What to see

From the Andalusí period, Cabra conserves its city WALLS and also the CASTILLO DE LOS CONDES DE CABRA (Castle of the Counts of Cabra), complete with its original Homage Tower.

Cabra possesses some of the most fascinating examples of Baroque architecture to be found anywhere in the province of Cordoba, including the PARISH CHURCH OF LA ASUNCIÓN Y ÁNGELES, known as the “Baroque mosque”, the CHURCHES OF SAN JUAN DE DIOS, LAS ESCOLAPIAS, SAN JUAN BAUTISTA AND LAS ANGUSTIAS, THE CONVENT OF SANTO DOMINGO and the PARISH CHURCH OF LOS REMEDIOS.

Other places worth visiting are the MUSEO DE HISTORIA NATURAL (Natural History Museum). There are also many PARKS AND NATURE SITES.

Cabra stands out for its groves and remarkable landscapes, a perfect union between water and vegetation such as the FUENTE DEL RÍO (RIVER FOUNTAIN) -Declared Place of Natural Interest-, the FUENTE DE LAS PIEDRAS (STONE FOUNTAIN) or the PASEO “ALCÁNTARA ROMERO”, one of the province of Cordoba’s botanical jewels and declared a Unique Garden. The SANTUARIO DE MARÍA SANTÍSIMA DE LA SIERRA (SANCTUARY OF OUR LADY OF THE MOUNTAINS), located on the top of Picacho, has been declared a ‘Place of Natural Interest’ thanks to its geological, geographical and scenic value.

THE LA VILLA NEIGHBOURHOOD is the town’s oldest, with the EL CERRO NEIGHBOURHOOD, being the most picturesque, with whitewashed streets and balconies full of flowers.

TOURS AND RELATED ACTIVITIES

It was erected in the north-west of the town, within the walled enclosure. It had a parade ground where eight to ten thousand men trained, and was surrounded by a strong wall with 18 towers. More than half of the original construction’s wall remains, and approximately 76 x 47 m of the enclosure’s floor can be determined. The walls is approximately 2.60 m thick. Two of the towers are recognisable, and we can determine the location of two others: at the sides of the enclosure’s current entrance way. The keep half protrudes from the centre of this wall. It is almost square in shape and is around 20 m tall. Almost 11 m from current ground level is a octagonal-shaped chamber with cloister vault, with squinches in the angles. The other preserved tower is found in the north-east corner. It is approximately 10 m high and has a square floor and the corner that faces the interior of the enclosure is bevelled. The las Escolapias convent-school is currently housed within the enclosure.

Plaza del Conde de Cabra

Castle

Heritage Visits and Activities

This natural spot is a perfect example of a natural spring that has been aesthetically adapted by man.The spring is typical of the Sierra de Cabra’s karst system and has great ornamental value thanks to the gardens and trees planted in its surrounds. The area has received great interest due to its scenic beauty and has been officially classified as a “site of cultural interest”, “site of natural interest” and “unique wooded area”.Fuente del Río is the source of the river Cabra and is on the border of the Sierras Subbéticas natural park, which was given this official title in 1988.

Av. Fuente del Río,Cabra

Fuente del Río

Heritage Visits and Activities

El Cerro neighbourhood, Cabra

This is Cabra’s most picturesque neighbourhood, and alongside La Villa neighbourhood, they are known for preserving the authentic Andalusian essence that Juan Valera described in his works, especially Pepita Jiménez. This neighbourhood is full of pretty, whitewashed houses with balconies overflowing with flowers. In May, during the May Cross festivities, the neighbourhood is brimming with colour and the sweetest scents, inviting all who pass through to explore the welcoming San Juan Bautista church

Cabra

El Cerro neighbourhood, Cabra

Heritage Visits and Activities

Paseo Alcántara Romero

This wide park was built in 1848, under the mayorship of José Alcántara Romero and is a fine example of nineteenth-century gardening. It is home to many rare and ornamental species, such as centuries-old redwoods, slender London planes, horse chestnuts, lime trees and sycamores and countless plants (trees, bushes, perennials, annuals, etc.). Its high level of biodiversity, the unique varieties, its architectural elements (such as the central esplanade) and the park’s age, make it one of the finest green areas in Córdoba province. Furthermore, the provincial catalogue has classified it as a “Unique Garden” and “Unique tree-populated area”, being home to several “Unique Trees”.

