Location: Ubeda
Top Things to do in Ubeda
The 10 Best Things to Do in Ubeda, Spain
Úbeda (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈuβeða]; from Arabic Ubbada al-`Arab and this from Iberian Ibiut) is a town in the province of Jaén in Spain's autonomous community of Andalusia, with some 36,025 inhabitants. Both this city and the neighbouring city of Baeza benefited from extensive patronage in the early 16th century resulting in the construction of a series of Renaissance style palaces and churches, which have been preserved ever since. In 2003, UNESCO declared the historic cores and monuments of these two towns a World Heritage Site.
Restaurants in Ubeda
1. Plaza Vazquez de Molina
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 453 reviews
Reviewed By Gaily1 - Manchester, United Kingdom
Amazing place to wander around and spend a day. Great shops nearby & lots of great places to eat. It was raining when we visited but it was still very beautiful.
2. Centro Historico
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 260 reviews
Reviewed By manswa - Stockport, United Kingdom
A well preserved old town that is justifiably presented as a piece of old Spain. Very peaceful and not at all crowded this is a lovely place to spend 2-3 hours just wandering. There are plenty of bars and restaurants for refreshments - particularly important as when we were vising the temperature was mid 30's Centigrade
3. Sinagoga del Agua
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 826 reviews
La Sinagoga del Agua has been discovered in 2007 and opened to public visits in 2010 in the monumental city of Úbeda by the family Crespo- López. It is a totally private initiative of restauration of a space hidden into several houses belonging to different families where they were living a normal life, with no idea about the greatness of the place walled into their houses. The visit costs 4,50€ per person (3,50€ kids under 12 and groups over 15 persons). All visits are guided IN SPANISH and last about 30 minutes. We have written information in ENGLISH, FRENCH, GERMAN, ITALIAN and BRAILLE Private guided visits are available, booking required, outside of the opening timetable (see calendar on web site) Information and booking: Artificis
4. Holy Chapel of the Saviour
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 411 reviews
Reviewed By enare - Trondheim
This is the moste famous Vandelvira monument in Ubeda. This architect who has made his stamp on this town since about 1550. It is built as a mausoleum for Francesco de Cobos, Charles the 5th most important minister. Outside it is beautiful and exciting, only one religous image, but the coats of arms of Cogos and his wife from the important Mendoza family. Inside a surprisingly different sacristy door.The altarpiece by Beruguete is stunning, but much restored.
5. Hospital de Santiago
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 197 reviews
Reviewed By BennyMalaga - Malaga, Spain
It is the biggest Renaissance building in Ubeda and it was constructed by the architect Andres de Vandelvira. Since it is very big, it is considered as the Andalusian El Escorial. One can go in the building and see its large and beautiful patio. There is also a majestic and large staircase where one can go up and see the beautiful ceilings and designs there. Entrance is free.
6. Santa Maria de los Reales Alcazares
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 123 reviews
Reviewed By BennyMalaga - Malaga, Spain
The Santa Maria de los Reales Alcazares was closed for about 28 years and I had almost given up seeing it. However it reopened in 2011 and can be seen now.
The full name of the Church of Santa Maria is Church of Santa Maria de los Reales Alcazares. In 1223 King San Fernando III conquered Ubeda from the Moors. He converted the mezquita into a Catholic church and gave it its present name. The church has been renovated since 1396 very frequently. This accounts for the many architectural styles that it has. Most interesting are its facades, cloister, chapels and its grillwork. The church was severely damaged during the Spanish Civil War. In 1986 a restoration did not work well, so another restoration was made and finished only in 2011.
The façade and doorways were constructed in the 17th century. The main doorway shows the Adoration of the Shepherds. The cloister is Gothic and constructed in the 15th century. The church has 16 chapels where many bishops and members of the nobility of the city were buried. The Puerta de la Consolada is a door on the eastern façade and is where during Holy Week the Cofradia de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno has its throne leave the church.
7. Iglesia de San Pablo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 65 reviews
Reviewed By BennyMalaga - Malaga, Spain
The San Pablo Church is one of the oldest churches in Ubeda, built in the 14th century. It is Gothic Mudejar in style but has elements of the Romanesque original style. The big square has a beautiful statue of St. Paul. The church has three main fronts, a 16th century tower, and a Renaissance Fountain. The church has a basilical ground plan with three naves. The original structure was Gothic, but one can find many different styles in the church.
