Martos Hill Legend- La Peña The conical shaped hill rises to the east side of Martos town, on its summit the ruins of a Moorish fortress a tiny walled city built for defence and a what a view. From its summit you can spy watchtowers fading into the distance –the early warning system that the Arabs were so brilliant at. After the re-conquest the Hermanos Calatravos rebuilt the castle in 14th century, it consisted of two parts, the highest south-western section where the tower was built. According to the Martos Hill legend the Hermanos Carvajales, assassinated Don Juan de Benavides in 1312, in this time Jaen was on the border of the Muslim kingdom and the Christian kingdom. King Fernando ordered the Carvajales to be brought to justice. They were caught and sentenced to die by being thrown from La Pena in a cage with internal spikes, and were pushed from off the hill. Before their death one of the brothers told the king that they’d see each other again before God within 30 days of their death. Where the cage came to rest a cross was erected and there is still one in place today called Cruz del Lloro – Cross of Weeping. King Ferdinand IV was fighting against the Muslims in Alcaudete and died exactly thirty days after the brothers. Martos Hill, Parking and Picnic Area To climb up La Pena from Martos turn off at the junction for the Centro de Salud/Ciudad de Martos Hotel and follow the signs to Galeria de Tiro away from the health centre and an upward climb. Turn sharp right at the Tiro sign and keep climbing. When you start to level out at the top with the hill on your left take the right turn and there is a large car park, picnic area with tables and bbq's and chapel/sanctuary. You can scramble up most of this side of the hill, but there is a marked path which isn’t really much easier underfoot. Go from Martos Hill Legend to more information about Martos
|
