Discover Baeza in 10 minutes
In this article, I'll tell you about Baeza-such a neat little town, in the province of Jaén, whose architecture and narrow streets take you through the town's history all throughout the Romanes Empire up to the present day. The city was designated a UNESCO in 2003. In the following lines, I'll take you on a quick tour of Baeza, ready? 👇
Plaza del Pópulo
🚩My first stop in town was a small café, where I tried the traditional Andalusian breakfast which consists of bread, olive oil, tomato, and salt, which can be combined with chocolate milk, orange juice, or coffee.
Usually, all the ingredients are served to you separately and you make your sandwich. Here is a video in which I show how to make this type of breakfast once it is served to you.
📷 Watch Andalusian breakfast
🚩My next stop was Palacio de Jabalquinto (Jabalquinto Palace)
The origin of Jabalquinto Palace is related to the Benavides family. The palace itself, through its heraldry, shows that its patron was the II Lord of Jabalquinto, Juan Alfonso de Benavides Manrique, at the end of the 15th century. Its author is unknown, although due to its aesthetics, the façade is usually attributed to the work of Juan Guas.
What has made this building famous is undoubtedly the main façade, with its magnificent Isabelline Gothic decoration, where the beautiful large windows and the diamond-shaped projections stand out. The courtyard is also magnificent, with two floors of semicircular arches on slender columns. A fine example of the abundant Renaissance architecture in Baeza.
During the first quarter of the 18th century the Jabalquinto Palace was ceded by the royal family (reserving the right of use and enjoyment) for the extension of the Seminary of San Felipe Neri, and from then on it was used first as a Seminary and then as a Minor School until the second half of the 20th century, later becoming the site of a rehabilitation school-workshop and, since 1994, one of the sub-sites of the International University of Andalusia.
Antonio Machado is one of the greatest Spanish poets of all time. Machado arrived in Baeza after the untimely death of his beloved wife. In the city of Baeza, Machado spent 7 years as a professor of French Grammar at the old University of Baeza. In these photos you can see me in the same classroom where Machado gave classes.
🚩Speaking of the poet, our next stop will be the monument of Antonio Machado
Antonio Machado spent a period of his life in Baeza. In addition to being a French teacher, he wrote some of his best works here. This monument was raised to commemorate the 70th anniversary of his death in 2003.
Near his monument, there is a line from the famous poem “Cantares” (“Singings”). If you want to read the whole poem click here.
🚩La Plaza de Santa María (Santa Maria Square)
In the center of the square stands the Fountain of Santa Maria. A curious fact is that it was ordered to be built to commemorate the successful completion of the bringing of water to the town. Its appearance is totally 'Roman'.This is evidenced by the female figures on the columns, which are commemorating the splendor of Julius Caesar's empire, and by the half-naked figures flanking Philip II's fronts of armor.
The Cathedral of the Birth of Our Lady is the oldest catholic cathedral in Andalusia. Has its origins in the old Arab mosque built in the 11th century which, after the Christian reconquest, King Alfonso VII ordered it to be consecrated for Christian cult in the 12th century.
The Cathedral of Baeza still retains some of the original architectural elements of the old mosque, although throughout its history it has suffered numerous collapses and reconstructions.
🚩Breathtaking views of the "sea of olive trees"
📍Mirador de las Murallas
📍La casa del aceite (The house of olive oil)
Canal Sur's TV channel reports that Baeza is Spain's leading olive oil producer. Only last year, Baeza produced 177,000 tons of olives and 32,700 tons of olive oil. Baeza is like the largest olive oil producer in the world, as its olive trees have produced the largest quantity of olive oil in the province of Jaén.
