Palacio de las Cadenas and Capilla del Salvador in Plaza de Vazquez de Molina. |
|
Ubeda
Ubeda (pronounced OO-bay-da), with its wealth of Renaissance palaces and churches, has much in common with its counterpart Baeza. Both towns have a distinctly Castillian severity, with their granite buildings and plazas, as opposed to the white walls and flower-fill courtyards, and in many ways resembling Segovia and Avila. Poetry lovers will be interested to know that the sixteenth century mystic, San Juan de la Cruz died in a monastery in Úbeda. Ubeda has about 34, 200 inhabitants.
History
According to legend, Úbeda was founded by Túbal, a descendant of Noah. The city's name would derive from the mythical tower of King Ibiut. The first settlements in Úbeda date back to the Chalcolithic period, on the hill now known as the Cerro del Alcázar. More>
See the apartments to rent in Úbeda: Apartamentos Sol de Mayo, Apartamentos Sol Real, Apartamentos Turísticos Delgado, Alojamiento Centro, Apartamentos Turísticos El Losal and more.
The urban morphology of the two small cities of Úbeda and Baeza in southern Spain dates back to the Moorish ninth century and to the Reconquista in the 13th century. An important development took… More →
Things to see
The city has 48 notable monuments, and more than a hundred other buildings of interest, almost all of them in the Renaissance style, and in perfect balance with Arabic, Gothic or Baroque volumes.
The outstanding feature of Ubeda is the monumental square, the Plaza de Vázquez de Molina, surrounded with imposing buildings such as the Palacio de las Cadenas.
The palace was built in 1788, although it does have features from sixteenth century Renaissance. The grounds house the tourism office of the Regional Government of Andalusia in Úbeda. Located in… More →
The palace was designed in 1551 by architect, Andrés de Vandelvira. To this day it remains the habitual residence of the family that has owned it since it was purchased by their ancestor, Ignacio… More →
An example of a turreted palace house of medieval heritage, an anachronistic symbol of old warrior lineages, dating to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Residence of Pedro de Toledo y Leiva… More →
The house is a remarkable building that owes its name to the strong towers of its main façade, a great sample of Plateresque composition from the year 1520. Originally a medieval palace, built by… More →
The construction of the palace of Juan Vázquez de Molina began around the year 1562. It was built according to the design of the prestigious architect, Andrés de Vandelvira, who six years later… More →
The Palace of the Counts of Guadiana was built in the last years of the sixteenth century, and is organized around a small central courtyard. On the outside, its façade is decorated with balconies… More →
The palace was ordered to be built by Fernando Ortega Salido, Dean of the Catedral de Málaga and Cantor of the Real Colegiata Iglesia de Santa María de los Reales Alcázares and first Chaplain of… More →
The Royal Convent of Santa Clara is the oldest conventual foundation in Úbeda, built in the thirteenth century, and is still inhabited by cloistered nuns. It was the first nunnery in Úbeda after… More →
The church is one of the oldest in Úbeda and is believed to have been built since the Visigoth period. Its location in a central square and its proximity to the old Town Hall make it have a marked… More →
The bullring sits on the land that was formerly occupied by the orchard of the Convento de San Nicasio. Materials from another convent, San Antonio, located on the Camino Viejo towards Baeza, were… More →
The Jewish synagogue was discovered in 2007 by the Crespo-López family. It is a private initiative for the recovery of a building which was camouflaged within the walls of several buildings, where… More →
The Santiago Hospital is a national monument projected by Andrés de Vandelvira from 1562 to1575.
The church stands on the original mosque within the walls of the Alcázar, without communication with the city until the beginning of the sixteenth century, except for a small… More →
The old Hospital, part of the Sacra Capilla del Salvador, was built in the second half of the sixteenth century. The patio, of which two sides are preserved, shows a double semicircular arcade on… More →
This exceptional chapel was founded by Don Francisco de los Cobos y Molina, Commander Major of León of the Order of Santiago, Adelantado de Cazorla and many other titles granted by his Lord,… More →
The city has 48 notable monuments, and more than a hundred other buildings of interest, almost all of them in the Renaissance style, and in perfect balance with Arabic, Gothic or Baroque volumes… More →
This romantic hotel in a converted Renaissance palace boasts an impressive façade with a famous tower, and equally beautiful interiors. The main patio has marble columns and a wooden first-floor… More →
The pottery museum in Ubeda whose full name is Museo de Alfarería "Paco Tito". Memoria de lo Cotidiano. The collection walks through the history of Ubeda pottery.
 |
| Ubeda boasts a wealth of Renaissance palaces and churches. |
The Capilla del Salvador also has a chapel screen by the ironworker Bartolomé de Jaen. The Hospital de Santiago, designed by Vandelvira in the late 16th century, with its square bell towers and graceful Renaissance courtyard, is now the home of the town's Conference Hall. Ubeda has a Parador, housed in a 16th century palace which was the residence of a high-ranking churchman of the period.
Tickets for tours of Ubeda
Buy tickets for tours of Ubeda
Both towns, Ubeda and Baeza, have a distinctly Castillian severity, with their granite buildings and plazas, as opposed to the white walls and flower-fill courtyards of Andalucia proper, and in many ways they resemble Segovia and Avila more than Cordoba or Seville. Poetry lovers will be interested to know that the 16th century mystic Saint John of the Cross died in a monastery in Ubeda.
Hotels
Parador de Ubeda is a 16th century rennaisance palace in the heart of Úbeda. A lovely way to enjoy an inland city full of monuments.
Book Parador de Ubeda
Book Hotels in de Ubeda
 |
| Ceramics in Úbeda |
One of the main seasonal attractions of the town is the annual music and dance festival which is held in May and includes opera, jazz, flamenco, chamber music, symphony orchestra and dance.
Just south east of the town lies the nature park of Sierras de Cazorla.
 Areas of Jaén province |
|