Unlike the "cortijo" (Andalusian farmhouse), which is used exclusively for agriculture, the "casería" in Jaén also serves as a place of residence. Located only on the outskirts of the city of Jaén, the "casería" served as a holiday home for the notables of Jaén who left the city on very hot days to cool off. Hence the more diverse vegetation present on the property: pines, palm trees, jasmine.
Thus, two buildings make up the "casería": one for agricultural use, inhabited by the "caseros" (who live there all year round), and the other for private use by the owners. These two spaces were connected by a "patio" with multiple uses: gathering olives and cleaning nets during the olive harvest, washing clothes, making homemade ice cream during the summer.
Furthermore, a very old tradition justifies the name of the "Casería de Jesus". Legend has it that one afternoon in 1580, an old man asked for asylum there to spend the night. After dinner, the old man asked his hosts to have a tree trunk taken to his room so that he could carve the image of Jesus as a thank you for the welcome he received.
The next day, the owners, surprised that the old man gave no sign of life, entered his room and not without astonishment found that he had disappeared, leaving in his place a beautiful image of Jesus the Nazarene, today familiarly known as "Grandfather."
Apart from the belief in these legends, what is documented is that the house belonged since the 18th century to the Barefoot Carmelites, who evangelized these lands and had an oil mill, with their beam press and pots. Today, a wooden door with the coat of arms of this religious congregation is preserved in the “casería”.
