Orcera
Orcera is situated within the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y las Villas Natural Park, allowing visitors to enjoy beautiful and interesting places such as Armujo, with a huge river pool, or Estrechos, Navalcaballo, Valdemarín, Linarejos and La Huerta. It has about 1800 inhabitants.
HISTORY
The oldest settlement known in the Orcereño municipality corresponds to the Bronze Age from when the existence of a series of foothill settlements in the valleys of the Orcera and Trujala rivers have been confirmed: Piedra del Águila, Cerro of la Coja, Peñón del Utrero and Cerro de la Atalaya. Abundant ceramic material has been found in these settlements. In the last two there are also remains of a fortification, sharing similarities with those from both Roman times and even the late medieval period. A series of centreboards with an “S” profile were found that, according to the opinion of Emilio de la Cruz Aguilar, could have given rise to the name of the town. Some identify this place as the one where Gnaeus Cornelius Scipio Calvus was cremated on a pyre by the Carthaginians, for which he was called Rogum Scipionis. More>
THINGS TO SEE
Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
In the 1530s, a new parish church began to be built in the town’s current square, replacing a previous medieval temple dedicated to San Mateo. The works finished around 1570 but had to be repaired twice, in 1817 after the Napoleonic invasion and in 1939 after the Spanish Civil War. The building has a single nave, divided into four sections, separated by semicircular transverse arches that rest on Doric semi-columns, and covered with tercelet vaults. The most interesting element is its magnificent Mannerist façade, suppressed in the confiscation of Mendizábal, later remaining in ruins. From the last third of the sixteenth century, the entrance was divided into two sections. In the first, the semicircular arch door opens, framed by Corinthian columns, with allegorical figures of Faith and Hope in the spandrels. The set is completed by a split triangular pediment with a pinnacle. The iconographic program of this altarpiece is very interesting, with a language that mixes Christian and pagan and combines archaisms with refinements. Declared a Monument of Cultural Interest in 1985. Located don Calle Francisco Lopez Navarrete.
Fuente de los Chorros
This monumental fountain made of stone and brick is embedded in the façade of a town house, with a landscape design, formed by a large, somewhat irregular ashlar façade in the central part of which two semicircular brick tympanum arches open from which two bronze pipes protrude. The pediment is topped by a set of large pine cones sculpted on bases, one in the centre and the other two in the corners. There is no knowledge on the origin of this fountain, however it is suggested it dates either to the sixteenth century, or the era of neoclassicism, taking into account that Orcera became independent as a municipality in 1837, this fountain could have been erected to celebrate such an important event. Located don Calle Francisco Lopez Navarrete.
Ermita del Calvario
A small chapel of popular architecture, probably from the eighteenth or nineteenth century, with a rectangular plan and covered with a simple lintel and gable roof, finishing off the gable end of the façade with a simple belfry. It houses an interesting and ancient carving of Jesús El Nazareno, somewhat smaller than life size, which is the only one that was saved from being destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. Located on Calle Carretera de Marchena.
THINGS TO SEE OUTISDE THE TOWN
Torres de Santa Catalina
From the town you can see on the other side of the Orcera River three Muslim towers dating from the twelfth century, a time when the Christians advanced south through the lands of La Mancha and the danger of the border required a reinforcement of defensive structures. These watchtowers, together with the one that stands in the Plaza Iglesia and which serves as the church’s bell tower, would constitute the defensive line of the Islamic farmhouse. Each tower is approximately 400m apart, and of the three towers, two of them are twins and truncated pyramidal in shape. However, Tower I, the closest to Orcera, is larger, rectangular in plan and had a fortified enclosure around it, of which there are hardly any remains today. Declared Monuments of Cultural Interest in 1985. Located south west of the town.
NATURAL AREAS
Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas
With a total surface area of 209,920Ha and covering almost a fifth of Jaén province, this is Spain’s largest protected area and one of its most extensive forested zones. Located in eastern Jaen province, it connects the Sierra Morena and the Subbética mountain ranges. The highest peak in this immense park is Pico Empanada at 2,107m and the entire park is higher than 600m.
Recognising its exceptional ecological importance, it was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1983 and it was deemed a natural park in 1989. First impressions of the park may consist of barren rocky crests and vast pine forests, but the area’s botanical importance within Andalusia is matched only by the Sierra Nevada, with a fifth of the vascular plants in the Iberian peninsula being found in the Sierra de Cazorla Natural Park. It is also home to 51 species of mammals, 185 birds, 21 reptiles (including an endemic lizard), 12 amphibians, 11 fish and one of the highest number of butterfly species in the Iberian peninsula, with 112 varieties found here.
Paraje de Amurjo
Here we find the municipal swimming pool, which at first might seem like a pool just like any other, but when seen in person you will realise it is much more than that. Situated in an incomparable environment, surrounded by nature and pine trees. Do not be surprised if when taking a dip in the pool you see deer or goats roaming nearby. Located approximately 1km form the town.
Paraje de los Estrechos
A picnic area surrounded by nature that allows you to enjoy peace and tranquility. It has a fountain which locals say has an unbeatable water quality and is very fresh at any time of the year. In fact, locals who come here for a picnic at the weekend often leave their drinks inside the fountain to keep them cool. There are several stone tables sheltered under the shade of the trees.
Also worth visiting are Aldea de Linarejos and Aldea de la Huerta.
GASTRONOMY
Visitors to La Puerta de Segura can try traditional dishes such as ajo harina con níscalos (mashed potatoe with wild ceps), ajo atao (mashed potato), ajo pringue (liver), andrajos (pasta stew, often made with cod or rabbit), gachamiga (savoury porridge), potaje de garbanzos y bacalao (chickpea and cod stew) and pierna en asado (roast leg of lamb). Sweet treats include roscos fritos (aniseed doughnuts), arroz con leche (rice pudding) and enredos (doughnuts).
BUS SERVICE
There are bus services from Orcera to Albaladejo, Becerril, Benatae, Casa Peones, Cortijo Moralico, Cozar, El Alamillo, Jaén, El Cruce, La Guardia, Llanos del Caudillo, Madrid, Madridejos, Manzanares, Orcera, Puebla del Principe, Puente Genave, Puerta del Segura, Puerto Lapice, Siles, Tembleque, Terrinches, Torre de Juan Abad, Valdepeñas, Villamanrique and Villarta de San Juan. More>
FESTIVALS
Popular festivals in Orcera are Fiestas de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, Fiestas del Santísimo Cristo de la Vera-Cruz, La Candelaria, Romería de San Isidro and Fiestas de Cantarranas. More>
WEATHER FORECAST
The weather forecast for the next few days for Orcera. More>
TOURIST OFFICE
The tourist office of Orcera is located on Avenida de Andalucía. More>
NEARBY PLACES
The neighbouring villages to Orcera are Segura de la Sierra, Benatae and La Puerta de Segura.