Av. Federico García Lorca,Cabra

Paseo Alcántara Romero

Heritage Visits and Activities

Círculo de la Amistad

The ‘Casino’ or ‘Círculo de la Amistad’ is a former convent-hospital that belonged to the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God Order and is annexed to the still functioning San Juan de Dios Baroque chapel. Many of Juan Valera’s characters would sit around debating the subject of the hour in its patio. We can find a fantastic description of it in his work Pepita Jiménez: “The centre of the concurrence was the patio, paved with marble, with a fountain in the centre, and many plant pots.” A painted tile in the patio commemorates the writer and while touring the house, we can admire paintings of his family. There is also a small museum on Costumbrismo, the artistic movement present in Valera’s works.

C/ Cervantes, 1,Cabra

Círculo de la Amistad

Heritage Visits and Activities

Convento de las RR.MM. Agustinas (convent)

A convent founded in 1697. The church is of sober design with only one nave, divided into four sections. The main altar is covered by a semi-spherical dome on pendentives. We can do nothing but admire the main altarpiece, a gilded wood carving that features Nuestra Señora de las Angustias and Cristo Yacente. They were an extraordinary pair, which accompanied the nuns during their founding journey. The sculpture of Christ, attributed by José de Mora, dates back to the third quarter of the 17th century, and is one of the best sculptures of a dead Christ in the history of Andalusian imagery.

C/ Dionisio Alcalá Galiano s/n,Cabra

Convento de las RR.MM. Agustinas (convent)

Heritage Visits and Activities

Iglesia de Santo Domingo (church)

The first convent in Cabra, founded in 1550 as a small chapel, named from the doctrine at the beginning of the 16th century . The current work reflects the traces of reforms from different eras, especially the second half of the 20th century, when the main altarpiece and Santa Domingo sculpture were restored. The exposed brick façade presents a white limestone portal with two marble columns, on which their capitals support a niche with the image of the.

C/ San Juan de Dios, 1,Cabra

Iglesia de Santo Domingo (church)

Heritage Visits and Activities

Iglesia de San Juan de Dios (church)

Although it was founded in the 16th century its fundamental structure is from the 17th century. It was an annex of the convent ruled by the brothers of the Order until 1835. The portal, stone carved, sober, presents the image of San Juan de Dios. Inside we can observe a single nave with a groin vault and dome at the end, the developments of its abundant cornices being very significant. The beautiful altarpieces are also noteworthy.

C/ José de Silva, s/n,Cabra

Iglesia de San Juan de Dios (church)

Heritage Visits and Activities

Iglesia de San Juan Bautista (church)

The town’s oldest church is found in the picturesque Santa María la Mayor square, in the heart of the barrio del Cerro. The church was founded in the 17th century by the bishop of Cabra, Bacauda (prelate of Cabra, participant in the 8th Toledo Council), and offers us an usual piece. It is an altar stone (in the shape of a pilaster), which consecrates the church to Santa María on 30th May of the era 688 (650 AD) using Gothic characters. It is the oldest inscribed devotion to Mary in the diocese of Córdoba, and one of very few in Andalusia.

Plaza Santa María la Mayor, 3,Cabra

Iglesia de San Juan Bautista (church)

Heritage Visits and Activities

“Aguilar y Eslava” Museum and Museum of the Passion

Cabra’s Aguilar y Eslava foundation originates from 1679 when it founded an educational centre through testamentary clause. It was called the Royal College of the Immaculate Conception, which became one of the first high schools in Spain in 1847. Throughout its 300-year existence, it has gained an estimable historical, artistic, documental and sentimental legacy, which has allowed the institution to survive and create a museum that forms part of the Andalusian ministry of culture’s network of museums. Within its grounds (a 17th century palace) you can visit: 1-. Natural history museum The museum underwent evolved greatly in 1917 with the arrival of professor Juan Carandell y Pericay. It then became an important research centre and entered into the Royal Spanish Natural History Society. The museum houses whale jaws, elephant tusks, eagles, a varied collection of mammals, birds, reptiles and dissected fish, plant collections, a two-headed sheep, as well as extensive studies on mineralogy, agriculture, entomology, zoology and botanicals. It is therefore an interesting place to visit given its historical and scientific value. 2.- Artistic and documentary room An interesting sample of religious artwork and academic transcripts from historical public figures *”Aguilar y Esclava” school* Visit the school’s 17th century installations […]

