Santiago – Pontones
Santiago – Pontones, Sierra de Segura
Santiago-Pontones is located to the North-East of Jaén and to the South of Sierra de Segura, a region to which Santiago belongs.
It has an area of 68.214 Hectares and being a third part of the Cazorla, Segura y las Villas Natural Park.
The municipality comes up 24, June 1975 due to the merger of the municipalities Santiago de la Espada and Pontones.
Santiago de la Espada with a height of 1300 metres is dominated by the valley of the River Zumeta; Pontones located in the upper basin of the River Segura is at a height of 1325 metres.
The municipality has a population close to 5000 inhabitants spread in 32 small villages and 80 populated areas.
The area was populated by the man from times immemorial, like we can observe in the studies carried out in La Cueva del Nacimiento (Fuente Segura) from the Upper Final Palaeolithic, 9250 B.C. and the several cave paintings, among which we can emphasize the ones of Levantine style, declared Patrimonio de la Humanidad (World Heritage) by UNESCO.
We also can observe Iberian and Tartessus remains, many remains of the Moslem Age in the small villages of La Matea, Tobos, Marchena, La Muelam Miller and Las Gorgollitas.
The population centre of Santiago de la Espada was constituted at the end of the XVI century. It was founded by migrating shepherds who met around an oven to bake bread, was constituted the village of El Hornillo.
This name was changed in 1691 by the one of Puebla de Santiago, becoming Santiago Pontones between 1770 and 1776.
Pontones owes its name to the existence of several bridges over the River Segura. It depended on Segura de la Sierra until 1837, year in which it achieves its independence.
The most significant monuments we can find are the Church of Santiago Apóstol built in the XVI century although it was made improvements in the XVIII century and the wood row of balconies in an old inn from the XVI century that is located in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento.
This town was known during the Middle Age like Hornillo, name given by the migrating shepherds. Later it was called Puebla de Santiago and finale Santiago de la Espada.
The first human settlements date from the Palaeolithic Age. We can also find signs of the Iberian settlement.
During the al-Andalus period Moslems named some small villages such as Miller, Marchena or La Muela.
In 1266, Alfonso X granted his inhabitants some privileges.
In 1961 Santiago Pontones would be independent from Segura de la Sierra.
Parish Church of Santiago Apóstol, XVI century. It was built over an old hermitage. Its main altarpiece of baroque style dates from the XVIII century.
We have to emphasize the cave paintings of La Cueva del Engarbo, Río Frío and Caña la Cruz, apart from its Iberian treasures
Tower of El Vinagre.
Cave of El Nacimiento. There were found remains that belong the Upper Palaeolithic.
Las Quebradas. Remains of the Iberian necropolis.
El Hornillo. An old inn with wood balcony from the XVI century.
Casa Tercia or del Pósito.
Balcón de Pilatos.
Pino Galapán. It is located in the area around La Cortijada de Don Domingo, it is a specimen of pino laricio (European Black Pine) with more than 400 years old.
The gastronomy of Santiago-Pontones has a high quality and is varied due to the raw materials and natural resources we can find in the area.
The abundance of fruit trees, the superb cultivated products in the fertile vegetable gardens, provided the suitable ingredients to many native stews, seasoned with the aromatic herbs of these mountains and the excellent olive oil.
It is worth pointing out in the “Trucha Común” fishing, usual in our rivers and reservoirs and that will give rise to a variety of dishes, the smoked, pickled or baked trout, etc.
We have to emphasize in the big game, the “cordero segureño” adapted to this rough area, producing a first-class meat, valued both nationwide and worldwide. The pork, being the slaughter one of the oldest resources, the base of the serrana diet.
Finally the confectionery collects a delicious range of sweets that are meticulously made by our adults, preserving the receipts that have been passing from one generation to another.
We cannot finish without mentioning the different kinds of liquors, jams and tinned food that contributed to the enrichment of a healthy, nutritious and nice cuisine regarding its tastes.
How to get there
- From El Levante: you have to go to Murcia, Caravaca de la Cruz, Puebla de Don Fradique, Santiago de la espada, Pontones.
- From Madrid: take the Motorway of Andalucía. The detour in Solana, Villanueva de los Infantes, Albadalejo. N-322, detour Puerta de Segura, towards Hornos, Pontones.
Siles 58 km
Jaén 183 km
Hornos 46 km
Beas de Segura 72 km
Cortijos Nuevos 52 km
Segura de la Sierra 53 km
Casicas del Río Segura 35 km
Puebla de Don Fabrique 37 km
Villanueva del Arzobispo 87 km
Properties for Sale in Santiago-Pontones