Our discovery of Andalusia is done over three day weekend express.
We arrived in Seville, where we stayed all weekend. Just landed, here we are on the road towards Cordoba, the northernmost city of all the Andalusian provinces. We had already visited the North of Spain, but the South never. Having heard about the architecture of Granada, Cordoba, and Seville, i would have liked to do all three cities but to say it all, you have to take the time to appreciate and the distances between each of the cities are long : for Seville-Granada about 2h30 to 3 hours drive and between Seville-Cordoba 1h30 to 2h drive. The city of Cordoba is located on the right bank of the Guadalquivir, a mild climate in winter and very hot summer, it can be over 45 degrees or 113 F. For this Reason we decided to schedule our visit in mid-june.
Cordoba was under Muslim rule in the year 716, it possesses an exceptional architectural wealth due to his marriage of culture. Our desire is to discover the “Mezquita-Catedral” known as the Cathedral Mosque, the Alcazar of the Christian Kings and to stroll through the alleys of the city to discover the pretty patios. For the “little story” : it was in the year 756 that Abd al-Rahman I decided to establish himself as an independent Emir and to establish his capital in Cordoba ; many successors tried to continue his political work without succeeding. In 1031 the Muslim power divided to conform the “Taifas Reinos”, cities like Seville, Granada, Valencia, Almeria…became magnificent cultural centres.
Abd al-Rahman I wanted to erect in the middle of his new empire a great magnificent temple, it was in the year 785 that work began on the same place of the ancient visigothic Church, dedicated to Saint Vincent, to modify it and build the wonderful Mosque. Persian artists carried out the works which were completed in 793. Later, 80 columns were added during the reign of Abd al-Rahman II in 833, and between 964 and 965, too small for a population of 500 thousand, a new extension was made by Alhakem who ascended the throne. In total 850 columns, plus those embedded in the walls and 62 of the patios, constitute more than 1000 columns.
The Alcazar of the Christian Kings was built by Muslims in the 8th century on roman and visigoth ruins. Abandoned by the Muslims, the court re-enters the Alcazar. During the first third of the 14th century, and at the request of Alfonso XI, a palace was built on the grounds of the Alcazar for the residence of the Christian Kings, with a tower at each corner, of which only three remain. Christopher Columbus was received before his trip to the Discovery of America.
A stroll in the alleys of the city, to see the Cordovan patios, cultural heritage inherited from the Roman and Arab patio.
A charming city, with an incredible cultural treasure, which leaves us a desire to return.
A big thank you to our Hotel Eme Catedral (Carlos) who took time to organize this trip.
Useful addresses :
Mezquita-Catedral of Cordoba : calle Cardinal Herrero,1, 14003 Cordoba, Espagne.
Alcazar de Los Reyes Cristianos : plaza Campo Santo de Los Martires, s/n, 14004 Cordoba, Espagne. Tél : +34 957 42 01 51.