The Moorish city of Córdoba is a quiet and beautiful city with narrow white streets and patios full of geraniums. Having been conquered by the Moors in 711, Cordoba was declared Al-Andalus and rose to be the largest in Europe before eventually falling to the Christians in 1236.
Cordoba is well known for sophisticated and detailed filigree work. Exquisite light designs are made from silver threads and Cordoban leather, with Moorish origins, is highly decorative involving complex embossing and chiselling.
Some sites to see:
The Mezquita in Cordoba is on of Spain’s most famous structures. It features a huge interior full of red and white striped horseshoe arches. The darkening effect and awesome pattern is believed to be taken from that of Roman aqueducts.
The Alcazar is an old Umayyad castle used by the Catholic monarchs during wars against Granada. It has many water-gardens, Roman mosaics and a 3rd century Roman sarcophagus. It has amazing views of the city from the Torre de los Leones (The Tower of Lions).
Barrio de la Judería is the oldest Jewish quarter of Córdoba. There are many bars, restaurants and tourist shops mixed in with the old narrow traditional streets. In the Zoco, you can buy arts and crafts and see Flamenco dancing.
