This most recent trip to Spain, exploring the Andalucia region, reminded me of my Sicily adventure a few years back - a home base in a bigger city (i.e. Palermo in Sicily and in this case, Málaga) and then, scenic road trips to tiny UNESCO towns. 

 
THE OLD + NEW: SANTA MARIA DE LOS REALES ALCAZARES

THE OLD + NEW: SANTA MARIA DE LOS REALES ALCAZARES

If you're a history buff, you'll love Úbeda. Located in the province of Jaén (about 2-3hrs drive from the Madrid, Malaga or Seville airports), Úbeda houses an intricate legacy of monuments made up of churches, palaces and aristocratic houses. We spent almost two hours (!) learning about the monumental Plaza de Vázquez de Molina alone, which is surrounded by the Palacio de las Cadenas, Santa Maria de los Reales Alcazares (pictured above) and the Capilla del Salvador mausoleum. 

TOWN HALL WALKS 

TOWN HALL WALKS 

THE INTERIOR OF CAPILLA DEL SALVADOR BY BARTOLOME DE JAEN

THE INTERIOR OF CAPILLA DEL SALVADOR BY BARTOLOME DE JAEN

HOME OF THE ARCH (WHICH I CAN'T REMEMBER THE SIGNIFICANCE OF. OOPS. HISTORY OVERLOAD. BUT I LOVE THE TATTERED BRICKS IN THIS CAPTURE :)

HOME OF THE ARCH (WHICH I CAN'T REMEMBER THE SIGNIFICANCE OF. OOPS. HISTORY OVERLOAD. BUT I LOVE THE TATTERED BRICKS IN THIS CAPTURE :)

EVEN CAR TROUBLES IN UBEDA ARE CHARMING

EVEN CAR TROUBLES IN UBEDA ARE CHARMING

HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THIS TILED ROOF OF HOSPITAL DE SANTIAGO?

HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THIS TILED ROOF OF HOSPITAL DE SANTIAGO?

SERENITY INSIDE HOSPITAL DE SANTIAGO (LATE 16TH CENTURY)

SERENITY INSIDE HOSPITAL DE SANTIAGO (LATE 16TH CENTURY)

REMEMBER, LOOK UP OR YOU'LL MISS HALF THE BEAUTY OF THIS REGION

REMEMBER, LOOK UP OR YOU'LL MISS HALF THE BEAUTY OF THIS REGION

KIDS SCREAMING IN SPANISH IS SOMEHOW CUTER, NO?

KIDS SCREAMING IN SPANISH IS SOMEHOW CUTER, NO?

EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK. CATS ON WATCH. 

EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK. CATS ON WATCH. 

THIS WAY TO SINAGOGA DEL AGUA

THIS WAY TO SINAGOGA DEL AGUA

So, this was a pretty unforgettable experience - with summer solstice in full swing, the timing of the sunrise matches perfectly in angle to the window of the mikveh (bath) in the historic Sinagoga del Agua. For 34 minutes, we experienced beams of radiating natural light. Coincidentally, because of my white dress, I became a tourist attraction haha.

FEELING THAT LIGHT

FEELING THAT LIGHT

UNREAL, ISN'T IT?

UNREAL, ISN'T IT?

A SELECTION OF PIECES FROM MUSEO DE ALFARERIA PACO TITO

A SELECTION OF PIECES FROM MUSEO DE ALFARERIA PACO TITO

I have an unhealthy obsession with pottery - if loving ceramics is wrong, then I don't want to be right. So if you think that I a) was counting down the hours until the visit to ceramic God Paco Tito's museum and workshop) took hundreds of photos and c) bought a few special pieces to bring home, then you're right.

WOMEN USED TO GIVE BIRTH INTO THIS. YEAH.

WOMEN USED TO GIVE BIRTH INTO THIS. YEAH.

COLOR SAMPLES

COLOR SAMPLES

LET THE POTTERY TUTORIAL BEGIN

LET THE POTTERY TUTORIAL BEGIN

PABLO TITO, PACO'S GRANDSON, SHOWING US HOW IT'S DONE

PABLO TITO, PACO'S GRANDSON, SHOWING US HOW IT'S DONE

CLASSIC KILN

CLASSIC KILN

IMG_8155.JPG

It's all about olives (the #1 export) in Andalucia. Even their pits are used to fire the kiln in pottery-making.

BOWLS READY FOR PAINT

BOWLS READY FOR PAINT

THIS JUST MAKES ME SO HAPPY

THIS JUST MAKES ME SO HAPPY

...AND THIS. POTTERY BLISS.

...AND THIS. POTTERY BLISS.

PACO JR SHOWING HOW THE INTRICATE CUT-OUTS ARE DONE

PACO JR SHOWING HOW THE INTRICATE CUT-OUTS ARE DONE

AMAZING, ISN'T IT?

ALL IN THE DETAILS

 

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