Our heritage

Balconies of Palo

Balconies of Palo

The San Juan neighbourhood stands out for its medieval significance and for preserving the unique 16th-century Balcones de Palo (wooden balconies).

Before the conquest by the Catholic Monarchs, the San Juan neighbourhood was the most populous and prosperous in the medieval city. Its streets were home to numerous dwellings and shops, as well as three important bread ovens, public baths, a corn exchange, a mill and a mosque, now converted into the church of San Juan.

After the city was taken in 1489, this neighbourhood became known as La Morería, as it was home to most of the Moorish population that remained in the city after the conquest.

Today, the San Juan neighbourhood preserves one of the best examples of 16th-century civil architecture in Baza: the famous ‘Balcones de Palo’ (wooden balconies). These are a series of balconies with wooden balustrades and latticework, supported by uprights and footings that hold up a closed, projecting upper section. Their great beauty and uniqueness make them an exceptional example of the urban image that many streets in the historic quarter must have had in the first third of the 16th century.