Córdoba. Situated at the foot of the Sierra de Córdoba on the North bank of a sharp bend in the Guadalquivir. A provincial capital with a very strong Moorish character, it is one of the most interesting cities not only in the region of Andalusia but also in the whole of Spain. Discover in this Cordoba guide all you need to know to prepare your trip to this fantastic city.
Indeed, Córdoba developed into one of the most magnificent cities in the western
world.
La Mezquita de Cordoba. The mosque is what brings most tourists to Cordoba and we admit it is a must-see not just in Andalusia, but in Spain. The mosque is one of Spain´s most important sights and a unique place. Before it was a mosque it was already a Visigoth place for worship, so people have been praying here for as long as records exist. The Cathedral is located inside the Mosque and this makes the building unique. Looking at the arches inside the mosque it is easy to understand that Cordoba was the largest and most important economic city in the West at the time of the Capliphate.
Flowers and Patios . Cordoba is full of houses that host amazing Patios. Many of them cannot be visited aside for a week in May when the Patios festival takes place. This local festival is one of the best things to enjoy in Spain in May. Luckily for all visitors many of the patios can be visited all year round, and some free of charge (search for more information at out Patios de Cordoba guide).
Gastronomy in the Jewish district. Cordoba is one of Spain´s best places to enjoy traditional taverns. Many of them are located in the old part of Cordoba and have been there for centuries. You will be able to enjoy mouth-watering local delicacies while you stroll some of the most beautiful streets of the city
Medina Azahara: unknown to many visitors to Cordoba, this old city was built in the 10th century. This is a complete urban ensemble which features roads, water systems and beautifully decorated buildings. It hidden character for centuries contributes to its mystery. This archaeological site is an excellent example of the importance of architecture for the Umayyad civilization of Al-Andalus.
Great train connections. Cordoba can even be a day tour from Madrid! The train connections with AVE make it very simple to get to Cordoba from Madrid, Seville, or since more recent times, from Granada. This should make Cordoba unavoidable! Have a look at Spain´s train map to better understand the possible combinations to visit Cordoba and other cities.
We would recommend you to avoid if possible July and August due to the high temperatures. This is however the only possible time of the year to visit for many people! If you visit in summer we would recommend to start your days early and if possible to book a hotel in Cordoba with pool.
We love Cordoba in May at the time of the patios Festival, but we also believe September and October are fantastic months. June and April are also great months and since it is never really cold in Cordoba, winter should be a good moment and accommodation prices are more affordable.
Temperatures in Cordoba during summer can range 90 F (average for daily highs). Daily lows during summer are above 60F.
From mid November till end of February daily high average temperatures are between 60 and 65F and daily low average temperatures range between 40 and 45F.
During summer it is very unlikely you will get a rainy day in Cordoba. The rainest month of the year in Cordoba is October, with the probability of having a rainy day close to 25%
Cordoba hosts the amazing Great Mosque, but there are so many other things to enjoy. Discover the best 12 guided tours in Cordoba to enjoy its Moorish heritage: The Alacazar, the Jewish district, the amazing Patios, or tours to enjoy its rich local gastronomy
A fantastic itinerary to enjoy the best of Cordoba in one day or two days. Cordoba and its Mosque are a Must visit in Spain. Cordoba can be visited in one day, but for anyone who prefers not to rush two days many things await too! Selection of recommended restaurants to fit the itinerary, hotel selection and best things to do
This Unesco heritage city offers amazing attractions for all sorts of tourists. Cordoba is unique in many senses. Its amazing Patios, the Mosque, Medina Azahara and the historic center all 4 deserve very special attention and will for sure highlight in any trip!
Discover all the tourist attractions in Cordoba here.
Medina Azahara in Cordoba Located eight kilometers South-west of Cordoba Medina Azahar is an outstanding example of the power, vision and ambition of its founder,
Alcazar of the Catholic monarchs A fortified palace, the Alcazar of the Catholic Monarchs in Cordoba was built in the 14th Century under Alfonso XI
Great Mosque of Cordoba . A complete guide The Great Cordoba Mosque is a grandiose and fascinating part of the Muslim art, initiated by the
Cordoba is famous for its Patios and a unique combination of styles that shape its architecture. Some hotels in Cordoba have retained traditional Cordoba architecture, whilst in other cases, contemporary styling shapes the character. Arches and peaceful patios set the identity for many local hotels. Our team has selected a list of recommended hotels in Cordoba. You can find them at this link.
