Strolling through the historic quarter of Loja to link the monumental Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnación, the Renaissance stone facade of CIC El Pósito (16th century) and the crystal-clear water of the Fountain of the 25 Spouts in La Alfaguara is the finest urban triangle in western Granada (Poniente Granadino). Three listed heritage landmarks that unite Castilian civic architecture, Moorish water culture and local love folklore at the foot of the Alcazaba of Loja.
🔍 Secrets of La Encarnación, El Pósito & the 25 Spouts
- The legend of the 25 spouts and true love: A traditional tile on the Fountain of the 25 Spouts (historically called the Fuente de la Mora) preserves a famous rhyme promising love before the year ends to anyone who drinks from all twenty-five bronze jets.
- The silver processional cross gifted by Queen Isabella: The church treasury holds a carved silver cross presented by Queen Isabella I of Castile in 1486 after the surrender of Loja, beside a 16th-century Renaissance font and a 5th-century Early Christian marble altar.
- Philip II’s public grain bank: Marked on its limestone facade by the royal coat of arms of Philip II, El Pósito Nuevo (16th century) lent wheat to struggling farmers during droughts and now operates as the CIC El Pósito cultural centre and tourist office.
- The inland lighthouse of western Granada: Rebuilt in the 18th century by master builder Domingo Solís following designs from Ventura Rodríguez’s circle, the tall ashlar bell tower served as a visual beacon for muleteers across the Genil valley.
1. Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnación: Collegiate Monument & Bell Tower
The Iglesia Mayor de la Encarnación is Loja’s principal church and a declared Bien de Interés Cultural (BIC). Commissioned in 1491 by the Catholic Monarchs on the site of the former main mosque of Madina Lawsa, it blends two distinct architectural phases.
Its 16th-century Gothic-Mudejar nave displays pointed arches and a fine timber coffered ceiling, whereas the spacious transept, trefoil apse and commanding bell tower reflect 18th-century neoclassical lines overseen by Domingo Solís. Inside lie key historical pieces, including the 1486 silver cross, the marble font where General Ramón María Narváez was baptised, and an Early Christian altar from the 5th century.
2. CIC El Pósito (16th-Century Pósito Nuevo)
A short walk from the church stands El Pósito Nuevo, a sober 16th-century civic granary bearing the sculpted arms of Philip II. Created to prevent speculation and support local growers with seed grain during dry harvests, the restored complex is now the Centro de Iniciativas Culturales (CIC) El Pósito—cultural venue of the Loja City Council and home to the Municipal Tourist Office.
3. Fountain of the 25 Spouts & Washhouse of La Alfaguara
Walking downhill through whitewashed alleys leads to La Alfaguara (from Arabic al-fawwara, “the gushing spring”). Here stands the Fountain of the 25 Spouts, the largest monumental urban spring in Granada province: 25 bronze spouts fed by Sierra Gorda limestone aquifers pouring continuously into a long carved stone trough beside a timber-roofed traditional communal washhouse on the way to the Genil River gorge.
How to Get to Loja from Granada, Public Transport & Where to Stay
4. Folklore & Visiting Tips (2026)
| Landmark | Verified Visitor Info (2026) | Official Source |
|---|---|---|
| ⛪ Iglesia de la Encarnación | Plaza de la Constitución. Open during daily services and pre-arranged guided visits. | Loja Patrimonio |
| 🏛️ CIC El Pósito (Tourist Office) | Mon–Fri: 09:00–14:00 & 17:00–20:00; Sat: 10:00–14:00. Free admission. | Loja Turismo |
| 💧 25 Spouts Fountain | Calle Alfaguara, open-air public square accessible 24 hours a day. | Turgranada Loja |
| 🚶 Walking Route & Rail Access | 1.2 km downhill walk (45–60 min). High-speed Renfe AVE trains stop at Loja Station; ALSA buses serve the town centre. | IAPH Heritage Guide |
Start at Plaza de la Constitución in mid-afternoon light for photographs, drop by El Pósito exhibitions, pick up traditional Roscos de Loja pastries at a nearby bakery, and finish walking down Cuesta del Arreador to the Fountain of the 25 Spouts.
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Official sources for further information
These links provide information and notices from organisations connected with the destination. References supporting specific claims appear beside the article text.
Competent municipal administration: official notices, local heritage, registered walking paths, and patron festivals.
Regional development body: frontier fortress routes, river trails, agricultural heritage, and ecotourism.
Official regional public tourism board: hiking paths, cultural itineraries, and certified tourist office network.
Provincial government: municipal technical assistance, historic heritage conservation, and rural sustainability.
