Córdoba city travel information and video

Cordoba

Cordoba is a beautiful and historical Andalusian city, located in the province of Cordoba, on the
Guadalquivir River. 

The city has a remarkable history, and was an important strategic city for both the Muslims and
Christians, and was also home to a large Jewish community. Throughout the city the buildings and monuments exude the rich cultural tapestry that makes up the cities past.

If you are travelling the Andalusian countryside, or want to see the real Andalusia then Cordoba is a great place to start. The city is also famous for its flamenco and bullfighting; all in all the city of Cordoba is a must see for cultural enthusiasts.

You can fly to either Malaga or Seville airport to arrive to Cordoba; either way the fast AVE train travels into Cordoba from the airport.

History
The city origins date back to the Roman occupation; with its location at the highest point of the Guadalquivir River, it became an important port city of high strategic importance. The Romans constructed the bridge that crosses the river, which is now known as El Puente Romano (The Roman Bridge).

When the Moors conquered the city, it really became great, being the capital of the El-Andalus, the Moorish kingdom. Monuments such as the Mezquita (Great Mosque) were constructed.

When the Christians re-conquered the city in 1236 they were astounded by the beautiful city that
had been created and tried to keep in with much of the Moorish design when constructing their own cathedral and other monuments.

The Christians also constructed the Alcazar Fortress, the Calahorra Ford and the Jewish synagogue, which is now a museum. The Jewish community had a great presence in the city,
and the now medieval quarter of the city, used to be home for the Jewish community, it’s called La Juderia (The Jewry).

About town
Cordoba is a lively Andalusian town, with a passion for flamenco and bullfighting. It’s a wonderful city to explore, with the old narrow, cobbled streets of the Jewish Quarter, which date back to medieval times; the charming parks and plazas, including the delightful Alcazar Gardens and La Plaza de Potro, and of course Cordoba’s wealth of historical monuments, and architectural beauty.

The city is also an excellent place to shop and to eat really Andaluz style tapas, and cuisine.

Cultural attractions
La Mezquita, the 10th century work of genius, a former mosque which some have been quoted as saying it is the most beautiful and original building in Spain. The design itself is a mix of Roman, Gothic, Byzantine, Syrian and Persian styles. The Christians sanctified the mosque as a cathedral when they reconquered the ccity.

The cathedral
The city’s cathedral was actually the city’s mosque, but when the Christians re-conquered the city, they were so charmed by the architecture, that they made some changes and enhancements to the mosque and this became the cathedral.

The Roman Bridge
Constructed by the Romans, The Puente Romano crosses the Guadalquivir River, with its 16 arcs, the bridge carries a statue of the town’s patron saint San Rafael, and paints a very pretty picture at night.

At the souther end of the bridge is the Calahorra Tower, which is home to the Museo Vivo de Al Andalus, and some amazing views to the Mesquita and old quarter of Cordoba.

Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos
The Palace of the Christian Kings was erected in 1328 and covers over 4,000 square metres with Arabian Baths, Roman Mosaics, a sarcophagus of marble from the 3rd century, and Moorish style gardens, with ponds, cascades and the Door of Seville, which sits alongside the shrine to Ibn Zaydun, the renowned poet.

La Judería
The Jewish quarter has been the centre of culture and knowledge from the beginning, with monuments to some of the Cordoba’s most scholarly and spiritual people, including Roman, Jewish and Arabian philosophers.

Eating out
Eating out is a way of life for the Cordobese residents, there is an excellent choice of restaurants, tapas bars and bodegas. Head to the neighbourhood surrounding the Mezquita, including Calle Deanes and Calle Cespedes. One of the best dining experiences is to dine on the patio of one of the more exclusive restaurants close to Puerta de Sevilla or Plaza de la Corredera.

Climate
The climate of Cordoba is that of a typical Andalusian inland town. During the summer months the city gets hot, into late 30, early 40 degree temperatures. The spring and autumn is
generally mild, and the winters do get slightly colder, than the protected Costa del Sol and Malaga region.