Encinas Reales: Churches, the Mozárabe Way and Landscape

Culture and Religious Traditions

The Ermita de Jesús de las Penas in Encinas Reales is protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest in the Monument category.

The building is an example of 18th-century Baroque architecture and features polychrome stucco work on the pendentives, transverse arches and the dome over the crossing.

The Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Expectación is a Neoclassical church with a Latin cross floor plan and three naves.

It was built from 1801 to 1814 at the behest of the Dukes of Medinaceli, based on plans by the architect Andrés Cordón.

The Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Belén in Vadofresno dates from the 18th century, was built by the Duke of Medinaceli in 1705 and blessed on 12 December 1705.

Holy Week in Encinas Reales is a traditional religious festival organised by five brotherhoods.

The processions begin on the evening of Maundy Thursday; throughout the week, religious, brotherhood and cultural events take place.

On the last weekend of September, Encinas Reales celebrates the Feria and the patron saint festivities in honour of Nuestro Padre Jesús de las Penas, with religious, social and cultural events.

La Noche Encandilada takes place on the last Saturday in August; during this cultural and tourist event, candles, oil lamps and torches replace electric lighting.

Hiking Trails and Pilgrimage Routes

The Ruta senderista Encinas Reales - Anzur hiking route begins and ends at the Ermita del Calvario in Encinas Reales.

It follows paths running parallel to the Río Anzur and the Arroyo Hondo.

The Ruta senderista Encinas Reales - Anzur is located in the Sierra Subbética.

Along the route, pronounced elevations, narrow valleys, and sloping, rocky areas alternate across highly rugged and abrupt terrain.

The Encinas Reales–Lucena stage of the Mozárabe Way is 20.4 kilometres long.

It begins at the town hall on the Málaga–Córdoba road; the first yellow trail markers can be reached via Calle Camino Viejo de Lucena.

After crossing the motorway through an underpass, the Mozárabe Way from Encinas Reales to Lucena reaches the Río Anzur.

The Mozárabe Way partly follows the Vía Verde del Aceite and leads from the direction of Málaga to Encinas Reales.

Other destinations include Hornachuelos, Palenciana, El Tarajal, Puente Genil, El Carpio, Iznajar, Alcaracejos and Almodóvar Del Río.

Nature and Water

The municipality of Encinas Reales, characterised by olive groves, is crossed by the Río Genil and the Río Anzur; the Río Anzur is a tributary of the Río Genil.

In addition to olive groves, the natural surroundings include holm oaks, tamarisks and ash trees, as well as roses, oleanders, poplars and blackberry bushes.

Nightingales, lesser kestrels and turtle doves are also found in this area.

Vadofresno offers travellers views of the Río Genil in the immediate vicinity of the Iznájar Reservoir.

The Ruta del Agua mentions Encinas Reales and the Río Genil near the village of Vadofresno.

For the main travel overview: Cordoba.