Very few places in the world can boast of having been the capital of a Roman province or Hispania Ulterior, the capital of an Arab State - Al-Andalus and a Caliphate. Such splendor is palpable in the intellectual wealth of this city, that has seen the birth of figures like Seneca, Averroes, and Maimonides.
The historic quarter of Cordoba is a beautiful network of small streets, alleys, squares and whitewashed courtyards arranged around the Mezquita, which reflects the city's prominent place in the Islamic world during medieval times.
Cordoba also has much to offer in terms of art, culture and leisure, thanks to a myriad of cultural events that are organized here throughout the year: Flamenco festivals, concerts, ballet and other activities. These events are complemented by a number of museums and a good nightlife scene.
Cordoba's modern train station is location in Avenida de America, at the northern end of the central district. To get to the old town and the Mezquita, you can catch a taxi at about 6€ or just walk about 25 minutes head along Avenida de America and turn right on Avenida del Gran Capitan.
AVE , Spain's high-speed rail network, offers very fast and comfortable train service to Cordoba, but it is a bit more expensive compared to regular bus or train services. AVE trains run hourly from Madrid,1 hour 45 minutes, Seville (45 minutes) and Malaga (50 minutes). There are also two daily AVE services to Barcelona (about five hours). Additionally, there is a very cheap sleeping train option from Cordoba to Barcelona, Andalucia Express.
As an alternative to the AVE there are also cheaper RENFE trains, such us the Lanzaderas to Seville and Malaga for around 15-20€ or the Altaria and the Alivia trains going to Granada 2 hours 30 minutes and Madrid 2 hours 30 minutes.
Cordoba's bus station is just across the street from the train station. Regular bus service is available from almost every town in Andalucia as well as from Madrid departing from the Estacion Sur - around 6 buses per day.
Although Cordoba has an airport, nowadays there are no commercial flights. The closest major airports are in Seville, Malaga and Madrid; from there a train or a bus would take you to main train stations and you can change to other train towards Cordoba,train from Seville around 30 min and from Malaga 50 min.
Just about everything of interest in Cordoba is within easy walking distance,the one notable exception being the Medina Azahara, and the typical tourist can do with the standard tourist map which can be obtained from the tourist offices,one on the east side of the Mezquita and the other between the Alcazar and the city walls or online.
One of the many areas with much to see is the Old City surrounding the Mezquita yet there are loads of amazing and unique old neighboohoods everywhere, that's why Cordoba has the second largest Old town in Europe, the largest urban area in the world declared World Heritage by UNESCO.
The Old City is a tangle of medieval-style streets roughly bounded by the Guadalquivir River on the south, the area surrounding Plaza de las Tendillas on the north and the tree-lined Paseo de la Victoria on the west. This area is crammed with places to stay, eat and buy souvenirs, though many visitors may find certain areas particularly immediately surrounding the Mezquita too touristy, with more interesting things found wandering into the tiny streets of the Jewish Quarter to the west and north of the Mezquita.
Behind the Mezquita the Roman Bridge crosses the Guadalquivir River to a museum in the old gate on the opposite side.
The area immediately to the north of the Old City, roughly from the area around Plaza de las Tendillas to Avenida de America is a more modern section of town and is where the train and bus station is located as well as a major shopping area. Along Paseo de la Victoria on the west side and Avenida de America on the north are large parks that make for a pleasant stroll.
Mezquita
M-Sa 8:30-19:00, Su 8:30-10:30 and 14:00-19:00 last entry 30 minutes before closing. €8 free entry for morning mass from 8:30-9:20 only. However, this is for individual tourists only. Groups must pay and can only enter after 10am. Nobody may enter from 9:20-10:00.
The biggest attraction in Cordoba and a truly must-see building, the Mezquita is a massive former mosque-turned-cathedral famed for its forest of columns topped with Islamic-style red and white striped arches among its other many architectural highlights and serves as a reminder of the glory and importance Cordoba held in medieval times.
The building is full of history and beauty - you'll want to give yourself at least a couple of hours to do it justice.
Built in 786 as a mosque, the structure was expanded several times under Cordoba's Muslim rule while still remaining largely true to the original design.
