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This Franciscan convent, founded in 1573, is located in the middle of a pine wood in the Sierra de Santa Ana, an emblematic natural setting conducive to meditation and inner peace.
In the 17th Century, a figure of Christ crucified known as 'Cristo de la Reja' or Christ of the Railing was hung from the vault and, according to legend, when the friars were praying, unnailed his right hand and blessed the community three times.
In the chapel, you can see the image of Christ tied to the Column, a magnificent sculpture in cypress wood, commissioned by the friars from Francisco Salzillo. Since the 19th Century, the image has been taken out in pilgrimage for the Easter Week and Palm Sunday processions.
The Marquis of Villena, a devout follower of Santa Ana, sent many of the relics that still remain at the convent from Italy, making it the third most important reliquary in Spain. Another highlight of the monastery is the museum, set up with items brought back from around the world and donated by the friars.
Declared of Regional Tourist Interest, this festival takes place around the 15th of August, when Jumilla honours its patron, Our Lady of the Assumption. It also coincides with two other major celebrations in the town, the Moors and Christians festival and the National Folklore Festival.
The Fiestas de la Vendimia came about on the initiative of a group of local bodega owners until, a few years ago, groups and associations of agriculturists began to take part, resulting in the formation of a number of 'peñas' or festival clubs, united under the umbrella of the 'Federación de Peñas de la Fiesta de la Vendimia'.
All the festival activities revolve around wine and wine-related culture, depicting all the tasks involved in wine-making, such as grape-picking, treading, wine-making and tasting. The numerous organised events ensure fun for all ages and include the inauguration of the wine fountain, the offering of grapes and the first must to the image of Child Jesus with the Grapes, a children's parade, wine parade, etc.
La gachamiga. A calorie-laden winter dish with a deep-rooted popular tradition due to its simplicity. The ingredients are flour, oil, garlic, water and salt.
Relleno o pelotas. A typical Christmas Day dish, although now made at any time of year. Made using bread crumbs soaked in water or milk, minced liver or pork, eggs, garlic and parsley, seasoned to taste and made into meatballs that are cooked in the broth from the typical 'cocido' stew.
Empanadas de patata. Very common at Easter, these pasties are prepared with pastry made with flour, oil, water and salt, filled with fried potatoes, tuna, hard-boiled egg, pepper, pine nuts and parsley.
Queso de cabra frito con tomate. Fresh goat's cheese made using milk from the indigenous Murciano-Granadina breed. The cheese is fried in olive oil and served with a tomato sauce.
Queso de Murcia al Vino. A speciality cheese with its own Protected Designation of Origin, made with pasteurised Murciano-Granadina goat's milk and then steeped in red wine, producing a creamy and elastic textured cheese with a pleasantly sharp taste, little salt and a mild aroma.
Top 10
Jumilla is one of the crucial stops in the North East region. Called 'the beauty' by the Arabs, it is famous for its wines with Designation of Origin (D.O.), its gastronomy, its gardens and its Iberian, Roman and Medieval legacy.
WINE ESCAPE
Jumilla is one of the sanctuaries in Spain for lovers of good wine. Here you will be able to accommodate yourself in a rural environment, walk in the vineyards, visit its wine cellars and wine collections and get to know bit by bit the elaboration process of its wines with D.O. If we also add an alternative touch to this oenological essence, as a result we have the Música entre Vinos Festival (Music between Wines Festival), a summer event in which concerts take place within gigantic barrels, along with good wines and gastronomy from the area.
ALL A FORTRESS
The Jumilla Castle, built in 1461 by Marquis of Villena on an old Muslim fortification, is today an example of restoration and a busy cultural space. To arrive at it you will have to go through the Camino del Subidor, a natural viewpoint where you will surely experience one of the most outstanding panoramic views of the region. It is declared a National Monument.
