Linares

Linares is the second most populous municipality in the province of Jaén. Its location, between the eastern sector of the Sierra Morena and the upper part of the Guadalquivir river basin, has established it as a historically significant point on the peninsula. 

Its commercial, mining, and agricultural importance meant that the area was occupied even during the Roman period. From that era, we are left with one of the most impressive archaeological sites in Spain: Cástulo. So far, the remains found have been truly impressive. Among them, the so-called Mosaico de los Amores stands out. Later, it became an important point on the commercial axis of the Andalusian period.

The area’s rich mines, with deposits of copper, lead, and silver, have always influenced its settlement. These minerals were extracted since Roman times, but it was from the 19th century, with technological advances and the influx of foreign capital, that the city experienced a mining boom. In fact, by the end of the 19th century, it became the world's largest producer of lead. This turned it into one of the most important points of the Spanish railway network.

Currently, the remains of the splendour that emerged just over a century ago are visible, along with other places now being promoted as tourist reference points. Mining constructions, the Hospital de los Marqueses, the Archaeological Museum, and the Basilica of Santa Maria la Mayor are some of the city's most popular sites.