Following the Christian Reconquista of Cordoba in 1236, work immediately went underway to convert the building to a church, and four centuries later a cathedral at the center of the building was constructed, though not without controversy as it significantly altered the space. Today, despite the presence of the cathedral, most of the original mosque structure remains remarkably well-preserved.
Approaching the Mezquita, the first thing you will notice is the massive bell tower on the building's north side which looms over the surrounding buildings. Built in the 1600s the tower replaced a minaret previously on the site. Along the outside of the building the wall takes on the appearance of a fortress, with an elaborate set of Moorish-style archway and windows spaced every so often.
Stepping through one of the doors you'll enter the Patio de los Naranjos, or Court of the Oranges, which true to its name contains a grove of orange trees, planted in symmetrical rows that replicate the forest of columns within the building.
A large fountain drips pleasantly in the middle, and the views of the bell tower framed by trees are excellent. The Patio is free to enter and is open during the day as a public park - the ticket booths are located on the bell tower side of the courtyard.
Entering the interior you'll immediately be standing before the forest of columns which recede into the distance, topped with their dazzling horseshoe arches. The light in the space will play interesting tricks with the arches and varies pretty dramatically as you walk through the building, going from rather dark when you enter to very bright at the cathedral in the middle and back and forth as you continue.
Opposite the room from the entrance is the Mihrab, a spectacular archway decorated with Arabic writing which was the focus of the mosque, as it faced in the direction of Mecca and was what every Muslim faced as they knelt on the floor to pray .
Once, tens of thousands of people could fit into this space to pray, the multitude knelt on their rugs before the Mihrab. In the corner of the building nearby are glass cases with artifacts excavated from beneath the Mezquita, and the walls along the side of the building are lined with chapels, each one with an intricate piece of artwork.
At the center of the building, the Cathedral towers over the rest of the building, and the transition from the impressive-but-intimate mosque structure to the overwhelming awe of the cathedral is abrupt and rather jarring, but don't let that stop you from taking in the beauty of the cathedral, with its rich decoration and well-illuminated interior, standing to suggest triumph over the Muslims who previously used this building.
The presence of the cathedral also offers the unique opportunity to so easily compare the differences between Muslim and Christian architecture.
Old City
A tangle of narrow medieval streets surrounding the Mezquita, the Old City sits just uphill from the muddy Guadalquivir River and contains the vast majority of Cordoba's tourist attractions. North and west of the Mezquita sits the Jewish Quarter, a neighborhood which dates from the late Middle Ages and offers an interesting stroll, some lovely patios and a few scant reminders of the Jewish population that once lived here.
- Roman Bridge (Puente Romano). A Roman-style bridge over the shallow Guadalquivir River that was once the main crossing over the river, securing Cordoba's importance to the region. The entrance to the bridge is marked by a triumphal arch and an adjacent single-column monument and it crosses to an old fortified gate (now a museum, described below) on the other side.
- Museum of Al-Andalus Life (Museo Vivo de Al-Andalus), C/ Puente Romano (at the opposite end of the Roman Bridge). October-April 10:00-18:00, May-September, 10:00-14:00 and 16:30-20:30. A history museum located in the Torre de la Calahorra, which once served as the old fortified gate to the city.
Upon entering the museum the greeters who speak good English have you don a headset which will explain the exhibits and artifacts on Muslim Andalusia you will view as you walk from room to room. The artifacts are worth a look and the balcony on the top of the tower offers an excellent view of the river and the city. €4.50, €3 children.
- Alcazar de los Reyes Cristianos, C/ Caballerizas Reales. Tu-F 8:30-19:30, Sa 9:30-16:30, Su 9:30-14:30. Built in the 8th century as a caliphate residence on the site of a Visigoth fortress, the Alcazar was used as the residence and fortress of Ferdinand and Isabella,the "Christian Monarchs" for whom the building is now named as well as a headquarters for the Spanish Inquisition.
The fortress, with its artifacts including a series of Roman mosaics and a Roman sarcophagus and two towers is now open for touring, but the main attraction here is the lush and beautiful gardens on the site. €4.50.
- Calle de las Flores, (near the Mezquita, on the tower side). A beautiful narrow street, full of flowers with a wonderful tiny square at the end and excellent views of the Mezquita's Tower framed by the buildings lining the street.