MONASTIC LIFE
Pass through the Convent of Santa Ana, situated in the heart of the mountain range ¿it is a luxury you shouldn't miss out on. Within the area stand out the old refectory, the hermitage of the orchard, the old library and a museum, where they exhibit amazing objects collected by the friars from around the world. Inside of the monastery important images for the inhabitants of Jumilla such as the Cristo Amarrado a la Columna (Christ tied to the Column) made by the Spanish sculptor Salzillo, the Cristo de la Reja (Christ of the Railing) and "Abuelica" Santa Ana (Saint Ana, The Grandmother of Christ) are kept.
ETHNOGRAPHY AND NATURE
A universe of curiosities awaits you in the showcases of the Museum of Ethnography and Natural Sciences in Jumilla. Its two floors house an extremely important collection of fossils, minerals and footprints of prehistoric animals as well as a wide representation of local trades such as esparto grass, crockery and crystal.
A BEAUTIFUL HISTORY
Walking through the emblazoned streets of Jumilla, under magnificent balconies and iron railings is a priceless experience. We invite you to lose yourself in the old part of town and discover why the city was baptised as the beauty by the Arabs. Don't forget to visit the Churches of Santiago and El Salvador and the gardens of La Estacada and Rey Don Pedro. The Vico Theatre, which has a modern style and eclectic tradition, deserves a special mention as well. Built in the 19th century, it was devised as an "Italian" theatre. If you are observant you will notice its resemblance to the Romea Theatre in Murcia, given that the same architect, Justo Millán y Espinosa, designed both projects.
SOUNDS OF PASSION
The sound of cornets and drums, the unmistakable smell of flowers, and burnt wax all ascend through the narrow streets to create a true medieval scene. The Passion Week of Jumilla, declared of National Tourist Interest, it is known for its solemnity, a detail that doesn't diminish one bit of intensity from the Nazarene spectacle. Parades of Franciscan origin with more than four centuries of history, proclamations and the "Romería" (pilgrimage) from the Santa Ana Monastery are the most important elements of this festival. It is essential to go to the "pasos" (representations of the scenes of Christ's Passion) of Cristo Amarrado a la Columna, made by the Spanish sculptor Salzillo.
LOOKING AT THE STREET
The house of Doña Pepita is one of the great examples of Murcian modernism. You will be especially "grabbed" by its viewpoint and the forged floral ironwork that adorn its façade. Very close to there is found the Town Hall, where it is worth looking at the magnificent forged balcony or pass through its picturesque inner courtyard.
FOR ACTIVE PEOPLE
If you are an avid seeker of mountain emotions you don't have to go very far; you will find them in the areas that surround the city. In the Sierra de La Cingla and in the Sierra de La Pedrera mountain ranges, and within natural environments of great beauty, there are cave paintings declared a World Heritage Site and fossil footprints that are 7 million years old. In turn, the Sierra del Carche Regional Park, where different sports can be practiced (paragliding, climbing, caving and hill walking), is an almost compulsory visit for visitors.
TABLE AND TABLECLOTH
If you come to visit you must try the gazpacho from Jumilla, of Jewish origin and cooked on an unfermented pie base of wheat flour, game meat and mountain snails. In Winter, the "gachamiga" (flour cooked with olive oil, water, and garlic cloves) and "pelotas con carne" (meatballs of minced liver or pork, bread crumbs soaked in water, eggs, garlic and parsley) are the best ways to quickly warm up. Nor should you forget the potatoe "empanadas" (pasties made of flour, oil, water and salt, filled with fried potatoes, tuna, hardboiled egg, pepper, pine nuts and parsley), fried goats cheese with tomatoe and the sweets of all the life, such as "rollos de vino", "pirusas", "sequillos" and "cristóbalas", which are always accompanied by a good wine made in Jumilla.
SOAK YOURSELF IN WINE
Coinciding with the Wine Harvest, are the Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Festivities which are celebrated in the middle of August in Jumilla, where thousands of liters of wine and typical products are shared out between those that attend. It is a tradition to dress in a white shirt that will gradually turn purple as the day goes on.