Martos

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For the Russian sculptor, see Ivan Martos.

Martos
Flag Coat of Arms
Location
Coordinates : {{{lat_long}}} Time Zone : {{{time_zone}}}
General information
Native name	Martos (Spanish)
Spanish name	Martos
Postal code	23600
Website	http://www.aytomartos.com/
Administration
Country	Spain
Autonomous Community	Andalucía
Province	Jaén
Comarca	[[|Metropolitan area of Jaén]]
Mayor	José Antonio Saavedra (PSOE)
Geography
Land Area	259'10 km²
Altitude	725 m AMSL
Population
Population	24.061 (2006)
Density	92'9 hab./km² ()

The city of Martos is located in the Jaén province and autonomous community of Andalusia in south-central Spain.

It has a population of 24061 inhabitants, making Martos the fifth largest municipality in the province. The city is located on a western peak of the Sierra Jabalcuz mountain range. It belongs to the metropolitan Area of Jaen, of which it is considered to be the second most important city after the capital. Its economy is based on the agriculture, of which it highlights the culture of the olive tree, since Martos is considered to be the first producer of olive oil of the world. Also it is necessary to emphasize the numerous industrial activities, especially the related ones to treatment of the plastic.

Contents 1 History 2 Places to visit 3 Economy 4 Festivals 5 References 6 External links

[edit] History

The city has been linked with the Roman settlement of Colonia Augusta Gemella, and starting in the 8th century was ruled by the Moors under various Islamic states for over 500 years. In 1225, King Ferdinand III of Castile and Leon captured the city from the Moors as part of the reconquista, and incorporated it into his kingdom.

During the medieval epoch, Martos will turn into a strategic place, by what its defences were reinforced, numerous fortifications being constructed in the city.

It will be at the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th when there will take place a great architectural, urban development and economic development, all this due to the richness of the olive oil. Martos, this way, will turn into one of the most prosperous cities of the Oriental Andalusia.

[edit] Places to visit

Among its monuments they stand out: Pilar de la Fuente Nueva, the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Villa, Church of Holy Martha, San Amador's Church, Front of San Francisco, San Bartolomé's Hermitage, Hermitage of San Miguel, Convent of the Trinitarias, Town hall (former jail and chapter), Hospital and Church of God's San Juan, Hermitage of Saint Lucia, Roman Bridge, Círculo Nueva Amistad.

Also it is necessary to emphasize the walled enclosure that surrounds the city the one that still some towers remain as that of the Homenaje, Albarrana, or Almedina. Martos has two castles or fortifications. The urban castle called "Castillo de la Villa ", and the “Castillo de la Peña ". The "Castillo de la Peña" is placed in the top of the "Peña", a hill witness of the Prebético formed basically by limy rock who reaches 1.003 m. of altitude. For Martos it crosses a route to practise walking or cycling, a former route of railroad named "Vía Verde del aceite" that offers magnificent landscapes of the region, passing for metallic gangplanks and impressive bridges of iron.

[edit] Economy

Since already it has been said, Martos possesses an agricultural immense richness thanks to the culture of the olive grove, which places the city in the summit as for production and quality of what is named a “liquid gold ".

Nevertheless in the last years, the industry has done a great act of presence in the economy of this city, especially the relative one to the plastic, the industry of the car, metallurgists, the construction of roads, etc. Among all the existing factories in the city, it is necessary to emphasize the French multinational Valeo, dedicated to the production of projectors and lighting of vehicles, on which many other factories depend.

[edit] Festivals

Among the numerous festivals carried out in the city it is necessary to highlight:

• Holy week: Considered of tourist interest of Andalusia.
• San Bartolomé's festival: Principal festival. August
• Carnival
• San Amador: On May 5
• Virgin of the Villa: On the first Tuesday after Holy Week
• Saint Martha: On July 29
• Romería of the Virgin of the Victory: last weekend of May
• Festival of the olive: on December 8

[edit] References

"Martos". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved June 22, 2005.

• Servicio de basuras en Martos

[edit] External links

• WikiSatellite view of Martos at WikiMapia

edit	Municipalities of Jaén
Albanchez de Mágina | Alcalá la Real | Alcaudete | Aldeaquemada | Andújar | Arjona | Arjonilla | Arquillos | Arroyo del Ojanco | Baeza | Bailén | Baños de la Encina | Beas de Segura | Bedmar y Garcíez | Begíjar | Benatae | Bélmez de la Moraleda | Cabra del Santo Cristo | Cambil | Campillo de Arenas | Canena | Carboneros | Castellar | Castillo de Locubín | Cazalilla | Cazorla | Chiclana de Segura | Chilluévar | Cárcheles | Escañuela | Espelúy | Frailes | Fuensanta de Martos | Fuerte del Rey | Guarromán | Génave | Higuera de Calatrava | Hinojares | Hornos | Huelma | Huesa | Ibros | Iznatoraf | Jabalquinto | Jamilena | Jaén | Jimena | Jódar | La Carolina | La Guardia de Jaén | La Iruela | La Puerta de Segura | Lahiguera | Larva | Linares | Lopera | Los Villares | Lupión | Mancha Real | Marmolejo | Martos | Mengíbar | Montizón | Navas de San Juan | Noalejo | Orcera | Peal de Becerro | Pegalajar | Porcuna | Pozo Alcón | Puente de Génave | Quesada | Rus | Sabiote | Santa Elena | Santiago de Calatrava | Santiago-Pontones | Santisteban del Puerto | Santo Tomé | Segura de la Sierra | Siles | Sorihuela del Guadalimar | Torreblascopedro | Torredelcampo | Torredonjimeno | Torreperogil | Torres | Torres de Albánchez | Úbeda | Valdepeñas de Jaén | Vilches | Villacarrillo | Villanueva de la Reina | Villanueva del Arzobispo | Villardompardo | Villarrodrigo | Villatorres

Coordinates: 37°43′N, 3°58′W