The site of the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, one of the most important in Spanish history. The battle took place on 16 July 1212 and was an important turning point in the Reconquista and in the medieval history of Spain. The forces of King Alfonso VIII of Castile were joined by the armies of his Christian rivals, in battle against the Berber Muslim Almohad rulers of the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula. The crushing defeat of the Almohads significantly hastened their decline both in the Iberian Peninsula and in the Maghreb a decade later. It enabled the Christians to take over almost all of southern Spain in the ensuing forty years. The above painting is a somewhat fanciful portrayal.
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Moorish places in Spain, Places in Castilla-La Mancha, Places in the history of Spain | Tags: Battle sites in Spain, Interesting places in Jaén, Places in Jaén, Reconquista battles|
The Baños Arabes in Jaén are considered one of the best examples Moorish hammams in Spain. They were built between the 11th and the 12th centuries, and cover an area of 450m2 making them probably the largest in Europe. The horseshoe arches and brickwork ceilings with their famous star-shaped windows give a nice, airy feel to the place. Most of the baths have been well restored.
The baths are in the Palacio de Villardompardo which also worth a visit. They are free to visit and are open from 9am-8pm between Tuesdays and Fridays and from 9.30am-2.30pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
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Interesting buildings in Spain, Moorish places in Spain, Places in Andalusia | Tags: Arab baths in Europe, Arab baths in Spain, Largest Arab baths, Moorish hammams in Spain, Palacio de Villardompardo, Places in Jaén, Sightseeing Jaén, Things to do in Jaén|
