CORDOBA IN A DAY
CÓRDOBA
See the best of Cordoba in a day with this well-planned itinerary. With this itinerary, you will see the main attractions such as the Mosque-Cathedral of Cordoba with its 8th-century Islamic architecture. Also see the picturesque Calleja de Los Flores, a narrow street with hanging pots. Explore the historic centre of Cordoba and see the Puerta del Puente and the romantic Puente Romano. Visit also the ancient Alcazar of the Christian Kings.
What to do
Calleja de las Flores
This picturesque alley is located in the Jewish quarter of Cordoba, opposite the north facade of the Mosque and leads to a small square. From the square, there are excellent views of the cathedral tower.
The street has become popular with tourists for its beautiful white houses on both sides with colourful flower baskets hanging from windows and walls. The houses have charming balconies with wrought iron balustrades dripping with pots. It is the perfect image vision of a typical Andalusian street. The street turns and meanders down a gentle slope to the small square at the top. The houses along Little Street of Flowers have beautiful small courtyards that the locals are proud to maintain. One of the best times to visit the alley is during the Patios festival held in May.
Mezquita Catedral de Córdoba
In the Cathedral Mosque or Cathedral of Santa María de la Asunción in Córdoba we can trace many of the significant changes that have occurred in the religious history of Córdoba. Most of the art and architecture we see today comes from the 8th century Islamic architects of the old mosque. Since the Romans, this place was considered sacred and the Romans built a temple here for Janus. Later, a Visigoth cathedral stopped here and then came the mosque. The Christian church was built inside the mosque by the Christian conquerors in the 13th century.
Centro Histórico de Córdoba
The «golden years» of Cordoba began in the 8th century after the Moors had conquered the city and established some 300 mosques, palaces and public buildings. They built intricately designed and decorated structures to rival even those of Constantinople and Damascus. Under Ferdinand III the Saint in the 13th century, more magnificent buildings were built such as the Alcázar of the Christian Kings, the Torre Fortaleza de la Calahorra and the Great Mosque became a cathedral. The historic centre of Córdoba has been classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its «universal value». It comprises the area surrounding the Cathedral-Mosque, which extends across the river to include the Roman Bridge and Calahorra. The area extends to San Fernando Street in the east, the shopping centre in the north and the neighbourhood of San Basilio in the west. The historic centre of the city illustrates the different cultures that have lived here, the relationship of the city with the river and as a port of important scale between the south and the plateau (central plateau of Spain). The best way to explore the historic centre of Cordoba is to discover the narrow streets and historic sites on foot.
Puerta del Puente
The Gate of the Bridge is located on the north bank of the river and the current structure of the Renaissance was built on the site of the ancient Roman and Arab gates. The first mention of the gate in the historical documents was 720AD when it was restored. The gate connects the old town with the Roman Bridge and at some point would have been the gateway to the city and part of the city walls. The current structure was commissioned by the governor of the city in 1572 and created by the architect Hernán Ruiz III to mark the visit of Felipe II. Today it is located on an island of traffic. The design features a central square entrance and on each side, there are pairs of Doric columns supporting a classic style entablature. The public can visit the door and see a permanent exhibition that illustrates the history of the door through images and texts. You can also climb to the top of the door to enjoy the views of the city.
Puente Romano
The Roman bridge crosses the river Guadalquivir, originated in the first century AD, but since then it has been rebuilt several times. The Roman bridge would have been part of the Augusta route linking Rome with Cadiz. Its current form was built in the Middle Ages, with Muslim rulers building on the remains of the ancient Roman Bridge. The Gate of the Bridge and the Tower of Calahorra were built at each end of the bridge in the Middle Ages. The last changes were made in 1876. The bridge has 16 arches (the original had 17 arches), four are pointed and the rest are semicircular. Halfway along the bridge is a 16th-century sanctuary and a statue of San Rafael, created by Bernabé Gómez del Río. The total length of the bridge is 247 meters and is approximately 9 meters wide.
Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos
The ancient fortress of Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos or Alcázar de Córdoba served as the royal court for 160 years after its construction by Alfonso XI in 1328. The complex is located on the site of an old residence of the caliphate of the eighth century and still preserves elements of the Moorish Remains. During the 15th century, the complex was home to Ferdinand and Isabella, rulers of Castile for 8 years, while they planned their attack on Granada to expel the last of the Moors. This is where Christopher Columbus was introduced to Queen Elizabeth and told of his plans to discover the New World. This complex was also a prisoner of Boabdil (Moorish ruler of Granada) in 1483 and a few years later it became the seat of the Spanish Inquisition (1492-1821) and was used as a prison. In 1810, the fortress of the palace became the garrison of Napoleon’s forces.
Where to eat
This guide has been made by a my friend from Córdoba
For starters, a snack of Tortilla and Salmorejo de Santos, and another good option is to go to the ¨Plaza del Potro¨ (300 m paseando por la Ribera), donde hay muchos restaurantes para comer:
- modern cuisine Sojo fusion
- or tipical La Taberna del Río
Si buscas algo más auténtico:
- some tavern like «Casa Pepe» de la Judería
- Or something more level:
- Bodegas Campos
- El Caballo Rojo
- La Almudaina
- Or «El Churrasco» for eat meat (and GinTonic ice-cream)
All in the same area.
