The Holy Kingdom of Jaen

The early conquest of the upper Guadalquivir valley by the Christians - between 1124 and 1233, though Jaén itself did not fall until 1246 - brought proto-Gothic architecture to some of its towns in the 13th century, a singular feature of this tour.

In Ubeda, there are proto-Gothic remains in the Churches of San Pablo (Los Carpinteros door) and San Pedro.

Gothic and Mudéjar are visible in the Church of Santa María. San Nicolás is a good example of late Gothic (14th-15th centuries). Under civilian architecture we have El Rosal or Sabiote Gate (14th century Mudéjar) and the Clock Tower (13th century Gothic, remodelled in the 16th century).

The Museum is housed in an old Mudéjar house, of the popular kind. At Baeza, we may see proto-Gothic in the churches of Santa Cruz and El Salvador. The Door of La Luna in the Cathedral alternates Gothic and Mudéjar details.

The facade of the 15th - 16th century Palace of Jabalquinto is a fine example of the final or Isabelline Gothic. Also belonging to the late Gothic period are the church of Santa María at Linares, of San Bartolomé at Andújar, the parish church at Lopera and the Convent of Santa Marta at Martos. In Jaén, Santa Catalina Castle may be visited (keep and chapel), San Bartolomé and convent of Santa Clara and the remains of the palace of El Condestable Iranzo.