Guadix y El Marquesado 3 Grenade Guadix y El Marquesado Crossroads The district of Guadix y El Marquesado is a crossroads between Only at 45 minutes away the western Spain and Andalusia. Since prehistory it has been an is Grenade airport. The A obligatory route and boasts a complete road network, making it one 92, backbone of Andalu- of the region’s best-communicted districts. sia’s road network, crosses Guadix y El Marquesado The district is formed by an enormous high plateau loca ted be- from East to West and a new tween the Sub-Baetic and Penibetic ranges, its northern limit is the section of the dual carriage- Sierra de Cazorla and its southern limit is the Sie rra Nevada, way links Guadix to Huéne- which separates it from the Mediterranean Sea. ja, in the Almería direction. 1 Cave-house Chimney Neither must we forget the 2 Huélago in springtime roads linking the district’s vil- 3 Almond fl owers lages or the railway, the best 4 Hermitage, Cogollos de Guadix way to travel and enjoy the view. 3 JAÉN MADRID MURCIA 4 5 2 CÓRDOBA 4 MÁLAGA - SEVILLA GRANADA AEROPUERTO ALMERÍA COSTA TROPICAL 1 Grenade Guadix y El Marquesado A captivating land ranquil white villages, T In order to farmhouses, archae- 1 Typical house, Jerez del Marquesado. make your ological re mains, rivers, 2 Country corner, Cogollos de Guadix. visit even more 3 Bougainvillea. mountains, monumental 4 Town square, Lugros. rewarding and towns... history and nature 5 Autumn on the slopes of the Sierra to help you get Nevada Mountains are intimately entwined in to know this this land of many features, a ancient land, land which captivates all who this publication discover it. Its past, mainly has been divided Arab, is present in its wind- into two sec- ing streets and of squares tions. In the first section you will of large windows and balco- 3 nies decorated with flowered 4 geraniums. Its countryside, its people and above all, the peace which permeates each nook and cranny of Guadix 6 y El Marquesado makes it a 7 paradise within our reach. 1 2 5 find informa- tion about the district’s tourist products (herit- age, cave-hous- es, handcrafts, natural attrac- tions etc.) and in the second part various routes through its towns and beauty spots are presented. Grenade Guadix y El Marquesado Cultural crossroads Is formed by the city of Guadix and the villages that surround Thus began a new phase in the history of Guadix y El Mar- it, this area has a very rich archaeological and historical leg- quesado. New fi estas and celebrations were introduced and the acy. Dolmens, Iberian remains, and the Roman city of Acci (Gua- churches and civil buildings which we can still admire in each town dix), founded by Julius Caesar, all speak of the ancient settling of and village of the district were raised. The district’s Islamic heritage Guadix y El Marquesado, a crossroads dating from the most re- remained however as we can see in the Mudejar churches, agricul- mote Antiquity. tural methods, Arab placenames, etc. The Muslims who came to the Peninsula in the 8th Century oc- cupied these lands for centuries. The Morisco rebellion in 1568 1 Dolmen, Gorafe provoked the expulsion of the 2 Alhama Valley and Fardes Muslim population and their sub- 3 Choir stall in Guadix Cathedral stitution by Christian resettlers. 4 Andalusi (Moorish) water pipes 5 Panoramic view of Beas de Guadix 3 4 8 9 1 5 2 Grenade Guadix y El Marquesado The stamp of History uadix y El Marquesado, with a rich monumental and ar- and La Calahorra castle. The Gtistic heritage, which is enhanced by the beauty of the sur- cathedral, built between the rounding landscapes, 16th and and 18th Century, is a encloses within its ur- mixture of Gothic, Renaissance banistic walls a curious and Baroque styles: the chapel voyage through History. of San Torcuato is the work of The Muslims left an in- Diego de Siloé while outside the delible legacy: castles, main façade recalls the style of 3 city walls, towers, cis- Borromini. terns, baths and above La Calahorra Castle, in the ad- all the towns with their ministrative seat of the Marquesado del Zenete, houses one of the narrow streets where most beautiful Renai ssance palaces in Spain. Built in the early 16th time seems to have Century and inspired by Italian models, its beautiful arcaded court- stood still since the mid- yard is an impressive sight. dle ages. Guadix y Marque- sado’s two most im- portant monuments are: Guadix Cathedral 1 Fortress (Alcazaba), 10 Guadix 11 2 La Calahorra Castle with Sierra Nevada Mountains in the background 3 Caba Castle, Aldeire 4 Medieval cistern in Cogollos de Guadix 1 4 2 Grenade Guadix y El Marquesado Cave houses he accommodation in