- Synagogue (La Sinagoga), C/ Judíos (in the Jewish Quarter). Tu-Sa 10:00-14:00 and 15:30-17:30, Su and holidays 10:00-14:00. A small but beautifully preserved synagogue - one of only three remaining in Spain - the structure was built in 1315 and consists of a single small, square room with high ceilings and gorgeous Mudejar decorative plaster on the walls. Technically €0.30, but you may find no one staffing the door, in which case it's free.
- Casa de Sefarad.
- City Wall.
- Plaza del Potro - A small old square where Don Quijote de la Macha stayed in one of his adventures. You can find there a nice fountain with a small horse and a 'Triunfo de San Rafael'. Julio Romero de Torres local painter Museum and Fine Arts Museum are also located in this place.
- Plaza de la Corredera - The only 'Plaza Mayor cerrada' (closed main square) in Andalucía.
Outside the Old City
- Plaza del Cristo de los Faroles Cuesta del Bailio,Close to Alfaros street. The most impressive square, the best time to go there is the sunset or night. A Christ in the Cross statue adorned with lot of old lanterns, candles and flowers in a very quiet atmosphere.
- Plaza de las Tendillas.
- Viana Palace - former residence of the Marquise of Viana, is an impressive museum featuring furniture, tapestries, porcelain, tiles, paintings, leatherwork, muskets, a 7000-volume library and extensive gardens spread out over 14 patios.
- Madinat Al-Zahra - Carretera de Palma del Rio. Ruins of the capital of the Western Caliphate, built beginning in 940. Huge archeological interest, a beautiful and very special walk. Approximately 5km west of town. Free entrance for EU-citizens, very cheap for non-EU. The tourism office currently runs a bus at 10:15AM / 5PM for 7 Euro. Note that there are no local buses running to the Madinat, but you can take a taxi there and then ask the Museum staff to order a taxi for you when you need to head back to Cordoba city centre.
If you have a car you can drive there and there is lots of free parking at the Madinat Al-Zahra Museum. Or a taxi from central Cordoba costs 14 Euros each way. From the Museum grounds you will have to take a bus up to the actual archaeological ruins, which costs 2.10 Euros for the return journey. The Madinat itself requires a lot of walking, firstly downhill then back uphill, so it is difficult for anyone who might have mobility problems.
Outside the Old City
- Plaza del Cristo de los Faroles Cuesta del Bailio Close to Alfaros street. The most impressive square, the best time to go there is the sunset or night. A Christ in the Cross statue adorned with lot of old lanterns, candles and flowers in a very quiet atmosphere.
- Plaza de las Tendillas.
- Viana Palace - former residence of the Marquise of Viana, is an impressive museum featuring furniture, tapestries, porcelain, tiles, paintings, leatherwork, muskets, a 7000-volume library and extensive gardens spread out over 14 patios.
- Madinat Al-Zahra - Carretera de Palma del Rio. Ruins of the capital of the Western Caliphate, built beginning in 940. Huge archeological interest, a beautiful and very special walk. Approximately 5km west of town. Free entrance for EU-citizens, very cheap for non-EU. The tourism office currently runs a bus at 10:15AM / 5PM for 7 Euro. Note that there are no local buses running to the Madinat, but you can take a taxi there and then ask the Museum staff to order a taxi for you when you need to head back to Cordoba city centre.
If you have a car you can drive there and there is lots of free parking at the Madinat Al-Zahra Museum. Or a taxi from central Cordoba costs 14 Euros each way. From the Museum grounds you will have to take a bus up to the actual archaeological ruins, which costs 2.10 Euros for the return journey. The Madinat itself requires a lot of walking, firstly downhill then back uphill, so it is difficult for anyone who might have mobility problems.
The month of May or Mayo is the best time to visit the city. 'The Month of Cordoba'.
- Feria de Cordoba - The Feria in Cordoba is the longest in Spain, which takes place over 2 weekends. The Feria is an open party for everybody where you can drink on the street or in special tents, which are specially set up for the festival. The festival is very different during the day and the night. During the day, the Feria is more traditional: people dance Flamenco, ride horses and children can visit the attractions and rides which are set up.
However, things change at night, when young people have parties all around the city! Everything is permitted during this period, so you should definitely come if you want to have a great time!
