Plaza del Pópulo

Andalucía


This handsome square is surrounded by elegant 16th-century buildings. The central Fuente de los Leones is made of carvings from the Ibero-Roman village of Cástulo and is topped by a statue reputed to represent Imilce, a local princess who became one of the wives of the famous Carthaginian general Hannibal.

The Puerta de Jaén on the plaza's west side was originally a city gate of Muslim Bayyasa, though it was reconstructed in 1526. Joined to it is the Arco de Villalar, erected by Carlos I the same year to commemorate the crushing of a serious insurrection in Castilla that had threatened to overthrow him.

On the southern side of the square is the lovely 16th-century Casa del Pópulo, formerly a courthouse and now housing Baeza’s tourist office. It was built in the plateresque style, an early phase of Renaissance architecture noted for its decorative facades. Today the role of courthouse is played by the Antigua Carnicería, from 1547, on the eastern side of the square, which must rank as one of the world's most elegant ex-butcheries, with the shield of Carlos I emblazoned on its facade.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Andalucía attractions

1. Fuente de los Leones

Plaza del Pópulo is also known as Plaza de los Leones after the Fuente de los Leones at its centre. The fountain is made of carvings from the Ibero-Roman…

2. Antigua Carnicería

0.01 MILES

The eastern side of Plaza del Pópulo is occupied by the Antigua Carnicería, from 1547, which must rank as one of the world's most elegant butcheries. It's…

3. Puerta de Jaén

0.01 MILES

The Puerta de Jaén on the west side of Plaza del Pópulo was originally one of the city gates of Muslim Bayyasa, though its present form dates from a 1526…

4. Arco de Villalar

0.01 MILES

Joined to the Puerta de Jaén on the west side of Plaza del Pópulo, the Arco de Villalar was erected by Carlos I in 1526 to commemorate the crushing of a…

5. Casa del Pópulo

0.02 MILES

On the southern side of Plaza del Pópulo is the lovely 16th-century Casa del Pópulo, formerly a courthouse, now housing Baeza’s tourist office. It was…

6. Antigua Universidad

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Baeza’s historic university was founded in 1538. It became a font of progressive ideas that generally conflicted with Baeza’s conservative dominant…

7. Palacio de Jabalquinto

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Baeza’s most flamboyant palace was probably built in the late 15th century for a member of the noble Benavides clan. Its chief glory is the spectacular…

8. Seminario de San Felipe Neri

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Plaza de Santa María is the most characteristic of Baeza's squares and was designed to be a focus of religious and civic life. On its north side stands…

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