As you come closer, look straight ahead for a powerful stone building with two chunky towers guarding the entrance. The whole front is made of warm, rough-hewn blocks, standing firm against the sky. There’s an old-fashioned streetlamp right in front-imagine it casting a golden glow as the day gets darker. The doorway is grand, decorated with carvings and crests, and the towers rise up on either side, making the building look almost like a little castle plucked out of a storybook. Even the windows have sturdy iron bars, adding to the fortress feel.
You’re standing before the House of the Towers, or Casa de las Torres. Imagine yourself here in the dusty streets of medieval Úbeda… centuries ago, you would have heard the stomp of horses and the clank of armor as the powerful Dávalos family ruled these walls. No wonder it’s called "the House of the Towers"-those towers were a sign of prestige. Only the big shots had towers back then! Unfortunately, the towers aren’t quite as tall as they once were. They’ve been trimmed down over the years-sort of like giving a haircut to someone who’s just a bit too proud.
You might be surprised to know that beneath all this stone and strength, there’s a softer side: inside, there’s a beautiful Renaissance patio with two levels of arches and columns. If you listen closely, you can almost imagine echoes of artists and students-because today, the building is a School of Art! Back in the 1500s, it had its own secrets and intrigues, but now, it’s full of creativity and life. Rumor has it, in the moonlight, the crests and shields above the doors practically whisper old tales-so keep an eye (and an ear) out.
Ready for our next stop? Let’s see where the adventure takes us!
