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Town of Baeza (Andalusia, Spain)

Jaen Province

Introduction
Description
Coat of Arms

See also:

Introduction

The municipality of Baeza (16,197 inhabitants in 2008; 19,430 ha) is located at the geographic center of the Province of Jaén, 48 km northwest of the provincial capital.

Together with the neighbouring town of Úbeda, Baeza was registered on the World Heritage List of UNESCO, with the following comments:

Brief Description. The urban morphology of the two small cities of Úbeda and Baeza in southern Spain dates back to the Moorish 9th century and to the Reconquista in the 13th century. An important development took place in the 16th century, when the cities were subject to renovation along the lines of the emerging Renaissance. This planning intervention was part of the introduction into Spain of new humanistic ideas from Italy, which went on to have a great influence on the architecture of Latin America.

Justification for Inscription Criterion (ii): The 16th-century examples of architectural and urban design in Úbeda and Baeza were instrumental in introducing the Renaissance ideas to Spain. Through the publications of Andréa Vandelvira, the principal project architect, these examples were also diffused to Latin America. Criterion (iv): The central areas of Úbeda and Baeza constitute outstanding early examples of Renaissance civic architecture and urban planning in Spain in the early 16th century.

Source: UNESCO website

Ivan Sache, 03 Jul 2009

Description

The flag and arms of Baeza were approved by the Municipal Council and submitted on 4 December 2007 to the General Directorate of Local Administration, which confirmed them by Decree on 12 December 2007, published in the Andalusian official gazette (Boletín Oficial de la Junta de Andalucía, BOJA) No. 1 on 2 January 2008.

The relevant parts of the Decree are the following:

Coat of arms: Gules a gate flanked by two towers; between the towers a saltire surmounted by the Cross of the Holy spirit all argent. The door charged with two keys argent; port and windows azure. The shield crowned with a Royal crown open.

Flag: Rectangular flag, purple. In the middle the municipal coat of arms surrounded by the writing "Baeza Ciudad Patrimonio Humanidad" [Baeza World Heritage Town]

Source: BOJA No. 1, p. 19, 2 January 2008 [PDF]

Ivan Sache, 03 Jul 2009

Coat of Arms

A webpage dedicated to Baeza shows the coat of arms with the saltire or, as provided in the written description, and the corn closed; these arms must have been superseded by the recent Decree (and is the source of the image shown in Wikipedia). These arms are shown in the classical treatises by Montesinos Argote de Molina and Antonio de Barahona. The castle is identified as the Moorish fortress (alcazar) of Baeza, eventually seized by the Christians on 30 November 1226, St. Andrew's day, therefore the saltire placed between the towers. According to Argote de Molina, the patriarchal cross appeared to the Christians during the siege of the alcazar of Baeza. The oldest representation of the arms of Baeza appears on a municipal seal dated 1282, kept in the Historic National Archives.

Source: juntadeandalucia.es

The municipal website indeed shows the coat of arms with the white saltire and the crown open.

Source: municipal website

Ivan Sache, 03 Jul 2009