Antiguo Convento de Santa María Magdalena de la Cruz - La Guardia de Jaén

Today known as Iglesia Parroquial de la Asunción, the previous Convent of Santa María Magdalena de la Cruz was created under the patronage of Don Rodrigo Messia y Carrillo and Doña Mayor de Fonseca, locals of La Guardia, and was carried out by the friar, Domingo de Valtanás in 1530. The works did not begin until 1542. The stonemason Domingo de Tolosa, Francisco del Castillo “el Viejo” and Andrés de Vandelvira were involved in its construction.

The monumental fountain is built of ashlar stone and has a landscape layout, corresponding to a disused and very rare architectural genre. Built in the sixteenth century, it is considered a local monument. It was typical for water springs to be channeled to a public washhouse for locals to wash clothes and bedding, however, in La Guardia it was prohibited to use the water for washing. Located in Plaza de Isabel II.

Castillo de La Guardia - La Guardia de Jaén

The castle was very important in Roman and Visigoth times, and its strategic location meant it was a critical vantage point until the High Middle Ages. It was known as Hisn al-Qal’a ‘alcala’a, granted to Sheikh Maymun. Its shape is an irregular triangle, a configuration adapted to that of the plateau of the hill that supported it and that most likely supplants the site of an ancient Iberian oppidum. It has since been a residence of the Lords of La Guardia.

The public laundry area of the Second Republic is an endearing and prominent place in La Guardia. Recently restored, it offers visitors the chance to imagine communal times gone by, when such places would be the social hub of the town as locals completed their washing. On the first floor there is also the Fuente Lavadero” Exhibition Hall.

The sociocultural building was restored in 2002 and is today used as a multipurpose hall and museum for temporary exhibitions of painting, sculpture and other artistic practices. It recreates the atmosphere of a public laundry from the twentieth century; a time in which local women attended the public laundry for domestic laundry tasks due to the lack of facilities at home. You can see typical antique laundry tools including baskets, homemade soap and washing stones, as well as jugs, lamps for lighting, etc.

The chapel is covered with an elongated vault supported by semicircular arches resting on Tuscan-style pilasters. On the façade, over the access door, there is a partially broken shield representing the heritage of Don Antonio Gómez de la Torre y Jarabeitia (1770-1779), Bishop of Jaén, and perhaps the architect of the restoration. Located on Calle Coronada.

La Guardia de Jaén is rich in history given the various cultures that have passed through it over time, from the Roman era to the Re-conquest. Apart from its important role as a Castilian vanguard against the Kingdom of Granada, what distinguishes La Guardia from other municipalities on the border is its probable former housing of an ancient and illustrious Iberian oppidum, known as Mentesa Bastia. This site is mentioned by Plinio as a Roman detachment of Hispania Citerior.

Tourist office - La Guardia de Jaén

The tourist office of La Guardia de Jaén is located in the town hall.

Ayuntamiento de La Guardia de Jaén
Plaza San Pedro
La Guardia de Jaén
23658
Jaén

Contact

Location

There is a bus service from Jaén bus station and Jaén centre to La Guardia de Jaén. The M1-10 and M1-11 service rus via slightly different routes.

If you are considering visiting La Guardia de Jaén you may be interested to check the weather forecast for the next few days in the table below.

La Guardia de Jaén is a small village situated southeast of the capital of the province of Jaén. The settlement originally served to defend the city, hence its name ‘guardia’ meaning ‘guard’. It has about 4980 inhabitants.