This August I have spent some time visiting areas of Eastern Andalusia which I´d not seen before. As my summer holidays draw to a close I´m looking through my photos and I thought I would share some of the little gems here.
Ubeda & Baeza – Jaen
Both towns are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. I noticed that most of the tourists visiting these cities were Spanish. To reach Baeza and Ubeda you need to drive past the city of Jaen. The road is not on the way to anyway else, which is why it may be reserved from the crowds and tourist buses. (Baeza Cathedral in photo above)
Each location deserves at least a day. Ubeda alone has 42 monuments in the town and both places have some fabulous restaurants and typical squares to discover.
Set amongst thousands of olive trees the views from the highest points are breathtaking. There are 66 million olive trees (in the official censorship list) in Jaen and it´s unsurprising that Jaen produces a large amount of the Olive Oil exported from Spain.
Most visitors to this area are interested in the renaissance architecture or history of the region but any visitor will be impressed by the typical Spanish squares, beautiful fountains and tranquillity in the area.
Recommended: Take the tourist train (close to the parador in Ubeda) (in Baeza from Plaza de los Leones) to see the main sights around town. The Synagogue in Ubeda is also worth visiting, fabulous restoration of a historic building.
Nijar – Almeria
This is the largest town in the Cabo de Gata area. Set inland this small location is mainly agricultural although there is a main street lined with small stores and some craft shops. Great souvenirs from this area include Jarapa rugs, local food such as honey, biscuits, olive oil and bread and ceramics with the symbol of Almeria the Indalo on.
The main square in the town of Nijar is charming and a great place to stop for coffee or a cold beer.
San Juan de los Terreros – Almeria
This is the last place along the Almeria coast before reaching Murcia. Actually the last town of Andalusia as you head North East.
A charming coastal town with several large beaches and smaller coves this town has a large castle set up on the hill.
Worth a drive or hike up the hill just for the beautiful views along the coastline. A small bar with an outdoor terrace is there if you need refreshment once you arrive.
Inside the castle they have a 3D film of the nearby lead mine. This mine has one of the largest Geodes in the world. Gypsum crystals were discovered in 2000 and can´t be visited at the moment. This way you can see the virtual visit of the Pulpi geode while visiting the castle.
Another tiny place I stopped off at was the hamlet of Sopalmo (close to Mojacar playa) This has a few bars, a small hermitage and fabulous views over the Carboneras coast road.
The Andalusia road trip has been quite an eye opener this Summer.
Hope you enjoyed your month of August.