It is located more than 1,200 meters of altitude, in the top of a hill of little elevation dominated by two taller ones forming with them a small mountain range that separates the slopes of the Genil and Guadiana Menor rivers. It owes its name to the medieval tower that still remains still in its surroundings, over the urban core, where the pass from Guadix to Guadahortuna and Huelma was controlled.
Its main attractions are the Arab Tower located in the Hill of the Molino, the Parochial Church of San Jose, the Hermitage of Santa Catalina and the Great House.
Torre Cardela was founded as town at some point of the Islamic domination, although there are archaeological rests in the area that demonstrate the existence of human settlements long before. The Arabs called it Hisn Cardaira, “Castle of Cardaira”. It played an important role at the time, since it was border between Granada and Jaén, which caused that it suffered the Christian harassment from early times. It was conquered in 1412 by the Marques of Cadiz, but it was taken again by the Nasrids. Later it became the Estate of the Girones when it was re-conquered by the Catholic Kings and since then its population has stayed relatively stable since it was not affected remarkably by the Moorish expulsion.
Products of the orchard can be tasted such as the cherries, but in addition its olive trees have a very good reputation in the area for the oil production. Many good dishes can be eaten in Torre-Cardela: migas, barbecued lamb, tarbinas stew, maimones, estofaillo, gachas with honey, andrajos... The homemade chorizos, pork and salchichones are some of the products that you can not miss of this town.
© Patronato Provincial de Turismo de Granada I Diputación de Granada
