Baeza - Universidad de Baeza

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 Universidad de Baeza was founded in 1538. After the Augustinians' intention to found a rival university was rejected in 1585, Pope Urban VIII granted them papal university status in 1630.

During the time, the city, like the university, experimented with a long descent. The province was increasingly transformed into a rural backwater, the local nobles moved to the city of Madrid and other large Spanish cities, investing their wealth there rather than in Baeza. 1807 decree abolished the university. There was a brief, revival in 1815, followed by the definitive abolition of the university in 1824.

In 1979, the university was revived with the creation of a “Verano University”, originally written to the Universidad de Granada, and from 1994 to the Universidad Internacional de Andalucía. The program now took place as at the Universidad de Verano Antonio Machado, in honor of the Spanish poet who lived in the city for a time.