The best traffic-free bike rides around Sabiote

The Church of San Pablo was built in the 13th century on the site of a former mosque. This church is one of the oldest in the city and impresses with its blend of styles: a Romanesque portal, known as the Carpenters' Gate, a Renaissance-style side facade, and a late Gothic interior. The church is located in Plaza Primero de Mayo, also known as Paseo del Mercado (Market Square), as for centuries public markets were held here, as well as political events such as city council elections, religious services, and theatrical performances. Around the square, you can see the old Town Hall, the monument to Saint John of the Cross in the center, and at number 20, the house where Joaquín Sabina was born.

Sabiote has a long tradition of band music, and despite historical difficulties, it has managed to keep it alive among its residents. The town has a small bandstand where the band offers concerts to its residents on the hot Andalusian evenings in the Plaza de Santa Cruz. The Silverio Campos band is the main band, responsible for delighting the audience.

The wall, preserved in very good condition and still visible for many years to come, offers us the opportunity to walk around its perimeter, with stairs providing easy access to the different levels. In this section, we can appreciate the wall more directly.

In the same square as the Church of San Pedro, we find several palatial homes owned by important lineages of the city, which for many years were wealthy and well-off families. This grand palace dates back to the 16th century, although it was restored in the 20th century.

In the same square as the Church of San Pedro, we find several palatial homes owned by important lineages of the city, which for many years were wealthy and well-off families. This grand palace dates back to the 16th century, although it was restored in the 20th century.

This church was rebuilt in the 16th century, although construction began in 1500 on the site of a previous church that, like most, was demolished. The Gothic-Isabelline north portal was designed by Alonso Barba, a disciple of Andrés de Vandelvira, architect of Jaén Cathedral. His project was delayed due to a lack of funding and was not completed until the 17th century. This church was declared a National Monument in 1972.

What a spectacular structure we see today, it has survived the passage of time and the attacks of its inhabitants, not without a few historical vicissitudes. Most likely of Muslim origin, its history begins in the 13th century, until the withdrawal of the French in 1812 left the fortress almost destroyed. Due to numerous reconstructions, it can be visited today, although, understandably, only a small part of what it was in its day of greatest splendor remains.

In the other part of the city, which is divided by the N-322 national highway, now served by the highway, half the population lived on that side, while the other half lived on the other side. This artery was full of intersections with traffic lights that are now unusable due to the little or no traffic that passes through that area. The sports complex serves the physical needs of the citizens in fairly well-maintained facilities.