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Viewpoint and monument to Jorge Manrique

Next to the Puerta Nueva, one of the entrances to the walled enclosure of Segura de la Sierra and which is adjoining the town hall, you can find both the monument to Jorge Manrique, and viewpoint that bears his name.

The statue, the work of the renowned sculptor Don Miguel Fuentes del Olmo, represents the illustrious writer in his two main facets: that of a man-at-arms, wearing a warlike dress and with his right hand on a dagger; and that of a writer, who, calmly, holds and reads a book in his left hand. Therefore, an excellent way to illustrate the warrior poet.

At the foot of the statue, a plaque reads: “Segura de la Sierra to its most illustrious son,” Jorge Manrique. Year MCMIC.

The statue invites you to enjoy the great views offered by the Jorge Manrique viewpoint, with the help of an orientation map where the visitor can identify the different landscapes that he has before his eyes: the Trujala river, Cerro del Pavo, Puerta de Segura , etc.

Undoubtedly, a space where you can enjoy reading any work by Jorge Manrique, contemplating the same landscape that the poet must have glimpsed centuries ago.

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Jorge Manrique’s family house

After visiting the viewpoint, you have to go to the house where Jorge Manrique was born, which you will find just a few steps away.

Although it is not documented that Jorge Manrique was born in that house (it is thought that in the case of being born in Segura de la Sierra, the option is that he most likely was born in the castle), it was the home of the Manrique family.

In front of the house, take look at its façade, which still preserves the coat of arms of the Feria House (after Mencía de Figueroa, his mother), which shows that it was the property of the Manrique family.

The building belongs to the civil architecture of the 16th century and on its façade there is a semicircular arch decorated with plant motifs, flanked by carved pilasters and complemented by small Ionic columns.

Behind a cornice, in the upper area, the noble coat of arms of the Figueroa family was carved in stone -in gold field, five sinople fig leaves placed in sotuer-, maternal family of Jorge Manrique, together with a Cross of Santiago , which denoted the connection with the order issued by Rodrigo Manrique.

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Now Don Rodrigo was

Much loved by people for

His rectitude;

The master was renowned

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Castle of Segura de la Sierra (Interpretation space of…

The Castle of Segura de la Sierra is undoubtedly one of the main cultural attractions, not only of Segura, but of the entire environment, with portentous panoramic views of the entire mountain range.

The castle was built between the 13th and 14th centuries to defend the order of Segura, by the Order of Santiago (it became the residence of the Grand Master of this Order), over the bases of previous defensive and palatial constructions (in the 8th century there was already a fortification that protected the Saqura farmhouse, from whose time the archaeological remains of the Arab Baths are preserved).

Structurally, it consists of two differentiated enclosures: the castle, defended by five towers, including the marvelous donjon, where Jorge Manrique’s interpretation centre is currently located; and the outer enclosure, built in masonry and that has two wells dug into the rock and an upper barbican that gives access to the main door.

The Castle consists of several themed spaces, providing a recreation of medieval trades in the parade ground; the interpretive environments related to the Order of Santiago are located in the chapel and the first and second floors of the donjon; finally, you can find the interpretive space on Jorge Manrique on the third floor of the donjon.

This interpretation space consists of several exhibition scenes of the warrior poet’s family environment, ranging from sounding reminiscences recreating the conversation that Jorge Manrique has with his father, Don Rodrigo, on the stage of the Verses on the Death of his Father, as well as other interpretive speeches more linked to the artist’s poetic work.

After visiting Jorge Manrique’s interpretive centre, you might want to climb the battlements of the donjon and shudder at the spectacular views it offers: the Yelmo, with its more than 1,800 meters of altitude and symbol of the Sierra de Segura; Segura La Vieja (Iberian town), the Cerro de Góntar, the Peñalta viewpoint and thus an endless number of landmarks that, together with a relaxed reading of Manrique’s poetry, will create an emotional state that will connect you forever with Segura de la Sierra .

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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(…) 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) .

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The Arch of Barbudo

While you enjoy in wandering through the marvelous Old Town of Baeza, stop by the Arch of Barbudo.

This stone arch is what remains of one of the main access gates to the city. Its real name is Arco de San León, in honor of the Franciscan convent and former hermitage and later changed its name for the Arch of Barbudo(“Puerta del Barbudo”). The reason is given by the Portuguese Martín Yánez de la Barbuda, Master of the Order of Alcántara, who in 1394 passed through it with a large army to fight against the Muslims from Granada, being defeated and killed.

It is also the gate through which Jorge Manrique and his allies are supposed to have entered in the fight against Diego Fernández de Córdoba.

Through this gate, built in masonry, opening an opening with a semicircular arch of radial voussoirs and narrow ashlar jambs, one entered the Barbacana , a defensive space that remained between the walls.

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Jabalquinto palace

This Palace (which today is the headquarters of the International University of Andalusia) was ordered to be built at the end of the 15th century by Juan Alfonso de Benavides Manrique, Lord of Jabalquinto, whose son Manuel married Luisa Manrique, daughter of our beloved warrior poet.

This family bond is the fact that links Jorge Manrique with this space in Baeza. When the author visited the city, he was a guest at the Palace on more than one occasion. A family relationship that compelled him to take part in the fight against Diego Fernández de Córdoba, being defeated and imprisoned for a time Baeza.

The most striking thing about this Palace is the majestic Elizabethan Gothic decoration of its main façade, where its beautiful windows and prominent diamond points stand out. The patio with two floors of semicircular arches on slender columns is also sumptuous.