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Sierra de AndújarIn the northwest of Jaén province lies the Parque Natural Sierra de Andújar with its two reservoirs - Embalse de Jándula and El Encinarejo. This is a nature lover's paradise with bird-watching, fishing and hunting and walking galore. It's also famous for the Santuario de Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza, in Cerro Cabezo where thousands of people gather for the annual pilgrimage on the last Sunday in April. It's a lively and colourful affair with traditional costume and decorated carts and carriages, which nearly half a million people attend, it's said to be the oldest pilgrimage in Spain.
Tradition says that a pastor from Colomera in Granada found an image of the Virgen at the Cerro, the site of the chapel in 1227, he took it to Andújar where it disappeared and was found again at the Cerro. In 1287 work began to build a chapel or sanctuary for the virgin at the site, which today plays host to the pilgrims. There are several walking routes through the park one of which is to the Santuario, maps and routes can be found at the local tourist offices or the visitors centre at Las Viñas de Peñallana.
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