Mengíbar: Torre de Mengíbar, Iliturgi and Guadalquivir

The Torre de Mengíbar is the surviving tower of the former castle of Mengíbar, approximately 25 metres high and containing vaulted rooms.

Historical Heritage

The restored Torre del Homenaje of the former castle is open to visitors and is listed as a protected monument under the Bien de Interés Cultural designation; the protection listing dates from 25 June 1985. The “La Torre” cultural and tourist information point offers free guided tours of Mengíbar’s historic centre. The Iglesia de San Pedro Apóstol stands there, an architectural landmark of the Renaissance in Mengíbar’s historic centre. Despite later alterations, it retains the character of the late 16th century and shows clear influences from Vandelvira, Francisco del Castillo “El Viejo” and Alonso Barba.

The Arco de Jano, also known as “Ianus Augustus”, was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural in 2019. It is located in the vicinity of Mengíbar, near the Guadalquivir and the so-called “Camino de los Romanos”.

Iliturgi and Archaeology

The Centro de Interpretación Iliturgi is located in the Casa Palacio in Mengíbar. This Casa Palacio displays more than 50 archaeological artefacts from Maquiz, the Roman city of Iliturgi; they date from the 1st century BC to the 4th or 5th century AD. Three-dimensional visual and interactive technologies offer visitors a tour through Mengíbar’s Iberian-Roman history. The centre presents archaeological finds, including documented remains of the city’s siege and destruction, as well as monumental remains of its fortifications. Its content is connected with routes such as “Viaje al Tiempo de los Íberos” and the routes of the Phoenicians.

The Roman city of Iliturgi on Cerro Maquiz developed around the beginning of the Common Era into one of the largest cities in the upper Guadalquivir region and an important market for land and river trade. An aqueduct supplied large cisterns that are still visible today; a paved square covering more than 1,000 square metres was also located in the south of the city.

Landscape

Gallery forests line the Guadalquivir and its two tributaries, the Guadalbullón and Guadalimar, within the municipality of Mengíbar. Cerro Albariza is a natural viewpoint overlooking the Guadalquivir valley. The Guadalbullón Delta near the Cañada Real de Torreblascopedro features lush riverside vegetation and botanical interest.

You can find more destinations here: Tíscar, Bedmar, Torres De Albánchez, Pontones, Santiago De Calatrava, Baños De La Encina, Escañuela and La Guardia de Jaén.

Olive Oil and Gastronomy

The Museo Terra Oleum has a permanent exhibition with interactive modules, audiovisual media, machinery and 3D video mapping on olive cultivation, olive oil and sustainability. It provides information about olive oil production technology and Mediterranean cuisine. The museum’s Oleoteca offers tastings of the olive oils presented there.

Festivals and Dates

The Romería de “La Malena” takes place on the second Sunday in May in honour of the patron saint Santa María Magdalena; pilgrims travel on foot, by carriage or on horseback to the hermitage. In Mengíbar, the traditional Cruces de Mayo are celebrated on 3 May in honour of the Holy Cross, with residents decorating streets, squares and courtyards with handmade crosses. Since 2015, Mengíbar has commemorated the episode of the funeral procession of Isabel I of Castile with a theatrical historical re-enactment on the third Saturday in November.

Mengíbar has regular bus services as well as a railway station called “La Artichuela”, with medium-distance rail services.

For the higher-level travel overview: Jaen.