Serving as a gateway to Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park, Cazorla is an atmospheric town in Andalusia. It’s designed around three main squares, which are connected via a network of narrow, winding streets and watched over by the reconstructed tower of a Moorish castle.
Things to do in Cazorla
Begun by the Moors and completed by the Castilians is Castillo de la Yedra, a centuries-old castle that dominates Cazorla. Marvel at the 14th-century Alcazar built by the archbishops of Toledo, with a 30-metre-high keep and a parade ground in its immediate surrounds. While exploring the site, take note of the Sandoval y Rojas coat of arms that decorates the arched castle door and the rammed earth walls built by the Almohads.
Housed within the Castillo de la Yedra is the Museo de Artes y Costumbres Populares del Alto Guadalquivir, which brings to life the cultural heritage of the region. In addition to antique swords and suits of armour, its exhibits include furnishings dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. Admire the Flemish tapestries on display, together with a Romanesque-Byzantine figure of Christ on the cross that was carved from cypress.
A short walk from the Castillo de la Yedra is the Ruinas de la Iglesia de Santa María, the remains of a Renaissance-style church that dates back to the 16th century. It’s believed to have been designed and built by Andrés de Vandelvira, with a splendid vaulted ceiling and a solid spiral staircase among its highlights.
Getting around Cazorla
Cazorla is just over an hour’s drive from Jaen and two hours from Federico García Lorca Granada Airport, which has flights to destinations across Spain. Buses connect from Granada to Cazorla and the town is small enough to explore on foot.