City walks Córdoba

Córdoba is a city in Andalusia in southern Spain. It is the capital of the province of Córdoba. The city is located at 122 meters above sea level, on the Guadalquivir River and at the foot of the Sierra Morena Mountain range. It is the warmest city in Europe: the temperature regularly rises above 35 °C every year.

 The first day we started with a walk through the Juderia, the old Jewish quarter, and then we strolled criss-cross through the city. The Juderia is now a beautiful typical Andalusian neighbourhood with narrow streets, small squares and white houses. We entered Bodega Guzmán, with a real bull stud table. I also went to the Museo Taurino, according to Rik Zaal one of the most beautiful bull museums in Spain.

Of the squares in Cordoba, we found the Plaza del Potro to be the loveliest. This square is also home to the Museo de Julio Romero de Torres. The Plaza de la Corredara is also special. It is a huge square, where bullfights used to be held, heretics executed and markets took place there.

Processions are also taking place in Cordoba this week, Semana Santa. We saw a lot of “nazarenos” (penitents), with their “capirote” (pointed hats) on.

The second day, Yvonne was the lucky one to visit the Mezquita. Because of the Easter crowds, I couldn’t get a ticket for that day. The Mezquita was the model for the Spanish Muslim architecture for the following centuries. The Emir Abd Ar-Rahman I began the construction of an impressive mosque in 785, the third largest in the world at 23,000 m2. The structure shows traces of Moorish, Roman, Byzantine, Syrian, Persian and Gothic elements.

After a walk over the Roman bridge over the Guadal River, we left Cordoba. We will return to this beautiful city.