The Renaissance Festival will be celebrating the anniversary of Ubeda’s declaration as a World Heritage Site, along with sister Baeza. A UNESCO recognition that highlighted a before-and-after in the municipality’s development in different areas, such as tourism, heritage conservation and the creation of new jobs. Jeronimo Garcia, the Councilor for Celebrations, stated that many sectors have grown exponentially since Ubeda was declared World Heritage Sites.
The City Council has made it a point to promote festivals at their height, in an atmosphere that recalls Ubeda’s glory days, with the hope that those who walk through the historic centre during these celebrations are transported back to the year XVI. The mayor stated that citizens in Renaissance-style costumes should come down dressed and ready to host the festivities.
Today’s festivities will start with the recreation of Emperor Carlos I and V of Germany’s entry into Ubeda. His wife Isabella of Portugal, their entourage and their attendants will be received by Francisco de los Cobos, Ubet’s imperial secretary. From there, a centralized, intense program will be implemented in the historic centre and will continue until Sunday with dozens activities. After the pandemic, normalcy and the old format of the year are restored.
Garcia stressed the importance of these parties having as an integral component the participation from various groups, which are also included in the program. He stated that they have something that is different from other parties in Spain of this type. The councilman encouraged Ubetenses to enjoy the 19th edition of the program, which will feature activities in some of the most iconic places in the city. The Renaissance market will continue to be present, as well as the area of inns & taverns. This year’s program moved to the vicinity of the Eras del Alcazar because of the Town Hall’s renovations. A stage will be available for performances and concerts. There will be workshops, demonstrations, parades, recreations, and guided tours.
Maria Jimenez Lopez created the poster that announces the 19th Renaissance Festival. Maria is a Jodar native and a first year Artistic Baccalaureate student from the ‘Casa de las Torres’ Art School of Art. The City Council has a partnership with this center for the creation of other posters such as the one for Carnival. This encourages the talent and work of students.
Maria Jimenez’s proposal was superior to those of her colleagues. He explained that the original idea was to draw the figure of Andres de Valdivia, an architect, but he decided to capture Francisco de los Cobos secretary to Carlos V “because he represents Ubeda better.” She pointed out that the process of elaboration was easy. She was most concerned with the selection of the chromatic variation and the presentation of background in the composition.
Antonio Espadas, the student’s volume teacher, was thanked by the student for her assistance in creating the poster. She also praised other colleagues’ work, highlighting the originality and quality of the submissions to the School of Art internal contest to select the advertisement poster.