Calleja de las Flores

Mezquita Catedral de Córdoba

In the Mosque-Cathedral or Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption of Cordoba we can trace many of the significant changes that have occurred in the religious history of Cordoba. 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 to Janus. Later, a Visigothic cathedral stood 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 in Constantinople and Damascus. Under Ferdinand III the Saint in the 13th century, more magnificent buildings were built such as the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, the Torre Fortaleza de la Calahorra and the Great Mosque was converted into a cathedral. The historic centre of Cordoba has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its “universal value”. It comprises the area surrounding the Cathedral-Mosque, stretching across the river to include the Roman Bridge and Calahorra. The area extends towards Calle San Fernando in the east, the commercial centre in the north and the San Basilio neighbourhood in the west. The historic city centre illustrates the different cultures that have lived here, the city's relationship with the river and as an important port of call between the south and the Meseta (central plateau of Spain). The best way to explore the historic centre of Córdoba is to discover the narrow streets and historic sites on foot.

Puerta del Puente

The Puerta del Puente is located on the north bank of the river and the current Renaissance structure was built on the site of the old Roman and Moorish gates. The first mention of the gate in historical documents was 720AD when it was restored. The gate links the old town to the Roman Bridge and would have at one time been the gateway to the city and part of the city walls. The current structure was commissioned by the city governor in 1572 and created by architect Hernán Ruiz III to mark the visit of Philip II. Today it stands on a traffic island. The design features a square central entrance and on each side are pairs of Doric columns supporting a classical style entablature. The public can visit the gate and see a permanent exhibition illustrating the history of the gate through images and text. You can also climb to the top of the gate for views over the city.

Puente Romano

The Roman Bridge spans the Guadalquivir River, it originated in the 1st century AD but has since been rebuilt several times. The Roman bridge would have been part of the Augustan route linking Rome to Cadiz. Its present form was built in the Middle Ages, with Muslim rulers building on the remains of the old Roman Bridge. The Puerta del Puente and the Torre de Calahorra were built at either 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 semi-circular. Halfway along the bridge is a 16th-century shrine and statue of St. Raphael, created by Bernabé Gómez del Río. The total length of the bridge is 247 metres and it is approximately 9 metres 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 stands on the site of a former 8th century Caliphate residence and still retains elements of the Moorish remains. During the 15th century, the complex was home to Ferdinand and Isabella, rulers of Castile for 8 years, as they planned their attack on Granada to expel the last of the Moors. This is where Christopher Columbus was introduced to Queen Isabella and told of his plans to discover the New World. This complex was also held prisoner by Boabdil (Moorish ruler of Granada) in 1483 and a few years later became the headquarters of the Spanish Inquisition (1492-1821) and was used as a prison. In 1810, the palace fortress became the garrison for Napoleon's forces.