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Martos
View of the rock of Martos from the Manuel Carrasco park.
View of the rock of Martos from the Manuel Carrasco park.
Flag of Martos
Coat of arms of Martos
Nickname(s): 

Ciudad de la Peña (Spanish)
"City of the Rock"
Cuna del Olivar (Spanish)
"Cradle of the Olive Grove"
Map
Location of Martos
Coordinates: 37°43′N 3°58′W / 37.717°N 3.967°W / 37.717; -3.967
Country Spain
Autonomous
community
 Andalusia
Province Jaén
ComarcaMetropolitana
Judicial districtMartos
Government
 • Alcalde
(2023-2027)
Emilio Torres Velasco (Spanish Socialist Workers' Party)
Area
 • Total
259.10 km2 (100.04 sq mi)
Elevation
753 m (2,470 ft)
Population
 (1 January 2023)
 • Total
24,363
 • Density94/km2 (240/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Marteño/a, tuccitano/a
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
23600
Dialing code(+34) 953 55 XX XX (+34) 953 70 XX XX
Websitewww.martos.es

Martos is a city in the province of Jaén in the autonomous community of Andalusia in south-central Spain.

With a population of over 24,000 people, Martos is the fifth largest municipality in the province and the second in Jaén metropolitan area. The city is physically located on the western side of the Sierra Sur de Jaén, to which it previously belonged administratively.

It is popularly known as the City of the Rock (Spanish: Ciudad de la Peña) as it lies at the foot of a 1,003-metre (3,290 ft) mountain named Rock of Martos (Spanish: Peña de Martos).

As is essentially the case in the entire province of Jaén, the economy of Martos is heavily based on agriculture, specifically the cultivation of the olive tree. With over 22,000 hectares of olive fields (accounting for 85% of the municipality area) and 20 million liters per year, Martos is the largest olive oil producing city in the world[1], thus earning the nickname of Cradle of the Olive Grove (Spanish: Cuna del Olivar).

Martos is also an important industrial center in inner Andalusia. French global automotive supplier Valeo established a factory in the city in the 1980s, making it the largest business in the province.[2]. Moreover, the low-cost fuel sales company Petroprix was founded in Martos in 2013, becoming the fastest-growing energy company of Europe in 2024.[3]

History

The city has been linked to the Roman settlement of Colonia Augusta Gemella, and starting in the 8th century was ruled by the Moors under various Islamic states for over 500 years.

"Torre del Homenaje" of the "Castillo de la Villa"

In 1225, King Ferdinand III of Castile and Leon were handed the city from Al Bayyasi in exchange for helping Al Bayyasi in his war against the Almohads in Andalusia. Subsequently, Ferdinand III incorporated it into his kingdom.

During the Middle Ages, Martos became a strategic place, and its defences were reinforced with the construction of numerous fortifications in the city.

At the end of the 19th century and beginning of the 20th century, Martos underwent significant economic and urban development (reflected in the city's architecture), in large part due to the wealth derived from the industrial production of olive oil. Martos thus became one of the most prosperous cities of eastern Andalusia.

Ecclesiastical history

Torre-Campanario de la Villa

Former diocese of Tucci

Around 250 AD, a bishopric was established in present Martos under the name Tucci, on territory from the suppressed Diocese of Iliturgi. It was a suffragan of the Metropolitan Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sevilla.

In 350, it lost territory to establish the Diocese of Cástulo (now also a titular see), which it regained at that bishopric's suppression around 400.

In 715, it was suppressed to establish the Diocese of Beaza.

Recorded bishops are

  • Rogato (675? – 688?)
  • Teudisclo (693? – ?)

Economy

Olives still play an important part in the local economy, but industry an increasingly big part as well, including plastics, the auto industry, metallurgy, the construction of roads, etc. Many local firms support French multinational Valeo’s local production.

Festivals

Among the numerous festivals carried out in the city it is necessary to highlight:

  • Holy week: Considered of tourist interest of Andalusia.
  • San Bartolomé's festival: Principal festival. August
  • Carnival
  • San Amador: On May 5
  • Virgin of the Villa: On the first Tuesday after Holy Week
  • Saint Martha: On July 29
  • Romería of the Virgin of the Victory: last weekend of May
  • Festival of the olive: on December 8

Sports

The most important club is Martos CD.

References