Visit Cordoba

Cordoba is not only the city with the most World Heritage Sites in the world, with four declarations for its Mezquita, the Judería, the Patios and Medina Azahara. But it is also a city full of history due to its millenary populations. To discover its monuments through its history is to enter fully into the exciting world of the History of Humanity. The birthplace of many great figures in this history, such as Seneca, Maimonides, Lucan, Góngora, Julio Romero de Torres, Juan de Mesa, Rafael Botí and Manolete. During the Caliphate of Cordoba it became the most inhabited, cultured and opulent city in Europe. So much so that since that time it has never ceased to be a cultural and artistic reference point on the old continent. Eternal Cordoba. And, of course, Cordoba is the ideal city for hosting exhibitions, for holding congresses or simply to get lost in its thousands of culinary delights, represented in its multitude of bars and restaurants. It has a gastronomy that has produced dishes such as salmorejo, flamenquín, rabo de toro or berenjenas fritas con miel. Cordoba’s most typical dishes reflect the christian, arab and jewish culinary inspiration. And it is in bars and restaurants where you can also taste the marvellous wines produced by the land, wines with the depth of nuances offered by Montilla and Moriles, which undoubtedly enrich the most exquisite palates with their exclusivity.

With almost 1,500 years of history, the Mezquita- Catedral de Córdoba is not only the most visited monument in Córdoba, but it is also unique in the world for many reasons, including its size, its history, its conservation, and for being a Muslim mosque that houses a Christian cathedral inside. But, what really makes the difference is its distinctive architectural style, the quality of its materials, the beauty of its composition and for being the only one in the world that faces towards southeast, not towards Mecca.
Its hypnotic effect rivals the placidity that its vision provokes and the spiritual intimacy that it brings to those who visit this UNESCO World Heritage monument.

Just a few steps away from the Mosque-Cathedral we find the Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos. Built between the 13th and 14th centuries AD, it was a military fortress and the home of kings. In fact, the Catholic Monarchs used it during their stay in the city at the time of the Conquest of Granada. Boabdil, the last sultan of the Nasrid kingdom, was imprisoned in its dungeons and the meeting between the Catholic Monarchs, Isabella and Ferdinand, and Christopher Columbus took place in its halls, where the latter explained to the monarchs his plan for a voyage to the Indies that would result in the discovery of America. One more piece of the History of Humanity with Cordoba as the setting.
In addition to its Mudejar-style halls and rooms, its numerous flowering gardens and fountains are outstanding, which gave rise to a unique and beautiful light and sound show that takes place on warm nights at Cordoba.

If Cordoba’s greatest monument, the Mezquita-Catedral, represents two of the three monotheistic religions, Islam and Christianity, just a few minutes away from this monument and the Hotel Córdoba Carpe Diem we find a unique Jewish building, the Synagogue. In fact, the building is located in the neighbourhood known as La Judería. The three monotheistic religions represented in these buildings reflect its history, but also the respect given from inhabitants of Cordoba over the centuries.
The Mudejar-style church is accessed through a courtyard that leads to the vestibule that precedes the highly decorated hall. Going up of stairs you can find a gallery, which was the place reserved for women and which is connected to the hall by three beautifully decorated balconies.

It was in 2012 when the UNESCO declared the Patios of Cordoba as Intangible Heritage of Humanity. This tradition in which he inhabitants of Cordoba have prepared during the whole year their Patios has been maintained through the centuries. Through this experience the visitors will be able to appreciate the union between nature and architecture. Between the multiple varieties of flowers that the visitors can find, there are geraniums, bougainvillea, or orchids that decorate balconies, stairs and courtyards.
For more than a century, and coinciding with the city’s festivities in May, Cordoba has held its Festival de los Patios. In this festival, the Patios are open and exhibited to the public and the different houses that hold Patios compete to win the prizes. Even though the season of Patios is the spring, the City Council’s organises some visits to the Patios during the rest of the year.

This monument, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2018, is located just a few kilometres away from the city centre. It was ordered to be built by the caliph Abderramán III to set the city’s political and military centre. However, its existence was about eighty years because it was devastated in the civil war that ended with the caliphate in the 11th century.
It is made up of many rooms and buildings, including its mosque and the so-called “rich hall”. But there are also many aristocratic residences, military areas, fountains and gardens. Everything was built with a quality of materials and an overwhelming luxury. That was due the aim of Abderramán III to show his city as the sign of his power.