Segura de la Sierra is traversed with bated breath, walking its slopes between paved corners, chasing our shadows on the whitewashed walls of streets that twist. Occasionally, must look up to admire its impressive castle, perched on a hill that always seems distant. No wonder that the ancient chronicles speak of a village "founded upon a rock alive". This town Jaen located in the heart of the Sierra de Segura leads to a controversial dress of glory: the birthplace of a famous man, Jorge Manrique, the poet cried his father with immortal verses of tears. They do not care, nothing more, that the official story point to the town of Paredes de Nava Palencia as the place where he was born. Makes it very clear in the stone facade with which we come up from the square of the Knights: "In this house was born and lived the immortal poet Jorge Manrique". On the arch supported by Ionic columns shield, that of the Figueroa, the poet's mother's family. On one side, a sign "For Sale" and two telephones. The Casa de Jorge Manrique, you can not visit, is privately owned and is in the market.
In Segura can not wield a birth certificate endorse the poet was born here, but have, ensure, with documents showing that his mother, Dona Mencia de Figueroa, in the village was about to give birth in 1434. Since that time that her husband, Rodrigo Manrique, Commander of the Order of Santiago, is located in the making Huéscar, considered unlikely that his wife accompany him on so heavily pregnant. Jorge Manrique, therefore, would have been born here, swear and perjure, and this would have happened, also, their early years. A poet's evocative statue near the New Gate, the natural entrance to the historic center, takes care to remind tourists that Manrique is one of their own.
The beauty of the place deserves a visit justly regardless of whether to give her unborn Manrique here or not, namely
It happens that Segura de la Sierra has no need to get into these fights, at least for purposes of tourism promotion, since the beauty of the place deserves a visit justly outside that would be born Manrique here or not, namely. Few sights more impressive than that seen from a bend in the road just before reaching the village. The imposing fortress perched the hill as sustained by a pedestal, Safe houses scattered in his shadow down the slope. An unforgettable medieval stamp, a castle that has a magnetism impossible to circumvent, it forces you to walk up the parade, to dive into Arabic Bath, to go their way round, to let themselves be swallowed up by the intricate stone staircase Tower of Homage, dynamited by the French in the war of independence and raised again the last century.
The room where the family lived Manrique (the poet's father, don Rodrigo, was commander of Safe and Master of the Order of Santiago, to which belonged the castle) can also be visited on the second floor. There, wrapped in the gloom, Visitors can listen to the imaginary dialogue (based on the universal verses of Manrique) between father and son.
The forests that shelter these mountains provided at the time the wood needed to build the ships of Columbus and the fleet of the Armada
Apart from this brief encounter with the poet does not forget to enjoy the exceptional views from the terrace of the Tower of Homage, where one can get a perfect idea of ??strategic importance as a bulwark Secure Border, as ancestral passage between the Mediterranean and the Castilian plateau. And not only strategic: forests that harbor these mountains provided at the time the wood needed to build the ships of Columbus and the fleet of the Armada.
We now bound Chiclana de Segura, where he also lived birthplace Manrique and his son Louis. If Segura de la Sierra is attached to the mountain, as astride, Chiclana has been introduced into it literally, horadándola to give rise to what, still, remains the most distinguishing mark: troglodyte houses. To 150 caves are registered with the municipality to which, how could it be otherwise, is entered through a tunnel, built more than half a century. Chiclana, that goes far in the effort to put an interpretation center of Jorge Manrique, is a town of steep slopes where one can still cross with full saddlebags donkeys. Jorge Manrique inherited from his father the old castle, of which nothing remains today, except a panoramic terrace on the top of the village, in the same place where he rose. "From here he wrote the researchers understand Juan Peña and Juan Hervas in his book "The County monumental"- Chiclana have a broken heart from La Mancha, to which he belonged for six centuries, and Andalusia ", to which was attached Jaén 1833.
Chiclana is a town of steep slopes where one can still cross with full saddlebags donkeys
It is very entertaining to go with the medieval magic of Chiclana and dig into the past and present of its troglodyte houses. The former torture chamber of the Inquisition was conditioned as a nightclub. Still hanging from his ceiling disco ball, that al arrancaría dancing Travolta himself, and withered garlands of holidays past. In which it was blacksmithing castle there is now a tavern, "The Cave", where diners realize the food in the bowels of the rock. Some caves have been incorporated into the housing and used as storage, others are simply abandoned and are crossed with a chill, imagining the harsh conditions of life of its inhabitants makes only 40 years.
The road
By A-4 (Motorway of Andalusia), Bailen deviate the road to Albacete. Ubeda and Villanueva last Archbishop leads the A-314, left, Chiclana and, right, Segura, northeast of the province of Jaen.
A table set
The most original proposal recovery troglodyte caves in Chiclana is, certainly, which flag Javier Gomez, a young entrepreneur who decided to convert two of them in cottages, "The Tabaque" and "Casa Grande", in the hill of the watchtower (www.atalayadelsegura.com). The result of the work is amazing and spend a weekend here isolated from routine, a unique experience. Do not miss trying the ajomortero, pisto manchego and squash with tomato sanjuanera, typical local.
In Segura de la Sierra, "The Bureau Segureña" (www.lamesadesegura.com) is a good choice to sit and enjoy a good meal in the warmth of the fireplace. In summer, the terrace, with great views, Desktop promises endless.
A nap
The two sites are also recommended to eat accommodation (check the tab "A table set"). In "The Bureau Segureña" (Segura de la Sierra) you can sleep in a rustic cottage from 60 euros a day with breakfast. In "Safe Watchtower", rural households have three or two bedrooms, all double.
Highly Recommended
–Shemer Turismo (www.semerturismo.com), organizes trips in the region of Safe and guided tours of the Jaén less known in several languages.
-The more daring can take heart in Segura de la Sierra to try a unique experience: paragliding (accompanied by an expert) from the top of Helm, the highest mountain in the area. More information www.olivair.org. Ask for Dani.
