Baeza

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Arcos street, near the Cathedral.
Puerta de los Elorza, late 16th century.
El Salvador Church. Several architectonic styles can be appreciated: Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance. It houses the image of Cristo de la Humildad.
This Arch known as Puerta de las Escuelas and of San Leon is one of the few remains of the old city walls which Queen Isabel had demolished to put an end to disputes between the city’s noble families.
Old University (16th-18th century) The university was built thanks to Doctor Rodrigo López, who received the Bull to found it from Pope Paulo III in the year 1538. Its charter was revoked by Royal Decree in 1824 when it became a school. From 1875 to 1979, it was Baeza’s Secondary School. It has a beautiful patio where we can find a monument to Machado who taught French here between 1912 and 1919. Its Mannerist façade includes a fine carving of the Holy Trinity.
The plaza del Populo Square, also called of Los Leones, is Baeza’s most important monumental area. Here we can find the Fountain of los Leones which, since very old times, is believed to come from the Ibero-roman city of Castulo and which is crowned with the statue of a woman, Imilce, Hannibal’s wife; some present day studies seriously question its origin. The Old Slaughterhouse, a Renaissance building from mid 16th century, with an upper gallery showing a magnificent coat of arms of the Emperor Carlos I, was in use until 35 years ago.
Puerta de Úbeda. It is one of the few remains of the old city walls, which Queen Isabel had knocked down to put a stop to the fights between Baeza’s noble families: some of whom were King Enrique IV supporters and the others supported the Queen herself. This order was carried out in 1477.
Church of Santa Cruz. Late Romanesque or pre-Gothic construction from the 13th century. The interior has 15th and 16th century frescoes representing the martyrdom of San Sebastian and Santa Catalina.
Jabalquinto Palace. Outstanding building from the 15th century and an emblem of the city it is, without doubt, the most characteristically “Isabelline” building in the province. It was built by order of don Juan Alfonso de Benavides, a relative of King Fernando “the Catholic”. Its front is richly decorated with diamond shapes, studs and eight coats of arms, four of which belong to the wife’s ancestry and four to the husband’s, set in Flemish style, with their helmets, crests and decorations around them. Inside, we can admire a decorated Renaissance patio from the 16th century and a majestic Baroque staircase from the 18th century.
Conciliar Seminary of San Felipe Neri (present seat of the Andalusia International University). The seminary was founded in 1660 by the bishop of Jaen Fernando Andrade de Castro and was in use until 1969. On the outside we must highlight the doorway and on the inside a double tiered patio with strong Tuscan columns. Between 1991 and 1992 the building was completely refurbished, and today is the seat “Antonio Machado” of the International University of Andalusia.
This fountain was built in 1564 to commemorate water being brought to the city. It is in the middle of Santa Maria Square which, together with the El Populo Square, form the monumental centre of Baeza. Built in the form of a triumphal arch, it is notable for its originality. In the upper part the arms of King Felipe II appear.
High Town Hall. It started serving as the seat for the Council in 1511. It boasts a façade in flamboyant Gothic style embellished with the coat of arms of Doña Juana la Loca and Don Felipe el Hermoso.
Cathedral. A Gothic temple was built over the old mosque after the Christian conquest. In the second half of the 16th century, it underwent restoration in Renaissance style, which is the style of its main façade and is predominant on the outside. However, from the original construction, we still can see the Gothic-mudejar Puerta de la Luna (13th century) above which a beautiful 14th century Rose window can be found, and also the Gothic Puerta del Perdon (15th century). Four mudejar chapels surround the cloister. Inside we must mention the great Baroque altarpiece, the beautiful railing and the silver Monstrance.
House of El Pópulo. The 16th century former Audiencia, or appeal court, shows a beautiful Plateresque façade and today houses the Tourist Information Office.
Villalar Archway was erected in 1521 to commemorate the victory of Emperor Carlos over the Comunero revolution in Castille. It has never been used as an entrance, it has just been a commemorative element.
The Puerta de Jaén belongs to the old walls of the city and, together with the Villalar Archway, constitutes one of the two entrances to the Plaza de Populo Square.
Town Hall. The building dates from the 16th century and was originally the Palace of Justice and prison. It is considered one of the best examples of Andalusian Plateresque. The façade, which was declared National Monument in 1917, shows the coats of arms of the city, of King Felipe II and the one of the corregidor on both sides of the central balcony. Inside we must highlight the Renaissance coffered ceiling in the Sessions Room and the arched Hall with coats of arms.
Church of the Hospital of La Purísima Concepción. 17th century façade belonging to the Hospital of La Concepción.
Convent of San Francisco. We must mention the funerary chapel of don Diego Valencia de Benavides, built in 1538 by Andres de Vandelvira, originally designed with a great vault which collapsed after the earthquake in the 19th century. From the original chapel, only a side altarpiece remains, shaped as a triumphal arch flanked by pairs of Corinthian columns. An auditorium was built in 1988, with some arches which remind us of the original vaulted ceiling.
Convent of La Encarnación. Dates from late 16th century and its style is a transition from Renaissance to Baroque. San Juan de la Cruz arrived in Baeza after he was named Rector of this new school. This convent has the honour of having seen how San Juan de la Cruz finished his “Cantico Espiritual” between its walls.
Church of Santa María del Alcázar and San Andrés. With the Christian conquest, King Fernando III founded in this church a brotherhood in honour of the Apostle San Andres and San Isidoro. Known as the “Company of the 200 strongbowmen of our Lord Santiago” it was made up of Baeza noblemen who depended directly on the King. The church has a Plateresque façade and a main nave by Vandelvira. Inside, we must note the choir seating, of outstanding beauty. The patron saint of the city, the Virgen del Alcazar, is worshipped in this church.
San Pablo Church. The interior dates from the 15th century, although the façade is 17th century.