- Work on the air-raid shelter under Plaza de Santiago began after the bombing of 1 April 1937, which killed 159 civilians.
- With room for more than 1,000 people, the shelter was built under the square, making use of the crypts of the Church of Santiago.
- Jaén had more than 30 shelters, some of which survive, such as the one at the San Juan de Dios Hospital or the one in this article.
- When this article was made there was an art exhibition by the Ákaro collective, whose works can be seen in some of the photographs.
More about this place…
Because of where it lay, Jaén was constantly overflown by the Nationalist air force, most of which was based in the south of the peninsula. After the tragic bombing of the city by the German Condor Legion in 1937, which killed 159 people, a plan was drawn up to provide shelters for the population. The air-raid shelter under Plaza de Santiago was one of them. With room for more than 1,000 people, it was restored in 2011 and is in perfect condition.
