Loja is situated in the western side of the province of Granada, latitude N 37º11' and longitude W 4º9'. It is the seat of the district courts. It limits to the north with the municipal districts of Iznájar (Province of Córdoba), Zagra, Algarinejo and Montefrío; to the south with Alfarnate (Province of Málaga), Zafarraya and Alhama; to the east with Huétor-Tájar, Villanueva Mesía and Salar and to the west with Villanueva del Trabuco, Archidona, Villanueva de Algaida y Villanueva de Tapia (Province of Málaga). It was the door to the kingdom of Granada, placed between its two mountain ranges, like strong bastions.

Its municipal district has an area of 454.7 square km and a population of 21,219 inhabitants, according to the day 1January 2006 population census. This amount includes the population of the town itself and those living in the rural districts of Arroyo Milanos,Cuesta Blanca, Cuesta de la Palma, La Esperanza, La Fábrica, El Frontil,Fuente Camacho, Las Rozuelas, Riofrío, San Antonio, Santa Bárbara, Venta del Rayo, Ventorros de Balerma, Ventorros de la Laguna and Ventorros de San José‚ and the hamlets of Agicampe, Alazores, Almendro, Los Arenales, La Atalaya, Campo Dauro, La Ciudad, Dehesa de los Montes, Los Gallumbares, Huertas Bajas, Jardines de Narváez, Manzanil,  Molehones, Nuño Daza, Plines and Puerto Blanquillo.

Its terrain is broken and picturesque. Among the so-called "Sierras de Loja "(Mountains of Loja), Sierra Gorda represents its highest peak, 1,671 m above sea level. Nevazo, Loma de las Semillas, Leche, Cerro de los Machos, Las Cabras, Cueva Horadada, Lagunillas, Sopalmillo, Ranchuelo and Pajonares, are very attractive places for hunters, archaelogists and potholers. North, Hacho and Tiravira tower above the town and on top of them you can enjoy a wonderful view of its surroundings.

Strategically placed in the heart of Andalusia, it represents an ideal operation centre for touring throughout our region. Located just by the A-92 motorway, which is the backbone for road communications in our region, it has also got a railway station and is only about 35 minutes from the airports of Granada and Málaga. We can assure that Loja is one of the best communicated towns in the south of Spain.

Besides, we should not forget that a traveller can find the most varied accommodation offer in Loja, with a wide range of choice: one of the most acclaimed and qualified great luxury hotels (5 Stars) in our country, cheap boarding houses, rooms in farmhouses, modern hotels at the Service areas by the motorway, etc.

Climate:

The climate is mild and quite dry, with temperatures ranging from 40-42ºC in the hottest summer days to -5/-7ºC in the coldest winter days. The dominating winds blow from east and west, less frequently from north and northeast and rarely from the south. The east winds called "solanos", are dry and cold in winter and very hot in summer; the west winds, wet in winter, bring also refreshing rains in spring and summer.

The town, which was iniatially grouped around the protecting ancient fortress, has grown to north and west, climbing along two mountainsides: Hacho, in the north, and Sierra de Loja, in the south. It is divided in two by the river Genil, which flows through it from east to west. Due to these circumstances, the town is wet and shadowy in winter as the sun sets early at Periquetes, and sunny and hot in summer.

Rivers and streams:

The river Genil, while flowing through the municipal district, receives a great number of tributaries whose sources are the numerous springs in the area, for instance:

The stream La Alfaguara gives its name to the place, is originated by Fountain of La Mora (with 25 jets which are a man's wrist wide) and El Borbollote, which springs at the foot of the fortress to make even more agreeable one of the most picturesque places in Loja, with a charming background of walls and fortified towers reflecting on its crystalline waters, crowned by the shape of the Alcazaba and the elegant tower of the Iglesia Mayor (Great Church). It develops into a swift stream that waters the fields of Don Alvaro de Luna.

