Tourist Information from Ubeda, Jaén, Spain

General Information:

Ubeda is a municipality of the province of Jaen, in Andalusia, Spain. From the avenue referred to as the Redonda de Miradores, visitors to the capital of La Loma can look out over the Guadalquivir. The Renaissance enriched Úbeda to a greater extent than any other city in Andalusia. The city’s extraordinary artistic and cultural heritage reaches its climax in the Plaza Vázquez de Molina, considered to be one of the most beautiful plazas in Europe. The Sacra Capilla de El Salvador (chapel) was constructed at the behest of Francisco de los Cobos. The interior, designed by Andrés de Vandelvira, possesses a beautiful grille, a singular altarpiece and a sacristy that embodies balanced design. The Palacio del Condestable Dávalos, now a parador (state owned hotel in a historical building), stands next to the chapel. The Palacio de las Cadenas now houses the city hall. Facing this building we find the Iglesia de Santa María de los Reales Alcázares (church), built over a site that was formerly occupied by a Moorish mosque. The Plaza del Mercado lies approximately one hundred meters away from the Plaza Vázquez de Molina, shaded by the tall trees that line one of the façades of the Gothic Iglesia de San Pablo (church). Not far from here, visitors will find the traditional district of San Millán, which is filled with the workshops of potters and sculptors.

Tourist Guides:

· APIT: Provincial Association of Official Tourist Guides. Úbeda-Baeza Office: Tel/fax +34 953 79 28 51 mobile +34 677 49 54 98 e.mail guiasoficialesubedabaeza@gmail.com

· ARTÍFICIS: Baja del Salvador, 2. 23400. 953 75 81 50 / 655 55 33 40. Fax: 953 79 26 08. artificis@artificis.com, www.artificis.com

· ATLANTE TURISMO: Úbeda Office: Plaza del Ayuntamiento, s/n. 23400. 953 79 34 22. Fax: 953 79 34 22. www.atlanteturismo.com

Places of Interest:

· Sacra Capilla Funeraria del Salvador del Mundo: The chapel represents one of the most important private religious works of the 16th century. The chapel was constructed under the orders of Francisco de los Cobos, Secretary of State to Emperor Charles V and advisor to Phillip II. The ground plan was designed by Diego de Siloé, the architect who constructed the Cathedral of Granada; however, the magnificent plateresque façade and the sacristy are the work of Andrés de Vandelvira. Attention should also be drawn to the main altar and the grilles, attributed to the master smith Bartolomé. Plaza Vázquez de Molina, s/n. 23400. tel. 953 75 81 50. www.artificis.com OPENING HOURS: Winter: Monday to Saturday: 10 to 14h and 16 a 18.30h. Sunday: 11.15 to 14h and 16 to 18.30h. Summer: Monday to Saturday: 10 to 14h and 17.00 to 19.30h. Sunday: 10.45 to 14h and 16.30 to 19.30h. Worshipping Hours Winter: Monday to Saturday: 18.30h. Sunday: 10.30h Summer: Monday to Saturday: 19h. Sunday: 10h.

· Hospital de Santiago: The building is often referred to as the “Andalusian Escorial”. With a sober façade that leads onto the splendour of the interior, the hospital represents one of the most accomplished works of Vandelvira. In recent years the hospital has been used as an auditorium, a setting for social acts and a congress and convention centre. Obispo de los Cobos, s/n. 23400. tel. 953 75 08 42.OPENING HOURS: Winter: 8 to 14.30h and 17 to 22h. Summer: 8 to 15h and16 to 22h. Saturday and Sunday: 11 to 15h and18 to 22h.

· Palacio Vázquez de Molina o de las Cadenas: José Vázquez de Molina, chamber secretary to Phillip II, charged Vandelvira with the construction of this stately Renaissance residence in the 16th century. The building currently houses the City Hall, the Historical Archive and the Renacentalia Tourist Information Centre. Plaza Vázquez de Molina, s/n. 23400. tel. 953 75 04 40. OPENING HOURS: Monday to Saturday: 10 to 14h and17 to 20h. Sundays: 10 to 14h.

