Logbook · 14 places

What to see and do in Loja

What to see and do in Loja (Comarca de Loja, Granada): 14 places across monuments, nature, activities and curiosities, with a photo and a Google Maps location.

1 Villages · 6 Monuments · 1 Nature · 2 Activities · 2 Curiosities · 1 Historical milestones · 1 Food and drink

When to go to Loja: festival calendar

May: Romería de la Amistad (May 1)
August: Feria Grande de Loja (August)

How far each place is from the centre of Loja

Towns near Loja

What to see in Salar 7.5 km · 7 places
What to see in Huétor Tájar 9.7 km · 5 places
What to see in Zagra 9.8 km · 4 places
What to see in Villanueva Mesía 13 km · 5 places
What to see in Moraleda de Zafayona 16 km · 4 places
What to see in Villanueva de Tapia 17 km · 6 places
What to see in Iznájar 17 km · 7 places
What to see in Algarinejo 18 km · 7 places

Spain › Andalusia › Granada › Comarca de Loja › Loja

What to see and do in Loja

Loja
Village
A border stronghold of the Nasrid kingdom, already attacked in 1225 by Ferdinand III. After two failed sieges in 1482 and 1485, Boabdil handed the city over to Ferdinand the Catholic in 1486. In 2025 it has 20,951 inhabitants.
Alcazaba de Loja
Monument
Arab fortress built in the late 9th century, with towers, walls, and a cistern from the same period preserved.
Iglesia de San Gabriel
Monument
16th-century Renaissance church, an example of Granadan architecture of the period; declared a Bien de Interés Cultural in 1991.
Ramón María Narváez y la Semana Santa de Loja
Curiosity
Loja is the birthplace of General Ramón María Narváez, head of government under Isabella II, whose palace and mausoleum are preserved in the city. Its Holy Week has been declared a Fiesta de Interés Turístico Nacional (National Tourist Interest Festival) since 2003.
La capitulación de Loja (1486)
Historical milestone
Boabdil handed the city of Loja over to Ferdinand of Aragon on 29 May 1486 after a siege; the Muslims were allowed to leave freely under escort toward Granada, and the city was resettled with Christians under the fuero of Córdoba.
Iglesia de Jesús Nazareno
Monument
18th-century church in Loja with barrel vaults, holding a crucifix attributed to Alonso Cano.
Convento de Santa Clara
Monument
Convent founded in 1505 that preserves mural paintings and a Baroque altarpiece from 1760.
El Pósito de Loja
Monument
Former public granary from the late 16th century, with medallions dated 1650 and 1780 on its facade.
Puente del Gran Capitán
Monument
Bridge over the Genil rebuilt several times throughout history, today with three arches, taking its name from Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba.
Los Infiernos de Loja
Nature
Natural monument formed by the narrowing of the Genil river as it passes through Loja, with travertine waterfalls, the most notable being the 'Cola de Caballo', about nine meters high.
Feria Grande de Loja
Activity
Loja's main fair, held in August by virtue of a royal privilege granted on 19 February 1690.
Romería de la Amistad
Activity
Pilgrimage of Loja held since 1989.
Porra lojeña y roscos de Loja
Food and drink
Porra lojeña, a thick variant of gazpacho, and roscos de Loja, sponge sweets made with egg and meringue, are two of the city's best-known culinary trademarks, alongside cuchifrito de chivo (fried kid goat).
Loja como "Sylvania" en una película de los Hermanos Marx
Curiosity
The Marx Brothers film 'Duck Soup' (1933) includes footage shot at the Mesón de Arroyo in Loja, presented in the film as the country of 'Freedonia' next to neighboring 'Sylvania'; a viewpoint today commemorates this anecdote with figures of the actors.