Tourist Office
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Description
Mengibar is located to the north of the Jiennense capital, between the Guadalquivir, Guadalumillon and Guadalimar rivers, land covered with olive trees and cereal and fruit fields. Its location next to the E-902 or A-44 motorway (Bailén-Motril) has helped to maintain a balance between the dedication to agriculture, industry and services. When you reach Mengíbar el Guadalquivir, your flow rate is amused, and you start a quiet middle course, allowing for better use of the water. Mengibar was highlighted river port, on the banks of the Guadalquivir, for its good geographical location, especially for the transport of wood from the Sierra de Segura.
The city centre, which is located on a soft hill of fertile lands, both dry and irrigated, has in its interior buildings and monuments of interest, such as the Renaissance Church dedicated to Saint Peter the Apostle, a beautiful and slender Christian Tower, the Conistory House and the House of the Palace.
The Iberian oppidum of Iliturgi, located in Cerro La Muela, and the famous Roman city of Iliturgi, in Cerro Machiz, have been discovered nearby.
The centre of Mengibar, of irregular layout and Arab influences, has expanded in the east, west and north direction, crystallizing in a wide and rectilinean road, with apples of considerable size in the ensanches closest to the old town and with smaller apples on the periphery of the core.
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Culture
- Mengibar Tower, is the tower of homage of the old castle of Mengibar raised in the 13th century, being the only thing that has been preserved from it. It was restored in 1982. Its height is higher than 25 meters and has vaulted rooms inside. In 1985 she was registered as BIC.
- Arc de Jano Augusto (Ianus Augustus), a milestone in the landscape, which marked the border between the Roman provinces Betica and Tarraconense. Declared Good of Cultural Interest, the Arc de Jano Augusto (1st century BC and 1st century AD) had dimensions of 14.80 meters in length, almost 5 meters in width and a single central vain of 5.15 meters. The arc was the starting point of the Augusta Way in the Betica. It has been BIC since 2019.
- House of Inquisition, property that is included in the General Catalogue of the Andalusian Historical Heritage. Located on Jaén Street, there is a very late classic cover dating back to the second half of the 17th century. The most important thing about the building is the main two-storey facade. It's interesting your forging grate.
- Hydroelectric Central and dam on the Guadalquivir River, the work of the architect Antonio Palacios, represents a remarkable exhibition of industrial architecture. The plant and dam are part of the ambitious project for the development of the Guadalquivir River of the MENGEMOR company.
- Parish Church of Saint Peter the Apostlenear the Tower, an architectural jewel of the Renaissance, despite the reform of 1970. Its main façade is south-facing and built in the first half of the 16th century. The other facade, facing the north, has different dependencies such as the sacristy, chapels and salons throughout the different reforms. It obeys the Vandelvirian model of three-ship temple separated by pillars and vaults. In front of its construction, Francisco del Castillo, the old man, and Alonso Barba, intervened.
- The Hermitage of the Lord of the Rainof small dimensions, it is made up of three narrow ships. The centre is of canyon vault, while the sides are intellized. The ships are separated thanks to two large arches of half-point brick seen. The exterior, with a stone view, has a simple front front cover, as a templet, on which a circular window is located and overlooks a revered bell swordsman. It is the only one in the municipality that is preserved from the 18th century. It is now called "Lord of the Rain," for it is venerated by a crucified Christ whom the Mengibarians have traditionally entrusted in the years and periods of drought.
- The Hermitage of Santa María Magdalena was opened and blessed on 14 July 1990 outside the municipality of Mengibar, very close to the Roman city of Iliturgi. It is located in the Cerro de Machiz, where the ancient 16th century hermitage was erected. It has a simple half-point arch cover with two small side voids, as saetas. At the top we find a hornadine with the image of Mary Magdalena and, on a side, a small body of swordsman. Since its opening, the Romeria de Santa María Magdalena is held annually.
