Introduction:

Situated in the Genil River valley. Loja is a town that serves as the central point between Granada and Malaga.  Historically, Loja was the key area in which communications between the officials of Granada and Malaga would take place.  This tidbit allows for much of Loja to have both historic importance that can be viewed by both locals and tourists, but also many breathtaking buildings grace the town’s interior. It is important that you start your trip to Loja with a tourist pass.  The Loja Tourist Pass costs very little and gives the user unbeatable benefits.  The pass allows the holder to enter three area museums for one low cost.

History:

Legend has it that Noah’s grandson, Túbal, founded Loja.  Whether there is truth to the legend remains unseen, but evidence does offer insight into the Phoenicians time when they called the area Tricolia and set up the first commercial base in the 8th century.  When the Romans took over, they renamed the town Lascivis (place of waters) and continued using the area as an excellent agricultural zone. When the Moors replaced the Romans, they built the town up with additional homes and buildings.  Now called Medina Lawsa, they worked hard to protect their fertile fields. In the late 1400s, Fernando the Catholic seized the town, only to lose control.  His second attempt proved successful, more than 5,000 Moors were forced to flee the town.  While Christians now owned Loja, there was no population left.  The town had to be rebuilt.  The name Espadón de Loja was given and the town began its quest to expand and thrive.

Site Seeing:

Fishing is important to Lojeños.  In fact, anglers will be delighted to known that in Loja you can fish 365 days per year.  The fishing season never ends!  Los Infiernos de Loja (The Hells of Loja) is a series of caverns and waterfalls located within Loja.  The caverns and waterfalls often wind underground, thus giving the area their name.  As it can be a bit of a hike to reach the caverns and some of the waterfalls, you may want to bring hiking shoes. Built during the reign of Felipe II, the Alcazaba is the remnants of Loja’s military building.  Some of the fortress has wasted away over the centuries, but some walls and towers still stand tall.  Caserón de los Alcaides Cristianos is the historical museum inside the Alcazaba. 400 years ago, Antigua Casa de Cabildos was built to house the city council.  The establishment is packed with intricate architectural details worth viewing.  Casa Jardines y Mausoleo de Narváez is the 19th century residence of the Duke of Valencia.  Currently, the building houses the city council.  Delightful gardens and period features are must-sees if you tour the building, but the mausoleum is the most popular attraction. Claustro del Convento del San Francisco de Asis is Loja’s 16th century convent.  The convent has changed hands many times in the past four centuries and is currently a small hospital. The 17th century Ermita de Jesús Nazareno offers a baroque altarpiece and some of the world’s most impressive images of the Easter of Loja.  The Ermita’s attendance rises drastically every Easter when a celebration in which the images are paraded through the streets before returning to their resting place in the church. Pósito Nuevo is the former mental institution.  Though the building can seem slightly creepy, the architecture is simply amazing.  Built in the 16th century, the Renaissance features are remarkable.

Industry:

The area’s economy is equally balanced between tourism and agriculture.  The warm climate allows for many crops from eggplant to tomatoes to olives to wheat to thrive.  Tourism is another important part of Loja’s economy.  With many historic sites to view, people pass through Loja on their way to other cities and then stop to view the amazing sites.

Gastronomy:

Lojeños are proud of their culture and it shows.  Many of Loja’s typical dishes take you back in time to the days of the Moors.  Arabic cuisine helps shape the dishes that are offered in both restaurants and homes of Loja. Gazpacho, bread, and fried dough sticks are common.  Sobreusa of Habas (bean stew), Remojón of Orange (cod and orange salad), and huesos de santo (a marzipan creation) are dishes that stand out as being from Loja. Because Loja is near Riofrío, sturgeon caviar is readily available.  Riofrío is often touted as being the greatest caviar in the world.

Nightlife:

There is a fine selection of tapas bars in Loja.  The bars hand out delicious snacks with cold beers or glasses of wine.  Tapas are an excellent way to experience the area cuisine.  You get to snack on small portions so that you do not fill up too quickly.

Summary:

Loja has so many historic sites, you cannot possibly spend just one day seeing them all.  Loja is an area that demands at least two days of your time.  The area is beautiful and meant to be shared. Plan to visit Loja for at least two days.  There is a good supply of hotels and hostels where you can spend a night.  Enjoy the scenery and let Loja take you on a journey back in time.

Useful Business Links for Loja:

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