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Castillo de Santa Catalina Review

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Castillo de Santa Catalina

  • Address: Ctra. del Castillo de Santa Catalina, Jaén, 23001
  • Phone: 953/120733
  • www.castillosnet.org

Fodor's Review:

The Castillo de Santa Catalina, perched on a rocky crag 400 yards above the center of town, is Jaén's star monument. The castle may have originated as a tower built by Hannibal; the site was fortified continuously over the centuries. The Nasrid king Alhamar, builder of Granada's Alhambra, constructed an alcázar here, but King Ferdinand III captured it from him in 1246 on the feast day of Santa Catalina (St. Catherine). Catalina consequently became Jaén's patron saint, so when the Christians built a castle and chapel here, they dedicated both to her.

  • Cost: EUR 3
  • Open: June-Sept., Thurs.-Tues. 10-2 and 4:30-7; Oct.-May, Thurs.-Tues. 10-2 and 3:30-6
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