- Oppidum ibero de Iliturgi and archaeological site of the Roman Iliturgi. Since 2016, the University of Jaén and the City of Mengibar have been working together to rescue the past of the municipality. In Cerro de la Muela, the ibero oppidum of Iliturgi (6th and 3rd centuries BC) was located, with an area of more than 14 hectares. Here, many archaeological remains have been found, which have made it possible to document the siege and destruction of the oppidum in 206 BC by the Roman army. After this event Tiberio Sememonio Graco would founded the Roman city of Iliturgi in the area of Maquiz, about 700 metres from the city destroyed. Since the mid-19th century, a large number of remains of the Roman city have been removed, most of which now form the Iliturgi Collection, which is preserved in Casa Palacio.
- Mengibar rolls, picotas and bakers. They are part of the history of their formation as a people with their own jurisdiction. The origin of the rolls was found in 1574, when the villa managed to emancipate itself from the city of Jaén. The title, granted by Philip II, allows him to have full jurisdiction, made symbolized by the presence of rolls and picotas. While the former reflect the new administrative and legal status, picotta is the place where the prisoners were punished. The hornaces, on the other hand, are similar to holes made in walls and crowned by a reduced arc. A votive image was placed in them, thus being a sample of the popular fervor of the municipality.
- The House Palace is a building dating from the 15th century, located in the central area of the historical artistic complex, next to the Torre del Tribute. The property has not always been a single house. From the 13th century, houses are being built very close to the castle wall. It would be a small fortification around the large tower located inside. With the coming of the centuries Casa Palacio has had distinguished owners. It has also been the scene of important historical events. It has also had functions beyond domestic. The building has now become a hotel. One of the first to build their houses on the house occupied by the palace was Mr Pedro Méndez de Sotomayor, Lord of Mengibar and Rider of Jaén, in order to keep the cattle and the cereals of their crops. This has now become the Hotel Palacio de Mengibar, which has a unique spa built in an Arab aljibe and decorated in the style of the Roman era.
- Interactive Museum of Olive Oil and Sustainability Terra Oleum. It offers a modern exhibition space made up of unique architectural spaces, including its Caja Aurea and a natural environment presided over by the olive forest. For the dissemination of knowledge related to olive cultivation, oil production technology and Mediterranean diet. It has been selected as a reference centre by the European Union for the dissemination of the olive oil culture. The Terra Oleum Museum extends over a total area of more than 11,000 square metres. It is the largest area of knowledge planned in the Mediterranean basin for a food product.
Nature
The municipal term of Mengibar is also spread between the herbaceous crops and the olive tree, with virtually all its irrigated surface, highlighting the vegas of the Guadalquivir and those of the Guadalbullion.
The dominant crops are: the olive tree, sunflower, cotton and cereals (wheat, barley and maize). The beautiful landscape of the Mengibareña countryside is interrupted to the north with Sierra Morena, and to the south with Sierra Mágina and Jaén, passing the rest between soft and undulations without great heights. This beautiful landscape is complete by the gallery forests on the banks of the three rivers that cross its term: the Guadalquivir and two of its tributaries, the Guadalbullón and the Guadalimar. In the autumn the trees of a caduca leaf paint a color brush in the landscape.
The lands of Mengibar offer the traveller various enclaves of natural interest. Among them is the Cerro Albariza, natural lookout from which magnificent views are obtained from the Guadalquivir valley or the Guadalbullón delta located next to the Cañada Real de Torreblasphcopedro, about three kilometres from the urban centre. Its abundant coastal vegetation gives it botanical interest.
The Mengibar dam on the Guadalquivir River, opened in 1916 by King Alfonso XIII, puts a color note to the landscape. The olive tree predominates, but next to the river line we find white alms, mumberas, tarais, black alms, as well as other species of bushes. The fauna is the same as the Jienese countryside: hares, rabbits, perdices, deer, linches, boars, foxes, quails... Also, they are easy to see the storks and a wide variety of prey birds. Without forgetting the fauna that dwells next to the rivers and in the vicinity of the reservoir.
Parties and Events
In Mengibar, as in the villages of Andalusia, people look forward to popular parties because they know that they will become days of joy and fun, for both the neighbors and visitors. In addition to the Christmas, Carnival and Easter celebration, the following parties are held in Mengibar:
- San Antónwhich is held on 17 January. The night before the streets are filled with "luminaires," where people around them sing, chorizos, chops and sardines.
