Mural dedicated to Jorge Manrique

Start your itinerary in Chiclana de Segura enjoying the interpretation made by the renowned graffiti artist Miguel Ángel Belinchón (Spanish plastic artist known in the world of art as Belin) of Jorge Manrique.

The large-format, freehand painted mural, which demonstrates an incredible spatial vision, is made on the majestic rock wall that has historically protected this town, which defies an impossible geography.

The entrance tunnel to the town was built in 1950 by the engineer Manuel Tercero Sánchez. Inside, there are 2 plaques commemorating this extraordinary feat of engineering.

The impressive graffiti was made in the First Festival of the Encomienda, in 2010. In its upper part you can see the waiting of Guiomar de Castañeda, the poet’s wife, with a close-up of her eyes and in the lower part of a Quixotic Jorge Manrique with Chiclana in the background.

Palace of the Encomienda, home of Jorge Manrique

After contemplating the graffiti, enter the Historic Center of Chiclana through the audacious tunnel excavated in the imposing rock and approach the nearby Palacio de la Encomienda, where the Manrique family was housed, as Commander of the Order of Santiago.

It is located a few meters from the Belin mural, entering the Historic Center of Chiclana through the tunnel excavated in the rock and which leads to the Plaza de la Constitución, the nerve center of the town and where one of the most distinguished monumental buildings, the Church of San Pedro, from the 17th century, is located.

Continuing through the square towards Calle Real, we come across Palacio de la Encomienda (Palace of the Assignment), named so since it was intended for administration functions of the Assignment, in addition to being used as a home. The Manrique family is thought to have been staying here for some time.

This palace is also known as the House of the Inquisition, since it was also the seat of this religious court.

Architecturally speaking, the palace presents a portal in the lower body, with a semicircular arch with a raised key, smooth jambs and grooved pilasters and capitals on basements ; on the second floor, a lintelled balcony, boxed pilasters, a split pediment, little pinnacles with balls and, topping the upper floor, a cornice. The good ashlar masonry and the rectangular patio are also striking due to their footings, wooden beams and Doric columns.

Interpretation Center “Mirador de Jorge Manrique”

The Interpretation Center “Mirador de Jorge Manrique” is the only one dedicated exclusively to the warrior poet, with the exception of the Jorge Manrique Museum in Santa María del Campo Rus (Cuenca), where the warrior poet died after being wounded in combat in the vicinity of the castle of Garcimuñoz.

Here you can enjoy a complete vision of the life and work of the author and where you will delve into his facets as a man at arms and poet: family background, the development of his work and the impressions and influences he has had on other authors of the standing of Unamuno, Azorín or Machado.

The Interpretation Center “Mirador de Jorge Manrique” is an element of extraordinary cultural interest for all those interested in the author and, therefore, a must visit.

Chiclana de Segura castle, viewpoint

There is no better way to finish the author’s literary route in Chiclana than visiting the remains of the castle.

Located at the highest and most inaccessible point of the town, the castle has been declared an Asset of Cultural Interest since 1985.

Although barely some paintings of its walls, towers, cistern and rooms are preserved, it has one of the greatest panoramic views that can be enjoyed today, reaching up to four different provinces (Ciudad Real, Albacete, Granada and Jaén).

There are also numerous geographical features such as Sierra Morena, Sierra de Segura, Sierra de Alcaraz or Sierra Nevada.

The castle of Chiclana de Segura, of Arab origin and built in the 12th century, stands out above the buildings, which made it almost impregnable at the time of the

Reconquest. A feat that Fernando III achieved around the year 1235. A short time after that he handed over the castle to the Order of Santiago, which turned it into head of the Montizón-Chiclana Assignment and the reason why Jorge Manrique resided in the municipality, being appointed Commander of the Order.

Jorge Manrique himself may have commissioned a series of works in the fortress: “a spiral staircase for a false door, two corbels, a cellar, a cupboard for a bookstore” …

It is plainly obvious that Jorge Manrique refers to this fortress in his poem Castle of Love.

II

(…) named fortress

is in the high alcoves

of a slope,

on a sliced rock,

massive all of love,

very well placed (…).

Without a doubt, it is well worth going to Chiclana de Segura and going up through its narrow and steep streets to enjoy this visual spectacle (it also has a panoramic elevator – the only one in the province – to directly access the upper part of the castle) .