Guide to Spanish Cities - Highlights of Cordoba

Main Tourist Attractions of Historic City in Andalucia

Nov 24, 2008 Matt Adams

The historic city of Cordoba is one of Andalucia's hidden gems. Its wonderful array of attractions including mosques and palaces make it one of Spain's best destinations.

Often overlooked in favour of Seville and Granada, the city of Cordoba is a cultural and historic highlight of Andalucia as well as enjoying a wonderful climate. Packed full of historic buildings and monuments, the city is still small enough to cover easily on foot.

La Mezquita

The world's third largest mosque is probably Cordoba's number one attraction. Despite officially being a Christian site, La Mezquita's identity as a mosque is unmistakable. It's a mystical, beautiful building and the interior is simply stunning - a 'forest' of more than eight hundred red and white striped columns and arches. Added interest is gained by Islamic inscriptions and the cathedral, bizarrely placed in the centre of the mosque by Emperor Carlos V.

The Mihrab is a sacred chamber set into the wall of the mosque, ornate and beautifully decorated. A climb to the top of the Torro del Alminar, set within the Patios de los Naranjos (Courtyard of the Orange Trees) offers the best views of the city,

Admission costs €8
La Mezquita is open from 10am - 7pm (closes earlier in winter) Monday - Saturday and from 2.30pm til 6.30pm on Sundays (5.30pm in winter).

Alcazar de los Reyos Cristianos

The palace of the Christian Kings is another of Cordoba's best attractions. The site contains the ruins of a fortified palace and some luxurious rooms and hallways, but is perhaps most popular for its gardens. In such a hot climate, the Alcazar offers a sense of calm and tranquillity. The courtyards, fountains and water terraces, combined with colourful flowers, palm trees and orange groves make for a peaceful setting - contrasting beautifully with the imposing backdrop of the palace.

Entry costs €4 and admission times vary from day to day.

Other sites in Cordoba

Countless plazas and courtyards hidden along narrow streets make Cordoba a great place to explore. The Puente Romano (Roman Bridge) that crosses the Rio Guadalquivir is a great sight and home to a statue of the Archangel Raphael. Cordoba also has some fine museums including:

Museo Arqueologico
Museuo Taurino - The Museum of Bullfighting features stuffed bull's heads, matador costumes and other memorabilia

Madinat al-Zahra

This archaeological complex situated a short drive from Cordoba is one of the most significant in Spain. Here lie the excavated ruins of the ancient city of Madinat al-Zahra - a 112 hectare site built in the tenth century in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

The ruins include an Alcazar (palace) featuring residential rooms and buildings, a stable, servant's quarters and kitchens. There is also a fortress and a mosque - complete with red and white arches similar to La Mezquita, which was completed in the year 941.

Getting to Cordoba

A high speed AVE train connects Cordoba with Spain's capital city, Madrid and takes one hour forty minutes. There are airports in Malaga, Granada and Seville. The high speed train from Malaga to Cordoba take one hour.

The copyright of the article Guide to Spanish Cities - Highlights of Cordoba in S Europe Travel is owned by Matt Adams. Permission to republish Guide to Spanish Cities - Highlights of Cordoba in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.