Quesada a cultural tourism destination

Quesada is a small village in the south east of Jaén province on the western slopes of the Sierras de Cazorla Segura y Las Villas Parque Natural

By Nick Nutter | Updated 25 Jun 2022 | Jaén | Villages | Login to add to YOUR Favourites or Read Later

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Quesada

Quesada is a small village in the south east of Jaén province on the western slopes of the Sierras de Cazorla Segura y Las Villas Parque Natural. It is becoming a destination for those interested in cultural tourism in Andalucia.

Quesada

Although inhabited since the Argaric period, perhaps 2500 BC, the town today is primarily Mediaeval. Part of the 13th and 14th century defensive wall that would have surrounded the town is still visible and the streets in the older part of town are typically narrow and winding.

Quesada

Quesdada’s main claims to fame are two of its previous residents, Rafael Zabaleta (1907 – 1960), the painter, and the poet, Miguel Hernández (1910 – 1942) and its position as a gateway to the Sierras de Cazorla Segura y Las Villas Parque Natural.

Museo Rafael Zabaleta

Rafael Hidalgo de Caviedas - painter

The works on display comprise 114 oil paintings, 11 watercolours and 500 drawings, all of which provide a fascinating insight into Zabaleta's evolution, experiments and artistic experiences. The museum itinerary also includes works by grand masters of the 20th century, such as Miró, Picasso, Tapies, Canogar and Miralles, who paid a posthumous tribute to Zabaleta by donating some of their works to the museum.

Miguel Hernández - Josefina Manresa Museum

Rafael Zabaleta Fuentes - painter

This museum is below the Museo Rafael Zabaleta and celebrates the life of the poet Miguel Hernández. Although Miguel was born in Orihuela, his wife, Josefina Manresa, with whom he was desperately in love, hails from Quesada. Despite his tragically early death, Miguel Hernández became one of the most influential poets to the succeeding generation of Spanish poets. The museum provides a journey through the life and work of the poet and his wife in 6 exhibition rooms.

Quesada Archaeological Museum

Quesada

In the centre of Quesdada is the new, archaeological museum. It has a number of themes. The most important is the cave art found in the area and how it links to cave art in the rest of Spain. The second theme looks at the Villa Romana de Bruñel that is a few kilometres outside the town and the third examines Quesada itself, concentrating on the Mediaeval period.

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