El Terciado, which springs from under a rock in the eastern side of the town, forms a deep and transparent pool where we can see the water spring from the earth. It supplies drinkng water to part of the town and also waters some orchards before flowing into the Genil.

The river Manzanil, formed by the springs of La Cueva, La Presa and La Cadena, has its birthplace at the foot of the mountains east of the town, in a gorge where nowadays a dam has been built. This river, rich in fish and crayfish, waters an important area of land and falls into the Genil, a waterfall called Cola del Caballo (Horsetail) at the Infiernos Altos.

The Cofín, has its source in the same mountains, above the town, in a spot wooded with pines. Its waters are used to supply the town's needs and also to water some orchards.

The Frontil, north-east of the town, on the side of the Hacho, divides itself into two streams. One, which flows westwards waters the fields known as Huertas Bajas from la Esperanza to Puente Quebrada, where it flows into the Genil after covering a distance of 6 kms. The other flows eastwards, bordering the road to Huétor-Tájar, and waters all the fields between the district of Huétor Tajar and Loja. Since ancient times, its waters, rich in fish and crayfish, are believed to be a healing remedy against gout.

In Plines, about 3 km west of the town has its source the river Genazar, a rich spring that waters the large, fertile and pleasant fields of the same name. It flows deep and quiet until it falls into the Genil in a place known as Infiernos Bajos. Rich in fish and crayfish.

The Riofrío, has its source within the district of the same name, about 7 km away from Loja. Its name, which means cold river, is due to the coldness of its waters. It is the most important of the rivers that are born within Loja's districts. In its upper course, it flows swift and furious among rocks. It waters a great number of fertile fields and is rich in trouts, eels and crayfish. We know that in 1686 its waters were used to hammer copper. After a short course, it flows peacefully into the Genil, together with the Saladillo and a stream called Nebliz.

Fountains and springs:

Fuente Santa,(Holy Fountain) is so called due to the healing properties of its waters against diseases of the eyes, skin, and any kind of fever. It was already well-known for its qualities amongst the Muslims and during the first century after the Christian conquest, it was frequented by many people who talked about rare wonders. So, its waters were piped into a square pool, with 6m long sides, three of which were closed with iron fences between rubblework pillars. On the fourth side they built an ornamental front with a bas-relief representing Christ's Baptism. It became a Council property in the XVIIIth century. The Spanish King Phillip IV drank its a waters for a time. They were brought to the court by Don Fernando Olivares Villaverde.

Nacimiento de la Plaza (Spring of the square). It supplies water to the town and in past times, according to Henriquez de Jorquera, it was well-known, clear and clean. Fuente de Nuño Daza, which is in the area of the same name; the fountains of Peñón; Mencía, in the Alfaguara; Salud, in the Alcazaba, which was originally next to the Puerta del Agua and, when the latter collapsed and blocked up the fountain, its waters welled up again in the place known as Huerta de don Alvaro; the Carmonilla, which takes in the water from the fountains María de la O and Poyo de la Barahona; the spring of Alcaudique in the valley of its name; the fountain of Agicampe; Paraíso, in the Infiernos Altos, by the river Genil; Mari Sánchez, whose waters are thought to be good for liver and stomach diseases, in the Infiernos Bajos; the Salinas, which was used for local industry; the Don Pedro, the Estanquillo and the Higuerilla, next to the railway lines; and many, many more, up to over five thousand whose names and qualities were listed and registered by order of Cardinal Espínola, Archbishop of Granada. It seems natural for a land which is so rich in water to be extremely fertile and to bear all kinds of fruits suitable to its climate. Its produce is excellent, both in quantity and quality. Loja's district is the first producer of cereals and olive oil in the province. There are also important crops of pulses, vegetables and fruit. Among the latter, once there was a famous variety of grapes called 'atagíes', which were praised by Al-Jatib in his work 'Descripción del reino de Granada' (Description of the Kingdom of Granada) and, later also by Henriquez de Jorquera.