Baeza and Ubeda – the first cities of Spanish Renaissance

Abstract

The object of the study are two Spanish cities – Baeza and Ubeda, which have cultural and historical similarities in the context of Spanish architecture of the 16th – early 17th centuries. As a result of the analysis of their plans, architectural dominants, the author discovers the distinctive features of the architectural and urban planning decisions of two nearby cities. Of particular interest is the variety of artistic movements and traditions of different historical eras (late Gothic, Mudejar, Castilian-Flemish Isabelino, Italian purism, elements of the classical architecture of the early Spanish Renaissance, etc.). Earlier, art historians did not conduct such a comparative study. The materials used for analysis were the  most typical architectural monuments that are most expressive of style decisions: Villalar Arch (Arco de Villalar), Baeza Jaen Gate (Puerta de Jaen), Populo Square (Plaza del Populo), Jabalquinto Palace (Palacio de Jabalquinto), Holy Chapel of the Saviour (Sacra Capilla del  Salvador), Vazquez de Molina Palace, Basilica de Santa Maria de los Reales Alcazares, House of Towers (Casa de las Torres), Palace of the Chains (Palacio de las Cadenas). The  author notes the contribution of architects such as Enrique Egas and Juan Guas, Andres de Vandelvira, Juan de Herrera and Diego de Silot in the formation of the architectural language of Eastern Andalusia.