Founded by the Romans, its greatest
splendour came when it was made the
capital of the Moorish kingdom of Al-Andalus.
When it was reconquered by the
Christians in 1236, the new governors
were so impressed by the beauty of the
Great Mosque that they left it standing,
building their Cathedral amongst its
arches and columns. The Great Mosque.
Registered in 1984 as a Mankind Heritage
Site. Historic centre of the city.
Registered in 1984 as a Mankind Heritage
Site. The splendour of Córdoba began in
the 8th century with the Arab conquest,
leading to the building of some three
hundred mosques, countless palaces and
public buildings which directly rivalled
the opulence of Constantinople, Damascus
and Baghdad. In the 13th century, under
the reign of Fernando III 'the Saint',
the Great Mosque in Córdoba was
transformed into a Cathedral and new
defensive structures were built, in
particular the Citadel of the Catholic
Monarchs and the Fortress Tower of
Calahorra.
Situated deep in Andalusian
Autonomous Region, Cordoba is a
compendium of history and modernity.
This ancient city, which has been
declared World Heritage Site, is a
living legacy of the diverse cultures
that settled in it throughout history.
Very few places in the world can boast
of having been the capital of Hispania
Ulterior under the Roman Empire, and the
capital of the Umayyad Caliphate. Such
splendour is palpable in the
intellectual wealth of this centre of
wisdom and knowledge, that has seen the
birth of figures like Seneca, Averroes
and Maimonides.
To take a stroll through the historic
quarter of Cordoba is to discover a
beautiful network of small streets,
alleys, squares and whitewashed
courtyards arranged around the Mosque-Cathedral,
which reflects the importance of the
city during medieval times and which is
a real symbol of the capital.
Without disregarding its splendid past,
Cordoba is definitely a modern city that
has been able to adapt to the present
day, offering the most modern
infrastructures and services, as well as
a large network of hotels.
Very well connected to the other
Andalusian capitals, Cordoba also has
the high speed train (AVE) and a very
extensive railway network linking it to
all the big cities, like Madrid and
Seville. Once inside the city, a large
network of buses and taxis enable
visitors to reach any destination in a
few minutes.
Cordoba is also synonymous with art,
culture and leisure, thanks to a myriad
of cultural events that are organised
here throughout the year: Flamenco
festivals, concerts, ballet and other
activities that are complemented by a
number of museums and an exciting
nightlife.
Meanwhile, the province is home to
important buildings of the Andalusian
heritage, whose highest expression is
the Medina Azahara, located on the
outskirts of the city. But there is
great spectacle also for nature lovers.
The parks of Sierra de Cardeña in Los
Pedroches and Montoro, the Hornachuelos
Sierra and Sierras Subbéticas offer the
possibility of practising all kinds of
open-air sports, while at the same time
enjoying the natural wealth of this
province.