Free walking tours in Linares and what to see

Must-sees

Linares is a city in central Jaén that grew with lead mining, and that past shows in its streets. In the centre, the basilica of Santa María la Mayor stands out, mixing Gothic and Renaissance and holding a Plateresque altarpiece, and close by is the neo-Gothic Hospital de los Marqueses. The Mining Landscape Interpretation Centre explains how the city lived from the mines, and the Miner's Statue honours those who built it.

Linares is also the birthplace of the guitarist Andrés Segovia, whose house museum is in the Orozco palace, and of the singer Raphael, who has his own museum. The Archaeological Museum, in the Casa del Torreón, holds finds from the area. About five kilometres away is Cástulo, the great Ibero-Roman city of the area, where the Mosaic of the Loves was discovered. Manolete died in the Santa Margarita bullring in 1947.

Free tours and guided visits

Linares has a free walking tour of the centre, an easy way to get your bearings and learn about its mining history and most famous figures. There are also guided city tours, a private tour if you prefer your own pace and a visit to the Cástulo site, much easier to understand with a guide as many of the remains are still being excavated.

How long to spend

One day is enough for the centre, the basilica and a couple of museums. If you add Cástulo, allow a day and a half. With two or three days you can use Linares as a base for Baeza and Úbeda, less than an hour away, and the castle of Baños de la Encina, about twenty minutes away. Don't leave without trying its tapas, which come with every drink.

Where to stay

The most convenient option is to stay in the centre, between the basilica of Santa María and the Paseo de Linarejos, where there are hotels and apartments and you can walk between museums, bars and restaurants. The residential areas further out tend to be cheaper, but you'll need a car. If you want a more monumental setting, Baeza is a good alternative for sleeping and is close by.