiastical confiscations, the building became public property and was eventually converted into the headquarters of the Provincial Council. Today, visitors can explore its central courtyard and the lower galleries.
• Oppidum of Puente Tablas. The fortified Iberian settlement of Puente Tablas is located just 4 kilometres from Jaén. Over more than thirty years of archaeological research, the site has revealed its outstanding historical importance through evidence of continuous human occupation from the Bronze Age to the Islamic period. However, its most significant phase dates from the Iberian period, particularly the 4th century BC. Visitors can discover how the Iberians of the Upper Guadalquivir lived while exploring one of the most impressive defensive systems of the period, with more than 300 metres of preserved walls standing over 5 metres high. Visitors can enter the settlement by following the same route once used by its ancient inhabitants, passing through the famous Sun Gate.

The beautiful urban town of Huelma, made up of a set of white streets and houses, located under the remains of its castle, make up a harmonious and attractive set that has valued their cataloguing as Historical-Artistic Set in 1971.

From its rich heritage we highlight:

• Huelma or Alburquerque Castle. It is located on the outskirts of the city centre of Huelma, on a hill that dominates the entire population. The strength we contemplate today was probably built by the Lord of the villa, the Duke of Albuquerque, in the first half of the 16th century. On that same place there was a Muslim castle from which only some of the canvases of the wall and the Great peel inside the castle. A quadrangular plant with 4 cylindrical towers, one in each corner, united with each other by a wall cloth and an open door in a half-point arch at ground level. On the west side it stands directly on a large peñasco, cut to peak, which is already a great fortress.

• Church of the Immaculate Conception. It is considered as a jewel of Renaissance architecture in the province of Jaén. The most great artists of the time: Diego de Siloé, Francisco del Castillo el Viejo, Andrés de Vandelvira and Francisco del Castillo el Joven. The building presents basic plant divided into 3 ships. The header of the flat tester church is covered with canyon vault with cassettes. The southern façade is of great elegance and balance, based on Italian models. He's got the body of peeled bells.

• Ibero Sanctuary of Pajarillo. It's a oppidum ibero found in the pastry of Cabritas de Huelma, dates from 4th century BC, and the sculptures found are found in the Provincial Museum of Jaén. The figures found are: a wolf, a warrior, two taps, a young boy and a carnivore. This sanctuary is located in the Jandulilla River Valley, the commercial pass between Murcia and the Guadalquivir Valley.

• Castle of Solera. Here, on a hill, are the remains of a Nazari castle built in the 13th century. From it you can see splendid views of the Vega in which the Jandulilla and Garganton rivers converge.

• Hermitage of Our Lady of the Fuensana. Located about 7 km. of the population, in the heart of Sierra Magina, the sanctuary of Fuensanta is the epicenter of the devotion of the strikers to be the house of their excellent patron.

Castle. Hornos was granted by Fernando III the Holy, after his conquest in 1239 to the Order of Santiago. The time at which the castle would be built, probably on an earlier Muslim fortress from which the aljibe is preserved.

Of a purely defensive nature, the trapezoidal shape set is built with small masonry. It is made up of a magnificent Tribute Tower, three slender torreons square floor and the outer wall of a room that closed the courtyard of arms.

The Tower of Tribute in square shape and rounded corners, something common in the constructions of the Order of Santiago, has only one entrance at half height.

In its interior two overlapping rooms supported by vaults and communicated by a staircase carved in thick wall.

By the end of the 20th century, the rehabilitation of the castle that was very damaged began. After many attempts, in 2011 the works of their total restoration were completed. It has been declared Good of Cultural Interest in 1985.

Located inside the castle you can visit one of the most important tourist resources of the area as is the Cosmolarium.It is a centre for the dissemination of astronomy that consists of a digital planetarium, with a dome of 8 meters in diameter that shows enveloping audiovisual productions, complete exhibition rooms on the Universe, spaces for workshops and educational games, as well as a terrace for astronomical observations.

Parish Church of the Assumption. Data from the first half of the 16th century. Its construction follows the style of the Order of Santiago. Of a square floor, with one ship and side chapels, it is divided into three square sections separated by fajon arches.

