Úbeda, past and present:           

Úbeda lies in the heart of Andalucía and enjoys a unique location which has led to the growth of this charming city.
In an area towards the interior of the Spanish peninsula, on the road to the great city of Granada, near the Roman city of Castulum, and close to the source of the largest river of Al- Andalus, the birth of the city dates back to ancient times.

A legend says that the city was founded by a grandson of Noah called King Idubeda, and there are signs of settlements from the Copper Age in the famous Cerro of Úbeda- the outlying hilly area. In Roman times, settlements of mercenary legionnaires obtained plots of land having fought for Rome in its wars. However, the first documented archive of the creation of the city appears in Arab times. Here, allusions are made to Abderraman II as being the founder of the city, and who called it Madinat -Ubbadat Al-Arab, translated as Úbeda of the Arabs.

With its extraordinary defensive walls and particular geographical location, in times of the Reconquest, Úbeda was strategically desirable for both sides. Hence, the city was first conquered by Alfonso VIII after the battle of Navas de Tolosa, to be lost shortly afterwards. It was not until 1233 and the Reconquest of Fernando III the Saint, that Úbeda was annexed to the kingdom of Jaén and later became a border town with the kingdom of Granada

After the Arab period the city was home to Arab, Jewish and Christian cultures. The Jewish culture found it the ideal place to display its technical skill which is manifest in the architecture in the old quarter and in the city’s art. However, it was the Christian culture that most influenced the city and the way of life its citizens. Its situation as a border town helped Úbeda receive certain privileges from the kings of Castile, and which made it grow into an important city within the kingdom.

Thus, the city developed until it reached the height of its splendour - the sixteenth century. It was in this century that Úbeda placed a number of its nobles in high political posts in the Peninsula. The first was Don Francisco de los Cobos, personal secretary to Carlos I, who drew to the city artists such as Andrés de Vandelvira, Diego de Siloé and Pedro Berruguete. They converted Úbeda into a city brimming with beautiful palaces and marvellous churches, as well as the most important civic buildings of the period, the Hospital of Saint James, known as the The Escurial of the South. Don Frnacisco’s project was taken up by the illustrious Juan Vázquez De Milona, member of Emperor Carlos’s staff and personal secretary to his son Felipe II.

In this period, the city enjoyed its most brilliant era, leading important figures from the political, economic and artistic life of the country to settle in the city. It is in this period that San Juan de la Cruz arrived at the city, and it was in the streets of the old quarter that he wrote part of his beautiful work. Guided by San Juan de la Cruz, Santa Teresa de Jesús would also come to stop in Úbeda which inspired passages of her work. So great was the city that San Juan de Cruz decided to settle here until his death in 1591

Unfortunately, this period of splendour was to end with a series of bad harvests and worse administration of the city’s coffers. The 17th and 19th centuries marked a dark period in the city’s history as it was plunged into deep economic crises. It was not until the 19th century that the city rose again thanks to the advances of the industrial revolution and the local bourgeoisie, which resulted in the city being named head of the county.

Thus, Úbeda heads bravely towards modern times, having learnt from the experience gained from the lengthy passing of the centuries.

Úbeda, present and future:           

So that is how this beautiful city has made it to the 21st century, having inherited the wonderful treasures of ancient cultures and conserving a heritage of its own, making it one of the most attractive cities in Andalucía.

The streets of Úbeda are home to no fewer than forty-eight impressive architectural monuments, be they walls, churches, houses and palaces. This artistic ensemble has earned the city numerous titles in recent years. In 1955 it was named Historic and Artistic Ensemble; in 1975 the Council of Europe named it Exemplary Renaissance city. Finally, in 2003 along with the neighbouring city of Baeza it was declared by UNESCO as being World Heritage. This award recognises Úbeda as being one of the best representatives of renaissance architecture in Spain. Each street in the old quarter reveals a new monument encapsulating the essence of the city.

However, Úbeda also boasts other attractions worthy of today’s large cities. In Úbeda we can enjoy museums, art galleries and various cultural festivals. Indeed, Úbeda holds one of the most important music festivals – the City of Úbeda International Festival of Music and Dance. There are also different theatre seasons and travelling exhibitions. Last but not least the visitor can also visit the Antiques Biennial, one of the key fairs in its sector in Andalucía

Finally, we must remind visitors that Úbeda does not forget its two most important resources: agriculture and commerce. The Agricultural Machinery Trade Fair held annually has become one of the most recognised shows of the sector in the province, and coinciding with this the Annual Commercial Fair in which the city’s retailers show citizens and visitors alike the wide range of products to be found in the city.

In short, Úbeda faces the future as a city brimming with monuments, culture, products and, of course, citizens delighted to “lend” the beauty of their city to all who visit it.