Jaén, Spain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Jaén | |||||
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| Jaén Cathedral | |||||
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| Location | |||||
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| Coordinates : 37° 46’N , 3°47′0 Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) |
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| General information | |||||
| Native name | Jaén (Spanish) | ||||
| Spanish name | Jaén | ||||
| Postal code | 23001 - 23009 | ||||
| Area code | 34 (Spain) + 953 XX XX XX (Jaén) | ||||
| Administration | |||||
| Country | Spain | ||||
| Autonomous Community | Andalusia | ||||
| Province | Jaén | ||||
| Comarca | Área metropolitana de Jaén | ||||
| Mayor | Miguel Sánchez de Alcázar (PP) | ||||
| Geography | |||||
| Land Area | 422 km² | ||||
| Altitude | 573 m AMSL | ||||
| Population | |||||
| Population | 117,540 (2005) | ||||
| Density | 274 hab./km² (2005) | ||||
Jaén is a city in south-central Spain,the name is probably derived from the Arabic word Yayyan, (crossroads of caravans). The capital of the province of Jaén in the autonomous community of Andalusia. The inhabitants of te city are known as Jiennenses. Its population is 117.540 (2006), about 1/6 of the population of the province. In the last years it has had a great increase of cultural tourism. Jaén is also known as the World Capital of Olive oil, because it's the biggest producer of this liquid gold (as the locals refer to it). The urbanism of the city is determined by it adjustment to the Santa Catalina's hill, doing steep, narrow streets, in the historical center. It is the administrative and industrial centre for the province. Industrial establishments in the city include chemical works, tanneries, distilleries, cookies factories and textile factories.
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[edit] History
The occupation of the zone is testified from the age of the Copper. During the Iberian period it was an outstanding center, that arrived to be occupied by the Carthaginians. During the second Punic war, Escipión took the city. Under the Roman dominion, the city, not very extensive, had an economy based on the oil and the wheat as they testify the numerous villas of his environs. Under the Flavian (69-96) it received the Latin right, and she was well-known like Municipality Flavio Aurgitano or Aurgi. After the Moorish invasion of Spain during the 8th century, the city, then known as Yayyan, was developed as a trade centre. Remains of the Moorish fortifications and citadel still stand. Jaén is the seat of a Roman Catholic bishopric.
[edit] Motto
The Motto of the city is: (Spanish) "Muy Noble y muy Leal Ciudad de Jaén, Guarda y Defendimiento de los Reynos de Castilla", (English) "Very Noble and very Loyal City of Jaen, Guard and Defense of the Kingdoms of Castile". This title was given by the king Henry II of Castile to the city of Jaen, due to the privileges that the city had, and to the role that the city was playing in the defense of the kingdom of Castile against the Moors.
[edit] Culture
[edit] Monuments
Jaén Cathedral, one of the most important Renaissance style cathedrals, begun in 1570 and completed in 1802. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin, and it was built to shelter the relic of The Holy Face, or Veil of Veronica, lodged at the major chapel and that is exposed to the public every Friday. Due to the extension in the time of it construction, they can be appreciated different artistic styles, being the most prominent Renaissance, being Andrés de Vandelvira the most important architect. He constitutes the maximum exponent of the Andalusian renaissance. It aspires to be listed as World Heritage Site by the UNESCO.
Saint Catalina's Castle, that can be seen from any point of the city. Previously there existed a fortress of Arabic origin (Abrehui's castle), of which some evidences stay. The current construction is of Christian origin, raised after the conquest of the city for Ferdinand III of Castile,called the Saint, in 1246.
Arab Baths, the most significant remnants of the Moorish era of Andalusia. They are the biggest Arabic Baths preserved in Spain. They can be visited under Villardompardo's Palace (another important monument in the city).
Other important monuments are the Museum of Arts and Popular Customs, the International Museum of Naïf Art, San Andrés's Chapel, the Provincial Museum of Jaen (which shelters an important collection of archaeological Iberian remains), Saint Ildefonso's church, etc.
[edit] University
The city has the University of Jaen, which nowadays consists of approximately 15.000 pupils and 25 degrees. This university is present in the city, in the Campus "Las Lagunillas", but also is present in Úbeda and Linares with only some degrees.
[edit] Leisure and entertainment
[edit] Entertainment
In Jaén the culture of the tapeo is very common, numerous bars exist where for the price of a beer (1 or 1,5 €), you eat a tapa, which consists in some food for one person.
Among the young people it is more common the "botellón", which realizes according to a law "anti-botellón" in a "botellódromo", the fairground enclosure "La Vestida".
[edit] Gastronomy
The gastronomy of Jaen is very varied emphasizing local dishes as: the "Pipirrana" (Tomato, green peppers, crumbs of bread, top of garlic, olive oil, vinegar, salt and hard-boiled egg), "Spinach to the style Jaen" (Garlic, crouton, pepper sausage maker, laurel, egg, rind of orange and vinegar), "Rice of Jaen" (very weak), "Meat of Calf to the chopped garlic", "Trout from the rivers of Jaen" (Trout, butter, chunks of ham with bacon, parsley, white wine and salt), "Ajo Blanco of Jaen" (raw almond, olive oil, eggs, garlics, salt, vinegar and water).
Among the confectionary it stands out: "Rice with milk", "Gachas of Jaen", "Pestiños", "Gusanillos", "Ochíos", etc
[edit] Sports
The football team of the city is Real Jaén and they play in the New Victoria Stadium.
For the practice of the sport the city has two sports centres: The Fuentezuelas and The Salobreja, together with the sports university facilities. Also associations exist of walking and climbing, as El Lagarto and Jabalcuz.
It is necessary to emphasize a Green Route called Vía Verde del Aceite, which corresponds to an ancient tracing of ferrous line of the beginning of the XXth century that united Jaén with Puente Genil (Córdoba province) known as the train of the oil. There you can practise walking or cycling.
There are various competitions which have a great international importance, for example related with chess and athletics.