The decks are gothic, the 16-century renaissance-style altarpiece as it is recorded. The cover is one of the first plateresque in the province of Jaén, although it is currently damaged by time.

The tower stands out for the gargobles of the cornice and the Gothic crest of the mast. We can say it's a magnificent example between Gothic and Renaissance.

In it was found the ornamental vessel in the form of a Nazi-style amphora, with motifs glazed in blue and gold on white enamelled background that is preserved in the National Archaeological Museum.

The Villa Gate. It's a door on the wall dating back to the 11th century. It is built in elbow to make access to the enemy difficult, which makes you think of a mothade origin. Made of masonry and red brick in the vaults, as well as a small window of the facade. Declared Good of Cultural Interest in 1985.

Bujaraiza Castle. It rises on a the island in the waters of the Tranco reservoir. It is a small fortress formed by a walled polygonal enclosure and a tower of tribute. It is built with small-size masonry yarn, with lime mortar. Declared Good of Cultural Interest in 1985.

Tower of Bujarcaiz. It is currently submerged under the waters of the Tranco reservoir. It was part of the surveillance system of the Hornos castle. It is a square floor construction and a troncoconic form.

Aguilon Viewer. Located next to the City Hall shows one of the best views of the Natural Park and an impressive view of the waters of the Tranco reservoir.

From its artistic heritage we highlight:

• The parish church of Saint Lucia. Built in the 16th century on the remains of an ancient hermitage, with the passage of time will be suffering expansion of the ship to accommodate the growing number of friars. In the last reform carried out at the end of the last century, a magnificent craftsman was incorporated in Granada.

• The House of the Dean of Mudarra. Built in the late 20th century of the last century, it has a sober three-storey façade, highlighting the beautiful grating of the first floor balconies.

• Casa de José Escribano. It is located a few meters from the Dean de Mudarra, and it is from the same time. The glare with a balustrade and pilastras with floral motifs stands out.

• Calvary hermitage. Located in the highest part of the city centre, it is reached by a winding road excavated on the hill side, between oaks and almonds.

• Hermitage of San Antonio. It is the largest hermitage in which the cult is most active. Its outer building is topped by a swordsman with a bell that sounds every time a devotee enters or leaves the hermitage. The image of St. Anthony with the Child Jesus on his hand is the hermitage.

• Hermitage of San Pedro. Located in the Era de Mecedero, it is the last building in the village, following the road to Valdepeñas de Jaén. It is a very small hermitage, as it is a room that a neighbor gave to the worship of the Holy. Press the inside the image of the hermitage holder.

In the center of the city centre is its most significant building, the parish church of Santa María Magdalena. It is overtaken by its volume and height, as well as by the quality of the building materials and their artistic beauty. The service of his tower is striking. Its construction must have been carried out in the 17th century.

Taken to the parish church is the so-called Caligula Tower, a semicircular turret from the old castle. Torreón that was declared Good of Cultural Interest by the Junta de Andalucía in 1985.

We must also highlight the Casa Carrileraof the 12th century and the House of the Posite, today rebuilt by its current owner.

Its artistic heritage is spread between the city centre and the surrounding area. Inside the city centre we have:

• The church of San Pedro, built around 1580. On the cover there are two dogrous columns that culminate in a hornaine with a Saint Peter Apostle.

• Hermitage of Our Father Jesus, of 1700 and that preserves the paintings and the original wood size of the Patron, Our Father Jesus Nazarene.

• Hermitage of San Antón, dates from 1800, and was demolished and rebuilt in 2001.

In the urban area:

• Tower of the Batan, of Roman origin to which an Arab body was added. It was used as a flour mill and later oil mill.

• La Villeta, remains of an Arab fortress from which its bottom and part of the wall are preserved.

• Low Head of Beautiful Encina, a fortified population centre, founded at a late moment of Iberian culture and that reached its development in the Roman stage.

• Torre del Marroquín, a medieval atalaya in good condition of 9 m high and that has been declared Good of Cultural Interest.

• Former Collegiata de Santiago, declared an Artistic Historical Monument, is a sober construction of elegant proportions dating from the 17th century. In 1692 he was raised to the rank of a collegiate by Pope Inocencio XII.

