HISTORY:

The present populace of Puente Genil came into being in 1835 joining with Miragenil created in the XVI Century on the left bank of the river and stopping at Estepa; the bridge of Don Gonzalo situated on the right bank arose at the end of the XIII Century as a bridge to control the crossing of the Genil, it was constructed by Gonzalo Yáñez Dovinal. The place was practically an uninhabited country estate of the landlord of Aguilar who may possibily have transferred the people of "Castillo Azur" here (a stronghold contructed around the X Century next to the river with the same name).

PLACES TO VISIT:

The street San Cristóbal takes us to the church of Jesús Nazareno in the Calvary, a church whose present-day appearance has remained faithful to the work carried out in the XVIII and XIX Centuries. Here the image of Jesús nazareno patron of Puente Genil is worshipped the work of Granadan sculptor Pablo de Rojas. Coming down from the Calvary via the street Amargura leading into the street Aguilar, the hermitage of La Vera Cruz can be found in the corner. A little further down one comes across the ancient convent of San Francisco, its church dates from the beginning of the XVIII Century. Walking down la Cuesta Baena to la Plaza Nacional one may observe the pleasant vegetation surrounding the Genil, here is where the bridge crosses the river. The bridge take us to the district of Miragenil on the left bank, where the church of Santiago may be founded, dating from 1705. One returns to the bridge in order to reach the street Don Gonzalo where also many noteworthy monuments can be located. The first being the parish chusch of Nuestra Señora de la Purificación, contucted at the beginning of the XVI Century. Towards the end of the same street one cames across the convent church La Victoria of the Minimos monks, dating back to the middle of the XVII Century. Next to the temple there is a beatiful patio a XIX Century cloister. In the lower district encircled by the meander of the river stands the oldest church in Puente Genil La iglesia del Dulce Nombre de Jesús, a Mudejar chapel of one nave erected at the end of the XVI Century. At the other extreme of the town lies the district of La Estación with the modern church Carmen, which keeps an interesting image of the Risen Christ, completed in 1636 by the Granadan artist Alonso de Mena.

SURROUNDING AREAS:

Nature lovers have, at very close hand fromd Puente Gennil, two protected areas, the lagoon of Tiscar and the reservoir of Cordobilla. The first is situated at some six kilometres to the northeast of the town, after the town of Puerto Alegre, its surface covers thirteen hectares and it is not very deep-usually losing its water at the beginnig of the summer. October to February is the most appropriate time to watch from the public observatory, the aquatic birds frequenting the area being usually flamingo, duck mallard, coot, teal, and grebe. The reservoir of Cordobilla on the river Genil shared partly by Aguilar, offers two places for observation. Its head which can be reached by the road passing through Cordobilla and the tail end via the regional route 764, passing the nearby Castillo Anzur, the mediaeval stronghold that was the founder of the present population. From the head an island can be seen, populated by reeds-winter refuge for common grebe and other species. Whilst the tail-end is populated by dense reedbeds and bullrushes that serve as winter refuge to a variety of winter birds such as; heron, egret, duck, mallard and coot to metion a few.

GASTRONOMY:

Traditional dishes are las alcachofasen salsa, las berenjenas fritas, or las ensaladas de San Marcos. Puente Genil is also a town renowned for its sweet dishes, some of the local confectioners´specialities being huevo hilado, bizcochos de Génova, capuchinas and roscos de gachas, though its most typical sweet is la carne de membrillo.

FIESTAS:

Puente Genil´s most awaited fiesta is Semana Santa, during which time 24 brotherhoods with some thirty pasos fill the streets on the different days. However, what distinguishes the town from others is the presence of biblical associations which embody figures from the Old and New Testaments. They can be seen in the procession of the Nazarene on Good Friday called el Terrible, they also accompany the return of el Resucitado. Of the different associations the Roman Empire stands out, it is made up of five platoons and a band, they protagonize La Imocionante Diana del Calvario that is interpreted at the beginning of the proseccion of the Nazarene on the dawn of Good Friday during which, they perform numerous marches and crosses. To see the future school followers, one must see the children´s version of the adult Semana Santa, which they protagonize around El Día de la Cruz. The second Sunday of May the distract of Matallana celebrates the fiesta for La Virgen de los Desamparados. Between 14 and 19 August the main feria takes place.

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