CHARACTERISATION OF MATERIALS FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE PARADOR IN ÚBEDA (JAÉN)

Built in the 16th century by the architect Andrés de Vandelvira, the Parador de Úbeda is a jewel of the Andalusian Renaissance. Opened as a hotel on 10 November 1930, it was the fourth Parador in the state-run network and the first to be established in a Renaissance palace.

Since then, it has undergone several refurbishments, most notably the major refurbishment undertaken between 1985 and 1986, which modernised its facilities without sacrificing its historical essence.

Located in the heart of Plaza Vázquez de Molina, the Parador de Úbeda is a key part of the city’s Renaissance architectural ensemble, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its preservation is therefore a priority not only at a local level, but also at a national level.

In August 2024, Turespaña—through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (Next Generation EU)—awarded a contract worth €870,406 to the company Fortress Restauración de Monumentos, S.L., to carry out a new phase of conservation and restoration work on the building. This project forms part of an ambitious national plan that includes improvements to more than 30 historic Paradores —such as those in Santiago de Compostela, La Granja, Ronda and Lorca— with a total investment of around 89–90 million euros.

The works focus on:

• Restoration of the façades, entrance hall and the exterior fountain
• Interventions on the interior drainage and roof of the Deán Ortega Palace

The aim is to preserve this building as an Asset of Cultural Interest and to reinforce its tourist, cultural and architectural value within the heritage fabric of Úbeda.

At TESELA, we have collaborated in different tasks related to the previous studies of this heritage asset.