Ubeda

Palacio de las Cadenas and Capilla del Salvador in Plaza de Vazquez de Molina. © Michelle Chaplow
Palacio de las Cadenas and Capilla del Salvador in Plaza de Vazquez de Molina.

Ubeda

Ubeda (pronounced OO-bay-da), with its wealth of Renaissance palaces and churches, has much in common with its counterpart Baeza. Both towns have a distinctly Castillian severity, with their granite buildings and plazas, as opposed to the white walls and flower-fill courtyards, and in many ways resembling Segovia and Avila. Poetry lovers will be interested to know that the sixteenth century mystic, San Juan de la Cruz died in a monastery in Úbeda. Ubeda has about 34, 200 inhabitants.

History

According to legend, Úbeda was founded by Túbal, a descendant of Noah. The city's name would derive from the mythical tower of King Ibiut. The first settlements in Úbeda date back to the Chalcolithic period, on the hill now known as the Cerro del Alcázar. More>

See the apartments to rent in Úbeda: Apartamentos Sol de Mayo, Apartamentos Sol Real, Apartamentos Turísticos Delgado, Alojamiento Centro, Apartamentos Turísticos El Losal and more.

Ubeda has 48 notable monuments, and more than a hundred other buildings of interest, almost all of them in the Renaissance style, and in perfect balance with Arabic, Gothic or Baroque volumes… More →

Weather in Úbeda - if you are considering visiting Ubeda you will be interested to check the latest weather forecast for the next few days from the table below. This weather forecast provided by… More →

Legend has it that Úbeda was founded by Túbal, a descendant of Noah. The name of the city would derive from the mythical tower of King Ibiut. The first settlements in Úbeda date back to the Copper… More →

This romantic hotel in a converted Renaissance palace boasts an impressive façade with a famous tower, and equally beautiful interiors. The main patio has marble columns and a wooden first-floor… More →

The Parador in Úbeda, known as the Condestable Dávalos Parador, makes yet another gorgeous historical gem open to the public. This time you can stay in a 17th century renaissance palace right in the… More →

The urban morphology of the two small cities of Úbeda and Baeza in southern Spain dates back to the Moorish ninth century and to the Reconquista in the 13th century. An important development took… More →

Popular festivals in Úbeda are la Fiesta del Corpus Cristi or las Cruces de Mayo

There are bus services from Úbeda to Jaén, Bailén, Úbeda, Murcia, Cazorla, Cartagena, Motril, Linares, Albacete, Andújar, Ecija, Beas de Segura and Antequera.

Things to see

The city has 48 notable monuments, and more than a hundred other buildings of interest, almost all of them in the Renaissance style, and in perfect balance with Arabic, Gothic or Baroque volumes.

The outstanding feature of Ubeda is the monumental square, the Plaza de Vázquez de Molina, surrounded with imposing buildings such as the Palacio de las Cadenas.

The palace was built in 1788, although it does have features from sixteenth century Renaissance. The grounds house the tourism office of the Regional Government of Andalusia in Úbeda. Located in… More →

The palace was designed in 1551 by architect, Andrés de Vandelvira. To this day it remains the habitual residence of the family that has owned it since it was purchased by their ancestor, Ignacio… More →

An example of a turreted palace house of medieval heritage, an anachronistic symbol of old warrior lineages, dating to the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Residence of Pedro de Toledo y Leiva… More →

The house is a remarkable building that owes its name to the strong towers of its main façade, a great sample of Plateresque composition from the year 1520. Originally a medieval palace, built by… More →

The construction of the palace of Juan Vázquez de Molina began around the year 1562. It was built according to the design of the prestigious architect, Andrés de Vandelvira, who six years later… More →

The Palace of the Counts of Guadiana was built in the last years of the sixteenth century, and is organized around a small central courtyard. On the outside, its façade is decorated with balconies… More →

The palace was ordered to be built by Fernando Ortega Salido, Dean of the Catedral de Málaga and Cantor of the Real Colegiata Iglesia de Santa María de los Reales Alcázares and first Chaplain of… More →

The Royal Convent of Santa Clara is the oldest conventual foundation in Úbeda, built in the thirteenth century, and is still inhabited by cloistered nuns. It was the first nunnery in Úbeda after… More →

The church is one of the oldest in Úbeda and is believed to have been built since the Visigoth period. Its location in a central square and its proximity to the old Town Hall make it have a marked… More →

The bullring sits on the land that was formerly occupied by the orchard of the Convento de San Nicasio. Materials from another convent, San Antonio, located on the Camino Viejo towards Baeza, were… More →

The Jewish synagogue was discovered in 2007 by the Crespo-López family. It is a private initiative for the recovery of a building which was camouflaged within the walls of several buildings, where… More →

The Santiago Hospital is a national monument projected by Andrés de Vandelvira from 1562 to1575.

