Baeza - Jabalquinto Palace

 February 9, 2021:

Today was spent exploring the ancient town of Baeza which was declared a World Heritage Site in 2003. This is the site of the second oldest university in Spain. The gracious golden stone buildings are primarily from the Renaissance era. One building with its ornate exterior facade has quite an interesting history....

The facade of the 15th century Jabalquinto Palace in Baeza


While researching the Jabalquito Palace, we discovered some intriguing information surrounding the facade. I do not think you will be able to see the detail necessary in my photograph, but here is a link to a stock photo image depicting the graphic and racy part of the facade more clearly.
According to the Green Michelin Guide, this facade has a scandalous history: In 1720 the descendents of Jabalquinto donated this building to the growing seminary, however, there were some strings attached; the existing facade could not be altered. This facade was a scandal at the time it was built for a several reasons:
* The 8 shields, 4 on the left and 4 on the right side above the doors were at an even level. Those on the left represented the husband's side of the family and those on the right the wife's side. The accepted style of the time required that the female's shields should be at a lower height than those of the male yet on this facade they were represented at an equal height. 
* Around the doors are sculptures of the figures of young naked girls. One of them has her hand on her "Venus mound"
* The tops of the columns on either side of the doors represent the genitalia of a man and woman (one on each side, but we could not make these details out)!

In any case, it must have been a shocking requirement for a men's seminary to have to keep this facade in order to have the building to expand!

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