Úbeda - Sacra Capilla del Salvador

During the Reconquista, in 1233, King Ferdinand III conquered Ubeda to the Kingdom of Castile. In 1368, the city was damaged during the Castilian Civil War between Peter I of Castile and Henry II of Castile. This, combined with other circumstances, caused the worsening of the rivalry between the nobel families de Trapera and de Aranda at first, and the families de la Cueva and de Molina after. This political instability was solved when the "Catholic Monarchs" ruled as they ordered the Alcázar, used by the nobility as a fortress, to be destroyed.
During the 16th century, these important Castilian aristocratic families from Úbeda reached top positions in the Spanish Monarchy administration. Notably, Francisco de los Cobos and Juan Vazquez de Molina became Secretaries of State for Emperor Charles V and Philip II respectively. Due to the patronage of arts of these competing families, Úbeda became a Renaissance focus in Spain.

Ubeda and neighboring Baeza benefited from this patronage resulting in the construction of a series of Renaissance style palaces and churches, which have been preserved ever since. In 2003, UNESCO declared the historic centres and landmarks of these two towns a World Heritage Site.

Sacra Capilla del Salvador is a church built under the patronage of Francisco de los Cobos at his palace.

The construction was ordered in 1536 and was part of an extensive artistic program, which originally included a palace, a university and a hospital. The project should increase the fame, fortune and personal fame enjoyed by Charles V's secretary. To do this, he turned to top artists. The original project was entrusted to Diego de Siloé of Burgos, while the execution was carried out by Andrés de Vandelvira. The church was consecrated in 1559.