Úbeda

Úbeda is one of the two towns in the Jaen province that are protected by the UNESCO for their cultural and historical heritage.

As many towns and cities in this province Úbeda through out the time was a crossroad for many civilizations that left many artifacts behind them, which today we can see and try to understand the times past.

Úbeda is situated in the heart of Jaen province, less than two hour drive from Granada and about 45 minutes from the capital Jaen. The largest olive fields in Europe are part of the beautiful landscape around the town of Úbeda.

The town of Úbeda was a very important place in the Moorish times when the castle and town walls were build and also in the 16th century due to the expansion of the textile industry in this region and also because some of its nobility had political connections.

The architect Andrés de Vandelvira - an expert in Humanistic and Renaissance architecture - who was born in Úbeda was hired by the two renowned families - the Cobos and the Molinas - to design most of the town’s architecture.