I spent nearly a month traveling in Andalucia, which wasn't enough.

Here are the 8 best videos from my 2022 trip to Andalucia.

Ubeda, Spain - 5 min video

TIMELINE

00:00 Intro
02:00 Food
04:00 Banned book
05:00 Conclusion

We're in Úbeda, in the Jaén Provincia (province).
It is a Comunidad autónoma (autonomous community) of Andalusia in southern Spain.
Úbeda is about 10 km northeast of the city of Jaén.
Click on the upper right-hand corner link for my 5-min video on Jaen.

The Arabs occupied the city in 711 CE.

Ferdinand III of Castile reconquered it in 1234.

Ubeda is renowned for its architecture, particularly of the Renaissance period.

Most of Ubeda is a national monument, and UNESCO declared it a World Heritage site in 2003.

The church of Santa María de los Reales Alcázares de Úbeda sits on a sacred place, built atop the remains of a mosque. The oldest parts of the church were built around 1259.

Enjoy the food of Ubeda.
In a well-watered olive-growing region, Úbeda produces olive oil and olive-pressing equipment.

This is the library of El Palacio Vela de Los Cobos. This stately manor was designed in 1551. Our tour guide was the son of the owner of the palace. He's lived for decades in Houston, TX, but now that his dad is in his 90s, he plans to return to take care of the house.

The Holy Funerary Chapel of El Salvador del Mundo is a symbol of Úbeda, Jaén. It was designated a historic-artistic monument in 1931.

I've made over a dozen videos about Spain, including where I hiked across Spain twice, once on El Camino de Santiago and the 2nd time across the Pyrenees.

Jaen's Culture: Food, History, & Architecture of Spain's Andalucía Region - 5 mins

Jaén (Spanish pronunciation: [xaˈen]) is the capital city of the province of Jaén, in the autonomous community of Andalusia, Spain.
There are nearly 100 Paradores in Spain. These Spanish state-owned luxury hotels are usually located in historic buildings or areas with a unique appeal. Every Parador has its restaurant offering regional gastronomy.
The city is also known as the World Capital of Olive Oil because it is the biggest oil producer known by locals as liquid gold.
In Jaén, the eating of tapas is widespread; numerous bars exist where, for the price of a beer (around €3), one can purchase a tapa, which consists of a small plate of food for one person.
The city lies at the feet of the Sierra de Jabalcuz, one of the subranges of the Subbaetic System, the inner system of the Baetic Mountains
Castillo de Santa Catalina overlooks the city. Previously, a fortress of Arabic origin existed, of which some remains still exist.
The current construction is of Christian origin, raised after the city’s conquest by Ferdinand III of Castile, called the Saint, in 1246.
In 2008, the procedure for the cathedral of Jaén to be declared a World Heritage Site, considering that it served as a model for the construction of other cathedrals in Spain and the Americas.

The current cathedral was conceived in the 16th century to replace a previous 15th-century Gothic edifice. Construction lasted for several centuries, with the original idea maintained the choir, built in the Neoclassical style and known as one of the largest in Spain.

The Arab Baths (Baños Arabes) in Jaén are among Spain’s largest Islamic bathhouses. These Arab baths had the function in their origins of purifying all the visitors who entered the city of Jaén. However, they are not used nowadays, being a great tourist and historical attraction.

Jaén Cathedral is one of the most celebrated Renaissance-style cathedrals. Construction began in 1570 and was completed in 1802. It is dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin.

It was built to shelter the relic of the Holy Face (the Veil of Veronica), lodged at the principal chapel, and exposed to the public every Friday. Due to the length of time in its construction, different artistic styles can be appreciated, the most prominent being Renaissance.
It aspires to be listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

What is Flamenco Dancing? Spain's traditional dance!

Flamenco (Spanish pronunciation: [flaˈmeŋko]), in its strictest sense, is an art form based on the various folkloric music traditions of southern Spain, developed within the gitano subculture of the region of Andalusia

In 2010, UNESCO declared flamenco one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

El baile flamenco is known for its emotional intensity, proud carriage, expressive use of the arms, and rhythmic stamping of the feet.

“Classical flamenco” is the style most frequently performed by Spanish flamenco dance companies. It is danced primarily in a proud and upright manner. For women, the back is often held in a marked back bend. Unlike the more gitano-influenced styles, there is little movement of the hips, the body is tightly controlled, and the arms are long, like a ballet dancer.
Modern flamenco is a highly technical dance style requiring years of study. The emphasis for both male and female performers is on lightning-fast footwork performed with absolute precision.

The singer recounts daily life stories that reflect an outcast subculture’s experiences. The dancer is the protagonist of the singer’s narrative and its interpreter. The baile is a sensuous display of fluid motion, stylized yet highly personal, involving movement of the arms and upper torso, hand and finger movement, footwork, and heelwork.

Male dancers usually perform intricate footwork, whereas female dancers, traditionally wearing elaborately ruffled dresses, emphasize the hands and upper torso. The guitarist keeps the rhythm (compás) necessary to the dancer’s rhythmic cadences.

I’ll leave you with this virtuoso dancing performance.

Visit Southern Spain, which includes the Andalucia & Costa del Sol regions, if you want to see live flamenco performances & so much more.
If you’re lucky, the dancers may invite you to dance with them on stage!

Old Spanish Man Dances With Two Hotties

An old Spanish man demonstrates that if you know how to dance, you can attract beautiful women of all ages! In 74 seconds, he dances with two lovely ladies! He's not a lucky bastard! He's just a great dancer! That's my friendly tip to all you men out there!

Are you struggling to attract a lady?
Do you think you're too old or ugly to charm a woman?
If you dance well, you have hope!
The man in this video proves it!

Music of Andalucía

One minute of traditional Andalusian music, dress, and beverages.

Visit Marbella, Malaga, and other regions of Andalucia, Spain!
I spent 3 weeks in this delightful region.
Touring southern Spain is vital to capture a key component of Spanish culture.