Córdoba

Why visit Córdoba

Córdoba sits on the north bank of the Guadalquivir, with the dark, wooded slopes of Sierra Morena rising just behind the city. For a time in the tenth century it was the capital of the Caliphate of al-Andalus and one of the great cities of Europe, and that legacy still shapes its compact old quarter, a maze of whitewashed lanes, hidden courtyards and orange trees around the Mosque-Cathedral. The historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the caliphal city of Medina Azahara lies just outside town. It suits culture lovers, food lovers and anyone happy to explore on foot, ideally over two or three unhurried days.

Main attractions in Córdoba

The Mosque-Cathedral, with its forest of striped double arches and a Renaissance cathedral set in its heart, is the essential visit, followed by a walk across the Roman Bridge to the Calahorra Tower. Nearby are the gardens of the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, the Synagogue in the old Jewish quarter and the flower-lined Calleja de las Flores, while the Viana Palace shows off a dozen patios. A short drive west, Medina Azahara reveals the palace city of the caliphs. Walkers and mountain bikers head into the Sierra de Córdoba for views back over the city, and the river’s Sotos de la Albolafia are good for birdwatching. In May the Cruces, the Patios Festival and the Feria follow one another, and tabernas serve salmorejo, flamenquín, rabo de toro and Montilla-Moriles wine.