The main facade opens to the plaza and was constructed in 1511. The design is Gothic Isabeline with pointed arches and decoration with vegetal motifs. The tympanum is decorated with the Coronation of the Virgin, surrounded by angels and presided by the Eternal Father. Below is the image of San Pablo. At the end of the 16th century, a gallery was built on top, with Renaissance designs and where church documents were read to the plaza below. This was called El Tabladillo.
There is a facade called the Portada de los Carpinteros that has late Romanesque architecture from the end of the 13th century. The archivolts of the door appear to be decorated with human heads and nails. There is a north facade that is Gothic and constructed in the 15th century. It has three arches. The tower is Plateresque and dates from the 16th century.
The interior of the church is late Gothic in style, with three naves and a polygonal design at the main altar. There are many side chapels that were constructed by noble families of the city to bury their dead. All of them have beautiful Renaissance grills. Among the beautiful chapels are the Capilla de la Encarnacion, Capilla de la Purisima Concepcion, Capilla de San Ildefonso, Capilla del Camarero Vago, and the Capilla de Las Mercedes.
8. Palacio de Vela de los Cobos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 74 reviews
Reviewed By BennyMalaga - Malaga, Spain
There is a guided tour of the Palace of Vela de los Cobos that visitors to Ubeda should take. It shows the beautiful interiors of the palace. There are guided visits and the Semer Turismo office to reserve these visits is located across the street at Calle Juan Montilla, 3. Cost is 4 euros.
The Palace of Vela de los Cobos was constructed by Andres de Vandelvira in the middle of the 16th century for Francisco Vela de los Cobos, the Governor of Ubeda, Captain of Cavalry in the war against the Moriscos of Granada, and a Gentleman of the the Court of Felipe II. He died in 1569 and his family line came to its end in 1642. The people who bought the palace did not take care of it and it deteriorated until 1873.
It was then that the banker Ignacio de Sabater from Madrid bought the palace and restored it. This gentleman had amassed a very large fortune in banking and was a senator in the Spanish Parliament. He lived between 1855 and 1939. His great-grandson is Natalio Rivas Sabater and the present owner of the palace. The last restoration took place in 1966 and has left the palace in a very good condition. If one is lucky, the owner will be the person giving the tour.
The facade has three floors. The main entrance has two Corinthian columns that are joined by a lintel. Above this is a small balcony with a large window on the second floor with Ionic columns on each side and a triangular pediment on top. On each side of the window is a warrior that holds the coat of arms of the owner of the palace. There are other balcony windows with pilasters or columns and pediments, and with wrought iron railings. The small balconies with windows became very popular in the second half of the 16th century and 17 century. The corner balcony was used frequently in the Spanish Renaissance. It has a slender marble column. The third floor has an open gallery that is decorated with geometric figures in the pilasters, arches, and balconies.
The palace has one of the best private collections of art in the city, with an important library and historic archives. The library has about 6000 books now, some printed in the 16th century. The rare books are probably the most valuable part of the palace, more than the paintings. One of the best parts to be seen in the tour is the very large dining room, where the distinguished diplomats and important people have had reunions with the family. The period furniture and art work are also very interesting.
We were fortunate that the person who gave us the tour was the owner and we were only 6 on the tour.
9. Iglesia de San Lorenzo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 46 reviews
Reviewed By PPCI-BG - Italy
La Chiesa di San Lorenzo è oggetto di restauro e non in condizioni ottimali ma organizza anche esposizioni. L’origine è antica perché è stata costruita proprio sulle mura della città nel tredicesimo secolo. Una storia interessante che vale la visita.
10. Archaeological Museum of Ubeda
Overall Ratings
4 based on 90 reviews
Monday Closed
Reviewed By BennyMalaga - Malaga, Spain
The Archaeological Museum is located in a beautiful building of the 14th century and is known as the Casa Mudejar. The façade has four arches that give it elegance. There is a patio inside and the building is constructed around it. The patio gives light to the rooms. The museum is small but has many valuable pieces, especially Roman funerary sculptures. One of these sculptures is that of Silenus, who in Greek mythology was a companion and tutor to the wine god Dionysus. There are Roman amphorae and a beautiful ceramic kylix from the 4th century BC.
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