Úbeda’s architecture is a unique blend of Islamic and Italian Renaissance influences. The fine craftsmanship that can still be found within the historic town centre has earned Úbeda (and its neighbour Baeza) UNESCO World Heritage Site status. On this walking tour, you’ll explore Úbeda’s 6,000-year-old history, which saw Muslims, Christians and Jews shaping its medieval old town. The tour starts beside the clock tower in Plaza de Andalucía, just outside the medieval town walls. You’ll wind through alleyways, past the Archaeological Museum of Úbeda, to see one of the area’s oldest churches, the Church of San Pablo. As you walk, I’ll tell you about Úbeda’s strategic importance in the Middle Ages as a frontier town and agricultural centre. In the former Jewish quarter, you’ll find out why few traces remain of this once-thriving community. The tour ends in Plaza Vazquez de Molina, a square that’s packed with Renaissance treasures, including the Holy Chapel of the Saviour and the 16th-century palace, Palacio del Deán Ortega. On this 90-minute tour, you’ll also have an opportunity to: • Hear how a local noble rose to be Emperor Charles V’s right-hand man and brought untold wealth to the town • Admire the beautiful Plateresque façade of the art school, Escuela de Arte Casa de las Torres, and the deconsecrated San Lorenzo church • Trace Úbeda’s transformation thanks to architect Andrés de Vandelvira’s elegant and innovative designs, including the monumental Sacra Capilla del Salvador (Holy Chapel of the Saviour) and Úbeda’s Town Hall • Find out how Isabella I won the crown of Castille, thanks to one of Ubeda’s nobles’ love life • Discover where to find Úbeda’s distinctive artisan ceramics fired in traditional Arab ovens • See Casa de los Salvajes and other famous monumental sandstone mansions, built for the local nobility • Enjoy spectacular views across the Guadalquivir River valley and find out what it means to get lost in the hills of Úbeda By the end of the tour, you’ll understand why a small Andalusian town like Úbeda is so packed with monumental Renaissance architecture. I’ll also tell you about some of the best places to sample Úbeda’s delicious local cuisine.