Almost in the geographical centre of Andalucia, the 20,000 hectare Sierra Mágina Natural Park is an isolated mountainous massif, easily spotted from north or south. It contains the highest peaks of Jaen province, Magina, at 2165 metres, Almadén – 2033 metres and La Peña – 2014 metres. Part of the Cordillera Subbética, the Sierra Mágina acts as the westerly ‘gatepost’ between the high, dry, Granada Altiplano to the south and the more fertile, green, Guadalquivir valley to the north. The eastern ‘gatepost’ is its easterly neighbour the Sierras de Cazorla.