· Palacio del Deán Ortega: This Renaissance building dates back to the 16th century. It currently houses the Condestable Dávalos Tourism Parador (a State-owned hotel). Vandelvira designed the sober façade with a lintelled main entrance boasting Doric columns crowned by angels bearing the coat of arms of the founder. In the interior, attention should be drawn to the patio around which the rooms are centred. Plaza Vázquez de Molina s/n. 23400. tel. 953 75 03 45.

· Palacio Vela de los Cobos: This building was constructed by Vandelvira in the 16th century under the orders of Francisco Vela de los Cobos, alderman of Úbeda. The façade is crowned with an elegant round arch gallery that extends at the corners where the artist devised balconies. Juan Montilla, 6. 23400. tel. 953 75 00 34. OPENING HOURS: Via prior appointment.

· Casa de las Torres: This building, once owned by constable Dávalos, boasts a plateresque façade flanked by two large towers and decorated with elegant reliefs, friezes embellished with beautiful cresting and Gothic gargoyles. Condestable Dávalos s/n. 23400. tel. 953 75 05 18. OPENING HOURS: from 8 to 14.15h and from 16 to 18h. Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

· Iglesia de San Pablo: The church bears mention as a result of the harmony of its Gothic main façade with a plateresque belltower, which contrasts with the southern façade, built in the Isabelline style. Plaza 1º de Mayo s/n. 23400. OPENING HOURS: Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 11 to 12h. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays: 11 to 13h. Sundays: 11 to 13.30h. Monday to Saturday: 17 to 20h.

· Iglesia de San Isidoro: The church boasts two Gothic façades, which were constructed at the behest of Bishop Suárez de la Fuente del Sauce, in the Flamboyant Gothic style. The interior, built in the Renaissance style, boasts a single nave in a Latin cross plan, covered by a barrel vault ceiling. San Isidoro, s/n. 23400. OPENING HOURS: Monday to Saturday: 10.30 to 13.30h and 19 to 20.30h.

· Iglesia de San Nicolás: Whilst the church is built in the Gothic style, it boasts a beautiful Renaissance vault in the entrance, which is the work of Vandelvira. In the interior, visitors can contemplate the Capilla del Deán (chapel), which boasts a plateresque façade and a grille constructed by Juan Álvarez de Molina in Toledo. San Nicolás, s/n. 23400. OPENING HOURS: from 8.30 to 9.30h.

Museums:

· MUSEO ARQUEOLÓGICO: History and Archaeology. Casa Mudéjar. Cervantes, 6. 23400. tel. 953 77 94 32. www.museosdeandalucia.es/cultura/museos/MAUB OPENING HOURS: Mornings: Groups with prior appointment. Tuesday: 14.30 to 20.30h. Wednesday to Saturday: 9 to 20.30h. Sunday: 9 to 14.30h. Closed on Mondays.

· MUSEO SAN JUAN DE LA CRUZ: Art and objects linked to the Saint. Carmen, 13. 23400. tel. 953 75 06 15. www.ocd-andalucia.org OPENING HOURS: Winter: Tuesday to Sunday 10.30 to 13h and 16.30 to 19h. Summer: Tuesday to Sunday 11 to 13h and 17 to 19h.

· CENTRO MUNICIPAL DE INTERPRETACIÓN TURÍSTICA RENACENTALIA: This interpretative centre provides information to tourists and facilitates their first contact with the city. Plaza Vázquez de Molina, s/n. 23400. tel. 953 75 62 34 / 628 42 76 22. OPENING HOURS: Winter: 10 to 14h and 17 to 20h. Summer: 10 to 14h and 17.30 to 20.30h. Sundays: closed in the evenings.