Plaza Aguilar y Eslava, s/n,Cabra

“Aguilar y Eslava” Museum and Museum of the Passion

Heritage Visits and Activities

Archaeological Museum

It was created by the Ministerial Order of 15 January 1973, with its headquarters within the Town Hall. In 1984, it moved to the building where the Bank of Spain was installed, currently the Casa de Cultura, and has remained here ever since. We enter the museum passing through a wrought-iron gate flanked by four red marble columns from Cabra. It covers most of the lower floor, exposing materials around the “Patio of Columns”, named so given the ten red vein marble columns. The exhibits were received from excavations carried out at the “Villa of Mithra” and “La Veleña”, fortuitous findings, surface extractions, some donations and others purchased. They have been arranged in chronological order: from Paleolithic era until current times. All are proof of the importance of Cabra and its surrounds over the history of time.

C/ Martín Belda, 23,Cabra

Archaeological Museum

Heritage Visits and Activities

Iglesia de la Asunción y Angeles

This church is located in the centre of the Plaza de la Villa Vieja. It is of medieval origin and was built by the brothers of Calatrava over an ancient mosque. It was dedicated to Santa María de los Ángeles in 1241, when the town was conquered by Ferdinand III. The interior has five naves organised by two rows of semi-circular arches atop 44 red marble columns, covered by a vaulted ceiling. The main altarpiece, the work of Melchor de Aguirre, consists of red and black marble, and followed the project design by the revered architect, José Granados de la Barrera, from Cabra. The central niche houses the image of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, a Granadan piece, created in 1693. The carved wooden choir and the organ found within it are also impressive.

Plaza de los Condes de Cabra, 4,Cabra

Iglesia de la Asunción y Angeles

Heritage Visits and Activities

Santuario de María Santísima de la Sierra de Cabra

Located in the centre of the Sierras Subbéticas natural park, at 1200 m high, in an environment declared as being a “natural site of interest” given its geological, geographical and scenic interest in the area. This sanctuary is the venue for a series of romerías, or religious pilgrimages. These include the unique ‘Romería de los Gitanos’ (National Gypsy Pilgrimage), held in June and declared as being a festival of national touristic interest, when gypsies and non-gypsies come together to honour the “Majarí” in an explosion of joy and devotion; the “Baja”, on 4th September, in which the image of the Virgin is carried from the chapel to the village; and the ‘Romería del Costalero’ (the Costaleros’ Pilgrimage, costaleros referring to the men who carry the platforms bearing religious images on their shoulders in processions). In this last pilgrimage, which takes place on the first Sunday in October, the Virgin is carried back to Her chapel.

Ermita Virgen de la Sierra, Cabra

Santuario de María Santísima de la Sierra de Cabra

Heritage Visits and Activities

Iglesia de Ntra. Sra. de los Remedios (church)

A small temple built on the remains of a 16th century chapel dedicated to Santa Ana. Within this church, homage is paid to one of the most revered images in the town, Virgen de la Soledad, the work of Pedro de Mena, which was acquired in Granada in 1663. The portal, dated 1729, gives us access to the three-naved square ground plan. The chancel is covered by a beautiful dome, decorated with abundant plasterwork of complex leaf forms, work of Antonio Álvarez, as well as the main altar chapel. The altar chapel was gilded in 1744 by Francisco Ponce de León, ten years after its construction.

C/ Santa Ana, 1,Cabra

Iglesia de Ntra. Sra. de los Remedios (church)

Heritage Visits and Activities

Iglesia de Termens (church)

The Mausoleum commisioned by The Countess of Termens from the famous sculptor Mariano Benlliure was originally built in the local cementery. Later, in 1931 was moved to its current position, in the chapel that bears her name. Reservations by phone: 957 520 510

C/ San Juan de Dios, 16,Cabra

Iglesia de Termens (church)

Heritage Visits and Activities