- Cruces de Mayo - 1st week of May. Very fun, a lot of public squares in the city center, the old city, with big crosses flower-made, with music and drinks full of people having fun!
- Cata de Vino-Montilla Moriles Cordovan Wine tasting fair. Very good wine selection and music in a huge tent in the city center.
- Festival de Patios - The festival of the Patios is celebrated during the second week of May. To visit the patios during the weekend, sometimes you may have to book tickets online. A patio is a courtyard in the middle of a house with rooms around it, where different families live in. In the middle of the courtyard there is often a well, and also a common kitchen for all the families.
During the festival, these families open their doors to visitors from all over the world. During the festival, you can see a lot of flowers on the walls and people with cameras taking photos. There is a competition in the city to see who has the best patio. Sometimes during this period, people dance Sevilliana in the street.
March-April
- Semana Santa (The Week Before Easter) - Processions throughout town involving scenes from the life of Christ, bands, and penitents. Very nice exhibition of the city's culture. Approximately six processions each night from 6 p.m. to midnight.
July
- Festival Internacional de la Guitarra - The city become the world Guitar Capital during two weeks full of concerts featuring the top world guitar players and bands ranging from Jazz/Blues, Classical, and of course, Flamenco. Excellent music and dance seminars, music courses, and conferences about guitar.
February-March
- Carnaval A typical Andalusian carnival (not as huge as Cadiz's festival, but a great time neverthless). The city center is full of people in costumes during the weekend, funny songs are sang throughout city squares.
During the year
- Hammam - Arabic baths - Just 5 minutes walking distance west of the mosque there is a modern Arabic bath that recreates the ones used during the Moorish era. During the golden times of the western caliphate Cordoba was said to have more than 400 hundreds baths. The site offers a session of two hours (including a massage).
- Drive an electric car to discover one of the largest historical downtowns in Europe. The electric car is equipped with a GPS touristic assistant which gives audio tours on the monuments within 100 meter. Descriptions available in Spanish, English, and French. Besides, there are 10 exclusive parking spots to park the electric car. From 14.5€ per hour 2 seats and 4 seats cars available.
- Take a Segway Tour in Cordoba, passing by places which are normally missed by the visitor. English spoken tours. From 15€ per person.
The main shopping area is around the Plaza de las Tendillas: Concepcion street, Cruz Conde street, Gran Capitán boulevard, Ronda de los Tejares avenue.
Sukia cocktail shop, Cuesta Luján 4. (between Plaza de las Tendillas and San Fernado), 95749051, Really cool shop. Its sells Kitch, be it in clothes, music, decorations form, if its Kitch from the 50's 60's or 70's its here.
Blas s Artisanal Ceramics, Calle Martinez Rücker. The street leading to the Mezquita with a Moroccan restaurant. This store is one of Córdoba's hidden gems. The owners sell beautiful ceramics of various different styles from their patio, so not only do you get to take a look at lovely handmade ceramics, but you also get a feel for the traditional Cordoba patio.
If you're not lucky enough to visit Cordoba during the weeks of the patio competition, this store offers you a great opportunity. The ceramics are also of a higher quality than those of most of the stores around the Mezquita, since the store is dedicated to ceramics and isn't tourist-oriented. They are currently displaying the works of Carlos Durán, a Toledo surrealist with a flare for color.
One of the traditional craftwork in Cordoba is jewellery. Good value jewels, specially gold, can be found around the city. However, it is advisable to buy far from touristic sites as they are the most expensive places to buy that. One place to check it is around Jesus Rescatado avenue.
Restaurants And Bars
- Restaurante Pizzaiolo C/San Felipe The best Italian food restuarant with the biggest menú which has a Guinnes' record. You can eat with only 10€
- Casa Rubio Located in the heart of the Juderia, this place offers decent tapas for the price. A bit more expensive version of it is next to the mosque, called Casa Pepe de la Juderia, which serves the same food at a slight markup for location. Excellent bravas. Worth checking out.
- Caballo Rojo Located around the mosque, locals claim it has the best "rabo de toro" in town.
- Bodegas Campos, Los Lineros, 32 San Pedro, 14002 Cordoba. Open traditional Spanish hours. Classic Cordoba place to eat. Historical building and famous for people who have visited. Food is fantastic, very recommended.
