Iznatoraf – Historic Center, Churches and Nature Park

The historic center of Iznatoraf was protected as a Bien de Interés Cultural in 1982.

Culture

The former strong walls of Iznatoraf enclosed eleven fortifications and nine arched gates. The Puerta de la Virgen del Postigo is one of the few surviving examples of this type of construction. It has a semicircular arch with wooden beams. Inside, there are double brick arches.

The present Iglesia Parroquial de la Asunción was built between 1583 and 1591. Minor additions were completed in 1602. The church has three naves separated by four massive pillars. Its vaults feature remarkable Mannerist decoration. The parish church thus brings together several dated construction phases with a clearly structured interior, in which the three naves, pillars, and vaults work together.

The Ermita del Cristo de la Veracruz was built in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century, it was rebuilt by local residents. Its building history therefore spans several centuries and includes not only its original construction but also its later restoration by the local community.

The craft of working with esparto grass is preserved in Iznatoraf. It is used mainly for household basketry. Women also continue to make textiles with bobbin lace for domestic use. Esparto basketry and bobbin-lace textiles thus represent two different forms of craftsmanship, each rooted in household use.

Ajo morcilla is Iznatoraf’s characteristic dish. Its preparation uses pork blood, fried onions, cooked rice, and garlic. The spices include cinnamon and cloves. The dish thus combines savory basic ingredients with the spices mentioned above and forms part of the local culinary tradition.

In the first week of September, Iznatoraf hosts the Fiestas y Ferias del Cristo de la Veracruz. The main day is September 3. At night, bull runs pass through the steep streets of the historic old town. The festival week is therefore clearly scheduled for September, while the nighttime runs are explicitly associated with the streets of the historic center.

More destinations

Find more places here: Castillo De Locubín, Pontones, La Matea, Cuevas De Ambrosio, Villanueva Del Arzobispo, Torres De Albánchez, Sabiote, Orcera.

Nature

Cueva del Peinero is located near the Arroyo de las Aguascebas Grande stream, at the foot of Los Tableros (1,360 m) and in the Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Nature Park. It lies southeast of Iznatoraf.

At Cueva del Peinero, there is a shady picnic area with barbecue facilities and drinking water. There is also a forest shelter. The site serves as a starting point for excursions into the nature park. The picnic area, barbecue facilities, drinking water, and forest shelter are the amenities explicitly mentioned for this recreational area.

Above the road that crosses the Cueva del Peinero recreational area, behind a small dam filled in with sediment deposits, there is a clear water pool. In warm weather, the pool is suitable for swimming.

From Iznatoraf, the Ermita Jesús del Monte can be reached via the JV-7041 road. The drive takes 26 minutes and covers 17 km. Parking is available at the hermitage. This route therefore includes the specific road, the stated distance and travel time, and the parking option at the hermitage.

To the higher-level travel overview: Jaen.