Baena
| Baena | ||
|---|---|---|
| Municipality | ||
|
Casa del Monte, Baena | ||
| ||
  Baena Location in Spain | ||
| Coordinates: 37°37′10″N 4°19′34″W / 37.61944°N 4.32611°W | ||
| Country |
 Spain | |
| Autonomous Community |
 Andalusia | |
| Province | Córdoba | |
| Comarca | Campiña de Baena | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | María Jesús Serrano Jiménez (PSOE) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 362.5 km2 (140.0 sq mi) | |
| Elevation(AMSL) | 405 m (1,329 ft) | |
| Population (2012) | ||
| • Total | 20,266 | |
| • Density | 56/km2 (140/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CEST (GMT +2) (UTC+2) | |
| Postal code | 14850 | |
| Area code(s) | +34 (Spain) + 957 (Córdoba) | |
| Website | Town Hall | |
Baena is a town of Andalucia in the province of Córdoba in southern Spain. It is picturesquely situated near the river Marbella on the slope of a hill 32 miles (51 km) southeast of Córdoba by road. The population of the town is 20,266 (2012).
History
The site of the Roman town (Baniana or Biniana)[1] could still be traced as late as the First World War, with various Roman antiquities excavated from the site.[2] In 1833, a subterranean vault was discovered, containing twelve cinerary urns with inscriptions commemorating members of the Pompeian family.[1]
The hill is crowned by fortifications. In 1292, the Moors under Mahommed II of Granada vainly besieged the citadel, which was held for Sancho IV of Castile;[2] the five Moorish heads in its coat-of-arms commemorates the occasion.[1] The castile was a base for Gonzalo de Cordova and was held in the 19th century by the Altamira family.[1] At that time, it held four parish churches and three schools conducted by sisters of charity. The girls' school held a high reputation in its province, despite not going beyond reading, writing, arithmetic, and religious instruction.[1] Its population was around 12,000 in the 1870s[1] and 15,000 by the turn of the century.[2] Grain and olive oil were the principal articles of commerce in the 19th century;[1] by the time of the First World War, horse-breeding and linen-weaving had also developed, despite the nearest railroad station being at Luque.[2]
At the beginning of the Spanish Civil War the town was the scenario of the Baena Massacre, a ruthless mass-execution of Spanish republicans where about 700 loyalists were murdered by the orders of rebel Colonel Sáenz de Buruaga.[3][4][5] Other estimates mention up to 2,000 victims following the brutal repression in Baena.[6]
High-quality olive oil continues to be the mainstay of the local economy. Sierras Subbéticas Natural Park is located to the south of the town.
Famous residents
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Baena at andalucia.com
- "Baena", Encyclopædia Britannica, 9th ed., Vol. III, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1878, p. 229.
- "Baena", Encyclopædia Britannica, 11th ed., Vol. III, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1911, p. 191.
Coordinates: 37°37′N 4°19′W / 37.617°N 4.317°W