Linares


 * Map of Linares

Population:** 58.410
 * Altitude:** 437m
 * Distance:** 132.6 Km

__Pilgrimage In honour of the Virgen de los Linarejos__, celebrated 15 May __Internatiional Chess Tournament__, celebrated in February. __Feasts and Fair in honour of San Agustín__, celebrated 27 to 31 August. __Feast of the Exaltation of the city's vote__, celebrated the first Sunday in Pentecost, during which the Contest of Tarantas Mineras (flamenco singing) is held.
 * Festivals:**

__Church of Santa María la Mayor,__ 12th century. Combines Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance styles. It was built on the site of the old mosque. __Church of San Francisco__, 16th century. Andalusian Baroque style. __Front door of the Palacio de Justicia__, 18th century. Old Hospital of San Juan de Dios. __Hospital of the Marquis of Linares.__ Neogothic where we can find the Mausoleum of the Marquises __Bullring__, where the famous bullfighter Manolete died in 1947. __Archaeological Museum__. In the old Palace Davamos, also known as Casa del Torreón (House of the Tower). It contains some interesting pieces from the Bronze Age to the Middle Ages. The most interesting exhibits come from Castulo
 * Places to Visit:**

Ajoblanco (white garlic soup). Pipirrana. Potatoes with paprika. Andrajos "Tatters and Rags" with hare. Kid with garlic sauce. Gachas (porridge) with aniseed. Chachepol. Imilces. Turcas.
 * Food:**

The village was the old Castulo, founded by the Greeks. It was a key place in mining and an important crossroads due to its location. Thanks to its silver and lead mines, the village attracted the Oretans. Three hundred years later, the Carthaginians also occupied these lands. In the same way, during Roman times its mines were worked to satisfy the needs of the Empire. The village was one of the most important places along the "Silver Road", which linked Cordoba and Cartago Nova. During this period, it became the first village in the Oretania, with a great mining and agricultural importance and a flourishing trade. The present village owes its name to a quiet spot, near Castulo, which belonged to the army, called Linarium. Wars and invasions finished with Castulo and the population took refuge in the mining hills, passing to Baeza's jurisdiction. King Fernando III reconquered the village in 1227. It already had its present name and it was given its own Council. There were constant fights with Baeza, especially during the reign of Juan II. King Carlos V granted Village charter in thanks for its efforts to eradicate the outlaws from these lands. Agriculture suffered a major setback at the end of the 18th century with the foundation of the new Sierra Morena colonization villages, as its municipal district decreased with the creation of La Carolina, Guarroman and Carboneros, forcing the people to live almost exclusively from the mining economy. During the 19th century, the village started a period of economic growth with the work in its mines, reaching its peak during World War I, with some arms industries. In 1875 it received the title of City.
 * History:**