Loj a (Granada)
A BLOSSOM AMONGST THORNS
Loja was founded in 2,163 B.C by Tubal, a legendary grandson of the biblical Noah. The first historical evidence of human settlements discovered in the town dates back to the XIth century B.C; within the final period of the prehistoric cultures of the Bronze Age in the south-eastern area of Andalusia. Loja only became a remarkable urban settlement under the Islamic power. Medina Lausa, as it was called for the following seven centuries of its existence, was to become a military stronghold. Then, in 1485 Loja was under the Christian power, because Granada had been conquered by the “Catholics Kings”. In the XIXth century the historical course of Loja has two particular relevant milestones: the peasants revolt of 1861 and the figure of General Narváez. As a precedent of the revolutionary movements that were to come later in this decade, during the peasants’ revolt of 1861, led by Rafael Pérez del Álamo, the town was occupied by the revolting forces for five days. When General Narváez, a son of the town, was appointed as Prime Minister by Queen Isabella II, Loja played again a role of a certain importance on the stage or national politics.
o Although much of its artistic heritage unfortunately is lost, Loja still preserves traces of its remarkable historical past. o Here, with the aid of the silent language of the stones, you will be able to understand better what Ibn Al-Jatib, one of Loja's most illustrious sons, wrote about the battlements of its towers and walls: "The eyes of the Christians are full of ecstasy when they stare at its beautiful teeth"
Monuments
Religious Architecture
Civil Architecture
Churches
Religious Architecture
Hermitage
Convents
Religious Architecture (church) Santa María de la Encarnación or Main Church
Santa Catalina
San Gabriel
• Its construction started in 1941 thanks to the initiative of Don Pedro de Toledo, the Bishop of Malaga and finished in the XVIIIth century according to the design of Ventura Rodriguez. • Two parts, different but joined, make up this architectural set which has been declared National Monument. The oldest part belongs to the Gothic-Mudejar style. The works in the most recent part started in 1620, completing the building of this monumental church with a head attached to the basilica ground plan. • The building is completed by the great octagonal tower, whose belfry is finished with a square cornice. The façade has a classical porch, being topped by a high relief representing the Annunciation.
• One of the most original examples of the Renaissance style in Granada built during the XVIth century by Diego de SiloÊ, according to some historians, and also declared National Monument. • The interior, with only one nave, has an outstanding chapel roofed with a truncated dome decorated with a polychromatic representation of the Eternal Father, The Apostles, and other saints. There is a big tower, which starts at the foot of the rectangular ground plan.
Next slide
Iglesia de Santa Catalina
Religious Architecture (hermitage) Ermita del Calvario
Ermita de JesĂşs
Ermita de San Roque
Ermita Virgen de la Caridad
Ermita del Calvario‌
‌ with a Loja view
Ermita de la Virgen de la Caridad
Ermita de JesĂşs Nazareno
Ermita de San Roque
Religious Architecture (convent) Claustro del Convento de S. Francisco de AsĂs
Convento de Santa Clara
Claustro del Convento de S. Francisco de AsĂs
Convento de Santa Clara
A lcazaba
C ivil A rchitecture Palaces and B uilding
B ridges
• Along the Middle Ages, different Christian kings had conquered and lost this Arabic fortress before the Catholic Monarchs finally won it. It is, the most relevant historic monument in Loja. • From this place, you can overlook the whole town. • Archaeological rests which have been found within, evidence the existence of urban settlements from the Iberic and Roman periods. • Many of its towers and walls still survive today, though quite damaged, such as the tower called Torre del Homenaje, or the Torre Ochavada.
Council Hall, now Public Library
P a la c e s a nd B uilding
Palace of Narvรกez, now Loja's Town Hall
Communal Granary
Council Hall, now Public Library.
• This beautiful historic building from the XIXth century, designed by a French architect, was bought by the Town Council to the heirs of the Duke of Valencia in a public auction celebrated on 9 June 1926, and was registered on 30 September as belonging to the Municipal Corporation of Loja. • The palace has got two floors and an attic situated on the Duque de Valencia street and two other floors which face the Plaza de Abajo. • A large hall-gives to the patio and to a beautiful doublespanned marble stairway. • In the background, a large picture, on the idle of the stairway, shows the Capture of Loja by the Catholic Monarchs. • Today, after a long time of restoration works, it looks as magnificent as in the good old times.
Communal Granary
Gran Capitán
B R IDG E S
Alto of Riofrío
Barracón
POPUL AR FE STIVAL S:
In Loja there are many festivals quite funny. They are: • On 1st May is Friendship Festival, in this festival, people are reunite in a place called “Cuevas de Colas”. This is a big Spanish festival where people wear Spanish costume and people go there by horses or carriages. • On 25th April is the Saint Mark’s Day. It’s a local holiday which people go to the country for the day. In this day, people eat “hornazos”, which are bread with cook egg.
On 2nd February is the Bonfires Day and people burn bonfires in the streets. They eat and drink all night over the fire and sometimes they throw fireworks.
Also during February, is celebrated the Carnival, and people use masks, there are costume contest and singers groups and parade of costumes
About March or April is celebrated the Easter week, where people remember God’s life
The “incensarios� are collocated in front of the Virgen, or Jesus sculpture and the sing and dance whit incense and they are typical of Loja.
It is very popular the “Viernes Santo” when leave the procession called “The Silence” who represent the Jesus´s death. In this festival there are very feeling.
On 3rd May is the Day of the Holy Cross. Younger people make theirs cross and they cover the street all morning. Then there is a cross contest.
Remarkable are the “pastelillos de Santa Teresa”, a delicious pastry made with almonds, coated with meringue and cinnamon, and, as far as we know, Loja seems to be the only place in the province where such a dessert is made. The “remojón” (a sort of salad) whit boiled potatoes or oranges, usually served with grilled cod, and, of course, a great variety of “gazpachos” (a sort of could soup), the typical summer dish in our region.
The well-known “roscos de Loja�, are ring-shaped cakes made with sponge, filled with egg and coated with meringue whose fame is most deserved.
You are invited to come to Loja‌
can see this beautiful sights.
Realized by:
Laura González Páez
Jesús Robles Lizana