The church stands on the original mosque within the walls of the Alcázar, without communication with the city until the beginning of the sixteenth century, except for a small… More →

The old Hospital, part of the Sacra Capilla del Salvador, was built in the second half of the sixteenth century. The patio, of which two sides are preserved, shows a double semicircular arcade on… More →

This exceptional chapel was founded by Don Francisco de los Cobos y Molina, Commander Major of León of the Order of Santiago, Adelantado de Cazorla and many other titles granted by his Lord,… More →

The city has 48 notable monuments, and more than a hundred other buildings of interest, almost all of them in the Renaissance style, and in perfect balance with Arabic, Gothic or Baroque volumes… More →

Ubeda has 48 notable monuments, and more than a hundred other buildings of interest, almost all of them in the Renaissance style, and in perfect balance with Arabic, Gothic or Baroque volumes… More →

This romantic hotel in a converted Renaissance palace boasts an impressive façade with a famous tower, and equally beautiful interiors. The main patio has marble columns and a wooden first-floor… More →

The pottery museum in Ubeda whose full name is Museo de Alfarería "Paco Tito". Memoria de lo Cotidiano. The collection walks through the history of Ubeda pottery.

Ubeda boasts a wealth of Renaissance palaces and churches. © Michelle Chaplow .
Ubeda boasts a wealth of Renaissance palaces and churches.

The Capilla del Salvador also has a chapel screen by the ironworker Bartolomé de Jaen. The Hospital de Santiago, designed by Vandelvira in the late 16th century, with its square bell towers and graceful Renaissance courtyard, is now the home of the town's Conference Hall. Ubeda has a Parador, housed in a 16th century palace which was the residence of a high-ranking churchman of the period.

Tickets for tours of Ubeda

Buy tickets for tours of Ubeda

Private tour of Úbeda

53
EUR

It is the ideal tour for those travelers who want a private visit to the World Heritage city of Úbeda, tailored to their tastes and needs (route, duration, start time, ...).A private tour allows you to enjoy the heritage of the city with your family and friends without having to resort to a regular guided tour with more people.Our specialist gui

 

Both towns, Ubeda and Baeza, have a distinctly Castillian severity, with their granite buildings and plazas, as opposed to the white walls and flower-fill courtyards of Andalucia proper, and in many ways they resemble Segovia and Avila more than Cordoba or Seville. Poetry lovers will be interested to know that the 16th century mystic Saint John of the Cross died in a monastery in Ubeda.

Hotels

Parador de Ubeda is a 16th century rennaisance palace in the heart of Úbeda. A lovely way to enjoy an inland city full of monuments.

Book Parador de Ubeda

Book Hotels in de Ubeda

Hotel La Paz

Hotel La Paz is situated in the commercial district of Ubeda. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and the 24-hour reception enables guests to come and go at any time.

The charming rooms feature traditional dark-wood furnishings and are equipped with air conditioning. The tiled bathrooms come complete with a hairdryer.

HOTEL FUENTE REDONDA LUXURY

HOTEL FUENTE REDONDA LUXURY features accommodation in Úbeda. Free WiFi and a concierge service are available.

The hotel will provide guests with air-conditioned rooms with a desk, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a shower. At HOTEL FUENTE REDONDA LUXURY rooms are fitted with bed linen and towels.

Alvaro de Torres Boutique

This beautiful 17th-century building is located in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Úbeda, next to Santa Clara Convent. Its elegant rooms feature free WiFi and a flat-screen TV. The air-conditioned rooms at Alvaro de Torres Boutique combine original stone walls with modern décor. Each one has a private bathroom with a hairdryer.

María de Molina

Set in Úbeda’s main square, this charming 16th-century mansion features a traditional Andalusian interior courtyard.

Each air-conditioned room at Maria de Molina has simple, classic décor. All rooms have a TV, minibar and a private bathroom.

The courtyard features marble floors, pillars and attractive stone archways.

Parador de Ubeda

Located in the beautiful, monumental city of Úbeda, this Parador is housed in a former, 16th-century palace and has kept its original, classical-style interior decor.

Parador de Úbeda’s rooms are all spacious, with high ceilings and equipped with modern facilities, such as a TV.

Alvar Fañez

Alvar Fañez is a hotel housed in a historic, Gothic-style building located in the historic city centre of the Andalusian city of Úbeda, UNESCO World Heritage City.

Dating from 1865, the hotel’s building has bare stone walls, columns and polished marble floors, as well as 21st-century facilities.

La Caseria de Tito

La Caseria de Tito is a 19th-century country house in Caserío de San Bartolomé, 8 minutes' drive from Úbeda. It has an outdoor swimming pool, a garden and a sun terrace with bar service.

Private parking is available at the La Caseria de Tito. Úbeda can be reached by a pleasant walk through the countryside.

 

Ceramics in Úbeda © Michelle Chaplow .
Ceramics in Úbeda

One of the main seasonal attractions of the town is the annual music and dance festival which is held in May and includes opera, jazz, flamenco, chamber music, symphony orchestra and dance.

Just south east of the town lies the nature park of Sierras de Cazorla.

Areas of Jaén province
Areas of Jaén province

Destinations