When I settle down to write a piece on any village or town where we have listings I try and make it as personal and individual as possible, to get behind the normal encyclopedia style blurb, and talk about what the place feels like. That said I also do plenty of research and have a good look around the net before applying fingers to keyboard. Quite often in rural Andalusia there is very little information available and most of that is in Spanish! Our world is one of quiet towns and villages where life goes on timelessly at it's own pace. For Jimena de la Frontera the story is very different and very revealing! The net is full of beautifully crafted pieces extolling the charms of its cobbled streets, the white-washed buildings and its unspoilt charm and this tells us a lot. Jimena is upmarket, switched on to it's charms and beauty and well and truly discovered by buyers and holidaymakers who wouldn't be seen dead on the Costa del Sol!
So what will you get if you buy around Jimena? Strong rental demand, excellent restaurants and a relaxed, protected way of life. This is a place where the Spanish feel of the town, the standards of the property and the way of life will be maintained and supported. You won't get all-day English breakfasts and you won't find give-away' property prices. If your only criteria is price then this is not the place for you. Jimena de la Frontera is what I call an aspirational town, a place people want to live whether or no they can afford it. The recent property market crash has made it cheaper than at the peak of the market but demand is strong.
Places to see
The superb Moorish castle with the cistern known as the 'Moorish Queen's Bath'.
The churches of La Misericordia and La Victoria.
The Los Angeles Shrine.
The Royal Artillery Factory building.
The cave paintings in the nearby Laja Alta Cave.
The Los Alcornocales Nature Reserve ( where the Laja Alta Cave can be found) named after the largest cork forests in Europe that cover the hillsides.
Things to Do
Wine and dine in the many excellent restaurants!
Swim in the pools of the nearby Hozgarganta river.
Visit the municipal swimming pool which is a lot nicer than the image conjured up by the word 'municipal'.
Go to the beach which is less than 45 minutes away.
Play golf; there are at least 25 top quality golf courses (including Valderrama, Sotogrande and San Roque) close by.
Take a ride on the scenic narrow gauge railway line from Estacion De Jimena to Ronda.
Events
Carnival in February / March.
The Agricultural Fair in the second week in May.
Feria in the second week of August.
Romaria in first week of September.