Free Night Tour of Jaén: "The Lizard Route"

Welcome to the Free Night Tour of Jaén: The Lizard Route!!!

It is a true pleasure to welcome you to the capital of the so-called Holy Kingdom of Jaén, which led the safeguarding and protection of the Christian kingdoms after the Reconquista carried out by King Ferdinand III "The Saint" back in 1246.

We will start our tour at San Ildefonso Square, an old extramural square where we will talk about the oldest Christian religious temple in Jaén, the Basilica of San Ildefonso, founded in 1248. Right in this same square, we will find a small slab where we can see the figure of the fearsome Lizard of Magdalena, a powerful reptile that has terrified the people of Jaén since time immemorial, and we will begin a path that will lead us to the place where its lair was located: The Magdalena Neighborhood. 
 
A few meters away, we will reach the Catedral de La Asunción, unique in the world as it is the only cathedral on the planet that features balconies everywhere. Additionally, it is a Cathedral-Reliquary that houses one of the most important relics of Christianity, The Holy Face. We will also talk about some of the most unsettling mysteries of this paradigmatic temple, including the popular Monkey of the Cathedral, which today represents one of the most puzzling enigmas of this temple.

We will walk along Maestra Street and stand in front of what was the Palace of Constable Miguel Lucas de Iranzo and talk about his figure, his excessive ambition that transformed Jaén and turned it into his particular personal court where he entertained the elite with grand parties in his palace. Such a lifestyle would raise great jealousy and some enemies. We will talk about these palace intrigues.

Subsequently, we will arrive at the Arch of San Lorenzo, remnants of an old medieval church of San Lorenzo erected in the 13th century but which would end up disappearing in the 19th century. It represents one of the emblematic places of the capital where, in addition, it houses the fantastic story in which the body of King Ferdinand IV "The Summoned". was laid. We will recount the intriguing tale that led the king to die in Jaén as a result of a particular curse...

On the way to the Magdalena Neighborhood, we will pass by the Civil War Air Raid Shelter, and talk about one of the darkest episodes in Spanish History that also affected the city with a terrible bombing that took hundreds of human lives on a fateful afternoon in April 1937.

We will stop in front of the Arab Baths of "El Niño", with their 450 m2, making them the largest Arab baths in Spain. We will talk about their use and also be moved by the story of Sultan Ali, whose assassination led to the legend that his ghost still lingers in the warm room of these same baths.

We will end our Lizard Path in the popular Magdalena Neighborhood, the most historic neighborhood of the capital where we will tell the story of the Lizard of Magdalena and reveal the reason why our steps have taken us from San Ildefonso to Magdalena.

What kind of connection exists between these iconic temples of the City of Jaén?!

Join us on this mysterious yet magical tour through the historic streets of the Capital of the Holy Kingdom.



We look forward to seeing you all in Jaén, see you soon!!!

Josué

IMPORTANT: For the tour to take place, it is necessary for 5 walkers to attend. If the minimum is not reached, it may be canceled at most, with 1 hour notice before the start.