• The parish Church of Our Lady of the Incarnationsettled on an old Visigode castle rebuilt in the 10th century by the Arabs and whose torreon served as the base of the tower of the present temple. Its interior is protogotic (14th century), but its cover is neoclassical from the 17th century.

• Palace of the House of Medinaceli, 16th century Renaissance palace, current city hall.

• The Iberian Sanctuary of the Cave of the Loberalocated 1.5 km. de Castellar, on a rocky ledge that houses caves that were used as houses in past civilizations, is an emblematic settlement of Iberian archaeology. Place known as Altos de Sotillo, numerous bronze exvotes from Iberian times have been found, which can be visited at the Iberian Sanctuary Museum.

• The Museum of Iberian Art, popularly known as the Museum of the Exvote, it is located within the 14th century tower of tribute, known as the Pallarés Castle. It presents one of the largest collections of exvotes exposed to the public.

• The House of the Diez Family, is a living-16th century palace of which stands out its plateresque cover carved in stone and topped with an imposing shield.

From its artistic heritage we highlight:

• The Castle-palace, which belonged to Francisco de los Cobos, and was built in the second half of the 16th century, after the purchase of the town by Francisco de los Cobos. Of almost square floor, with four circular towers on the corners, two larger on the main facade. The tower of tribute, square floor. Antaño was surrounded by a moat, now blinded, the slots are preserved to lift the old lift bridge. The cover, with a half-point arc, it is flanked by Corinthian pilasters, with an architrabed, cold setting decorated with grotesques and a cornice on which the half-point arch is raised, which welcomes, in its eardrum, the shields of the founders, and on its fantastic sides, tenants figures with the lower half of their bodies transfigurated in wing and vegetation. On the facade are scattered windows with conventional-style bars. The castle has a inner courtyard It has double gallery of half-point arches with Ionic columns and claustral staircase. The upper gallery, also Ionian, repeats the intellized structure, with the peculiarity of large zapatas on the columns, which support in plintos decorated with military motifs and, it borders a railing of balaustres. The set offers a constructive sobriety and a balance and harmony that demonstrates the authorship of an artist builder like Andrés de Vandelvira. It was declared a National Monument in 1931. It is currently in private hands.

• Our Lady of Conception parish church, It is built in the first half of the 16th century and is of Renaissance style. It is made up of three ships, the largest central than the sides, separated by half-point arches that are based on columns. It also has a crypto of great robustness, dated around 1000.

• Hermitage of Our Lady of RemediesIt was built in the 15th century and finished in the first half of the 18th century thanks to alms, as indicated on the facade. The entrance is protected with a small cancel with three more lower-than-usual carpanel arches and supported by dogrous columns on plintuses.

• Molinillo. It is a hydraulic construction of the Roman era, intended for the grinding of the cereal, and is located on the left bank of the Yedra stream, about 700 m from the urban centre. It was improved at the time of Carlos V, when the villa was bought by Francisco de los Cobos.

• Sources, dedicated to the solace of its inhabitants and the irrigation of gardens. There are several of us: New Source, Caño Source, Ark Source and Pilarejo.

From the artistic heritage of Cambil we highlight the following points of interest:

• Castles of Cambil and Alhabar. The castle of Cambil It is located on the left bank of the Camil River and above a high rock flask, with a wall that falls vertical on the channel. The castle of Alhabar is located on the right bank of the same river, on another rocky flask and in front of the castle of Cambil. Both castles were declared "Good of Cultural Interest" in 1985.

• Historical helmet, declared Good of Cultural Interest in 2012: located at the foot of two hills crowned by the castles of Cambil and Alhabar, crossed by the River Cambil, and around a historic road: that of Arbuniel. The image that characterizes its historical ensemble is generated by a set of crouched buildings with steep roofs of Arab tile, solarium houses in the lower area, and narrow and winding streets with straps and adarves in the upper parts.

• Castle of Mata Bejidit is located between the mountains of Magina and Almadén, it seems to be of Christian construction from the early 14th century. Its function is essentially strategic and, by its size, it had the capacity to accommodate a small garrison. Also declared Good of Cultural Interest in 1985.