- Casa Mazal, Tomás Conde, 3, 14004 Cordoba. This restaurant, situated between the mosque-cathedral and the synagogue, offers customers a chance to sample traditional Sephardic Jewish cuisine. Kosher guests will be pleased to note that, although the meat is not kosher certified, none of the dishes mix meat and dairy. The restaurant is run by a Sephardic family. The food is, truly, divine.
- Castillo de la Albaida A refurbish Castle settled in the Córdoba sierra's slope, 10 minutes from city center by car. Very good Cordoban food with splendid city sights.
- El Churrasco Romero 16. With amazing meat dishes and much more. Very close to the Mezquita.
- Taberna San Miguel "El Pisto" Plaza San Miguel, 1, Cordoba, 14002. Great place to try some typical Tapas. The best 'Pisto' in the world!
- La Gusa, C/ Diario de Córdoba, 18 Near ruins of the Roman temple. Every Day 2PM-1AM. A refreshing twist on traditional Spanish cooking. Relaxed cool atmosphere and unusual flavours.
- Amore Bona Pasta, C/ Reyes Catolicos, 17, 14001 Cordoba. Fantastic pizza and pasta. Try the Pasta Carbonara, very nice. Pizza was great as well.
- La Fragua Cja. Los Arcos, 2 off C/Tomas Conde. Delicious home made food and traditional cooking with a modern and personal style. Enjoyable meals in an authentic 16th century charming courtyard accompanied by flamenco ambient music. It is also possible to try tapas and drinks for a very reasonable price. Relaxed atmosphere.
- Taberna La Lechuga C/Tomas Conde. Cordoban Traditional style food. Try their brand name tasty specialty, seasoned "lettuce sprouts", served with garlic. They serve a wide range of traditional dishes. Don't forget their "Croquetas", but to be sure about their daily recommendations just try and ask their friendly staff.
- El Mercado Victoria is a fashionable place in the centre of Victoria Avenue, which is the same as the San Miguel Market in Madrid. Here you can find a variety of types of food from sushi to Mexican. During the night it turns into a disco. Whilst a little expensive, it is definitely worth it, as the atmosphere is very comfortable and exciting; perfect for younger people.
- Sojo or Soho is a fashionable bar which is situated by the Guadalquivir River. Here you can find an enermous disco-bar with different rooms where you can have a coffee enjoying the wonderful views of the river or drink to the latest hits. The decoration is a blend of a modern style with Arabian features to incorporate the Cordobian culture.
- El Arriate a very cute and friendly cafe/bar on the top of Calle Alfonso XIII, just off of the main square. The atmosphere is very warm and welcoming with an intimate feel and the barstaff are always happy to help you out, give you information and teach you some Spanish! Theres good wifi, good coffee and English speaking staff.
- Plaza de la Corredera. A lot of bars in this beautiful place, nice enviroment and nice people.
- Vial Norte (Paseo de Córdoba). A lot of modern bars in the newest part of the city. Cute people and fancy pubs.
- El Brillante, el Tablero Avenida del Brillante. For summertime, fancy bars, fancy people in those rich neighborhoods. From June to September.
- Chinales, poligono industrial Polígono industrial de Chinales or Chinales, industrial park. Very close to the city center,5-10 min. by car,4€ by taxi. Clubs/Discos: Maná, Silos, Kenia.
- Ciudad Jardín neighborhood Alderetes street, Julio Pellicer street. A lot of small but very fun places to dance, drink and have fun.From October to May.
Coffee/Tea Shops
Because of very strong Arab influence in the city, it is possible to find some teashops in Cordoba, for example, a magnificent one in the heart of the Jewish Quarter, and other places, which are not specialised in tea, but still serve tea of high quality. For example, the Salón del Te (calle Buen Pastor, 13) is a typical house with a baroque decoration adapted to the Andalusian world, which offers an extensive list of teas. Drinking tea in this teashop can be made more enjoyable with a spectacle of Oriental music and dance for no more than 8€.
In Luna de Cristal, a teashop (Plaza de la Cañas, behind the Corredera), you can try some rich beverages exclusive to Arabic Cordoba, with Andalusian flavours and aromas. This teashop is also a typical Andalusian house with an apartment service (Apartotel), which has five decorated rooms with Moorish names. Drinking tea is becoming more and more habitual in Cordoba, although people of Cordoba prefer to drink beer or wine of Montilla Moriles.
