Baeza Cathedral, Baeza Spain

Baeza Cathedral (16^th Century, Renaissance) is a National Monument and is more than worth a closer look, as can be seen in the photo below:

Baeza Cathedral

Fuente de Santa Maria, Baeza, Spain.

The Plaza de Santa María is another square that seems frozen in time, but is far larger than the Plaza de Santa Cruz. All its surroundings are completely in tune, without any concrete at all to strike a duff note. The old seminary is on the right as you enter, while  the Casas Consistoriales Altas are on the right. A Gothic complex, this currently houses the local music college. As you cross the square, you'll walk  past the 16^th Century Fuente de Santa María.

Fuente de Santa Maria, Baeza, Spain

Seminario Conciliar de San Felipe Neri, Baeza, Spain

The Seminario Conciliar de San Felipe Neri (old seminary) is a huge 17^th/18^th Century building that runs along the right-hand side of the street of the same name. It was restored in 1990 and is now the hub for many courses in the Universidad de Verano “Antonio Machado” (the Antonio Machado Summer School). The inner patio is cool and inviting in the summer.  Students graft in the classrooms that lead onto it, kept well away from the heat outside. The seminary had a chapel that can be viewed from Calle S.Felipe Neri, while the old seminary’s Baroque main frontage can be viewed from the Plaza de Santa María at the end of the street.

 Seminario Conciliar de San Felipe Neri

Pottery from Ubeda, Spain

Pottery from Úbeda is rightly renowned throughout Andalusia and the rest of Spain.

Pottery from Ubeda, Spain

This craft has a long history in the town, drawing on many differing strands and influences – the Romans and the Renaissance, but most of all the Arabs. You only have to walk into a potter’s studio in Úbeda to feel the blend of Hispanic and Arab cultures that is concentrated there.

Instead of browsing standard gift shops, my recommendation is a visit to one of the potters themselves, with a chance to view their workshop, kiln and exhibition. Some are now located in the pats of town that are most frequented by tourists (i.e. around the Town Hall and Parador), but most remain in their traditional area along Calle Valencia in the lower reaches of Úbeda. This location was originally due to the abundance of water that was available there (a key component in the production process) and the fact that the smells, etc, from their kilns were thus kept away from the town centre.

Pottery from Ubeda, Spain

These days many potters combine traditional designs and techniques with dashes of modernity, and there’s nothing like holding and using such a beautiful piece of craftsmanship. If you’re looking for a gift that’s typical of the area and you won’t regret buying once you get it home (!), look no further.

Easter in Ubeda

Easter in Ubeda is an amazing time of the year for the town. Its streets are filled with processions and music at seemingly any hour of the day and night, while the locals make the most of the holiday time to enjoy some gorgeous tapas in between following the different images that they venerate so much. Everything culminates in the expression of their "Semana Santa".

I hope you enjoy your visit to Ubeda at Easter if you get the chance. It's a unique experience!

Real Monasterio de Santa Clara, Ubeda, Spain

The Real Monasterio de Santa Clara  in Ubeda (13^th-18^th Century, Gothic-Mudéjar, Renaissance and Baroque) is currently a convent, in spite of its name. A closed order live there, although they sell their homemade cakes through a hatch – buying them is a real experience, as is scoffing them!

Real Monasterio de Santa Clara, Ubeda, Spain

Palacio de la Rambla in Ubeda, Spain

As you explore Ubeda, a stroll up along Calle Jurado Gómez will lead you to the Plaza del Marqués and the Palacio de Marqués de la Rambia (16^th Century), which has now been converted into a posh hotel. It's a beautiful building, as can be seen in the photo below:

Palacio de la Rambla in Ubeda