Eight places to see in Baeza

advise you eight places to see in Baeza requires an arduous selection task. Not in vain, this beautiful and historic city of the province of Jaén was declared Heritage by UNESCO in 2003.

Baeza is one of the earliest and most illustrious examples of urban planning and Renaissance civil architecture in Spain. Therefore, a visit to the city is a trip to the 16th century. But this also has an important mudejar heritage and even with vestiges of Roman and Visigoth cultures. We are going to talk to you about this in this article about eight places to see in Baeza.

Plaza de Santa María

We begin our tour of Baeza in the unique Plaza de Santa María, where the cathedral, but also other monumental wonders. It is the case of the old university or the High Town Halls. In fact, we could say that part of what you should see in Baeza is in this square.

You will also find in it the Santa Maria Fountain, built at the end of the 16th century to commemorate the arrival of water to the town. You will be surprised by its shape of a Roman triumphal arch adorned with figures of Atlantes and caryatids. Likewise, part of the set is the Seminary of San Felipe Neri, built around 1660.

Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady, essential among the eight places to see in Baeza

But, focusing now on the Cathedral of the Nativity of Our Lady, it was built on an old mosque which, in turn, was on the remains of a Visigoth temple. Thus, part of it is made up of Arab elements, although it was consecrated as a Christian church in 1227. But the construction that you can see today dates, in general terms, from the XNUMXth century and responds to the renaissance canons.

Specifically, it is due to the great architect Andres de Vandelvira, responsible for many other buildings in Baeza. On the outside of the temple, the doors of the Moon and Forgiveness, as well as the tower. As for the latter, it preserves a Gothic-style heraldic altarpiece. The two doors are also Gothic. However, that of La Luna, with its large rose window, combines that style with Mudejar, while that of Perdón responds to flamboyant Gothic.

As for the interior, you should look at the magnificent baroque altarpiece of the main altar and in the numerous chapels. For example in the Dorada, the Ánimas or the Sagrario. However, one of the most valuable pieces is the Custody, which is only shown on Corpus Christi day. However, the temple offers you the Cathedral Museum, in which you can see other valuable liturgical objects.

High Town Halls

Also calls Gothic Chancelleries, as its name indicates, were the headquarters of the town council until the beginning of the 19th century. Then, the Town Hall moved to the Corregidor palace. Its construction dates back to the 15th century and combines Gothic elements with others from the early Renaissance. On its façade, your attention will be drawn to, among others, the coats of arms of Joan of Castile and Philip the Fair along with those of the city.

As for the interior, the lobby presents a beautiful polychrome roof. Likewise, its rooms are decorated with the coats of arms of the Bourbons and the town. But, in addition, in the one that faces north, the carved wardrobe from the 16th century where the nobility registers of the Baeza aristocracy were kept.

Jabalquinto Palace

We now move to the cross square, which is also among the most beautiful in the city. In it you have another of the eight places to see in Baeza that are essential. We are talking about the Jabalquinto palace, which is one of its emblems. It owes its name to the person who ordered it to be built at the end of the 15th century: Juan Alfonso Benavides Manrique, lord of Jabalquinto and second cousin of Ferdinand the Catholic.

It has been attributed to the architect Juan Guas. However, other scholars affirm that his designer was Enrique Egas. In any case, the façade is truly spectacular. Presents two floors in plateresque style with Renaissance gallery. But, above all, it is decorated with elements typical of the Elizabethan Gothic. For example, pinnacles, diamond points, fronds, loops and heraldic shields.

As for the interior, it has a equally Renaissance courtyard, although with features that already point to the baroque. It has a double arch with ornate marble columns. The imperial style staircase starts from it. It is also richly decorated and is accessed through a triumphal arch covered with a half-orange vault.

The palace is Historic Artistic Monument since 1931 and is currently the Antonio Machado headquarters of the International University of Andalusia. On the other hand, in front of the palace, you have the church of the holy cross, a real rarity in the area, as it was built in the 13th century following late-Romanesque canons. Its simple exterior appearance contrasts with the paintings it houses. These are beautiful frescoes from the 16th century.