- Holy Week of Mengibarthe Holy Thursday, its preaches and the Sunday of Resurrection, stands out.
- May Crossthe Holy Cross is celebrated on May 3. On this day Mengibar is dressed as a party, its streets and neighborhoods are covered with crosses, flowers, light and colorful. Every year more visitors come to witness them.
- Romeria de "La Malena". In honor of Santa María Magdalena, patron of Mengibar, is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. The image is taken that day to his hermitage, accompanied by rosemary on foot, in carrots or on horseback.
- Fair and Festival of the "Malena"from July 22 to 25, the heat of these days is faced with the joy of the parties in honor of the patron. There is no lack of religious acts but a comprehensive programming of activities for all the public.
- The Rosaries of the aurora. Mengibar prays singing in the auroras on Sundays, from the last of August to the first of October. It's a custom dating back to the 17th century. The Brothers of each involved fellowship summon their people to rise up and go to the Rosary on their own Sunday. On the afternoon of that day the procession of the title image of the brotherhood takes place. On the first Sunday the Virgin of Fatima is processed, on the successive Sundays of September the Virgin of the Head, Jesus Nazarene, the Virgin of the Dolores and the Virgin of Carmen. It ends the feast, with the procession of the Virgin of the Rosary.
- Historical recreation of the funeral court of Isabel I de Castilla, La Católica. On November 26, 1504, the queen died in Medina del Campo (Valladolid) and, following her wishes, took a way to the city of the Alhambra where she asked to be buried. On the banks of the Guadalquivir, on its way through Mengibar, a storm forced the funeral court to turn from its route to Granada to take refuge in the Church of St. Peter the Apostle. Since 2015, the third Saturday of November is commemorated with a theatrical historical recreation. More than 220 people participate in it (horse guards, royal guards, drummers, Franciscan monks, nobles, cars of beings and plain people, among others).
Gastronomy
In the culinary culture of Mengibar are present two aspects, one is olive oil, and the other is the use of the products of its gardens that become part of the ingredients of these dishes. From its varied gastronomy, we will highlight the following:
- Pipirrana, which uses peppers, tomatoes, garlic, onions and olive oil. A refreshing dish that can't be missed in summer.
- Migas of bread with chorizo, radishes, herring and cod.
- Tomato fish and pepper (typical of fair days).
- Cod meatballs, a typical Lent meal.
- Panoil, on a slice of bread the oil that can be accompanied with tomato and cod is spread.
- From their pastries are delights such as wine roses, honey flakes, pestins and bienmesabe.
History
The history of Mengibar begins to be written on the banks of the Guadalquivir River, approximately 6,000 years ago, in the Neolithic. The traces of this period correspond to the denominated settlement of the Vega Baja. The largest milestone of Iberian occupation of the municipal term of Mengibar corresponds to the oppidium of Iliturgi and the different necropolis associated with this important population core.
Until very recently it was considered that this town would have risen in the area known as Cerro Machiz or Las Torres, a place very close to the confluence of the Guadalbullion River with the Guadalquivir. Recent archaeological excavations demonstrate the exact location of the Iberian city in the site known as "Plaza de Armas del Cerro de la Muela."
This site would be besieged by Roman General Publio Cornelio Scipion, the African. Tito Livio narrated how the city was attacked, burned and massacred. In the 2nd century BC, Rome would founded a new Iliturgi in Cerró Maquiz, an enclave located on the opposite bank of the Guadalbullion River, 700 metres from the old ibero oppidum.
These remains are preserved in Mengibar from the Almohad period. In 1225, Fernando III, the Holy Conquest Mengibar, granted the land of Machiz to the Order of Santiago, leaving the Place under the jurisdiction of Jaén.
The word "MENXIBAR" first appears in the conquest of Jaén, which shows that there must have been a fortress that was occupied by Christian troops. Conquistada Jaén, the king anexiona to this city, on which it will depend until 1574, year in which Philip II, by paying 22,500 ducats, makes it Villa.
On July 16, 1808, a glorious event took place in Mengibar: the defeat of French troops, who fled to Bailén, where days later they would be defeated by General Castaños.
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