Teatro Liceo

Baena's Castle looks very simple from the outside, and the restoration work really makes it look fresh and modern.

We were the only visitors this morning, and the lady at the entrance gave is a quick history of the castle. Built in the 9th century by the Arabs, it was captured at the time of the Reconquista and handed over to Diego Fernández de Córdoba in the 14th century.

He demilitarised the castle and turned it into a palace and his main residence. It stayed in the family until the 18th century, when it was then abandoned.

The Ayuntamiento took over the structure and built big water reservoirs. And in 2005, a prize winning restoration work started.

Like for all castles, the views from the top are great!

Our pilgrim friend Juan José had suggested we see the Casa del Monte. It houses offices and a restaurant. We went there for lunch, and the place mats were a map of the Caminos. The food was very good and I tried a local speciality, the mojete de papas.

We also spent some time planning our next steps. We'll stop our Camino in Castro del Río, take a bus to Córdoba, and a train from there to Málaga. We'll then fly to Switzerland.Read more