Ann

I can't decide whether to travel from Granada to Madrid via Cordoba or Ubeda. I will only be staying one night. Should I just opt for the small town of Ubeda since I can only stay one night? Thanks for any insight!

Maribel

Ann,<BR>I've really enjoyed staying in Ubeda. It has a striking collection of golden stone pure Renaissance buildings, courtesy of the 16th c. architect Vandelvira, and it was a center of considerable wealth and power during Charles V's reign. We have reservations there for Holy Week at the ducal palace Parador on our way down from Chinchon to Granada. <BR> <BR>I've lately visited Cordoba on a stop-over when taking the AVE bullet train from Seville to Madrid. You can see the major sights of Cordoba in a day (or even a 6 hr. AVE stop), so more than 1 night there wouldn't be necessary at all. I consider the Mezquita to be one of Spain's &quot;must sees&quot;, so I won't tell you to choose Ubeda over Cordoba for your 1 night, particularly since you can travel back to Madrid from there on the AVE in just 1 hr. 50 min. But if you include several days in Seville in your itinerary, you could make an easy day trip to Cordoba from there (40 min. on the AVE). <BR><BR>Both cities are very worthy of your time, but if you must choose one, Cordoba is certainly the more &quot;major&quot; tourist worthy destination and should always be included in a first time tour of Andalucia. But then I would take the AVE back to Madrid rather than drive from there, as it would take 4-4 1/2 hrs. by car.<BR><BR>Hope this helps.

Pedro

If you are travelling by car I would go for Ubeda since it is an easier trip back to Madrid. Ubeda is quite interesting. Vazquez de Molina Square is really beautiful as it is San Pablo Church and you wiil find many fine places to stay in (Hotel Alvar Fa&ntilde;ez, Parador, Hotel Maria de Molina, Hotel Melia Confort Ubeda, etc). A short drive (18 kms) to Baeza, another jewel of Andalusian Renassaince art, is also a must if having enough time.<BR><BR>Another option if you want to be closer to Madrid can be Almagro, a nice white town with one of the most beautiful Main Squares in Spain. There is a Parador there as well.<BR><BR>Any way, whatever option you choose will be fine.

Frank

Hi Ann<BR>this is a second vote for Cordoba...<BR>Maribel is right, you don't need more than few hours in cordoba, just enough to see the Mazqueta.... would be a shame to go to spain and not see it.<BR>Maribel....i really enjoy reading your insightful comments about southern spain

Maribel

Thanks, Frank for your nice comment.<BR>Wishing you many wonderful journeys in Andaluc&iacute;a.

Graziella

I also love Maribel ´s and Pedro´s great postings, and quietly making notes for our next trip,<BR>Ubeda seems great ,......gracias a ambos. Graziella.