Baeza Cathedral: Walking tour with guide & EVOO tasting

Summary

Wander Baeza’s old stones, meet its stories, taste its olive oil

You’ll walk Baeza’s UNESCO-listed streets with a local guide who brings Renaissance stories to life, step inside its cathedral (entry included), gaze over endless olive groves, and finish with an expert-led EVOO tasting you’ll remember long after you leave Andalusia.

What’s the experience like?

“That’s where Machado used to sit,” our guide said, pointing at a sunlit classroom window in Baeza. I’d barely arrived from Jaén and already felt like I’d stepped into some kind of living museum — but not the stuffy kind. The streets here are all golden stone and echoes; you hear church bells and sometimes just the wind through olive trees. We started in Plaza del Pópulo, where the lions on the fountain looked older than most countries I’ve visited. There was this faint smell of baking bread from somewhere nearby, mixing with the sharper scent of stone after last night’s rain.

I kept lagging behind because every corner seemed to have its own story — our guide (I think her name was Carmen?) didn’t mind. She told us about old butchers’ shops turned into city offices, and how people still gather in Plaza de Santa María for festivals. When we went inside Baeza Cathedral (entry’s included in the tour price), it was cool and dim, with gold everywhere you looked. Carmen pointed out the Corpus Christi Custody — honestly, I’m not usually into religious art but something about the way she described it made me stop and look longer than I expected. There was a moment when everyone just went quiet; even the kids in our group.

After winding past palaces and that view over the Guadalquivir valley (the “sea of olive trees” really does go on forever), we ended up back near the center for an EVOO tasting. The expert poured out little green-gold puddles and explained first harvest versus regular — I tried to say “picual” properly but got it wrong and everyone laughed, which felt good after all that history. The oil tasted grassy and sharp, almost spicy at the end. I still think about that flavor sometimes when I cook at home.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Baeza's Historic Center

• Visit main squares and historic streets
• See Old Butchers Square and landmarks
• Visit Santa María's Fountain Square
• Enter Baeza Cathedral and view goldsmithing
• View Guadalquivir river valley panorama
• Visit International University of Andalusia
• See late Romanesque building
• Visit original University of Baeza building
• See Antonio Machado's classroom
• Explore central square with shops and pubs
• View first Renaissance building
• Taste famous EVOOs with specialist

Top questions

How long does the guided tour of Baeza last?

The walking tour lasts more than two hours through Baeza’s historic center.

Is entrance to Baeza Cathedral included in the tour?

Yes, entry to Baeza Cathedral is included in your final price.

What is included in the EVOO tasting?

The tasting features early harvest extra virgin olive oils explained by a specialist.

Are groups large on this walking tour?

No, groups are usually not very large and radio-guided systems are used so everyone can hear clearly.

Is this tour suitable for people with limited mobility?

Yes, all areas are wheelchair accessible and strollers or prams are welcome.

Does this day trip start from Jaén or only in Baeza?

The tour takes place in Baeza; travelers need to arrive there themselves.

Will we visit other monuments besides the cathedral?

Yes, you’ll enter several important buildings throughout Baeza’s historic center as part of the guided walk.

What’s included

Your experience includes a guided walking tour through Baeza’s historic center with entry fees covered for all main monuments including Baeza Cathedral (worth €7), plus an early harvest EVOO tasting led by a local expert before you finish up your visit.