Beautiful Baeza was declared a Conjunto Histórico-Artístico – Historical-Artistic Site in 1966 which was the beginning of its tourism era, then in 2003 it was recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, twinned with Ubeda about 7km away. As well as being the seat of the International University of Andalusia its importance and visitor numbers began to grow. But don´t let that put you off it´s a incredibly charming small city to walk around and admire.
Baeza has a long history with its first settlers in the Bronze age making their base in what is now known as “Cerro del Alcázar.” It evolved into the Iberian city of Viatia or Vivatia and then in the Roman period became Biatia, one of the most important cities of the area.
It was the Muslims who built its protective city walls but its real growth and splendour, much of what we can see todayw as built after the Christian conquest when the town began to spread outside the fortress walls and important Renaissance buildings sprang up from the wealth gained from its agriculture and textile trading.
Some of its most important and beautiful architectural delights are:
Baeza Cathedral
The cathedral was probably built on a Roman temple, on top of which a Muslim mosque was built mosque then in 1227 work on the cathedral began. In the 16th century renovations gave it a Renaissance touch by the local architect Andres Vandelvira.
Iglesia de Santa Cruz
This late Romanesque church dates back to the 13th century and was preserved after the Christian conquest. The exterior is austere, with its two doorways and the semicircular archivolts.
Ruins of the Convent of San Francisco
The Convent could have been one of the most important of the Andalusian Renaissance, again a work of Vandelvira, but misfortunes including the tremors from the Lisbon earthquake in 1775 which brought down the vault of the main chapel.
Iglesia de San Andrés
A Plateresque style frontage from the beginning of the 16th century, the church held the title of Collegiate Church from 1764 to 1852.
Palace of Jabalquinto
Standing opposite iglesia de Santa Cruz the Palace of Jabalquinto is one of the greatest Elizabethan Gothic style buildings from the end of the 15th century with its exterior decorations of diamond points, pineapple nails, fronds, fleurons, ribbons, pinnacles and heraldic coats of arms. It is now the headquarters of the Antonio Machado International University.
The Plaza de Santa María
The Plaza de Santa Maria is at the heart of Baeza’s monumental area and is surrounded by many of its fabulous creations.
The Plaza del Pópulo
Plaza del Populo and the Puerta de Jaén and the Arco de Villalar, is one of the most famous squares of the city. The plateresque façade of the Antiguas Escribanías is now the tourist office, with the Antiguas Carnicerías – the old slaughterhouse and the Fuente de Los Leones in the centre.
Where to Stay in Baeza
On my most recent visit I chose to stay in Palacio de los Salcedos a beautiful XVI Gothic building, now a charming hotel very close to the main plaza.
On my Only Spain boutique hotel collection I feature Hotel Puerta de la Luna, or see Hotel Puerta de la Luna on Booking (Palacio de los Salcedos will soon be on OnlySpain.org)