Iznájar

High above the Embalse de Iznájar lies the beautiful whitewashed town of Iznájar. Overlooking the many olive groves, Iznájar is located in the province of Cordoba. This stunning village is worthwhile a visit with plenty of attractions to keep you occupied for a few hours.
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1. Patio de las Comedias

In medieval times, Patio de las Comedias was the marketplace or souk. Since 1531, it was converted into what it is today. In those early days, the square was used to perform plays.
Nowadays, it is a colourful square where you find many blue flower pots hanging from the walls, filled with stunning geraniums.
At the back of the square is a stunning viewpoint from where you can admire the San Rafael tower. Even in November when we visited Iznájar, many of the flowers were in bloom.

2. Torre de san Rafael

At the back of Patio de las Comedias, walTorre de San Rafael. The tower is what's left of the old defensive walls that protected the town from impeding attacks. Inside the tower is a cave house which is used as the headquarters of Hermandad de los Apostoles (Apostles Brotherhood) during Holy Week. It is worthwhile walking down the steps as the views from the small balcony are just stunning.

3. Parroquia de Santiago Apostol

Beside the castle on the highest part of the town, you can find the majestic church of Santiago Apostol. This 16th century church was beautifully restored church showcasing its imposing stonework. The day we visited Iznájar, it was in the run-up to Dia de los Muertos. Many of the locals were placing flowers on the graves beside the church.

Inside the church is an interesting altarpiece dating back to the 18th Century.

4. Rafael Alberti square

This beautiful square is located right beside the church and the castle in the old part of the town. Dedicated to the Spanish poet Raafael Alberti, it was opened by the writer himself in 1989.

When he visited Iznájar in 1920, he got inspired to write one of his books which included the poem "Torre de Iznájar". The text of this poem can be found on the mosaic at the square.

5. Castillo de Iznájar

The Castillo de Iznájar is located on the highest point of the town, a perfect location from a defence perspective. This 8th-Century castle is open to visitors and provides some of the best views on the surrounding countryside.

The castle which is perched on a high ridge has steep slopes on its northern flank which act as a natural defence. The other sides of the castle is where the town of iznájar was built. The castle, which is of Arabic origin, gave the name to the town below. The name comes from the word "hisn" which means castle and from "al-ashar" meaning happy.

A small fee is required to be paid to enter the castle, but it's worth it even just for the views.

Entrance fee: Entrance to the castle costs 2 EUR and includes an audioguide (Languages are Spanish and English).

Opening times:  Tuesday through Sunday between 10 AM – 2 PM. On Friday and Saturday, the castle reopens from 4 PM – 7 PM.

6. Casa de las Columnas

Casa de las Columnas is an 18th Century house that housed the old administration of the count of Albi. This is where the local taxes were collected. The coat of arms on the facade of this house is just stunning. 

7. Rincón de Hisn-Ashar

​This small but peaceful corner can be found in Calle Cordoba . Separated from the street by an arched wall decorated with flower pots, the square has a small fountain and inscriptions on the wall.
The views from this terrace are stunning and it is a great spot to take a break.

How to visit:

Iznájar is approximately 1.5 hours drive from Malaga or Granada. There are buses to Iznajar from the likes of Malaga, Loja, Granada and Cordoba with ALSA (http://alsa.es) , but plan ahead and be prepared to take a couple of hours.
As an example, the bus from Malaga to Iznájar takes about 3 hours.

Where many of the streets in Iznájar are narrow and one-way, we would recommend walking around the town and leaving your car at the bottom of the hill. 
Once you enter the town, it can be difficult enough to find a parking space, even in the quieter seasons.

Car park:

There is a car park in Calle el Calvario before you enter the town (don't drive past it as you will need to navigate through the many narrow streets).

Another small, but semi-covered car park is in Calle Obispo Rosales