Museums in Úbeda
There are several interesting museums in Ubeda including Museo Arqueológico de Úbeda, Paco Tito Pottery Museum Memoria de lo Cotidiano, Casa Arte Andalusí, Casa Museo “Granada Venegas”, Centro de Interpretation “Olivar y Aceite”
Museo Arqueológico de Úbeda
The museum, also known as the Mudejar House, is a beautiful fourteenth-century building with a central patio with an arched gallery. Its construction can be attributed to the Muslim builders who continued to live in the city after its reconquest by King Fernando III El Santo. The traces of the stonemasons who carved it can still be seen in the voussoirs of the arches. In the 16th century it was used as a service unit in a neighbouring Renaissance palace, and its architectural elements were embedded in thick rammed earth walls built to adapt it to its new use. Discovered in 1964, the house was acquired by the National Artistic Heritage and restored with its own materials and other buildings of the period to adapt it to its current function. The museum was inaugurated on 18 January 1973, its founder and first director being Rafael Vañó Silvestre, who donated his own private collection. The material exhibited in its interior ranges from prehistory to the Muslim era. It was declared an Asset of Cultural Interest in 1985. Located on Calle Cervantes.
Opening Times:
Tuesday-Saturday, 09:00-21:00hrs
Sunday and Holidays, 09:00-15:00hrs
Free Entrance.
Tel: 953 10 86 23
Museo de Alfarería “Paco Tito”
The Paco Tito Pottery Museum Memoria de lo Cotidiano, brings together the most important works produced by the potter, Paco Tito. The collection walks through the history of Úbeda pottery, which is made up of traditional pieces such as oil cans, pots or jugs, to other decorative pieces such as sculptures and large works. Enormous plates and vases of the Alhambra, as well as the famous collection of quijotes, are worth noting. Green, brown and black are the colours most used. Located on Calle Valencia. More info >
Casa Arte Andalusí
The mansion's origins can be traced back to the middle of the thirteenth century, as evidenced by the presence of modillions and heraldic shields featuring a lion, a castle, lily flowers (the Judeo-Ubedí emblem), and the "tau," which symbolizes death or the end of life on Earth. The Renaissance courtyard is the most striking and evocative part of the house, featuring a Star of David beneath layers of whitewash. This space evokes a sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of the carefully restored architecture of another era. The colour of the aljarfe, the warmth of the walls, the exuberant and aromatic vegetation, and the musicality of the water all exert a sensory balm, connecting visitors with history and art. The museum houses a significant collection of medieval artefacts from various traditions, including Arab, Jewish and Christian. Highlights include bridal chests, polychrome coffered ceilings and lacework, Renaissance doors, forged pieces, ceramics from Granada, Triana and Úbeda. The cellar houses the ethnographic collection. Tours are available by appointment with Vandelvira Turismo on Calle Real, 61.
Casa Museo “Granada Venegas”
Recent research and the shield of the five pomegranates have revealed the identity of the founder of this house, Cidi Yahya Al-Nayar, a direct descendant of Obadah, one of the companions of the Prophet. After two and a half centuries, it was the troops of Prince Judah al Nayar and above all the diplomatic efforts of Cid Yahya who opened the doors of the Andalusian squares and castles to King Fernando and Queen Isabel. Upon marrying his cousin Myriam Venegas, daughter of the great vizier Abu Abdallah, brother of Muley Hacén and uncle of Boabdil, the mixed Hebrew blood of both came to strengthen. Both converted to Christianity, becoming known as Pedro Granada and María Venegas. This palatial mansion preserves walls with Mozarabic frescoes from the thirteenth century. The Museum exhibits different rooms set in the sixteenth century, including the tribute room, which displays numerous inlaid pieces, fifteenth century cabinets and polychrome doors. One of the two cellars has an angular vault, which is considered one of the oldest in the city. The homage room on the upper floor has sixteenth century furniture, including a magnificent coffered ceiling, litter bins, an embossed silver cabinet and a collection of books. Granada Venegas expanded their collections with a range of colourful furniture and oriental pieces during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The museum also boasts a crafts yard, which includes facilities for blacksmithing, carpentry, pottery and stonework, as well as a saddlery with a nineteenth-century horse carriage. The museum is located on Calle Beltrán de la Cueva. Guided tours are available by Vandelvira Turismo on Calle Real, 61.
Centro de Interpretation “Olivar y Aceite”
The oil museum offers a guided tour that provides insight into olive cultivation. Through various rooms and audiovisual panels, visitors will gain an understanding of the history of the olive grove, the methods of elaboration, gastronomy and its uses. The museum is located on Corredera de San Fernando.
Opening Times:
June-September, Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00-14:00hrs and 18:00-20:30hrs.
June-September, Sunday and Holidays, 10:00-14:00hrs.
October-May, Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00-14:00hrs and 17:00-19:30hrs.
October-May, Sunday and Holidays, 10:00-14:00hrs.
Price:
Individual, €2,80
Groups (>20pers), €2
Tel: 953 75 58 89