Have you ever heard of the city of Córdoba? The city is famous globally for its great mosque, old towns, streets, designs, architecture, and delicious foods. People all across the globe visit here to see this unforgettable sight.
Cordoba is a province located at the center of the North of Spain. It is famous worldwide for its great mosques. Today, it is a world heritage site that has narrow streets, courtyards filled with flowers, and charming squares. Visitors can explore this site and enjoy the local culture.
The river named Guadalquivir flows from east to west in this province. It waters a wide range of land where cereals, grapevines, and other olive trees grow.
Towards the north of the city, the landscape gets wilder as it reaches the Sierra Morena mountains. Here, you will find dense forests where people go for animal hunting. The mountain range is home to varied fauna.
After thousands of years, their sign is still reflected here by different cultural groups i.e. Roman, Visigoth, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity.
Rich and Fascinating History of Córdoba
The impressive history of the city makes it one of the interesting destinations for travelers to visit in Spain. In the world, it is the only city that has 4 places inscribed on the World Heritage Site listed by UNESCO, the are Mosque-Cathedral (1984), the Jewish Quarter (1994), the Festivals of Patios (2012), and Madina Azahara (2018).
It was founded by the Roman Empire in 169 BC. Before its foundation, there was a small Iberian group in the area called “Terdetanos”. Their main occupation were agriculture and mining. After the arrival of the Romans, their lives were ruined and destroyed. The Romans chose this area as they saw it as an opportunity for agriculture and shelter.
Gradually, it keeps developing and gaining political importance in Rome to become the capital of “Hispania Ulterior Province”.
Due to exporting large quantities of wine, olive oil, minerals, and food products; the city experienced progressive economic growth.
Later on, in the third century, Romans experienced a deep crisis that reflected in the city; major works were abandoned, spaces were reused, looting and riots happened, and bad-quality home materials were used widely. Rural areas gained great prominence due to the migration of people from urban areas.
Cultural Heritage of Córdoba
Mosques, Alcázar de los Reyes Cristianos, Synagogue, and Roman bridge are the prime examples of its old history. The city reflects its Roman past and the coexistence of Christian, Islamic, and Jewish cultures throughout history. We can see numerous monuments here that have remained in the city.
In the city, there exist museums and art galleries where you can see old things and learn about how people used to live here.
The old part of the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with small streets, courtyards filled with flowers, and charming squares. Places like Alcázar of Christian monarchs and the Jewish have lots of stories to say about their history.
If you’re interested in history Córdoba is a beautiful place to visit, see beautiful things, and enjoy tasty foods.
Tips for the Travelers: Complete Guide
Córdoba is a beautiful city in the Southern Plain, known for its rich architecture. Here are some of the tips for the first-time visitor to understand what are the must-see sights in Córdoba, mouth-watering items to eat, and many more so that travelers don’t miss anything.
Must-See Sights:
- Mezquita-Catedral: It is an old and famous building in Córdoba, Spain. It is like a mix of both a cathedral and a mosque. There are lots of fancy arches and pillars that give it a unique look.
- Alcazar of the Christian Monarchs: It is one of the most representative architecture of Córdoba. When you enter the main gate of it, a great quality image dominated by a sculpture of King Alfonso X the Wise appears. After this, a small access takes you to the main gallery connecting to the northern wall and therefore, to the tribute tower and the Tower of the Lions, as well as the Hall of Mosaics and the Hall of the Ocean. Thereafter, as you move to the ground floor you meet the royal baths, as well as the Moorish courtyard which ultimately leads to the gardens.
- Jewish Quarter (Juderia): It is a cool place to visit. Here, you will walk through narrow streets with white buildings and a courtyard with colorful flowers. A long time ago here Jewish people used to live. And still, you can feel their influence today. On the way, you will meet many cute shops, cafes, and quiet courtyards to explore. The most interesting thing to see is the old Synagogue.
- Calahorra Tower: It offers a captivating journey through the history and culture of al-Andalus. It is like a big castle tower that standing by the river. Travelers can climb this tower and get amazing views of the city. There is a museum inside it which gives a brief knowledge about the history of Córdoba.
- Viana Palace: It covers a surface of more than 6500 square meters. The floor of the palace has an irregular polygon design which makes it more interesting to watch. However, we should not look at the space as a museum, but as a house where people used to live, built according to the needs of those who inhabited it.
Food to Try:
- Salmorejo: It is a traditional soup made of tomato, bread, virgin olive oil, and garlic.
- Flamenquin: This traditional Spanish dish consists of tender strips of pork loin stuffed with ham and cheese. It is wrapped in breadcrumbs and deeply fried for protection.
- Berengenas fritas con miel: It is a tasty Spanish dish made of thin slices of eggplant that are fried unless it gets crispy. Later on, it drizzled with honey so that we could get the perfect mix of sweet and savory flavors.
- Snails: This traditional food is served at bars in Spain for free with drinks. It is enjoyed especially in February and June. If you’re organizing your trip to Cordoba, you must try it.
- Montillas-Moriles wine: It comes from the Montilla-Moriles region in Spain that’s why it is called Montillo-Moriles wine. They are made up of grapes called Pedro Ximénez. They come in different styles dry or sweet. Each type has a unique flavor. You can try it with snacks like cheese, nuts, and olives or with desserts.
If you’re foody, there are a lot of restaurants that serve fresh and tasty traditional dishes to eat.
How to visit the place?
The best way to visit Córdoba is to take the flight to Seville (a city in Spain). After that take a bus or a taxi to Seville railway station then, take the AVE (45 mins) or the normal speed train (almost 2 hours) for Córdoba. If you’re staying in the hotel, make sure that your hotel has a swimming pool because the temperature in the months like August is too high (more than 40 degrees). For the rest months, it will be fine to stay in other apartments. To visit the historical sites or to try the delicious food items of Córdoba make sure to have an expert guide.
