Lucena

Lucena is one of those cities that surprise by the enormous monumental heritage they house despite their small size. Located in the middle of a spectacular olive groves and with a rich Jewish, Arab and Christian past, it is among the most beautiful towns in the province of Cordova.

Precisely because of its history it is known as the Pearl of Sepharad, beautiful denomination that, as you will deduce, alludes to its Hebrew past. If you decide to visit Lucena you will find spectacular examples of civil and religious architecture, but also hiking trails that cross the wetlands of the area and mountain landscapes of great ecological value. Do you want to know Lucena? Then follow us.

What to see in Lucena

Lucena's artistic heritage encompasses more than two thousand years of history if we begin with its roman site, dated in the first century after Christ and we end with its curious Museum of the Ancient Automotive. Let's get to know it.

Church of San Mateo

Called the Subbética Cathedral, It is a beautiful construction located in front of the Town Hall, in the Plaza Nueva. Inside, there is an impressive Renaissance altarpiece by Juan Bautista Vázquez the Elder and Jerome Hernandez. But even more spectacular is the annex Chapel of the Sagrario, one of the peaks of the Andalusian Baroque.

Paleochristian basilica of Coracho

It was built in the 45th century after Christ and its remains were found accidentally when the works on the A-XNUMX motorway were being carried out. It had a basilica plan and three naves separated from each other by inter-swivels. It's one of the older christian temples found in the Iberian Peninsula and next to it appeared a necropolis of the same time.

Other religious buildings in Lucena

Lucena's heritage of religious buildings is truly impressive. But we will highlight in it constructions such as church of Santiago Apóstol, which is Mudejar Gothic; the church of San Pedro Mártir, a beautiful neoclassical building, and, finally, the churches of San Martin, Saint Philip Neri and Santo Domingo.

As for its chapels and hermitages, you can visit those of God the Father and Our Lady of Dawn, both in neoclassical style. And also the Chapel of Our Father Jesus Nazareno, which houses several religious images of great value such as that of the Our Lady of Help and, precisely, that of Our Father Jesus Nazareno.

Regarding the monasteries and convents, stands out above all the Old Hospital of San Juan de Dios, built in the seventeenth century. It highlights its beautiful cloister decorated with tiles from Manises and the facade of its church, an authentic altarpiece made up of jaspers and marble. Other convents that you should visit in the Cordoba town are that of San Jose, the one of Madre de Dios or the Saint Augustine, without forgetting the impressive baroque sanctuary of Our Lady of Araceli, located at the top of the Sierra de Aras.

Moral Castle

However, perhaps the main emblem of Lucena is this medieval fortress located in the center of the town. It was probably built around the XNUMXth century, the Jewish period of the Cordoba town. In one of its towers he was imprisoned Boabdil the Boy. It currently holds the qualification of a National Historic Monument and also houses the Archaeological and Ethnological Museum of Lucena.

Roman Alfar de los Tejares

We have already mentioned this archaeological site that is located about two kilometers from Lucena. Is a ceramic factory From the XNUMXst century after Christ, it is considered the largest in the entire Iberian Peninsula. In fact, it has about fifteen thousand square meters and includes cooking ovens, drying areas and storage, the praefurnium where the vegetable fuel and the combustion room were kept.

Palaces and stately homes of Lucena

If the religious architecture of the Cordovan town is spectacular, no less so is the civil one. We have already told you about the Castillo del Moral, but we also advise you to see the beautiful Palace of the Counts of Santa Ana, one of the last samples of the Andalusian Baroque and in which its two cloisters stand out. Today it houses the Interpretation Center of the locality. They also deserve your visit the Palace of the Counts of Hust, built in the seventeenth century, and the beautiful House of the Mora, a former Dominican convent.

Museums

You will also find a good number of museums in the Cordoba town. We have already mentioned the Archaeological and Ethnographic and the Interpretation Center, but you also have the Furniture Museum and House-Museum of the Virgin of Araceli.

However, the most curious of Lucena may be that of the Old Automotive, which shows you a large number of classic vehicles, as well as trophies and photographs.

Things to do in Lucena

The municipality of Lucena has impressive wetlands such as the Sweet and Bitter lagoons, which have great ecological importance. It also includes the Sierra de Aras, from which you have stunning views of the entire Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park. You can enjoy all of this if you do hiking routes like those of the Tempranillo and Jauja. And also if you walk the Green Way, which runs along the old Oil Train route.

What to eat in the Cordoba town

Lucena's gastronomy has a series of typical dishes that you must try. Among them, the lucentino bowling, a kind of giant meatballs made with meat and almonds; the bean scab, which takes advantage of the leftover soup, crushes them and mixes them with oil, vinegar and salt; the peppers garlic or chestnut stew.

You can also order one puddle omelette, One potatoes in garlic chicken or some meatballs with anchovies. As for the sweet, you have some exquisite puff pastry y joys with ringlets, pestinos y clods. Regarding the drink, ask for a wine with Denomination of Origin Montilla-Moriles.

When is it better to travel to Lucena

The Andalusian town has a pretty extreme weather with winters in which temperatures can drop to three degrees below zero and summers in which they reach forty above zero. Likewise, it alternates periods of drought with others of abundant rains.

For all these reasons, the best time for you to visit Lucena is spring. In addition, in May the festivities in honor of the Virgin of Araceli. The month of September, when the Royal Fair of the Virgin of the Valley.

How to get to the Cordoba town

Located in the south of the province of Córdoba, the closest airport to Lucena is Malaga, which is one hour away (ninety-five kilometers). Closer is the high-speed train station of Genil-Herrera Bridge.

However, perhaps the best way to get to the town is by road. If you travel from the north, you will arrive by the A-4, which communicates the Andalusian community with Madrid. Instead, from the south, the road is the A-45, which comes from Malaga. Other ways are the A-316 that arrives from Jaén and the A-92, that unites Grenada with Seville.

Once in the village, you can move around it in the urban bus, with three lines that communicate it in its entirety.

In conclusion, Lucena is a spectacular villa that has a wonderful monumental heritage and a no less beautiful nature environment. If to all this you add an exquisite gastronomy, you will have all the ingredients to encourage you to visit the Cordovan town.