subject: Fascinating And Refreshing Baeza Of Andalucia [print this page] Fascinating And Refreshing Baeza Of Andalucia
Baeza may be a small town with a small population of 16,000 but it contains the relaxing Sunday atmosphere in its compactness. This lovely quaint town is situated in Jaen's municipality in Andalusia province in the south of Spain.There are fantastic links to and from Baeza from Madrid, Seville, Malaga and other main cities on rail.
Baeza Town
At the town center is the main plaza, the Plaza Mayor, which links up two other plazas, one at the south and the other at the north. Plaza de la Constitucon is the southern plaza with a garden while Plaza de Espaa at the north is a smaller plaza with a paseo lined by many cafs, which is the town's main hive of activity.
At the back end of town is the Plaza de Leones which is a quite unique square with cobbled stones and Renaissance buildings. The famous circular balcony was where the Mass of the Reconquest was supposedly celebrated for the first time. The tourist center is housed at the mansion below where a visitor can get a town map or track brochure. Although entrance is free to all the town's attractions, a tip is suggested.
Historical Attractions
There are many historical mansions in Baeza which have been converted to perform other functions today, such as the Palacio de Jabalquinto which is currently a seminary, bearing a Moorish-influenced front with its stalactite ornaments. Near it is a 16th century cathedral with bright iron screens designed by the Spanish crafts master Maestro Bartolom. In the midst of this cathedral lies some remains of an old mosque, but the main attraction is the large silver custodia which has been subtly covered by a St. Peter painting; this custodia can be whirled aside with an input of a 100ptas Spanish coin.
It is a refreshing walk around the town going through the town plaza and out to its surrounding lush plains before walking through the narrow alleys lined with stoned walls before coming back to the town.
Accommodation
There are quite a few choices of accommodation here although many of them are up-market priced. Some are ancient mansions which have been converted while others are contemporary buildings. Many offer good menu selections and tapas in the afternoons.
Transportation
There are frequent trains running from Sevilla, Granada and Cordoba to Linares-Baeza, which is the nearest station from Baeza, and it is 14 kilometers away. Although there are bus connections for most of the trains here, they connect via Ubeda; otherwise, taxis are the better alternative especially on Sundays