Hotel San Miguel Córdoba – Review The Hotel is located between the historical city center and the financial district of Córdoba. The rooms are equipped
This 5-star hotel is housed within an XVI century palace in the historical city center of Córdoba. The hotel features an outdoor pool surrounded by
This hotel is perfect for you if you enjoy comfortable hotels in top locations and in special buildings with history. We love the location; plaza
Cordoba offers very typical taverns. Some appear as a surprise in the middle of the small and white streets in the old quarter. Some traditional dishes in Cordoba include Flamenquines, Salmorejo Cordobes, rabo de toro. Wines from Cordoba are also very well-known in Spain and come from the nearby wine region of Montilla Moriles. We have compiled a complete selection of hand-picked recommended restaurants in Cordoba to enjoy the best of local gastronomy from Cordoba.
Casa Rubio – Review Located near the Puerta de Almodóvar, in the old Jewish quarter of Córdoba, we find Casa Rubio, a house in the
Taberna Puerta Sevilla – Review In the area of the old Alcázar, in the heart of Córdoba, we find perhaps one of the most beautiful
La Casa de Manolete – Review Located right in the heart of Córdoba we find A flor de piel, one of the best culinary experiences
Have you ever heard about Seneca? People from Cordoba are very proud about his origins…
At around the time of Christ the town produced great figures of Roman culture such as the orator L.A. Seneca the Elder (born about 55 BC), and
above all his son (born abround 4BC)
Cordoba had already been settled in Iberian times. It became capital of the
province of Hispania Ulterior in AD 152 and was later again a capital, this time of the province of Baetica (Baetis was the name of the Guadalquivir), which covered approximately the same of area as present day Andalusia.
Visigoth rule began in the middle of the 6C and bequeathed a legacy
of buildings. Buildings continued under the Islamic conquerors (711). The Arabs
made Córdoba the centre of a great empire stretching as far as the Pyrenees. Under the Omayyad ruler Abd ar Rahman I, Córdoba became an emirate (756), and under Abdar Rahman III (912-61) a caliphate. This period was the city’s historical and influential heyday, and it continued until 1010.
There was a superb irrigation system, a population of about half a million and a
blossoming economy, of which the leather industry (cordwain) was particularly fa-
mous.
The lovely Great Mosque became a centre of Arab pilgrimage. The town had
a further 300 mosques, numerous palaces and equally numerous free schools, universities and public libraries, hospitals and baths. Córdoba’s cultural life was so great that it became of European importance.
The mighty caliphate ended in 1031, after which the harsh religious attitude of the
Almoravide rulers destroyed many of the magnificent buildings from the Omayyad
era. Decadence set in and this resulted in a gradual shift of power to Seville. The cultural life of Córdoba shone once more in the 12C with the great Islamic philosopher
Averroës, who was a son of the city and who made the works of Aristotle famous
in the west. His contemporary was the notable Jewish scholar Maimonides. Arab
supremacy came to an end in 1236 with the victory of the allied Christian kings in the
course of the Reconquista. Ferdinand III, the Holy, conquered the town. Above all,
the breakdown of the irrigation system in the fertile campiña meant economic col-
lapse. With the end of Córdoba’s great era came the rise of Granada under the Arab
Nasrite dynasty.
Under Ferdinand and Isabella, General Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba became
particularly famous. He was born near the city in 1453, and successfully fought
against Moorish Granada. Later he was known as ‘El Gran Capitán’
There are many more things to enjoy in Cordoba than visiting the Mosque. The “Western Costantinople” is a unique place to enjoy small local taverns in the jewish district., learn about Spanish guitar during the annual guitar festival, enjoy flower culture at the Patios Fiesta or shop leather and silver articles. Discover more things to do in Cordoba here.
Córdoba can get extremely hot in summer and having a pool at the hotel where you can chill out at the end of the day is a must. Check out our top picks!
The festival of the patios de Cordoba takes place in May. It lasts a bit less than 2 weeks. The festival started as a public competition in 1921. That year, for the first time, the local authorities in Cordoba (the Town-hall) organized a competition. The owners of houses with patios were asked to decorate their patios for this special occasion. Prizes were put in place, besides, of course, the already distinguished honor of winning this prestigious award.
Our selection of the best romantic hotels, hostels, and touristic apartments near the unique and amazing Grand Mosque of Córdoba.
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