caves of Guadix and El Marquesa- the temperature remains constant T throughout the year, with an aver- do, has become one of more attractive and singular tour- ist attractions of the province of Grenade. The special geological age of 18-20ºC. characteristics of la Hoya de Guadix dale and the Fardes and Warm in Winter and cool in Sum- Gor, river valleys with their easily-excavated earth have given mer, rustic and welcoming, their rise to a singular type of dwelling: cave houses. We can see and whitewashed walls and simple ex perience these dwellings excavated in the earth, equipped with forms captivate all who choose three stars acommodation comfort them for accommodation. (te lephone, water, comfortable envi- ronment and electricity) thanks to the rural accommodation on offer in the area. Cave dwellings have produced an at- tractive type of scenery, characterized by the contrast between the re ddish earth and the houses’ whitwashed chimneys and doorways. When you enter a cave house, you will under- stand why this way of life has lasted so 12 long; its thermal insulation means that 13 Grenade Guadix y El Marquesado With its own special fl avour Ancient handcraft Its ancient craftsmanship The gastronomy of has survived thanks to its Guadix y El Mar- 1 revaluation as artistic work. quesado shows in its The most widespread craft in dishes the inheritance of the diverse cultures and Guadix y El Marquesado is populations that have pottery, a tradition that dates inhabited it, using local back to Prehistory. Esparto, products and traditional chairmaking, wickerwork recipes which have sur- vivied the march of time. and wought iron are other It is important to mention handcrafts practised in the the virgin extra olive oil, district, with the added value with the Apellation of Origin “Aceite de Oliva Montes de of each craftsman’s personal Granada”. Stews, migas, or fried (garlic) breadcrumbs, gachas, a stamp. type of polenta, gurullos, a sun-dried pasta made of fl our, water and salt, shaped like wheat and used in rabbit and game stews, The clayey Guadix, earth is kid or lamb in persillade, marinaded partridge etc... dishes to suit the raw material for its char- every palate. acteristic pottery with native Guadix is the place to enjoy “tarbinas”, a fried bread and hon- forms such as water pitchers, ey-based pudding, polenta with peppers and herrings, papas a lo Accitan jars and the Guadix pobre, “paupers’” potato stew, paprika with sardines, olla de San torus. To purchase pieces of Antón, a stew based on haricot beans and pork products, Gua- dix soup and Mozarabe-style lamb. And to round it off, tocino handcrafted pottery we can de cielo, a delicious visit any of the numerous 14 egg-custard. pottery stands in Purullena, where Accitan jars are made and pot- 15 Other products tery is thrown in the Levantine tradition can be bought. In Diezma and dishes from the we will fi nd esparto and plaited esparto handcrafts. district are “los sus- tentos”, a popular stew from Lanteira, Valle del Zalabí’s pork products and cured meats, its wines, bread, cakes and pastries, while Diez- ma, is reknowned for its partridges, chees- es and liqueurs. Grenade Guadix y El Marquesado Fiestas and traditions With a wide In Andalusia Holy folklore, Week celebrations there is in Guadix y enjoy a long tradition. el Marquesado fes- It has been celebrated tivities, pilgrimages, in Guadix since the traditions and curi- 16th Century; its ous characters of the streets, squares and popular imagination other spots are an like the Cascamorras incomparable setting of Guadix, declared 1 for the processions in a Festival of National a special, Baroque at- Interest, celebrated mosphere. During this on September 9. time in Cortes y Grae- Excitement is as- na the Enramao, a col- sured in the Gor lection of branches, is bullruns, held during hung out and a “Ju- the celebrations in das” is burnt, curious honour of San Cay- traditions which have etano, or enjoy the been grafted onto the fi estas celebrated in 4 religious celebrations. 16 La Peza in honour 17 of Our Lady del Ro- sario. Savour the at- mosphere of pilgrim- ages such as that of 1 Procession in Huélago Our Lady Virgen de 2 Corpus Christi in Guadix la Cabeza in Esfi liana 3 Festival in Cascamorras (Valle del Zalabí), 4 Easter Week in Guadix or of San Antón, 5 Running of the bulls celebrated in Gua- in Gor 6 Virgin of the Rosary in dix and in Alcudia, La Peza also in the Valle del 5 Zalabí. 2 6 3 Grenade Guadix y El Marquesado A singular scenery T he landscapes in Guadix y El Marquesado, located in the The North is arid, a land of ochre shades, constantly Sierra Nevada Natural Park, are of great beauty.