Miguel Hernández Tour

The poet Miguel Hernandez fought on the front lines in Jaén during the Spanish Civil War. Discover his personal and literary legacy in this Andalusian city on this tour.

Miguel Hernández Tour

"Andaluces de Jaén, /aceituneros altivos, /decideme en el alma: ¿quién, /quién levantó los olivos?" These verses by Miguel Hernández were written in 1937. The poet from Alicante had to leave for the Jaén front lines shortly after marrying Josefina Manresa. This guided tour begins in the central Plaza de San Ildefonso and recalls the writer's legacy during his stay in Jaén.

During this tour of the historic center of Jaén, we will explore Miguel Hernández's connections to the city where he served as Commissioner of Culture and directed the newspaper Altavoz del Frente Sur ('Loudspeaker of the Southern Front'). His poem Aceituneros, which includes the quoted lines, was written during this time, and we will examine the significance of these verses found in his famous book Vientos del pueblo.

The tour concludes with a visit to the air raid shelter in Plaza de Santiago. This underground bunker, used by locals during bombings in 1937, features portraits, poems, and chronicles from the writer, highlighting the devastation faced by the city’s population.