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La Carolina

La Carolina Museum
La Carolina, Museum © Michelle Chaplow This excellent modern museum explains the history of the mining industry in the areas surrounding La Carolina and the other settlers' towns

This excellent modern museum explains the history of the mining industry in the areas surrounding La Carolina and the other settlers' towns. It charts the history from ancient times to the mining boom of the 19th century, and will be enjoyed by anyone interested in mining and industry, especially British visitors, since, as in Rio Tinto (Huelva).

La Carolina
La Carolina, Palacio del Intendente Olavide © Michelle Chaplow La Carolina, Palacio del Intendente Olavide

La Carolina is a small town of 16.000 inhabitants is located in the north of Jaen province adjacent to the A-4 Seville to Madrid motorway. It is the last town of any size to stop if heading out of Andalucia through the Despeñaperros gorge into Castilla La Mancha.

Festivals - La Carolina

Festivals - La Carolina

Popular festivals in La Carolina are Fiestas de Mayo, Feria y Fiesta de la Fundación and Fiestas de San Juan de la Cruz.

Cabalgata Reyes Magos
The Three Kings procession is celebrated on the evening of 5th January.

Semana Santa
Holy Week processions, dates can vary.

Fiestas de Mayo
Fiestas de Mayo are celebrated the 13th May.

Festivals - Santa Elena

Fiestas de la Candelaria are celebrated somewhere between the 17th January and 2nd February.

Weather - La Carolina

La Carolina

La Carolina - if you are considering visiting this town you will be interested to check the latest weather forecast for the next few days from the table below.

This weather forecast provided by AEMET (Spanish State Meteorological Agency).

'Wind' in last row of the table below indicates wind direction by a compass letter(s); North, South, East, West and a number which is the the wind speed in km per hour.

Tourist office - La Carolina

Tourist office - La Carolina

The tourist office of La Carolina is located in the Turimed.
Calle Juez Braulio Sena, 32, 23200 La Carolina
Tel: 650 14 90 31 / 953 471 500

Opening Times

Monday and Thursday, 10:00-13:30hrs and 17:30-20:30hrs
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10:00-13:30hrs

Aldea El Guindo
The old mining complexes in the north of the province of Jaén are stunning landscapes and a great place for those who are keen on stargazing. This area has a spectacular Northern and Western horizon, where it is possible to see the elusive zodiacal light on winter nights.

Iglesia de Navas de Tolosa
Construction of this church was commissioned by the Intendant of the New Populations in 1777, and it was completed in 1783.

Ermita de San Juan de la Cruz
In 1565, a community of Friars was established here. The current main altar of this hermitage is the primitive oratory of the old convent of La Peñuela.

Monumento a la Batalla de La Navas de Tolosa
Look out for the modern monument dedicated to the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, which was inaugurated in 1881. It depicts the Kings, Alfonso of Castilla as well as several Archbishops who also took part in the Battle.

Antigua Cárcel
The Neoclassical-style old prison is where the popular liberal General ‘Riego’ (Rafael del Riego y Nuñez) was held after being taken prisoner at a country estate near the village of Arquillos.

Calle Jardines
This was one of the first streets of La Carolina, laid out by Pablo de Olavide in 1767. It originally linked Plaza del Ayuntamiento with the church, and its design is attributed to the military engineer, Desnaux.

Torre de Perdigones (Torre de la Munición)
These two well-worn, unassuming towers date back to 1768, but were moved here from Plaza del Ayuntamiento in 1873, divided into three panels. The top of the right tower is dedicated to Carlos III and bears his royal crest.

Torres de la Fundación
These two well-worn, unassuming towers date back to 1768, but were moved here from Plaza del Ayuntamiento in 1873, divided into three panels. The top of the right tower is dedicated to Carlos III and bears his royal crest.

Palacio del Intendente Olavide
This palace was the house of Pablo Olávide, the Andalusian Governor who founded La Carolina through his colonisation strategy. He was also an important figure in the urban planning of other towns and cities, including Seville.

Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción
The church was built in 1573 and was inaugurated on February 2nd, 1578, destined to be the church of the Convent of La Peñuela. It responds to the style of a Carmelite church with a single rectangular nave covered with a barrel vault.

Plaza de la Iglesia
This plaza was built between 1767 and 1769. Although it has not been the ‘main square’ since the council moved their offices from here in 1872, it remains the historic centre of the town.

Plaza Delicias
This roundabout and modern town square is the original entrance to the town. Also known as Plaza de la Aduana, it is where customs duties were paid on merchandise passing through the town on the Cádiz-Madrid highway.

History - La Carolina
The town was founded by King Carlos III in 1767, at the suggestion of the Treasury Commissioner Miguel Muzquiz, under the Sierra Morena Plan for New Colonization Villages.
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