The Alcázar Castillo de La Guardia stands on the eastern slope of Cerro San Marcos, approximately 10 kilometers southeast of Jaén city. Dating to the 8th century, this fortress began as a strategic Arab military outpost before being converted into a noble residence for the Mexía family in the 15th-16th centuries, marked by a striking Gothic façade bearing family coats of arms. The castle preserves several square and circular towers, with the notable Torre del Homenaje rising 35 meters. A destructive 1812 fire damaged much of the structure, though it remains protected under Spanish Historical Heritage law.
