Huelma

Huelma

by Saskia Mier

Forming part of the Nasrid Route of Andalusian Legacy and the Route of the Castles through Andalusian lands, Huelma is of great interest to lovers of heritage, whilst its position within the protected area of the Sierra Magina Natural Park makes it attractive to those seeking a more active trip. It has around 5,700 inhabitants.

HISTORY

Huelma is located just 3km west of the Jandulilla River, which forms a natural transit corridor from north to south between the Alto Valle del Guadalquivir valley, Vega de Granada and Hoya de Guadix, which are the areas where historically there were the largest and oldest concentrations of population. Archeological finds from the Santurario del Cortijo del Pajarillo and the Sótar ravine date from the Iberian period, whilst Roman tombs, tombstones, coins and terra sigillata ceramics related to agricultural activities and iron mining have been located, in addition to the Roman aqueduct of Fuente de la Peña. Constructive remains of early medieval origin have also been found. More>

THINGS TO SEE

Castillo de Huelma
This Renaissance court was built by the Lord of the town, Duque de Alburquerque, in the first half of the sixteenth century. It has a quadrangular plan, endowed with four cylindrical towers, one at each corner, and accessed by a semicircular arch at ground level. The two large towers on the south side are equipped with mailboxes for artillery. The western corner of the building rests directly on a large rock, cut to a peak, forming an additional powerful layer of defense. Located on Calle Empedrada.

Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción
The church is one of the most notable examples of sixteenth-century religious architecture in the entire province of Jaén, partly due to the involvement of a plethora of the greatest artists of the time, including Diego de Siloé, Francisco del Castillo El Viejo, Andrés de Vandelvira and Francisco del Castillo El Mozo, among others. Started in the Gothic style, the building acquired more Renaissance elements as it developed, particularly evident in the main façade, inspired by Serli, the work of Francisco del Castillo El Mozo. The south façade is organized over two floors separated by a large cornice and Corinthian pilasters, and the central doorway features of a  Serlian scheme of lintelled openings and triangular pediments supported by two corbels and niches on both sides topped with garlands and masks. On this pediment appears the coat of arms of Bishop Tavera. This façade has a markedly civic character, far removed from the religious models of the Renaissance. The tower was completed in 1616; its dimensions are not in proportion to the temple, and in the third body it presents the heraldry of Bishop Sancho Dávila, the Cueva family and the city of Huelma. Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1981. Located on Calle Convento.

Ermita de San Sebastián
The chapel of San Sebastián or del Santo dates to the sixteenth century and housed the images of the Holy Sepulchre, La Dolorosa and La Verónica before they were lost to the Spanish Civil War. Of the original Latin cross plan, only the central nave has been conserved; despite being used as a junkyard in the early twentieth century, the remaining building has since been well-conserved. Located in Plaza Nueva.

Hotels in Huelma

THINGS TO SEE OUTSIDE THE TOWN

Santuario de la Virgen de la Fuensanta
The sanctuary sits in a beautiful landscape of pine forests, surrounded by the magnificent Sierra Mágina. It houses the seventeenth-century Ermita Virgen de la Fuensanta, which was built following numerous reported apparitions of the Virgin Mary in the local area by shepherds and a girl from neighbouring Cambil. The original image of the Virgen de la Fuensanta was destroyed in 1936, replaced by the current copy by sculptor José Navas-Parejo Pérez (1883-1953). Located north of the town, off the A-324.

Yacimiento del Cortijo del Pajarillo
The remains of this Iberian sanctuary were unearthed in 1945 in the hamlet of Cabritas de Huelma. The site dates from the fourth century BC and the sculptures found are preserved in the Iberian Museum of Jaén. In 1945, a pharmacist from Huelma, Camilo Amaro, chanced upon large carved stones, pieces of ceramics and a sculpture of a mythological animal. It wasn’t until 1991 that a formal survey was carried out, which concluded that looting and agricultural damage had disturbed the site. In 1993, more sculptures were discovered, finally prompting a formal excavation by the Department of Archeology of the Universidad de Jaén and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, in which Teresa Chapa Brunet was involved, with funding from the Junta de Andalucía. Declared an Asset of Cultural Interest since 2006. Located northeast of the town, off the A-401.

Castillo de Solera
The castle of Solera is situated at the foot of Cerro Morrón, on a rocky spur 1,090m high, only accessible from the south and situated northeast of the current town of Solera. Given its position, the castle has extraordinary visual control of the valley and the east bank of the Jandulilla River. The entire construction is mounted on top of the rock that serves as its foundation, and is divided into separate enclosures; the higher one forms a small rocky plateau with some remnants of stone walls, whilst the lower section forms a larger, flatter space. A passageway once connected the two, of which some plastered wall remains. Scarce pieces of pottery found here have been attributed to the late Middle Ages, undoubtedly Christian in style. Located on Calle Castillo in Solera.

Hotels in Huelma

NATURAL AREAS

Visitors who enjoy exploring nature can visit enclaves such as the Pinar del Gargantón, in the heart of the Sierra Mágina Natural Park, about 13km from Huelma and the Santuario de la Virgen de la Fuensanta, in whose surroundings there is a free camping area and abundant vegetation of Mediterranean scrub, holm oaks, gall oaks and riverside trees.

COUNTRYSIDE WALKS

There are various hiking routes in and around the town, such as the Camino del Barranco de Cabrera, about 7km long, the Cordel del Salado and the path to Las Borregueras, about 4km.

BUS SERVICE

There is a bus service from Huelma to Jaén, Bélmez de Moraleda, Úbeda and Jódar. More>

GASTRONOMY

Those wishing to taste the typical delicacies of Huelma’s gastronomy can try choto al ajillo (garlic stewed goat), carderete de cordero (lamb stew), andrajos (pasta stew), sobrehusa (broad bean stew) and espárragos en escabeche (asparagus). Sweet treats include membrillo frito (fried quince), roscos fritos (doughnuts) and flores (sweet honey pastries).

FESTIVALS

Popular festivals in Cárcheless are Fiesta de San Antón, Las Cruces, Fiestas de Mayo, Feria de Agosto, Fiestas Populares and Romería de Septiembre. More>

WEATHER FOARECAST

The weather forecast for the next few days for Huelma. More>

TOURIST OFFICE

The tourist office of Huelma is located in the Town Hall. More>

NEARBY PLACES

The neighbouring villages to Huelma are Cambil and Bélmez de la Moraleda.