09
October
2022
Jaén, known for its olive tree sea, positions itself as the main producer of the liquid gold, and in Bailén, one of the highest quality oils in the entire province is produced thanks to the Picual olive. The particular sourness and spiciness that accompanies its oil becomes a pleasure to taste whenever a dish elaborated with the local olive oil is enjoyed. What is more, its high contents of natural antioxidants make it incredibly healthy for the human body, reducing cholesterol and aiding digestive functions.
Like our ancestors did, nearly aligning with the arrival of autumn, the olive trees are harvested at their ideal maturity, meaning, when the colour of the fruit is changing from green to purple. Subsequently, in the olive press it will be transformed into a paste, from which the oil will later be separated from it with extreme caution, so as to preserve the quality of it and be graded in the oil cellar.
In the locality there are several oil presses of high value and prestige, such as Picualia, Padilla, Baécula, and many more.
Clay, as the main local economic base, encompasses two sectors, that of artistic pottery, and that of structural pottery. The former has been held in high esteem traditionally due to the quality of its gardening products, reaching international markets like Japan and the USA, while the latter managed to take up almost 30% of the total national production.
The mix of cultures and civilizations passed on this profession all the way to the current times, maintaining not only the shapes, but also decorative techniques such as underglazing over red and white clay, and glazing. A traditional process that begins with the extraction of the clay for its subsequent kneading, to be able to shape it on the wheel, which only a few manage to master. After baking, the piece will be finished, but the process continues. An old traditional profession related to pottery comes out to play, the one known as the “cacharrero”, who from the 1700’s plays an important part in the distribution of the local artistic pottery.
Nowadays, pottery workshops such as Alfarería Núñez, HP Padilla, Alfarería Cristóbal Arance, etc, still remain open to this day.
Bailén counts with an ample calendar of festivities. Where people may enjoy various events distributed throughout the year, each of them packed with plenty of different activities.
Here, you can find a list of the most characteristic festivities of the town:
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