Likewise, we could include many other palaces and stately homes among the eight places to see in Baeza. Also dating from the 16th century are the houses of Avilés and the Galeote. Instead, that of the Ávila It is from the 17th and those of the Fuentecilla, the Canons and the palace of the Bishops They are from the 18th century. Finally, to the 19th century the Rubín de Ceballos palace.

Plaza del Pópulo or Plaza de los Leones

As you can see, the monumental squares are one of the distinctive features of Baeza. For our taste, the Pópulo one is one of the most beautiful. It is accessed both through the Villalar arch and the door of jaen. The first was built on the occasion of the visit he made Carlos I in 1526 and commemorates Villalar's victory over the commoners. For its part, the second belonged to the medieval wall that he ordered to be built. Isabel the Catholic in 1476.

But the name of the square is due to the Pópulo's house, which was built as an Audiencia in the first half of the 16th century. It is a marvel of plateresque style and symmetrical shapes adorned with shields, sculptural figures, reliefs, friezes and pediments.

Finally, in the square you should look at the building of the old butcher shop, which dates back to the 16th century and whose façade also features a huge imperial shield. But, above all, he appreciates the Fountain of the Lions, with figures of these animals escorting the effigy of the Iberian princess Imilce.

Walls, tower and gate of Úbeda

As it could not be otherwise, Baeza had some walls that protected it from outside attacks. Parts of them are still preserved in the Antonio Machado walk, also called, precisely, of the Walls. As you know, the great Sevillian poet was a French teacher at the educational institute of this city for a time. For this reason, you will also see on the walk a bust of the author of Castile fields.

It is a vestige of the walls Úbeda gate, which is still protected by its tower or albarrana tower and of which only an arch remains. It had three and was one of the most important in the city. Likewise, the remains of the protection Aliatares tower, an Arab construction from the 12th century, and the bearded bow.

Town Hall and Corregidor Palace

The Town Hall building was built in 1520 with the intention of serving as a prison. Forty years later the Corregidor palace to complete the set. In fact, it was not used as the Town Hall until 1867.

In 1917 it was declared Historic Artistic Monument. It stands out for its impressive Plateresque style façade. If you look at it, you will see that the part used as a prison, whose door was the one with a semicircular arch (on the left) is more sober. On the other hand, the one dedicated to justice, with a segmental arch façade, is more luxurious. It is in this where you can appreciate the plateresque decoration in all its splendor, with Corinthian columns. But the entire building presents it, as can be seen in the Serlian windows and, above all, in the ornamentation of the cornice that crowns it.

Likewise, you should look, inside, at the beautiful cover of the Plenary Hall made with interlaced wood; in the plasterwork of the hall; on the staircase and in the dome that covers the complex.

Church of San Andrés and other religious monuments that may be among the eight sites to see in Baeza

El temple of San Andrés It houses the patron saint of the city, but also the protector, which is the Virgin of the Alcázar, and was built in the 16th century. Without a doubt, it is one of the most notable churches, especially for its imposing square tower and its plateresque decoration. All this without forgetting its main altar, the work of the aforementioned Andres de Vandelvira.

But there are many other religious buildings in Baeza that you should also visit. Among them, the church of El Salvador, which was built in the 13th century and responds to the canons of Mudejar Gothic, or that of San Pablo, from the end of the 15th century, although its cover is baroque. Likewise, we can also mention the chapel of Saint John the Evangelist, Magdalena convent, church and old hospital of La Concepción or convent of San Antonio.

In conclusion, we have proposed eight places to see in Baeza. However, those that we have explained to you are just some of the most notable monuments of the city, since it has many others. In fact, share with your loved ones Ubeda the distinction awarded by UNESCO of Monumental Cities of Úbeda and Baeza. Come and discover these two wonders of Andalusia and enjoy your heritage.