Palacio Vela de los Cobos

The Palacio Vela de los Cobos is a prime example of a Renaissance palace in the heart of Úbeda's historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage city.
 

It was built in the mid-16th century by the stonemason Jorge Leal following the designs of Andrés de Vandelvira, architect for Francisco de los Cobos (secretary to Charles V). It is constructed with stone ashlar.

The building is structured into three floors arranged around a central courtyard with columns and arches. The grandeur and elegance of the façade, like in the majority of palaces from the period, increase as you go up each level.
 

In the centre of the ground floor, the main lintelled doorway stands out, framed with Corinthian columns. The windows on either side of this floor are also lintelled.
 

The second floor has four balconies: the central one, aligned with the main door, is framed with pilasters, upon which sculptures supporting heraldic shields rise. The side balconies are flanked by detached columns. On the ends of this floor, angled balconies open up, supported by a marble mullion. Both the pilasters and the balcony columns are of the Ionic order. Above each lintel, there is a triangular pediment with candelabra at its vertices.
 

The upper floor features a gallery of semicircular arches, also with a marble mullion at each of its angles.
 

A large cornice and balustrade top off the whole building.
 

Today, this palace houses an interesting collection of artworks and a library. Its interior also offers tourist apartments.