Andalusia: Places to Explore
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Jaén
Nestled in the foothills of the Sierra de Jabalcuz, Jaén is surrounded by towering peaks and olive-clad hills. The modern part of town holds little interest for travelers these days, but the old town is an atmospheric jumble of narrow cobblestone streets hugging the mountainside. Jaén's grand parador, in the city's hilltop castle, is a great reason to stop here.
The Arabs called Jaén Geen (Route of the Caravans) because it formed a crossroad between Castile and Andalusia. Captured from the Moors by Fernand III in 1246, Jaén became a frontier province, the site of many a skirmish and battle over the next 200 years between the Moors of Granada and Christians from the north and west.
Jaén at a Glance
Elsewhere in Andalusia
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Travel Deals in Andalusia
- $1999 -- Spain: 6-Night Trip with Airfare & Tours, $300 Off Friendly Planet Travel
