Baeza - Fuente de los Leones

Under the Romans, the town was known as '"Beatia". Following its conquest by the Visigoths, Beatia was the seat of a bishopric. From the beginning of the seventh century, it was conquered by several Arab and Berber states. The diocese was reestablished in 1127 following the conquest by Alfonso VII of Castile, but Baeza was then again reconquered by the Almohads. After the Battle of Las Navas de Tolosa, Ferdinand III of Castile in 1227 retook the city.

The 16th century was the golden era of Baeza (and nearby Úbeda). Noble families, which were well connected with the Spanish Imperial state hired major architects to design the present cathedral, churches and private palaces in the then-fashionable Renaissance style.

The "Fuente de los Leones", located in front of the "Antiguas Carnicerias" (Old slaughterhouse), now the city hall, was in the 16th century the town´s major fountain. It came originally from the Ibero-Roman ruins of Cástulo. The sculpture on top may represent Himilce, wife of the Carthaginian general Hannibal