Accomodation
- Hotel Los Abetos Cordoba, Av. de San José de Calasanz, 2 14012 Cordoba.
- Hotel Macia Alfaros. Great hotel with old town central location. Walking distance to central plaza, shopping, archeology sites, drinks. Reasonable rates, excellent for business travel.
- Hotel AC Cordoba Excellent hotel in a modern environment set a block from the bus and train stations, very close to the city center.
Hotel Córdoba Center The newest hotel in the city, 5 minutes walking distance from Train/Bus station and city center.
- Hotel Hospes Palacio del Bailio, the first and only 5 star hotel in town. Centrally located. Recently inaugurated. Incredible old city palace from the 16th Century. Respecting both Roman and Moorish architectural influences. 53 rooms, restaurant and Spa. The new essence of Hospes Palacio del Bailío tells an old story, its architecture speaks of history in the old quarter of the city, next to the Cristo de ls Faroles square and 10 minutes from the Mosque.
- Hotel NH Amistad Plaza de Maimónides, 3, 14004. In the heart of the old town, 5 minutes walking from the Mezquita. Settled in the old city walls, inside a beautiful palace. There is another NH hotel right next door- the NH Califa.
- Hotel Itaca Cordoba Alhakén II, 4.Located in Cordoba center, just 500 meters from Plaza de Colón. It offers spacious, modern rooms with private bathrooms. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel.
- Hotel Don Paula
- Apartamentos Mezquita Economical solution is to rent an apartment with a kitchen save on breakfast, lunch and dinner, and being at home. Apartments Mosque is nice, new and clean, seats 8 people and a great location beside the mosque.
- Hostal Lineros 38. A very nice place to relax. Beautiful Andalusí (Islamic from southern Spain) architecture.
- Hostal el Triunfo. Cheap and quite nice hostel near the Mezquita.
- Hostal Alcazar Cordoba, C/ San Basilio. A 5-minute walk from the Mezquita.
- The Terrace Backpackers also known as Pension Pilar del Potro or Funky Cordoba, Calle del Conde y Luque. Good location. Clean affordable privates and dorms. Air-conditioning. Strangely has three separate names.
- Senses & Colours Seneca, Calle Lucano, 12. Kitchen, wi-fi
- Senses & Colours Anil, Calle Barroso 4. Wi-fi, luggage storage, great location.
- Hostal Osio y Backpackers, Calle Osio,6 Kitchen, wi-fi and very near for the Mezquita.
Exercise caution when walking around the area near the Mezquita: beggers will try to sucker you for some money and they often work in teams. You may find yourself being charged 40 Euro for a palm reading, or having your money snatched by a little kid working together with the supposed palm reader. Just keep an eye on your things and don't get caught up with their scams.
Bujalance. It is worth a day visit if you want to see a typical Andalusian baroque town with Arabic influence surrounded by olive fields. Regular buses leave from Cordoba Bus Station every hour or so and take around 40 minutes to the town, La Sepulvedana Bus, around 7€ return ticket.
Bujalance bus stop is 10 minutes walking distance from the old town centre, the tourism information office and local museum are located at Calle veintiocho de febrero, 4, near the main church and the castle. The Muslim castle and narrow streets surrounding, the Cathedral and its impressive leaning tower, the chapel of Jesus Nazareno surrounded by olive fields and the baroque buildings and palaces e.g. Hospital de San Juan de Dios, all monuments are free.
For eating, most locals would recommend Restaurante El Tomate, in C/Rector Viejo,lunch set menu of tasty local food “menu del dia” for less than 10€.
For sleeping, Hopederia La Querencia, in Plaza Mayor, which offers excellent value for price.
In Cordoba province are other beautiful villages like Priego de Cordoba, an example of Spanish baroque; Zuheros, the typical white Andalusian village with an impressive castle built on a rock; and Montilla, hometown of Montilla-Moriles wine.
Parque Nacional de la Sierra de Hornachuelos in Hornachuelos and Parque Natural de las Sierras Subbeticas in Cardena are interesting nature reserves.
Tourism Observer
No comments:
Post a Comment