• Our Lady of the Incarnation Parish Churchbuilt in the late 16th century, the exterior is sober and compact. Already inside, the main altar has an extraordinary Baroque altarpiece attributed to Sebastian de Solís.

• Old Hospital of Poor Passengers, raised in the second half of the XVIII and on whose facade the exuberance of the baroque is noticed, being considered one of the most baroque monuments of the province.

• Single houses: House of the Salazares and House of the Palace in Calle Real, both of them also show baroque facades of the 18th century.

• Prehistoric reptile tracks, just a mile from Cambil, we found a trace of eight traces of the arcosaur reptile. Several of them are currently in a ballot box inside the conistory building.

• Church of Our Lady of the Assumption of Bedmar.The most artistic religious building in Bedmar is the parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, near the castle, built on a rift of the land, with magnificent silery and remarkable covers. The oldest, Gothic part, are the header and the cruise, with starvaults of tercelets. The three ships have docile columns and half-point arches Renaissance. Its quadrangular tower, with four half-point arches to locate the bells, is made octagonal in the second body. It has two magnificent 18th-century pulpits and a baptismal 16th-century pile.
  
  Its covers are of simple structure but of great ornamental interest. The main one, of the XVII, opens with a half-point arch, between Ionian columns, geometrically decorated with mannerist-style breaks. In the center a hornadine houses a sculpture of the Immaculate. It has two other covers, both with a half-point bow; the north of 1570, with flamboyant care at the ends of the cornice, which is attributed to Francisco del Castillo "el Mozo" and his brother Benito; and the south, dated 1620, with an oval shield, aletons and pinnacle.
  
• Palace of the Marquis de Viana.Among the civil architecture is the Marquis de Viana Palace, in the old Garcíez Lordship, built in 1548 by Sánchez de Quesada and Leonor de Acuña Day, with a structure and initially gothic elements that were expanded in the following two centuries. It is organized around a rectangular courtyard with galleries with Renaissance works in marble; but the major reforms occurred in the XVIII, to which the upper gallery belongs. The cover opens in the archboard on imposts with acanto key, is framed in marble stone by two pilasters with Ionic capitals, and it is topped by a frieze opening decorated with bucumbers. Recently, in 2006, it was declared Good of Cultural Interest.

• Square Sanctuary.In the relations of Philip II, 1575, the great devotion felt in the region by the Virgin of Cuadros, whose sanctuary, five kilometres from Bedmar, was raised in 1615, forming together with a medieval turret and mill.
  
  Its outer appearance is little stylized but viscous by its volumetric contrasts. Made of masonry, the cover framed by molded cornice opens with a half-point arch on imposts with smooth transdotes. On its axis is raised a high swordsman of two bodies, the lower one with two arches also of half point and the upper one with one, triangular front and vases. It keeps a cover in a carved stone that belonged to the Marquis de la Cueva palace.

• Old and New Castles.Throughout the Middle Ages, Bedmar and Garcíez was an important bastion for the defense of Guadalquivir and the protection of Baeza from Muslim attacks. His well-known castles bear witness to his strategic importance. The Old Castle was raised in the place known as the Serrezuela, well adapted to the rocky terrain, with work of calicanto and masonry reinforcements. But the need for a better stronghold of containment on border territory in front of the powerful Granada caused, from 1411, the order of Santiago to raise the New Castle, in the present population, more in line with the new artillery techniques, better equipped to repel attacks and with more polyorthopetic and aesthetic refinements. Both castles were declared Cultural Interest Property in 1985.
  
• Square Tower.Four kilometres from Bedmar to the south the torre-atalaya de Cuadros rises. Of cylindrical structure, narrow saetries and regular masonry, it strengthened the defense of the kingdom of Jaén in this border line. In 1985 it was declared Good of Cultural Interest.
  
• Parish Church of the Assumption of Garciez. The cover presents a half-point arch on imposts with highlighted key in which the date of its construction, in 1574, appears. It consists of a single ship with flat tester, covered by a half-barrel vault with lunetes, while the presbytery is covered with a half-orange vault.