 Martos, on the periphery of the route of the Caliphates, proclaims its warm welcome to visitors. A welcome that may, in part, be the result of the benefits that consumption of olive oil lends to the consumer.
Because, if olive oil and the proven benefits that this liquid imparts is of interest, then Martos too will be of interest. It's said (and not only in Martos) that the olive oil from this region is of the highest quality.
The figures are impressive: of the 25,000 hectares that fall within the administrative boundary of Martos, 22,500 hectares are dedicated to the cultivation of the olive. There is an average yearly production of 60 million kilos of olives and 14 million kilos of oil, a just claim to being the highest production anywhere in the world!
Lost in the depths of Jaén, Martos has been heavily involved in the comings and goings of the defining civilizations of Spain. Several archaeological treasures, including a bridge and rare inscriptions, dating from Roman times, emphasise its antiquity.
During the long years of Arabic domination, interspersed with bitter incursions by Christian forces, the town adopted a defensive posture, often finding itself on border country between the two cultures.
It was during these years that the castle, impressively located on top of a steep hill overlooking the surrounding countryside and now a ruin frozen in a time-warp, was restored and used for defence against changing sides.
The origins of Martos are lost in time. In the 6th century B.C. the Iberian tribes had colonised the area and archaeological excavations have uncovered important remains of their daily lives.
The Romans, during the reign of Augustus, in the first century B.C., founded the colony of Gemella Tucci and built a beautiful city that was centred around what is now the main square of the town hall.
During the time of the Visigoths, Martos was an important religious centre. But it was during the time of the Arabs, in the 10th Century, that the name 'Martus' first appeared. It was particularly prized as being one of the most fertile areas for the production of wine, olives and figs in the whole of the Guadalquivir basin.
In 1219, Fernando III captured the town, an event that signalled a period of construction that survives today. Buildings such as the church of Santa Marta, built in the 15th century and now sympathetically restored, preserve a long, rich and fascinating tradition.
More information:
http://www.martos.com/
http://www.martos.es/
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martos
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