Our Monuments		Teaching with

	City Hall - Vázquez de Molina Palace Ubeda PM 091292 E por Paul M.R. Maeyaert - 2016 - PMR Maeyaert, Belgium - CC BY-SA. b	Audio file (EN)
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The palace of Vázquez de Molina, or de las Cadenas, is a Renaissance palace in the Spanish city of Úbeda, in the province of Jaén. It is located in the Plaza Vázquez de Molina square and has been the seat of the town hall since 1850. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2003 and was built by Juan Vázquez de Molina in the 16th century and is known as the Palace of the Chains. Everything seems to indicate that its toponymy derives from the name given to the building after it was converted into the Dominican convent of Madre de Dios de las Cadenas. Three pictures - Ubeda PM 091455 E por Paul M.R. Maeyaert - 2016 - PMR Maeyaert, Belgium - CC BY-SA. It was designed by Andrés de Vandelvira, who conceived the palace as a Roman house. The façade is divided into three horizontal sections and seven vertical streets of different widths.                                                                                                                                                                             The first floor consists of balconies with pediments and on the third floor there are portholes. The third section has portholes in its bays. On entering through the main door, we find a large vestibule, followed by the courtyard.         At the back there is another entrance created in the 20th century, which is currently used as the entrance to the town hall. It has chains that delimit the beautiful market hall at the front. The entrance to the commodities exchange is guarded by two stone lions. The lower façade is decorated with cheers, drawn by the most famous people of the time.

Some detail on the façade: Vítores" (vítor or victor in singular) are like "graffiti" painted on emblematic buildings. They are signs written directly on a wall to praise a person for some glorious deed, action or promotion or to announce a famous visit or event. According to legend, the origin goes back to Emperor Constantine in the 4th century. He had a dream in which a cross appeared to him and next to it the words 'In hoc signo vinces' ('With this sign you will win'). The next day, the eagle of the imperial banner was replaced by the chrism, thus winning the battle. They are mainly found on the façade of cathedrals, palaces, churches, universities... From the 14th century, the vítores began to be found in some Spanish universities, as a memorable symbol for those who obtained the title of doctor, because there were very few who obtained it. The paintings were red or black and are very well preserved.

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